The 71,677-square-foot Student Aquatic Center was completed in May 1967 at a cost of $1.7 million. It was paid for entirely by funds allocated from the Student Programs and Services Fee to retire construction bonds, and was dedicated November 11, 1967.  The architects were Lindsay and Maples, and the contractor was Tipton and Reynolds. The … Continued

Benches commemorating the Olympic Gold Medal performances of UT athletes and UT coaches are located in a landscaped park within the parking lot next to the aquatic center. The first two benches were dedicated after the 1984 Olympics, and UT swimming alumni raised funds for the benches. The bench honoring Dave Edgar, who was UT’s … Continued

On March 31, 1967, stone-setting foreman Homer Kelly, age 49, was killed instantly when a one-thousand-pound precast stone fell 12 feet, pinning him underneath.

In May 1985 the outdoor pool was closed because of sinkholes under the pool and surrounding apron. An underground water channel beneath the pool cracked the foundation. Serious consideration was given to relocating the pool but no better site could be found. The extent of instability of the soil under the pool required it to … Continued

Graduate student Thomas W. Street II, age 22, drowned in the outdoor pool of the aquatic center in August 1973. He was a psychology major and lived at the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity house. He apparently climbed over the fence to gain access to the pool. Police ruled the death accidental.

The indoor pool in the Student Aquatic Center is named for Coach Ray Bussard, who coached UT men’s swimming teams from 1968 until his retirement in 1998. At the time of his appointment as coach, the university had not had an intercollegiate swimming team since 1953.

In 1967, with the completion of the Student Aquatic Center, intercollegiate swimming returned to UT. The oak tree and its commemorative marker in the lawn circle in the middle of the parking lot directly northwest of the entrance to the building were placed (presented to Dr. Andrew Holt) in 1971 to coincide with the first … Continued

The Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) was developed to improve the student athlete experience at the university. The SAAC serves as the voice of student athletes to the athletics administration, the Southeastern Conference, the National Collegiate Athletics Association, and the campus community. The SAAC is composed of one representative from each intercollegiate athletic team and … Continued

The FBI was on campus in fall 1971 to investigate reports of student athletes betting on football and basketball games. At the request of UT President Boling, Chancellor Archie Dykes launched an internal investigation. On February 27, 1972, Chancellor Dykes announced that the probe was complete, and that seven UT athletes had lost scholarships or … Continued

The Student Chapter of the American Veterinary Medical Association (SAVMA) provides a forum for its members to interact professionally and socially and acts as a link between the university and the American Veterinary Medical Association. The UT chapter (and the Auxiliary to the Student Chapter) received their charters in fall 1978.