Setting sail with the Vol Navy
Along the banks of the Tennessee River, with Neyland Stadium looming in the background, they don’t just tailgate; they SAILGATE.
These seafaring sailors call themselves the Vol Navy, pulling their boats right up to the stadium and tailgating in nautical comfort. Primarily anchored between Neyland Stadium and the longstanding riverfront restaurant Calhoun’s, the Vol Navy features all manner of maritime vessels — from small deck boats and pontoons to houseboats and yachts — generally increasing in size and scale as you get closer to the stadium.
After parking near to where the downtown area meets Volunteer Landing Park, I walked across the pedestrian bridge to explore what the Vol Navy had in store for the rivalry matchup against Florida. As I approached, I could hear the thumping of music and the cacophony of exuberant pregame fraternizing.
Within minutes, as if by fate, I stumbled into the Tailgaters of the Week, the fellas from the Vawls Deep Podcast, who I met at the same game last year in The Swamp. They invited me aboard one of many boats featuring an inflatable alligator hanging from a rope, where I was offered seemingly every possible combination of mixers to go with my Tennessee whiskey … and exactly one type of beer: Miller Lite.
I also want to give special shoutouts to:
- Greg from the Time-Out boat, who assured me he’d just stand back and watch me make a terrible decision by going down the slide on the back of the boat and into the river if the Gators pulled off the upset
- Andrew, who provided the frostiest of keg beers and even offered me a sweat towel after I left mine at the hotel
The times were so good and the beverages so plentiful that I failed to get nearly enough pictures with the many great folks in the Vol Navy who made it a phenomenal pregame in Knoxville. Can’t wait to make it back.
AHOY!!
CFB Travel Guy 