"Rocky top, you'll always be home sweet home to me."

This past week, I was lucky enough to kick off the new year with a trip down to Jacksonville, Fla. for the Taxslayer bowl. I was excited to watch my favorite team play and to see how many other Tennessee fans would turn out for the game. I had heard a lot of people say that the number of Vol fans would significantly outweigh the number of Iowa fans; however, I never would have guessed just how much Tennessee orange I would see upon my arrival in Florida and throughout my time there. It did not take long for me to realize that the support that comes from Vol fans is unlike fans of any other team. 

I am in no way exaggerating when I say that everywhere I went with my family in Jacksonville, there were multiple people dressed in Tennessee gear there as well. Whether we were at a store, at a restaurant or simply walking around the hotel we were constantly greeted with smiles and "Go Vols!" from fellow fans. With every Vol fan I encountered, I only became more exited for the game. 

Upon arriving at EverBank Field, I could feel the amount of energy coming from everyone in the stadium. The sea of orange was an incredible sight and I found myself feeling sorry for the Iowa fans who surely must have been embarrassed by the obvious difference in the amount of support for each team. As the game progressed and a Tennessee win became more and more evident, the energy in the stadium only increased. Before long I was watching the trophy being presented to the team as the sea of orange erupted with cheers. As I stood there singing along to "Rocky Top," I could not help but be filled with pride for not only this team but also its fans. 

The University of Tennessee football team has been through a whirlwind of ups and downs in only a few short years. From sudden and multiple coaching changes to heartbreaking losses, Vol nation has certainly been rocked. Still, no matter the circumstances, fans still turn up at every game with more faith in this team than ever. Although Tennessee fans have been mocked and teased about our confidence in our team, we still proudly proclaim, year after year, "this is our year" knowing that this statement will be true soon enough. Vol fans have proved time and time again that we will stand by this program and after witnessing the determination and drive that the players possessed during the bowl game, I believe that things will only go up from here. 

In the words of Butch Jones, "God bless and go Vols."