First Football Game against an Integrated Team
The first football game against an opponent whose team included African American players was the 1940 Rose Bowl game against Southern California.
First Football All-SEC Selections
In 1924 Talmadge “Sheriff” Maples and Beattie Feathers were the first All-SEC selections.
First Football Game against Vanderbilt
UT first played Vanderbilt in 1892.
First Football All-Star Selections
Back Bill Newman was the first All-Star selection in 1900. In 1902 end Joey Bean and back T. Nash Buckingham were named.
First Football Game Interrupted by Inclement Weather
While the start of football games had been previously delayed due to inclement weather (most notably snow), the first game to be interrupted by weather was the 7:00 p.m., September 11, 2010, game (carried on ESPN2) against the University of Oregon Ducks. A severe thunderstorm with lightning in the area caused a 70-minute game delay … Continued
First Female to Earn a Graduate Degree
In 1898 Elizabeth Pitman Keiper earned the master of arts degree in English. Her graduate degree may well have been the first in the South awarded to a woman. She had earlier received the BA degree from Purdue University.
First Female National President of Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honorary Society
In November 1986 Martha Springer Polson, a 1979 UT Electrical Engineering graduate, was the first female national president of Tau Beta Pi. She had previously won a national award from the Society of Women Engineers as that group’s Distinguished New Engineer.
First Female Top Graduate of the Air Force’s Officer Training School
UT Alumna Susan M. Blair (German major) became the first woman to graduate at the top of the Air Force Officer Training School on February 22, 1971. Her class was the 103rd class. Her average was 96.
First Female Olympic Medalists
Pat Head Summitt, Patricia Roberts, and Cindy Brogden won silver medals at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal as members of the women’s basketball team. Pat Summitt was cocaptain. The first time that women’s basketball had been elevated to Olympic status was in 1976. In 1984 Summitt coached the US team to a gold medal.
First Female Varsity Athletics Letters
On April 4, 1920, the UT Athletic Council voted to award letters to the women’s basketball team. The letters were of a special monogram type, making a clear distinction between the men’s and women’s letters. In May of that year, the council issued standards for women’s letters in track and swimming. Letters in tennis were … Continued