Following the 1982 Kentucky football game, verbal prayer preceding football games was dropped by the Athletics Department. In the 1982 invocation, Father Michael Devenney of John XXIII Catholic Center had closed his prayer with a request that God help the Vols to secure a berth in the Peach Bowl.
A moment of silent prayer was observed during the first three home games of the 1983 season. At its October 1983 meeting, the UT Board of Trustees voted unanimously to reinstate verbal prayer before home football games. Dr. John Prados, vice president of academic affairs, gave the first 1983 prayer, preceding the Louisiana State University game. At its June 1985 meeting, the board of trustees rejected a Faculty Senate proposal to discontinue organized prayer at athletic events and reaffirmed its policy directing that there be a prayer at UT home football games.