COLLEGE GAME DAY TAKEOVER: THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE MAJORETTES

When it’s Saturday in Knoxville, Neyland Stadium comes alive with the sounds of the Pride of the Southland Band, and right in the middle of that tradition stand the University of Tennessee Majorettes. This talented group of twirlers is more than just a performance line; they’re a living part of UT’s game day legacy, bringing Big Orange spirit, dazzling skills, and unwavering energy to every performance.

This year’s line is comprised of 3 freshmen, 4 sophomores, 1 junior, and 1 senior, representing hometowns from across the country, including Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Colorado, New Hampshire, Florida, South Carolina, and Georgia. Most of these majorettes picked up a baton at just 2–6 years old, and now, with an average of 11–15 years of experience each, they’ve grown into some of the most polished collegiate performers in the nation.

Their backgrounds are just as impressive as their performances. Collectively, the UT Majorettes have competed in NBTA, USTA, TU, and DMA, and together they hold an incredible list of accomplishments, from Senior Majorette Queen and Majorette Queen of America to national pageant winners. But what unites them all is the same passion: the love of twirling under the lights of Neyland Stadium.

Game Day Magic 

Ask any majorette their favorite part of game day, and the answer comes quickly: Salute to the Hill. After parading with the band through campus in the “March to the Stadium,” the majorettes break away for this signature performance. With friends and family cheering from the front row, they put their hardest skills on display before running back through the Pride of the Southland and into Neyland. It’s a moment filled with electricity, tradition, and pure Tennessee pride.

And of course, no game day is complete without hearing 100,000 fans sing Rocky Top during pregame. The majorettes describe the sound of Neyland uniting in one voice as surreal — emotional, powerful, and something they would relive for the first time again if they could. It’s game day, chills that never fade.

Preparation & Traditions 

Game day prep is almost as exciting as the performance itself. Practices run throughout the week with full band rehearsals on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, sectionals on Tuesdays, and early Saturday morning run-throughs before kickoff. Costumes are checked and re-stoned weekly to sparkle under the stadium lights. On Fridays, many girls add their final touches with a self-tan session, then fuel up with good meals, healthy snacks, and lots of water. Biofreeze, ibuprofen, and protein bars are never left out of a UT majorette’s game day kit — along with the fan-favorite Alani energy drinks that keep the whole line energized!

The team also holds tight to traditions that bond them together: singing the UT Alma Mater with the band, repeating the P.R.I.D.E. acronym with the drum major, tapping the “I will give my all for Tennessee today” sign before stepping off for the parade, and linking pinkies in prayer before they twirl. When the game ends, they join the entire Pride of the Southland Band and Tennessee football team to sing the Tennessee Waltz — a final, unforgettable bow to end another Saturday on Rocky Top.

Advice for Future Collegiate Twirlers 

For anyone dreaming of twirling at the collegiate level, the UT Majorettes share one piece of advice: be yourself. In a stadium as large as Neyland, confidence and personality are just as important as skill. Showcasing your hard work with joy and authenticity is what makes twirlers stand out — and shine even brighter on game day.

From sunrise rehearsals to the final notes of Rocky Top, being a UT Majorette is a tradition, an honor, and a dream come true. Every Saturday is a chance to carry on the Big Orange legacy, inspire the next generation of twirlers, and remind the world why there’s nothing quite like Tennessee game day.

Go Majorettes. Go Pride of the Southland. Go Vols!