Tennessee Football Players and Staff Receive Two “Championship” Rings for 2016 Season

In what is becoming a tradition, Tennessee players and staff have received rings for their win over Nebraska in the Music City Bowl. The Vols “Music City Bowl Champions” rings came in at a cost just south of $40,000.

Tennessee also received rings for their win over Virginia Tech in the Battle at Bristol. These were provided at no cost to the school by the event organizers.

This is the third straight year that Tennessee players and staff have received rings for their bowl efforts. Jones has now racked up a 3-0 record in bowl games in four years as the head man in Knoxville.

Should the Vols receive rings for a middle of the road bowl win? Probably not — but it’s becoming a tradition in college football. This isn’t an isolated thing by any means, but it does kind of rub me the wrong way to celebrate a season in which most fans would be disappointed with.

2016 was supposed to be the year Tennessee football got back to being Tennessee football. Instead the Vols lost to Vanderbilt and South Carolina, blowing what was probably going to be their easiest shot to win the SEC East for some time.

It’s not my style to celebrate mediocrity, but I get wanting to have a positive attitude and move forward. I’m sure these rings mean something to the seniors, who gave everything they had to this program. It’s just a hard pill to swallow after having such high expectations going into the 2016 season.

Unfortunately for Butch, this is only going to open up more “Champions of Life” jokes.