KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — As the University of Tennessee football team gears up for its rivalry matchup against Kentucky, calls to bring back an old tradition have restarted.
It's been 27 years since a Tennessee or Kentucky football player lifted a colorful beer barrel in triumph after a win in their rivalry matchup. In 1925, the two teams decided to turn an ordinary beer barrel into a trophy bearing both teams' colors that would keep track of the history of their rivalry. The tradition ended tragically when two Kentucky players were involved in a drunk driving crash.
Now everyone from UT fans to politicians are calling for a comeback. However, UT has previously said there have been no talks between the two schools to pull it out of retirement.
Rep. Tim Burchett (R- Knoxville), Chris Low from ESPN and the Vol Report have all tweeted about bring the barrel back.
The last time it was lifted in victory was in November 1997 when Peyton Manning led the Vols to a decisive victory in Lexington.
A tragedy in Kentucky just days before the game on 1998 would sideline the beer barrel -- seemingly for good.
Kentucky police said on Nov. 15, 1998, UK football player Jason Watts was driving under the influence with his friend and teammate, Arthur Steinmetz, and another friend, Scott Brock, riding as passengers. The truck crashed, killing Steinmetz and Brock.
Watts initially faced a drunk driving charge and second-degree manslaughter, but later went on to plead guilty to two counts of reckless homicide and was sentenced to 10 years in prison. He was released from prison a few months later on parole.
Tennessee and Kentucky decided it was best not to bring out the beer barrel that year with the sudden tragedy weighing heavily on Kentucky fans' hearts.
In the years that have followed, the beer barrel remains in retirement a relic of the rivalry.
When it was still used, the barrel spent most of its time in Tennessee. The Vols had etched 81 wins, 25 losses, and 9 tie games onto it.
In 2019, the barrel was spotted in former assistant coach Brian Niedermeyer's office.