The Great Smoky Mountain Journal

Staff, Wire Reports

Posted: Sunday, January 21, 2018 07:21 PM

More Than 200 Vol Tickets Donated To Help East Tennessee Kids Attend First Tennessee Game

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- More than 200 tickets were donated Friday in order for several East Tennessee kids to attend their first Tennessee game.

Many Vol fans took to the internet to start the #EmptyNeyland campaign last week in effort to protest head coach Butch Jones. Meanwhile, the Neyland Stadium PA announcer Jeff Jarnigan suggested upset fans should do something more constructive with their tickets.

"I just think of all these kids out there that could have that moment that perhaps their parents or parent might not be able to give them that opportunity otherwise. I think there is a better way to put that ticket to use this Saturday than putting in the drawer somewhere," said Jarnigan.

Friday morning, Jarnigan said his office had nearly 230 tickets from all over East Tennessee. Jarnigan said he would donate them to the Knox Area Mentor Initiative.

"It takes you to a different level of being a fan when you're in the stadium and you've experienced it. That's what I want to pass along that someone did for me," said Jarnigan.

Jarnigan also said many former players wanted to donate for the kids. Jarnigan said he got tickets sent overnight from Nashville by former Tennessee linebacker Kelly Ziegler who played in the 80s and in the Miami Sugar Bowl.