Tennessee cancels classes for Vols season opener
The University of Tennessee cancelled classes on the day of the Vols season opener.
Christmas came early for students at the University of Tennessee.
In a move designed to accommodate parking, traffic and security, the university cancelled classes on the day of the Vols season opening football game on Thursday, Sept. 1 vs. Appalachian State.
An email from athletic director Dave Hart was released to students on Tuesday to announce classes as well as most campus offices will be closed that day.
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Now, this move will be scrutinized by rival fan bases and from the crowd who thinks Tennessee is shirking academics for a football game. But that’s not the entire story. Tennessee added a day to the academic calendar later in the year, so there won’t be one fewer day in the fall term for students and campus employees. It’s just being moved.
Think of it like the school having a snow day.
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But instead of snow coming and creating a campus nightmare, it’ll be 100,000-plus fans flocking to campus for the Vols season opener.
Having a football game to host the same day while class is in session would have been a logistical nightmare. The best way to prevent people from sitting in their cars for three hours waiting to get into the stadium is to cancel classes for the day.
This way campus security can focus on the game and make sure the fan experience is as positive as it can be. Surely, the experience will be a positive one of the Vols take care of business against the Sun Belt team who has high hopes for the season.
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The Vols have high hopes too and hope to win the SEC East and get to the SEC Championship Game and play for a chance to earn a berth in the College Football Playoff.
Appalachian State played slayed Goliath before when they went into the Big House and upset the Michigan Wolverines in one of the biggest college football upsets of all-time.
If that happens again, you may as well cancel classes for Friday too.