Center Stage: Glee Club Spring Break Day 1
The Glee Club left West Lafayette on their annual spring break tour to South Florida. Here, staff members Joli Heavin and Ted Arthur await the start of their first spring break with the PVGC.
New men Matt Lancaster and Matt Hanauer stuff some of the many programs that will be passed out during the spring break tour.
Before heading all the way down to Florida, though, the Glee Club made a stop at the University of Tennessee to visit the campus and tour the athletic facilities. UT is in Knoxville, which is close to the hometown of Glee Club senior and Sir of RRLT, Patrick Brown.
The PVGC’s first stop on campus was to the Tennessee Thompson-Boling Arena. The arena seats nearly 21,000 fans and is home to the Lady Volunteers.
As the Glee Club sat in awe of this majestic stadium, crews below set up for an evening concert called “Winterfest”.
As you can see, the recliners in the stadium club level were well received by the gentlemen of the Glee Club.
After walking around the basketball arena, the Glee Club walked over to the Volunteer’s football stadium, Neyland Stadium.
Upon entering the upper level of the press box, the Glee Club was greeted with amazing views of downtown Knoxville. One of the more famous buildings in the city (the structure that looks like a spire with a gold ball on top), the Sunsphere, was built for the 1982 World’s Fair, which was held in Tennessee.
Also next to the stadium is the beautiful Tennessee River. The river is home to the Vol Navy, a group of die-hard football fans that “tailgate” with their boats and yachts on game days.
Some of the Glee Club old men were able to have the unique opportunity to sit in the comfortable outdoor club level seats during the tour of the football facilities.
The men of the PVGC were in awe of the Tennessee football locker room upon entering. The locker room was home to football greats Peyton Manning and Reggie White during their tenure at the school as students.
The UT “Game Maxims” are a list of rules that the football team lives by. The members of the squad have repeated this list before every game since the 1920’s.
A familiar face? The famous Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning was memorialized on one of the locker room walls.
Tennessee native Pat Brown sits in one of the locker room booths with his sister, Rachel Brown. Rachel is a graduate of UT and a native of Knoxville.
The Glee Club would like to thank tour guides Justin Morrison and Brandon Spurlock for their hospitality and enthusiasm during the tours. Here, Brandon addresses the group prior to departure onto the football field.
Check out video of Glee Club singing "Rocky Top" on our PMO YouTube Channel. “Touchdown” Patrick Brown couldn’t have been happier to have been on the field level of Neyland Stadium. This was truly a unique experience for Pat and his sister, as they had never been on the field. Before leaving, Patrick sang the solo for the song “Rocky Top," which is UT’s school song.
Smile everyone! The PVGC would like to thank all the UT staff and friends that hosted us during this once-in-a-lifetime tour. What a great group shot!
Before departing Knoxville, the gentlemen took one last look at Neyland Stadium and the UT campus. Thanks to senior Jim Giberson for this unique panorama of the stadium.
Greetings from Greeneville, Tennessee! The Glee Club met the Greeneville High School Advanced Chorus this morning for our set up and sound check at the Niswonger Performing Arts Center. After a traditional southern lunch of fried chicken, deviled eggs, potato salad, and delicious desserts provided by Asbury Church, we toured some of Greeneville's famous historic places, including the Nathaniel Greene Museum, the Car Museum, and the President Andrew Johnson Homestead. Purdue alum Mike Hollowell, who runs the local YMCA, invited us to enjoy the facilities for an afternoon break. We then continued for a tour of Mr. Niswonger's company, Landair Transport Inc., where we delivered a special birthday song as well as our own rendition of "Rocky Top" for the employees. On our way to Monument Hill, the National gravesite of President Andrew Johnson, we picked up an Andrew Johnson historian who dressed the part and gave us a unique perspective on the former President. The full day continued with a tour and dinner at the famous General Morgan Inn, which was provided by the Niswongers. The day was capped with an amazing performance at the performing arts center, with over 1,000 people in attendance! It was a very special day for me to not only show off my hometown to the men of the Glee Club, but also share the magic of the Glee Club with everyone from home.
In song,
Patrick Brown