KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Athletics will dedicate a new Championship Corner on the southwest end of Neyland Stadium to its three national champion head football coaches, a legendary trio of College Football Hall of Famers who combined for six national titles.
The new Championship Corner will serve as a tribute to the Volunteers’ proud championship tradition and be available for fans to view year-round. Bronze pillars will be designed honoring Doug Dickey and Phillip Fulmer, and both coaches will be recognized at home games this season. Completion is set for the fall of 2026.
In addition, the Gen. Robert Neyland statue will relocate to Championship Corner and serve as a centerpiece to the welcoming plaza.
“The new Championship Corner stands as a powerful tribute to three of the most influential figures in our storied gridiron history,” Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics Danny White said. “With the recent renovations to Neyland Stadium, we have created a prominent space that celebrates our championship legacy. This impressive area will be accessible to Vol Nation throughout the year, showcasing our commitment to honoring those who have shaped our legacy in a truly fitting manner.”
From 1964-69, Dickey returned the Volunteers to national prominence, compiling a 46-15-4 record with a national championship and two SEC titles. The 1967 team reeled off nine straight victories, finishing 6-0 in league play and was recognized No. 1 by Litkenhous.
The 1965 and 1967 SEC Coach of the Year, Dickey was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2003 and served as Tennessee’s athletic director from 1985 to 2003. Dickey will be honored when the Vols welcome Arkansas to Neyland Stadium on Oct. 11. Kickoff is 4:15 p.m. ET.
Fulmer guided Tennessee to its sixth national championship in 1998, completing a perfect 13-0 record with a Fiesta Bowl triumph over Florida State. A 2012 College Football Hall of Fame inductee, he finished his career with a stellar .745 winning percentage and an overall mark of 152-52. He led the Vols to back-to-back SEC championships in 1997 and 1998.
Fulmer will be recognized when Tennessee takes on Oklahoma in Neyland Stadium on Nov. 1.
The iconic Neyland coached the Vols from 1926-52, including two interruptions for military service (1935, 1941-45). Tennessee won four national championships (1938, 1940, 1950, 1951) and finished 173-31-12 under his watch, including five SEC championships.
In 2010, a statue was dedicated to him on the west side of a stadium that bear’s his name. The statue currently resides on the north end of the Neyland-Thompson Sports Center, as modernization continues on Neyland Stadium preserved by Pilot. The statue will move to its permanent home in Championship Corner for all fans to see in the fall of 2026.
As the presenting partner of the Neyland Stadium renovation project, Pilot continues to invest in modernizing and enhancing the fan experience. Tennessee announced a historic transformative partnership with Pilot last year to preserve the iconic venue for future generations.
