Celebrating the Birthday of Robert Neyland

General Robert R. Neyland was born on this day in 1892. Let’s take a look back at what he did and his legacy to Tennessee football.

Today, when you hear “Neyland,” you probably think of over 100,000 people in orange and white cheering on the Vols on a fall Saturday. But why is it called Neyland?

Robert R. Neyland played college football, baseball, and wrestling at West Point, where he graduated before becoming a general in the U.S. Army. He came to Knoxville after finishing his service, and after one year as an assistant, he was named the head football coach of the Volunteers in 1926. 

In his first nine seasons at the helm, the Volunteers lost just one of their 68 games at home. In 1935, Neyland was called back by the army, but with the Vols struggling in his absence, he returned for the 1936 season.

After serving during World War II, Neyland coached in his final stint from 1946 to 1952. Following this retirement, he was still the athletic director at Tennessee. Neyland died in 1962, but his legacy at Tennessee included a national championship, five SEC championships, and much more. The stadium was dedicated to him the year he died, and a statue of him was built in 2010.

Neyland set an incredible precedent for winning at Tennessee that all coaches in the program look to follow. Today, on the day he was born in 1892, we celebrate his legacy. 

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