Gunner (DJ): You're on the air, caller. What would you like to request?
Caller: Well, my girl and I are getting married tonight...
Gunner: Tonight? The night before the Tennessee season opener?
Caller: That's right. Anyways, we'd like you to play something romantic, something to remember the day by...
Gunner: Well, caller, I think we can help you out. How about a little Rocky Top? Is that romantic enough?
Caller: Sounds romantic to me, let's do it!

Seconds later, Dolly Parton's version of "Rocky Top" is trumpeting proudly over the radio waves at WIVK, Knoxville's radio station for non-stop Rocky Top (107.7 FM on your radio dial for you Knoxville locals). As a tradition, the station entertains Volunteer fans by giving them one hour of different variations of Rocky Top during Friday rush hour before the season opener.

Not only is it a great way to spark Tennessee spirit, it's also a lot of fun, as the songs vary differently, making it interesting to see what version comes up next....

Gunner keeps the suspense going...

Caller: Hey, as much as I love Rocky Top, it sort of seems like everyone sings it the same way...
Gunner: Oh, that's not true. Ever hear the Pig Latin version?

And just like that, Rocky Top is played, with the performer singing the lyrics entirely in Pig Latin.

Roy Clark, Dolly Parton, Loretta Lynn, and the Tennessee band are playing it. So are callers who just want to sing on the air. Rocky Top was even played by kazoo, which I thought was hysterical, but Emily decided she'd heard enough Rocky Top for the day and muted the car radio! (She drove through some tough traffic, though, so you gotta cut her a little slack).

Anyways, WIVK's "Non-stop Rocky Top" is a fun and interesting way to open off football season in Tennessee.

We're headed to the barber shop tomorrow, and then it's off to experience football time in Tennessee!

As we close tonight, I'll leave you with this: What was the top story on the radio newsbreaks, the 5 pm news, and the 6 pm news all over Knoxville? It wasn't Iraq, or the Middle East, or any other depressing news story out there. It was Tennesee football beginning tomorrow....you've got to love the morale shift that SEC football brings to a city.