NASHVILLE - For years, generations of Thomas Luck's family supported the University of Tennessee and its endeavors. But on Friday, the Nashville lawyer squared off against his alma mater in a Nashville courtroom in a dispute over prime box seats at Neyland Stadium.
In a lawsuit, Luck wants the seating rights that were given to his father in 1961. The two box seats, which Luck says are the best in the stadium, are on the front row of the upper west deck near the 50-yard line.
On Friday, a lawyer from the university argued that the case should be dismissed because state government and its schools are immune from many types of suits. The school is trying to move his seats, and require him to donate an additional $6,000 to the university and pay face value for the tickets.
Davidson County Chancellor Ellen Hobbs Lyle will rule later.
"I've often told people I feel like I'm suing family here," Luck told the court.
As president of the West Tennessee Big Orange Club, Luck's father, William Luck, helped raise money to build the stadium's upper west deck. As a result of the father's fundraising, Gen. Robert Neyland, the school's former athletic director and football coach, gave William Luck lifetime rights to buy tickets for both seats in a 1961 contract.
The contract said the right could be passed down through generations, and Luck inherited that right when his father died in 2002.
Luck, who is representing himself, filed the lawsuit after school officials sent him a letter saying that because of renovations they were moving his seats.
Tiffany Carpenter, a spokeswoman for the school athletic department, said the university tried to relocate Luck to comparable seats on the other side of the stadium.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Tennessee 69, South Carolina 57 men's…
Tennessee 60, Connecticut 57 men's…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 77
BigOrangeVol writes:
Get 'em Tom!!!
troopervol writes:
Do me a favor and get me some box seats while you are at it
gohawks1 writes:
Let Judge Joe Brown handle this one.
troopervol writes:
Please keep posting.
You are so pathetic, it is entertaining to the rest of us.
Keep it up tard
bls8617#370509 writes:
Kiffboy? Wow, what a cool and thoughtful nickname
tnbanker_govols writes:
After last season, any volunteer fan that attended a football game should have the grounds to sue the UT athletic department.
bls8617#370509 writes:
Haha thats hilarious. I remember thinking on the way back from the FL game, "who do I call to get a refund?"
orangevolz writes:
You must live a miserable life. Everything in your world is always turned upside down. I don't understand why you even follow UT football if it makes you so unhappy.
The_Greater_Pumpkin writes:
Another "Big Orange Screw"!
volsbandit writes:
WWJD? (What Would Judgejudy Do?)
yeavols#228407 writes:
You are so pathetic...I am tired of your rants and mindless raves about absolutely nothing. You are a cancer among viruses. Your loathing hate is an abyss that even gravity can't escape. I wish and hope that soon your decrepid hands won't be able to post anymore intolerant hatred on this site so that no one has to read your vile spew anymore.
BigT_Chief writes:
Wow, how do I put this? How about you do us all a favor and go drink Drano.
yeavols#228407 writes:
not good enough
senracjr writes:
AreyouKiffinme is still mad because they fired his boyfriend.
OMike writes:
Hi, Im 6ft 3in, ripped and model on the side. Im loaded and have a genius IQ.... oh sorry thought this was facebook
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
I loved Coach Fulmer... but we've moved on.
Judge Coach Kiffin by his results on the field for UT. Who cares what he's done in the past. If produces on Saturdays great. If not, hate all you want. But give the man a chance to coach a dad-blasted game before you trash him!
OrangeMandM writes:
I love when certain people post on here and talk about how much money they make and how they own everything there is to own. Please..... In that case, I'm going to drive my Lamborghini up to Knoxville and stay the weekend at one of my many homes I own on the Tennessee river and cruise in my yacht. Then I'm gonna take my "jet"lol, and fly to Tampa and watch the Super bowl. Really! I promise! Then I'm coming back home and buy the state of Tennessee and tell everybody not to post on this FREE site cause I will buy KNS and only make it where people with a "jet" can post. Does anybody believe me or anybody else with posts like this? I didn't think so... I guess all the the billionaires like myself need to get a life! LOL
NoogaVol55 writes:
Whoa drink a half fifth of Makers Mark and this article is freakin hilarious...Give the man his two box seats,
rockytop4ever writes:
I was at the wyoming game. How much do you think I should get for that?
plattervol writes:
With all the braggin you are doing and owning the "trailer parks", you sound like a closet Alabama fan to me!
pdhuff#552644 writes:
I'd love to be the UTAD PR man told to handle this one.
Talk about a no-win situation.
Wonder how many have already been moved.
Think Curt Watson....
TNfaninMS writes:
I believe, I believe, come back tinkerbell, I believe!!!!!!!!!! LMAO
blitzshoot writes:
Sounds like someone else wanted those seats.
floridavolsfan writes:
Hammy is a "bloodsucker"! Remember how you treat people, because "what goes around, comes around." A compassionate fellow!!!
rusty_shackleford writes:
'Cause online I'm out in Hollywood
I'm 6 foot 5 and I look damn good
I drive a Maserati
I'm a black-belt in karate
And I love a good glass of wine
It turns girls on that I’m mysterious
I tell them I don't want nothing serious
'Cause even on a slow day
I could have a three way
Chat with two women at one time
I’m so much cooler online
So much cooler online
ncvol writes:
This is an open and shut case...
He should be allowed to keep his seats...but since they are changing the seating, his seats should be as close to where they were originally.
The contract should be honored.....Go Vols!
bloodrunsorange writes:
Yea!
KennesawVol writes:
If the stadium renovation is eating up his seats, he doesn't have a leg to stand on in this case. The renovation comes before personal benefits. This is kinda a twisted version of "eminent domain".
invisiblekid writes:
LMAO
tennisvol writes:
Just another way of UT trying to take advantage of its fans. It's all about money and not the fans. Take it to them,Luck.
letshave1more writes:
I have mixed feelinga on this one. I have to donate every year to buy tickets and these are his father's tickets. Why not let him donate like the rest of us?
His father's tickets were grandfathered and he passed away in 2002. Seems like this is a problem on the east and west sideline seats-some of the best seats are taken by fans that sit on their hands most of the game.... Most of these seats are grandfathered...
PaulTheVol writes:
Hey AreYouKiffinMe...I was going to tell you to quit posting your immature, insecure and unfunny comments on here. But considering how funny all of the responses have been (as opposed to your post), go right ahead and post some more.
letshave1more writes:
These were his father's seat who passed away in 2002. He should donate like the rest of us or get moved.
Southpaw_Vol writes:
AreYouKiffinMe probably doesn't even own his own trailer. Speakin of which...(think tune of Sweet Home Alabama)
well AreYouKiffinMe moved in with his mother
cuz he aint got no place to go
and now im right back in the gutter
with a garbage bag thats full of clothes
cuz u live at home in a trailer
what the hell u gonna do
cuz i live at home in a trailer
mom i'm coming home to u.
well my names AreYouKiffinMe and his names Dupree
and me him n u went to the same school.
this aint cool- im in a rage- he tappin my mom-
were almost the same age
on the microphone i drop bombs
look at this car-thanx alot mom
here happy birthday d@mnit
heres a brand new car- u can have it.
its 1928 delta. this shite wont even get me to the shelter.
and i cant even stand for a motown.
cause iim back in the 8-6-5 now
cuz i live at home in a trailer,
mom im commin home to you
*i robbed this from 8 mile, changed names*
volaholic45 writes:
Anybody else have a suspicion that there might be a few exagerations in Kiffinme's post?
volaholic45 writes:
Never mind. I just caught up on the posts and see that several others have the gift of discernment.
CoverOrange writes:
What kind of renovation would take away the FRONT row on the upper deck? Are any other seats "disappearing" or is it just these two? And will they "reappear" once the "renovation" is done? Questions from inquiring minds that KNS should look into.
Ringleader writes:
Exactly correct.
There is a similar lawsuit filed over the "lifetime" right to purchase renewable seats at South Carolina home games. Seems USC chose to add on a location surcharge in addition to the lifetime rate.
Seems these schools need to be informed that these contracts will be enforced as written.
RoadTrip writes:
Fantastic post! Let the ego maniacs beware...
jsm67vol writes:
Why don't you see if you can land your jet on Fort Loudon or for an even tougher challenge on top of the chimneys? If you don't like Kiffin or Hamilton, I have no problem with that. But most vol fans are excited about the change. So far, all I can see that Kiffin has scammed UT into is some highly ratede recruits that would never have even considered UT otherwise and arguably the best staff of asst coaches in the land, and all for 600K more than we were paying the former scammer coaches who talked as if they coached a high profile program only to lose to Wyoming. Obviously, all your money can't buy you a winning attitude and your just jealous of Kiffins.
Vol43 writes:
Have you ever noticed that when 'areyoukiffinme' shows up, 'robthevol' isn't far behind?
TommyJack writes:
yeah
GR82BAVOL writes:
The man helped raise the money to build the entire upper west deck, so it's not like they haven't donated anything.
The General obviously thought enough of this man and family to give him and his family tickets, which is something I'd bet the General would have never taken lightly.
That being said, this article didn't explain whether the tickets were being temporarily or permanently moved due to the renovations, moving them back when the renovations are complete. One would think this is permanent or he wouldn't be suing, but the KNS could've dug a little deeper on that one.
redrod writes:
Story 1st reported in the Tennessean,then discussed in more depth on VolNation.com. Glad to see this story get some press here in Knoxville.
I was always taught to be a man of honor.Is it not to much to expect honor from an institution of higher learning? UT let your honor be held high not by just us fans. Honor the agreement of those that came before and by all means don't taint your image over two seats given as a token of appreciation by a revered leader whom the stadium is named.
More info here:http://www.volnation.com/forum/tennes...
InertGas writes:
Man, it would be awful to have to set on the 50 on the East side. Talk about low rent. Imagine the kind of people you wold have too set with.
yeavols#228407 writes:
lol...haven't noticed, but the interlopers arn't here when he does. But i'll pay closer attention next time.
Raynoch writes:
He has a contract signed by Bob Neyland saying his father or any of his father's heirs do not have to donate for those seats. Therefore, clearly he shouldn't have to donate.
shipperman#280095 writes:
Vickie, you and Phil should not be posting on here. Your husband is gone, live with it
shipperman#280095 writes:
I know of a couple of people this has happened to. If this man wins this suit, and he will, look for several more like likesuits
bobbyutvol writes:
GREED what a shame////Give him his seats
Share your thoughts
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.