5 NOTES

1. Smokey is a Bluetick Coonhound This breed was chosen in 1953 because of its strong Tennessee roots, and Smokey has been the official live mascot ever since!
2. The First Smokey Was Chosen by a Cheer-Off – At a football game in 1953, several dogs were presented, and the crowd cheered the loudest for Smokey, sealing his fate as the university’s mascot.
3. Smokey Has a Lineage – There have been ten generations of Smokey, each serving as the live mascot. The current one, Smokey XI, took over in 2022.
4. He Leads the Football Team Onto the Field – At every home game, Smokey sprints out ahead of the Vols, hyping up the crowd as they storm the field.
5. Smokey Once Got Ejected from a Game – In 1957, Smokey II was ejected from a game against Mississippi State for growling at the opposing players!