Upon opening the newspaper every day, many carelessly thumb through the

pages as they make their way to the sports section. We rush to see who has

triumphed and who has failed; who has delivered the glory and who has let

down the countless fans.

We notice those who ran far, swam fast, scored high; those who caught the

ball (and dropped it) and those who successfully defended the field, the

fairway, the court and the pool. Sharing in the wins and losses, we

celebrate the high times and suffer through the lows.

The spirit, pride and patriotism displayed at the University of Tennessee

evidences the importance of athletics to the heart of our school. Whether

participant or fan, sports play an integral role on the UT campus and

around the world.

From fraternity football games to the back-to-back national champion Lady

Vol basketball team, Tennessee is brimming with the thrill of competition.

Our school is home to some of the world’s finest athletes. We have

Southeastern Conference champions, NCAA champions, All-Americans, World

Champions, Olympic Champions and all those who have contributed along the

way. As we say goodbye to those who have left their unforgettable mark on

the Tennessee tradition, we welcome newcomers who will no doubt contribute

to UT’s edge in the athletic arena.

Not everyone can understand or even care about the difference between

swimming the 50-meter freestyle in 20 seconds or two minutes. We can smell

the freshly cut grass mingling with the clay on the baseball field. We know

the rush of adrenaline experienced when the winning basket drops seconds

before the buzzer. No matter what the event, we understand the emotion and

the loyalty that draws us to the games, to watch, to cheer and experience

the thrill of victory.

It is not, however, merely the sport itself that lures us to the back page.

It is the individual stories behind the championships that personalize the

competitions for us and intrigue us not only to watch but to read. And so,

once a week we will honor a different UT athlete who has helped fuel our

passion for Tennessee athletics.

The column will focus on the pride and skill evident in Orange and White

athletics, with the hope of increasing understanding and respect for our

Vols and Lady Vols. Our honorees may not always be the highest scorer or

the first-place finisher, but will have in some way contributed to the

Tennessee tradition. We will highlight much more than the statistics as we

attempt to find the humanism in each and every game.

Every player has his or her own story; what drives them to endure endless

hours of grueling preparation, what it means to them to wear the Orange and

White and all the highs and lows that come with competition. And so with

the presentation of a wide range of players, we hope to better the

understanding of the passion, pride and perseverance necessary to succeed

as a UT athlete.

Each Thursday, beginning Jan. 29, The Daily Beacon will select a UT

Athlete of the Week. The athletes will be nominated by their coaches and

one of the nominees will be selected as Athlete of the Week by

Beacon staff writers. Be sure to watch for it in the coming

weeks.