The Smoky Tennessee mascot represents the University of Tennessee's athletic teams, specifically their football team, the Volunteers. Smoky, an American bluetick coonhound, has been the official live mascot of the university since 1953, making it one of the longest-running live mascots in college sports. The tradition started when a bluetick coonhound was found abandoned during a UT football game. The dog was adopted by a local family who then donated it to the university. The canine quickly became popular among the student body and the decision was made to make it the official mascot. Smoky has attended countless Tennessee football games, serving as a symbol of pride and school spirit.
Smoky has attended countless Tennessee football games, serving as a symbol of pride and school spirit. The presence of the hound at games adds to the overall atmosphere of excitement and support for the team. Smoky is often seen running onto the field with the team before games, leading them onto the field and pumping up the crowd.
Hold my broom: May Day / Beltane
You don't have to get skyclad and howl at the moon to celebrate May Day (based on the Gaelic holiday, Beltane), but we're not judging you if you do. Today is simply about stopping to smell the flowers.
By Molly Snyder Senior Writer Published May 01, 2021 at 10:31 AMHold My Broom is an OnMilwaukee exclusive series exploring the magickal, mystical and cackle-worthy.
For many, May 1 marks the time when we can finally start getting stoked for summer. Others know it as May Day – a Euro-based spring holiday only vaguely recognized in the United States – that encourages people to commune with nature in whatever way it works for them, from firing up the grill to digging in the dirt until sundown.
May Day is also International Workers’ Day, or what my partner calls, “The real Labor Day.”
May Day might also conjure images of poles adorned with ribbons and folks getting frisky outdoors (ahem), but now we’re also talking about a holiday that May Day is based on: Beltane.
Beltane is a Gaelic holiday celebrating the halfway point between the spring equinox (March 21) and the summer solstice (June 21). Traditionally, Beltane was a focus on fire and fertility; a time of seed-planting in all of its forms and joy.
Today it is celebrated by Pagans, Wiccans and spiritual nature lovers alike. For some, it includes rituals both old and new, for others it is simply a time to pause and reflect on growth, literally and/or metaphysically.
In short, Beltane is a time to stop and smell the flowers.
For me, it’s the time of year when I shave winter’s afghan off my legs and blaze up fires in my yard on a regular basis. This year, I tracked down someone whom I hadn’t spoke to in many years, but who had great impact on my family’s life and I knew was a celebrator of this shift into summer.
Mary O’Connell is a farm-based educator who owns Paradise Farms in West Bend. Many moons ago, she was the director of LifeWays, an early childhood center located in the magical Koenen nature preserve in Riverwest and the place both my sons started their journey into the world without me.
Last week, I called to ask her if she was doing anything cool on the farm for the first of May, and like I was hoping, she is indeed.
Mary was in the process of creating a maypole with 10 families who had been coming to the farm every Wednesday for months to learn about nature, spend time safely with others during the pandemic and meet like-minded families with whom they could further build a community.
“This was the perfect activity for us. Both adults and kids participated from start to finish: went into the woods, found a dead tree, hauled it out, cut off the branches, dug a hole, made a ‘May Crown’ for the top, cut ribbons and hung them from the crown," she says.
Since then, the group has been practicing traditional maypole dances in preparation for a May Day celebration next week. One of the dances she told me is called “The Spider’s Web” where people move around each other and weave a web of ribbons above their heads. Another is called “The Barbers Pole” where they methodically and joyfully wrap the ribbons around the trunk so it looks similar to an actual barber’s pole.
At the end of our call, Mary pointed out that people can celebrate May Day/Beltane – and any holiday or event for that matter – however they want, as big or as small as they are able and in whatever way works for them.
“You don’t have to go fell a tree in the forest,” says Mary. “Some years I just wrapped crepe paper around a pole in my garage.”
Happy May Day, Merry Beltane to all.
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Molly Snyder Senior Writer @mollysnyderMKE
Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.
Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.
Newborns of the body or imagination conceived on Beltane are “Merry Begots,” full of enough aliveness, love, joy, humor to confound the toughest logic and direst doomsday predictions .
Throughout the years, there have been 10 different bluetick coonhounds that have served as Smoky. Each dog is given the name Smoky, followed by a Roman numeral to signify their order. This allows for a continuous tradition while still honoring the unique individuality of each dog. Smoky represents loyalty, tenacity, and a never-give-up attitude, qualities that are associated with both the university and its athletic teams. The mascot symbolizes the university's commitment to excellence and the determination to always strive for victory. Smoky has become an iconic figure, not only for the university but also for college football as a whole. In addition to attending football games, Smoky also makes appearances at other university events, community events, and even participates in charitable activities. The mascot has become a beloved figure both on and off the field, capturing the hearts of fans and bringing joy to all who encounter it. In conclusion, Smoky Tennessee mascot is a prominent symbol of school spirit, loyalty, and determination for the University of Tennessee. The bluetick coonhound serves as an inspiration to both the athletes and the fans, embodying the true essence of college athletics. Smoky represents the university's rich history and traditions while also inspiring future generations to continue their support and love for the Volunteers..
Reviews for "The Unique Journey of Being the Smoky Tennessee Mascot"
1. Jen - 2/5 stars - I was really disappointed with "Smoky Tennessee Mascot". From the description, I was expecting a thrilling and action-packed story, but instead, it felt slow and lacking in excitement. The characters were one-dimensional and the plot was predictable. Overall, it just didn't live up to my expectations and I wouldn't recommend it.
2. Mark - 1/5 stars - I couldn't even finish "Smoky Tennessee Mascot". The writing was incredibly dull and the story dragged on without any real direction. The dialogue was cheesy and the characters felt flat and uninteresting. I found myself skimming through the pages, hoping for something to grab my attention, but it never happened. I regret wasting my time and money on this book.
3. Sarah - 2/5 stars - I had high hopes for "Smoky Tennessee Mascot" as I'm a fan of stories set in small towns, but this one fell flat for me. The plot felt disjointed and the pacing was off. The main character lacked depth and I found it hard to connect with any of the other characters. Additionally, the ending felt rushed and unsatisfying. Unfortunately, I can't say I enjoyed this book.