Posted by FLVol on February 1, 2008 at 10:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I have some fond memories of stokely. Ran a high school track meet there and saw my first UT basketball game in 1986 and an REM concert there.

Posted by orangebloodgmc on February 1, 2008 at 10:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Crosby Stills Nash & Young, Chicago, War/Ohio Players, and Jackson Browne ... guess when was I in K-town?

Posted by nicksjuzunk on February 1, 2008 at 10:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Me and my cousins walked right into Stokely on Christmas night a few years ago. Played ball for a few hours. It was a really cool feeling. I'm glad we didn't get arrested.

Couldn't believe the place wasn't locked though. I'm not sure how that worked out.

Posted by xd9x19 on February 1, 2008 at 10:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Remember Dale Ellis doing a double-pump slam against KY (I think) when I was there in 82 or 83.

Posted by hopalong on February 1, 2008 at 10:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Time moves on, things change and progress dictates that memories are all that is left for facilities such as Stokely. It is really sad that a place like Stokey, with a rich history of events, is finally sent off into the sunset and will never again host the sort of athletic competition that many of us remember so well.

Posted by jdcvols on February 1, 2008 at 10:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)

orangblood, ditto, same concerts including Boston, Doobies and Fleetwood Mac.

Posted by utchris2003 on February 1, 2008 at 11:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I will be curious to see what they do with building. Sometimes you hate to see history torn down, but space is becoming a premium on campus. I have a lot of great memories in that building. I was a student trainer for 4 years, thus spending almost everyday in the training room at Stokely. I assume that the Volleyball team will move to TBA for now. I think that plans were already in the works to build a new indoor track facility anyway. Expanded Neyland Thompson Facility, TBA, and Pratt should have enough room to house the few offices that need to move. They will also have to move the Training Room and Women's Weight Room(which was long overdue).

Posted by pdhuff on February 1, 2008 at 11:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I was told down by the creek they were considering moving to the Halls Wal-Mart. Not comfirmed, yet.

Posted by dfreeman on February 1, 2008 at 11:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)

pdhuff - walmart is to expensive... they might be moving to kmart!! Maybe an unused old Food Lion building!! That was funny!!

Posted by Couchdummy on February 1, 2008 at 11:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Dionne Warwick-circa 1973.

Posted by jonathan012 on February 1, 2008 at 11:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)

TouchdownTN... you have the most negative attitude I think I've ever seen. Every single one of your posts that I've read have been negative. It must suck to be you.

Posted by dfreeman on February 1, 2008 at 11:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)

sorry, for the spelling bees I meant - too expensive!!

Posted by dfreeman on February 1, 2008 at 11:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)

jonathon012 - his post above was not negative. Stokely was louder back in the day!! It was smaller as well so it had to be louder!!

Posted by pms151 on February 1, 2008 at 11:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Elton John doing Crocodile Rock and Yellow Brick Road to masses of crazed fans in "smoke" filled Stokely was a high light of my days at UT.

Posted by dfreeman on February 1, 2008 at 11:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Hey on another note did 12times quadruple wide trailer in G-burg get repoed?? He went from 200mph to 0mph in like no time!!

Posted by tenniskid on February 1, 2008 at 11:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)

How about a 25 story parking garage! ha, talk about ample parking for any event on campus, plus convenient for any student at virtually any building on campus!

Posted by superk on February 1, 2008 at 11:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Actually, the crowds may be as loud (or louder) than they were at Stokely. The difference today is much better acoustics, higher ceilings, bigger area, thus allowing more sound to escape the confines of an older arena like Stokely. If you don't agree with me you can kiss my A**. Just kidding on the last sentence.

Posted by Chainsaw on February 1, 2008 at 11:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)

The loudest crowd I ever heard in Stokley was the NCAA regional game there (in what, '79 or '80? I can't remember) between Louisville and Kentucky. Seriously, I thought the place was gonna come crashing down.

Posted by VolnDothan on February 1, 2008 at 11:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)

OK...

Posted by bk555 on February 1, 2008 at 11:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)

1972..2 of my best friends and me went to the men's restroom open up 3 windows and dragged as many guys and gals thru them to get into the Jethro Tull concert..plus saw Dr J and Larry Bird mix it up there too...

Posted by billnewton on February 1, 2008 at 12:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The BEST Eagles concert ever and some wonderful basketball memories for sure.

Posted by TommyJack on February 1, 2008 at 12:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Saw indoor track, many roundball games, Heck, I remember when the A.D. was in S. Stadium.

Posted by TurboFan on February 1, 2008 at 12:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)

tenniskid, it is against university policy to provide parking to anyone that contributes less than a jizillion a year. Student parking is an abomination to be ticketed and towed to raise funds for distinguished alumni Outback Steakhouse bowl parties.

Saw The Police (when Sting sung that they "would come back no more no more no more"), Moody Blues, John Mellencamp in Stokely. Had the top most row for the Blues where the acoustics off the back wall and ceiling caused my ears to ring for two days.

Posted by FWBVol on February 1, 2008 at 12:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)

As a student assistant in Sports Information I spent many hours in Stokely. Before that, I spent much of my freshman year watching Ernie and Bernie with all the other greats of that last Ray Mears' team.

One of my favorite Stokely stories happened in the fall of 1976 the week of the Kentucky football game. The ticket office was still in Stokely back then, and the beer barrel trophy had yet to be retired. Usually they kept it right behind the ticket window in plain few.

That year a few UK students came down, walked up to the ticket window, and asked the person working the window for the barrel. They didn't try to grab it. They were very polite about it.

The ticket person contacted Gus Manning and they gave the UK kids the run around before finally arresting them. They couldn't arrest them for being in Stokely because it was a public building and they had come in an unlocked door. They couldn't arrest them for asking for the barrel, because they didn't try to steal it.

What did they charge them with? Parking in a faculty lot without the proper sticker.

After detaining them a few hours, the UT cops sent them back to Lexington.

They would have saved themselves some trouble if they had waited a few days as Kentucky won 7-0 and nailed the final nail in Bill Battle's coffin.

Posted by nnease15 on February 1, 2008 at 12:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Never got to see a game in that building. I remember one time when I was little my dad and my uncle took me in there while they were having a card show in the concourse. They still had the bball floor down in the middle of the floor (just like it would be for a game). I remember standing at halfcourt and just looking around. BTW- the half court had the outline of the state of Tennessee and that's how it should be today. Not TENNESSEE in block letters. I can't believe that recruits can't figure out where a game is being played so we have to spell out "TENNESSEE" at halfcourt in hopes of helping with exposure. Bring back the state to the half court!!!

Posted by frye on February 1, 2008 at 1:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Basketball camp in the 80s with Dyron Nix, Tyrone Beaman, Willie Burton, Fedderman and Dale Ellis coaching the teams. That's good memories man!
Also hearing Joe B Hall cursing like mad, too funny. Still remember my granddad covering my ears!

Posted by vintonvol on February 1, 2008 at 1:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I remember seeing Howard Wood nail one from the corner at the buzzer to beat Sam Bowie and Kentucky 49-47. Kevin Nash completely dominated Bowie. Also saw UT vs. Louisville that year with the Doctors of Dunk (L-Ville won the NCAA that year) and the Vols gave them all they could handle. And billnewton, was that Eagles concert in 1980? I saw them then and they rocked the house.

Posted by marc_ash on February 1, 2008 at 1:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Used to play some pretty good pick up games in the Stoke. Also, got to play a pick up game with the Vols. My buddy got dunked on by Brandon Crump...now that was funny. I was smart enough to get the heck out of the way at least.

Good times.

Posted by arkyvol on February 1, 2008 at 1:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)

was it 71 or 72 that elvis did a show there? whenever, i was there.

Posted by tngeoff on February 1, 2008 at 1:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)

nicksjuzunk.

Hey Nick! Hope all's well. Good thing you didn't start waving your arms and yelling!

pdhuff.

Speaking of the creek. I saw a couple of concerts at Stojkely, but Goose Creek Symphony (a million years gao) was my favorite. Watched Ernie and Bernie in there too. Wrestled in there as well. I also ahd the opportunity to play against Bernard King once in a pick up game which brought to ponder, "Why am I out here?" Same thought I had later with Len Kozmolski, Lloyd Richardson (Racquetball? I beat him!) and a few others. My first taste of Lady Vols Basketball was in 1973 when I was out shooting by myself and this girl came up and asked if I wanted to play. I asked increulously, "One on on?" She said, "Yup." I smirked. The game was on. Good grief. I didn't know women had such hard hips! I thought I was playing Ice Hockey again! That girl was mean as a snake. I won't say then outcome, because if I won it would prideful. If I lost it would be embarrasing. Great old days.

FWBVol.

I am willing to bet that you and I have met.

Posted by adimatteo on February 1, 2008 at 2:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Its one of those things we complain about when were using the place (comfort, etc), then when its replaced and time to go,we complain again. Everyone who went to UT in past has great memories of the place.Its a shame it cant be kept for something.
I took my daughter on recent visit back,and she was amaazed at the place, the wooden seating, etc.
Hopefully they will figure out way to save something, the seats, etc, what else do we have to do as we get older but look back at the crazy things we did, and where we did them. Hopefully UT will do something to preserve something...

Posted by gillblog on February 1, 2008 at 2:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)

hopalong said it right. This is the way of things and we all eventually experience the bittersweet emotions of parting with the pleasures of youth.
(it's been so long now, but didn't Bill Justice and Bill Hahn have about 2 years in Stokely?? and Ron Widby?)

Posted by bleed_orange on February 1, 2008 at 2:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I miss the great seats my dad had in the Orange Tie Club. I believe he had about 7th row Center Court. I saw my first TN game back about 1975. I really don't remember much about Bernard King, Ernie Grunfeld, Mike Jackson,Doug Ashworth, or Johnny Darden. The first players I really remember are Reggie Johnson,Terry Crosby, Bert Bertelkamp, Howard Wood, Gary Carter, Dale Ellis,Michael Brooks, Willie Burton, Tyrone Beaman, Rob Jones, Tony White, Fred Jenkins, Dan Federmann, Anthony Richardson, Dyron Nix, Doug Roth, Elvin Brown and Greg Bell to name a few. I wonder how many points some of the players like Michael Brooks would of scored with the 3-pt line. If I remember correctly, he used to shot it from about the NBA 3-pt line. GO BIG ORANGE! BEAT THE MSU BULL DOGS! GO VOLS!

Posted by dash727 on February 1, 2008 at 2:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Great athletes and incredible sports and concert events. The noise and heat in Stokely were part of every sporting and concert event. Ernie and Bernie trashing Kentucky and Elvis Presley's concert on May 20, 1977 will forever be special memories.

Posted by FatherVol on February 1, 2008 at 2:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The James Gang, The Carpenters, Bette Midler, Elton John, Doobie Brothers....ah, the memories.

Posted by tngeoff on February 1, 2008 at 2:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

dash727.

Good post. Great memories.

Posted by rudydog1 on February 1, 2008 at 2:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)

1969.... Janis Joplin..... Stokely Athletic Center.. Need I say more....

Posted by THE_VOL on February 1, 2008 at 3:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)

They could convert it to a prison for football players and then FOOLmer's crew would never have to leave campus!

Posted by 1974Vol on February 1, 2008 at 4:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Man did that place Rocked in the 60's & 70's for the Ray Mears basketball show! We had a little buzz headed guard that Mears used in a box and 1 when we played Pete Maravich & LSU one year. Held Pete to like 17 or 18 and beat them. Anyone rememeber that kids (probably 60 now) name?

Posted by VolnAZ on February 1, 2008 at 4:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)

the_vol... Are you even a UT fan, cause you sound more like a closet Bama goon than a Tennessee fan!! Go back to Tuscaloser and take TDTN with you!!!

You must blame misspelled words on your pencil. How is it CPF fault if a player does something stupid and gets arrested? Did Fulmer force them to buy the weed or ignore a cops orders? Get a clue...

Posted by VolnAZ on February 1, 2008 at 4:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)

On second thought leave TDTN he makes me laugh... You just annoy me!

Posted by rudydog1 on February 1, 2008 at 4:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)

1974 Vol.. I that guard was Billy Justus..

Posted by drone on February 1, 2008 at 4:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Jimmy Buffet, Steve Martin, Larry Holmes & fantastic BBall.

Posted by tngeoff on February 1, 2008 at 4:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)

When was Rodney Woods playing? He hosed my intramural flag football team in the Championship game against the Tennessee Lakers as the "referee." Game was over. No time left. Score 0 - 0. We're kinda' standing around wondering what's next and suddenly the Lakers run out, run a ply and score an uncontested touchdown. We went nust but Woods said, "He didn't realize it but there was one second left." Hey! How 'bout lettin' us in on that one? Anyway...very old news, but funny now. The Lakers was made up of redshirt football players and other varsity athletes not in season at thst time. Ron McCartney (great guy) was their coach. Yes...THAT Ron McCartney. All American.

Posted by 1974Vol on February 1, 2008 at 4:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)

rudydog1 The guy I'm thinking of was more of a roll player than a star like Justus, Tom Hendrix, Bobby Guinn, I also keep thinking the name Billy Kahn but don't know if that's right. The guy was 6' maybe 6 1" blonde buzz cut. Anyway... long time ago but great times.

Posted by TommyJack on February 1, 2008 at 5:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)

1974: Hahn, not Kahn

Posted by gillblog on February 1, 2008 at 5:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)

One thing I do remember, Billy Hahn (Kahn???) was a guard. I remember he was a dead shot from 30ft could dribble rings around anybody in the SEC, had Bob Cousy moves to the basket, and he played alongside Bill Justus(Justice???)his whole career at UT.

OH, this spelling problem and old age... OH!!

Posted by brokebackvol on February 1, 2008 at 6:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Gosh, so many memories of Stokely...remember the days there before the Lady Vols won their first title - place was mostly empty, Pat and the refs could hear us yelling without a problem! Saw Tina Turner on the "Private Dancer" tour back in 85...

Once tried to stomp on a popcorn fed roach there - it was like trying to crush a matchbox car!

Goodbye Stokely - but agreed, it is time to move on, and that space is MUCH too valuable.

Posted by pdhuff on February 1, 2008 at 7:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)

TJ- they're breaking up that ol' gang of mine. Stokely, RV parking at the foot of the stadium,
used to come off onto 17th at 75mph. At least Vandy still has the 1920's gym with teams under the goal.

No more fill-ups for 15 dollars. What's next?

Posted by nicksjuzunk on February 1, 2008 at 7:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)

tngeoff,

I never thought of it till now but you're right!

Posted by Madkels on February 1, 2008 at 7:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I remember beating KY in Stokely. The place was very loud and we were all chanting "Sit Joe Sit" at Joe B. Hall!! One of many great memories there. Please don't tear it down.

Posted by zehduck on February 1, 2008 at 7:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Stokely Athletic Center = Our Cameron Indoor Stadium...

Posted by flyinpro on February 1, 2008 at 8:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Typical UT, now that the fire marshal ordered the building to no longer be used to hold athletic or other spectator events, it will be ok for kids to go to class there? I guess the AD will now have thier own $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ offices someplace on campus. Sports, parties, politics and acdemics at UT and in that order

Posted by CatScratchFever on February 1, 2008 at 9:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)

It would be great to refurb the place and play a couple of games there each season. SEC sports need to hang on to their past as much s embracing the present.

Posted by rockyknox on February 1, 2008 at 9:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

Posted by middlegavol on February 1, 2008 at 9:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I remember watching Ernie and Bernie there. We would sit as close behind the home bench as possible and I had made it my goal in life to heckle Austin Clark into an early grave. Stu Aberdeen would give me the nastiest looks at times but it was great fun. I also took a racquetball class taught by a young assistant professor/coach named Pat Head. Good old days for sure.