Tennessee Athletics hosted a dedication ceremony Friday afternoon for the new Doug Dickey Hall of Fame Plaza.
The beautiful, outdoor plaza is located outside the north entrance of Neyland-Thompson Sports Center and is the centerpiece of a corridor to and from Stokely Hall that is used regularly by Tennessee student-athletes who call that residence hall home. A well manicured gathering space in which University of Tennessee Athletics Hall of Fame inductees are honored with individualized pavers, the plaza also is sure to receive a large volume of fan traffic on UT gamedays.
In only six years as head coach, from 1964 through 1969, Doug Dickey rebuilt the Tennessee football program and guided the Vols to a national championship and two Southeastern Conference titles.
As the university’s athletics director for 18 years starting in 1985, he managed a burgeoning budget that allowed UT to remain in the forefront of college sports competition.
In sum, Dickey’s contributions in coaching and administration combined to form a unique chapter in the history of Tennessee athletics. His lasting legacy has been duly noted with a string of prestigious awards paying homage to his achievements in both fields.
Hosted by current Director of Athletics Phillip Fulmer, Friday’s program also included remarks from football VFLs Lester McClain and Bob Johnson, as well as current Lady Vols basketball coach Kellie Harper, former Southeastern Conference commissioner Roy Kramer and Dickey himself.
Fulmer closed the program by unveiling a bust of Dickey that now is on permanent display in the plaza.
Friday’s dedication was coordinated in conjunction with the reunion of the 1969 Tennessee football team on its 50th anniversary. Dickey led that squad to an SEC Championship and a 9-2 overall record. Fulmer was a sophomore offensive guard on that team.
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