Vols nation unites as Big Orange Caravan makes its way to Kingsport

KINGSPORT, Tenn. (WCYB) — In its fourth and final stop of 2024, the Big Orange Caravan came to the Meadowview Convention Center in Kingsport on Wednesday to give fans across the Tri-Cities to meet some of their favorite faces of Vols nation.

After stops in Chattanooga, Memphis and Nashville, head football coach Josh Heupel, men's and women's head basketball coaches, Rick Barnes and Kim Caldwell, along with Athletic Director Danny White all blessed Tennessee fans with their presence.

With food, drinks, entertainment, and most of all, a chance to meet and greet the coaches with autographs and pictures - it was another opportunity to showcase the strong Vols community across the entire state.

"The connection to the university, and in our case, statewide pride, it's a big deal," said Athletic Director, Danny White. "It's special how much people care about this university. This orange. We have some really special fans that we don't ever take for granted."

While it wasn't the first go-round for Barnes or Heupel, it was a good chance for newly hired women's basketball coach Kim Caldwell to get a taste of the fandom of the Vols in East Tennessee.

"You spend so much time in the office with your face on your phone doing the recruiting. To get out and really see the fans and see what you're doing it for is a really nice refresher and it is such a special thing because so many people don't have this," said Caldwell. "People are asking for your autograph and that's never happened to me before. It's really humbling to see the line of people and what it means."

It was a very good turnout on Wednesday as Vols fans poured in from a line that dove well into the parking lot leading up to the doors opening at 5pm. And while it's not anything new for Heupel, it's still something he appreciates very much each time they get to see the support.

"One of the greatest things about being here at Tennessee is our fanbase," said Heupel. "There's nothing better and there's nothing bigger in the entire country. It's huge because our players feel that energy and has really helped us turn things around."

Barnes has done the Caravan countless times and still continues to feel the magnitude of being able to get out and interact with Vols nation - dating back to when he arrived in Knoxville nine years ago.

"When we do what we do, you want to be appreciated and want people to love it and you can't be a Tennessee Volunteer and go out and not feel like that you're blessed to have this job and know that people care," said Barnes. "There's just those blue-blooded Volunteer fans that are going to stick with you. I'm not surprised by anything with our fan base because truly I think they're the best in the country."