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Today on Rocky Top: Vols-Hokies Battle at Bristol Primer

ByCaleb Calhoun|
Sep 5, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers fans flies the United States flag and the Volunteer flag prior to the game against the Bowling Green Falcons at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 5, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers fans flies the United States flag and the Volunteer flag prior to the game against the Bowling Green Falcons at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

The build-up to the Tennessee vs Virginia Tech Battle at Bristol dominates all of the Volunteers news on Rocky Top for Friday, Sept. 9, 2016.

It has been three years in the making, but fans from Rocky Top to Blacksburg are ready. The Battle at Bristol is about to be here.

And it might be able to spur a long overdue rivalry between the Vols and the Hokies.

As we get set to bring you our Vols coverage for today, it’s worth noting that everything is going to be centered around the Battle at Bristol.

This is the only Tennessee football news that anybody cares about at this point. So let’s get started.

Here is the news you need to know about Tennessee’s game in Bristol.

Remembering the Vols’ other Bristol game…in 1897 – Tom Mattingly of USA TODAY Network

"When Tennessee and Virginia Tech square off Saturday night at Bristol Motor Speedway, it will mark the second time Tennessee has played a football game in Bristol.In 1897, William McKinley was president of the United States. Future UT coach Robert R. Neyland was a 5-year-old in Greenville, Texas, and Samuel G. Heiskell was mayor of Knoxville."

Former Vols, Hokies wish they had opportunity to play at Bristol – Kane O’Neill of WJHL

"They call Bristol Motor Speedway the Last Great Colosseum. It has been a battlefield reserved for drivers to put the pedal to the metal, trying to claim their spot a top victory lane. The fire of engines will soon be replaced with the clash of pads, as Tennessee and Virginia Tech find out who will be the last gladiator standing."

Tennessee-Virginia Tech set to smash attendance record – Connor Tapp of 247Sports

"On Sept. 7, 2013, Michigan Stadium set a college football record when 115,109 fans packed in to see the Wolverines play Notre Dame. That mark has stood ever since but is expected to fall on Saturday, when Tennessee and Virginia Tech play at Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday. Bristol Motor Speedway expects about 150,000 people to witness Volunteers-Hokies in person. That figure that approaches the combined capacity of the teams’ home stadiums."
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