Tennessee Volunteers Ribbon: Striped

In the East division of the SEC, the Tennessee Volunteers compete with Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina and Vanderbilt. The Volunteers have a long standing tradition of excellence in college athletics, particularly football and women's basketball.

The football team's first game was held on November 21, 1891, as a makeshift squad facing off against a similar one from the University of the South. For the next few seasonS, the Volunteers would have no coach. This would change in 1899 with the hiring of J. A. Pierce. He and his successors would have brief tenures until the arrival of Zora Clevenger in 1911. While he remained at the University only until 1915, Clevenger led Tennessee to a 26-15-2 record while there, including an undefeated season in 1914.

In 1926, Robert Neyland was hired to coach the football team. Over the next decades he would fashion the Tennessee Volunteers into one of the most formidable football programs in the nation. From 1926 through 1934, the Vols posted a fantastic 76-7-5 record. After being called to military duty following the 1934 season, the Volunteers had two unremarkable seasons. With his return in 1936, Tennessee began its return to form. By 1938, Neyland had led the school to its first national championship. The 1939 squad was the last team to hold its opponents scoreless during the entire regular season, only to lose to USC 14-0 in the Rose Bowl. The 1940 team again went undefeated in the regular season, after which they were named national champions by some polls.

Neyland was again absent from 1941-1945 because of his service during World War II. During this time, interim coach John Barnhill led the University to a 32-5-2 record. When Neyland returned - now with the rank of General - the Volunteers would continue their winning ways. In addition to conference titles in 1946 and 1951, two national titles were won in 1950 and 1951.

It wouldn't be until 1967 that the Volunteers would be voted national champions again, this time under coach Doug Dickey.

In 1976, Tennessee hired Johnny Majors as coach, a position he would retain until 1991. During his tenure with school, the Vols would win three SEC championships (1985, 1989, 1990) and defeat 2nd ranked Miami in the 1986 Sugar Bowl to keep the Hurricanes from claiming a national championship.

Philip Fulmer took over in 1993. His tenure brought another national championship in 1998 with Tee Martin at quarterback. Amazingly, this was the season after Peyton Manning finished his career at Tennessee.

It can be argued that the women's basketball program has been even more successful than the football program. Under legendary coach Pat Summit, the Lady Vols have become one of the most dominant programs in women's college basketball, their supremacy challenged only by the Uconn Huskies. Among the Lady Vols' accomplishments are 14 regular season SEC championships, 12 SEC Tournament championships, 17 Final Four appearances and 7 national championships. Another remarkable feat is that the Lady Vols have appeared in every NCAA Tournament and Sweet Sixteen.

This Tennessee Volunteers Ribbon: Striped has the Volunteers' Smokey the Hound mascot logo as well as the University's T logo printed over an orange, black and white striped background. With this designer ribbon fabric, you'll be ready for the next NCAA and SEC seasons.

The Tennessee Volunteers Ribbon: Striped has been licensed by the University of Tennessee and is for individual consumption only. Any other use of the college ribbon fabric is prohibited and illegal.