Gettin' on the (Big Orange) Bus

The BOVB usually gets updated on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

But today I am so pumped that I just had to put Monday's post up a day early!

Causing this jolt of Orange adrenaline this morning is a Web site posted on Twitter last night by VolPress, with the headline "Thinking of Tennessee football."

To be honest, I haven't really even clicked on any of the links on the site yet. What got me all fired up is the constant playing of "Rocky Top" and "Immigrant Song" coupled with images of UT's players and new coaching staff.

After watching -- in person -- the baseball Vols choke 10-2 to the Gators in Gainesville yesterday, this Web site was the perfect tonic.

The flip side, tho, is that I can't get any work done (Hey, you try reading students' papers comparing Hinduism and Islam with Rocky Top blaring out of your computer. It's impossible).

But who cares!?

So come on, now, Orange Nation! Let's all get on the (big Orange) bus and get pumped for Tennessee football!

Jeff

PS -- that's a Jacksonville Transportation Authority bus I spotted at the University of N. Fla. a couple weeks back. It's bedecked in Hooters ads!

Spanking the Beavers

OK, I am going to diverge from the usual Monday-Wednesday-Friday BOVB schedule to proclaim the good news that many people may have missed while concentrating on less important issues (like the economy): Verily I say unto you that Tennessee beat Oregon State 5-4 in baseball Friday night!

What a way for UT to open its 100th baseball season. Yippieeeee.

It seems the game was quite a barn-burner, with the Vols scoring four of their five runs on two-out hits and clinching the game by scoring two runs in the bottom of the ninth to whoop the 25th-ranked Beavers. Dang, I wish I coulda been one of the 2,048 in attendance at Lindsey Nelson Stadium!

Of course it's a bit soon to get too excited about this victory because it's a long season. But it's exciting to see UT pull one out a dramatic victory like this in game one.

The Vols' achievement has inspired me to pull out one of the best pics yet submitted to the BOVB, this totally awesome Orange VW photographed in Jacksonville earlier this week by pro shooter Bruce Lipsky.

In the e-mail delivering the pics, Lipsky (a Florida grad) correctly described this VW as being painted in beautiful, pure UT Orange.

Orange Nation celebrates Lipsky's sharp eye for untainted Orange as much as we celebrate the opening of the college baseball season. Thank you Bruce, and thank you Vols!

Jeff

Alternative modes

It's hard sometimes to remember that there are legitimate sports other than college football.

Like hoops (which I still can't get excited about) and golf and track and swimming (which the Vols are rockin in this year).

OMG: and baseball.

Don't roll your eyes. College baseball rocks. True, the aluminum bats are hard to get used to, but they beat the steroids in MLB. Personally I'd rather watch UT baseball than hoops any day (which, BTW, I'll be doing in March when a pal and I head to Gainesville to see UT play FLA . . . Click here to see the baseball sked.)

In the realm of vehicles it's also good to remember there are alternate modes of transportation. Exhibit A are these two Orange bikes photographed by John Knorr in Japan last month.

"Hey Bubba," John began his e-mail. "I am surrounded by Orange transportation. More than I would ever have imagined before looking for it."

I'm hearing that from a lot of folks lately, and it's fulfilling for me to know the BOVB is increasing people's Zen-like awareness of their surroundings and, therefore, quality of life.

And we should all try to remember that it's good for the body and soul if we can cycle now and then — especially if it's on an Orange bike.

Jeff