You could say I was destined for it — leading the Tennessee Volunteers onto the field before kickoff of the 1999 Fiesta Bowl, decked out in a hand-colored tuxedo and dyed orange hat. The Big Orange Tux wasn’t just an outfit; it was a family legacy in motion.

The John T. O’Connor Senior Center still honors him today in old Irish Town. By the time Punch was mayor, General Robert Neyland had built the Vols into a powerhouse — setting the stage for generations of Volunteer pride in our family.

On my dad’s side, nearly every relative attended the University of Tennessee. My father, Dr. James Allen Greene, carried his Volunteer pride from birth to his career as chairman of psychiatry at UT. His stories of old games and legendary players shaped my own love for the team.

My Tennessee roots run deep. My maternal great-grandfather, John T. “Punch” O’Connor, served as Knoxville’s mayor from 1932 to 1935. Before politics, he was a boxer in the 1890s, earning the nickname “Punch” for his grit — a name that stuck with him for life.

I found a 1938 photo of my grandfather, John A. O’Connor, at a Tennessee game — the year the Vols won their first national title. He wore a hat much like mine decades later. Maybe it wasn’t orange, but the spirit was the same.

When Tennessee beat Mississippi State to reach the 1998 title game, Dad told me, “Son, it’s been 50 years — go enjoy every minute.” So I did. From the College GameDay set to running beside Smokey on the field, The Big Orange Tux became part of Volunteer history.