The countdown to Tennessee’s 2024 football season is on, with just 61 days remaining until kickoff.
The Vols will begin their campaign on August 31 against Chattanooga at Neyland Stadium. The game is scheduled for a 12:45 p.m. EDT start and will be broadcast on SEC Network.
This season marks the fourth year under head coach Josh Heupel. In his first three seasons, Heupel has amassed a 27-12 record and led the Vols to three bowl games. Tennessee finished the 2023 season with a 9-4 record, including a 4-4 mark in SEC play.
With 61 days left until the season opener, Vols Wire reflects on the Tennessee student-athletes who have worn the No. 61 jersey, a number retired in honor of Willis Tucker. Tucker, the first Tennessee player to wear No. 61, was a graduate of Knoxville High School and a dual-sport athlete in football and track. He was tragically killed in World War II in 1944.
All-Time Players to Wear No. 61 at Tennessee:
- Willis Tucker (1939-40)
- Horace Moore (1944)
- Hal Bridges (1955-56)
- Wayne Grubb (1957-60)
- Steve Coleman (1961)
- Carl Ellis (1962-63)
- Bobby Morel (1964-66)
- Kelley Lacoste (1967)
- Clifton Stewart (1968)
- Chad Simonton (1969-70)
- Steve Mitchell (1971-73)
- Chris Webster (1974)
- Scott Ferrar (1974)
- Ralph Bullard (1975)
- Brent Akin (1977)
- Chris Bolton (1979-80)
- Gordon Roberts (1985)
This rich history highlights the significance of the No. 61 jersey, commemorating not only its notable wearers but also the legacy of Willis Tucker. As Tennessee gears up for another promising season under Heupel, the team and its fans look forward to continuing this proud tradition.