Tennessee’s next tradition, get ready to Enlist!
story and photo by Chris Shields, The Knoxville Journal (April, 17, 2006)

Robert R. Neyland, Tennessee coaching great, was called to military duty in 1941, during his tenure as head football coach at Tennessee.

Neyland rose to the rank of brigadier general during the second World War. He is one of Tennessee’s greatest icons, not only was he a great coach and ambassador to the Vols, but he served his country as well. General Neyland is the epitome of big orange tradition. Along those lines a new tradition is being formed, get ready for Tennessee’s next great tradition, the Big Orange Army.

In 2002 David Jamison had an idea. He felt Vol fans needed a boost, they needed to find their roots and tradition that makes us all bleed orange. Thus an icon was born with the founding of the Big Orange Army.

Although the Big Orange Army is in no way associated with service in the United States armed forces, the setup of the BOA is structured that way. The BOA is intended to strengthen the unity of Vol fans by uniting the orange faithful throughout Tennessee and the world.

To become a member one must enlist, after enlistment fans receive a BOA certificate signed by General Jamison and John Black, Colonel of Special Operations, proving where their loyalties lie, a set of dog tags with your own individual enlistment number and the pride and tradition that makes Tennessee fans one of a kind. After enlisting, members are entitled to numerous benefits. Discounts from sponsors, such as Calhouns, discounts on Big Orange Army clothing lines, admittance into all Big Orange Army rallies and events, as a soldier of the BOA, to move up in rank you must enlist others. Once a member of the BOA you will serve as a member for life.

The BOA sponsors events and raises funds for charity organizations such as: The American Red Cross, Second Harvest Food Bank and The Lance Armstrong foundation just to name a few. The BOA already has thousands of members, several well known Vol fans have the BOA certificate hanging on their walls, such as: Dolly Parton, Mike Ragsdale, Hawaiian Tropic founder, Ron Rice, UT football coach Phil Fulmer, state senator Tim Burchett and music icon Kid Rock.

The BOA is lead by founder and General Jamison. “I want fans not just to be spectators but active participants in the games, that is what the Big Orange Army is all about,” Jamison said about the BOA. “I want the Big Orange Army to create Fandamonium.”

Jamison signed the license agreement with the University of Tennessee in September and since the Big Orange Army has been on the rise. Jamison hopes to have over 100,000 members by the end of the 2006 football season.

What better way to show your true colors than joining the Big Orange Army, help unite the Volunteer faithful throughout the land.