I visited the University of Tennessee campus for the first time in a long time a couple of weeks back. That鈥檚 not to say I haven鈥檛 been back to attend football games many times over the years. But this time I had time to actually make a campus visit. I was in Knoxville for one of those meetings mayors attend from time to time. The first morning allowed time for me to take a long walk before the first gathering.
Staying in a hotel in uptown downtown Knoxville, I was about a half mile from campus. I made my way on foot to Henley Street. As I prepared to cross the street at the intersection of Henley and Cumberland Avenue, I was suddenly introduced to Knoxville traffic.
I recalled the words of the late John Powell, 鈥淚鈥檓 not too sure where people are headed, but they are making record time.鈥 Yikes! And the numbers? There are a LOT of people making record time! If it were not for those crossing lights, I would still be standing at Henley Avenue.
When my time came I walked briskly across the thoroughfare feeling like my head was on a spindle. My walk took me down the hill toward campus which was the easiest part of the trip.
As I ascended the hill toward 鈥淭he Hill,鈥 what was once called 鈥渢he Home Ec鈥 (Home Economics) campus came into view on my right. I鈥檓 not sure what it is called today. Before I could study the landscape, my attention was diverted by a small army of students changing classes. But I digress. I must go back for a moment as to why I was familiar with the Home Ec campus. That is where I studied organic chemistry in the year of our Lord, nineteen hundred and seventy-two (1972.) The class was designed for those of us who lacked the desire (and the brains) to be doctors, biologists, or chemical engineers.
Back to the army of students. They were a clean-cut bunch of aspiring collegians, most well dressed in the latest sportswear. Most wore walking/running shoes which looked like new. Ninety-plus percent had ear buds in their ears, headphones on their heads, or a mobile device pressed against their ear with their dominant hand. I was reminded of Dorothy鈥檚 words to Toto in the Wizard of Oz 鈥 鈥淲e鈥檙e not in Kansas anymore.鈥
I spoke to several of them whom I met on my walk. Except for a couple who smiled, I am still waiting for a response.
鈥淵ou鈥檙e a 鈥渇ossil,鈥 Jack McCall,鈥 I thought to myself.
My mind suddenly shifted to the Ag Campus where I spent most of my college days at Ole UT. It seemed a world away for 鈥渕ain campus,鈥 a place to which we ag boys seldom ventured. The Ag Campus what not that far away 鈥渁s the crow flies.鈥 But to get from one to the other, students had to take a bus ride along Lake Loudon on Neyland Drive.
Ahh鈥 historic Lake Loudon, whose waters were once described sarcastically by my colorful economics professor, Dr. George 鈥淭ony鈥 Spiva, as 鈥渢oo thick to drink, but too thin to plow.鈥
Ag Campus seemed 鈥渁 world away鈥 from all the activities of main campus life back in my day. Funny how much difference a small distance, and a difference in culture, can make.
I was disappointed not to find a place to eat breakfast when I arrived on 鈥渢he strip.鈥 (I guess they still refer to it as the strip.) I regret to inform my readers I settled for McDonald鈥檚. By then, I had seen enough.
The walk back to my hotel was longer and more challenging than expected. I had failed to realize how much things can change in 50 years
Copyright 2025 by Jack McCall
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