The No. 18 Tennessee Volunteers are gearing up to kick off their football season this Saturday, facing off against the Furman Paladins, who come into the game with a record of 1-0. The highly anticipated matchup is set to take place at Neyland Stadium, with kickoff scheduled for 3:30 p.m. EDT and broadcasted on SEC Network+.
In a press conference held on Monday, Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel expressed his excitement for the upcoming game, stating, "It's game week in Tennessee. Ready to go play some ball. Look forward to seeing our fans. For a bunch of our players, first experience inside of Neyland Stadium. Everybody inside the program is excited about kicking this thing off here on Saturday." He emphasized the hard work the team has put in since January, as they prepared for the season. Heupel added, "Culmination of a lot of work that goes into it, dating all the way back to last January as we started our offseason program. Excited to go play and compete with these guys, and you know, ultimately, we'll find out where we're at and where we got to continue to grow, but looking forward to the weekend."
As part of the game day festivities, the Vol Walk is scheduled to begin at 1:10 p.m. EDT. This tradition allows fans to cheer on the team as they make their way to the stadium, creating an electric atmosphere ahead of the game. The Vol Walk is a cherished event for Tennessee supporters, marking the beginning of the game day experience.
The timeline for game day includes several key events leading up to kickoff. Will call for tickets will open at Gate 21 at 11:30 a.m. EDT, alongside the opening of Truly's Tailgate. Vol Village, a fan area filled with activities and entertainment, will open its gates at noon. General admission gates will open at 1 p.m. EDT, allowing fans to settle in before the festivities begin.
Following the Vol Walk, the Pride of the Southland Band will march at 1:50 p.m. EDT, followed by a pregame performance that starts at 3:18 p.m. EDT. The national anthem will be performed shortly after, at 3:21 p.m. EDT, featuring a flyover by the T-38 Talons of the 90th Flying Training Squadron from Sheppard Air Force Base, adding to the spectacle of the event. Just before kickoff, the Volunteers will run through the T at 3:29 p.m. EDT, with the game officially starting at 3:32 p.m. EDT.
This season opener is not just a game; it represents a fresh start for the Volunteers as they aim to build on their previous season's performance. With the excitement surrounding the program and the support of the fans, Tennessee hopes to make a strong statement against Furman.
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