The spirits at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville are at an all-time high. A new halftime spot captures the energy on campus and celebrates the university’s top-ranked programs, talented faculty and a year of record-breaking athletic success.
Student Denzel Dejournette, representing the university’s nationally renowned Master of Fine Arts acting program, speaks in the 30-second spot. Dejournette came to UT’s competitive MFA program after a career as a professional wrestler in the WWE.
Other academic areas represented include the College of Nursing, which continues to help alleviate nursing shortages through regional partnerships, increased recruiting, and the opening of a new state-of-the-art building in fall 2025.
Also featured will be the high-level nuclear engineering program, which recently secured a $25 million cooperative agreement from the U.S. Department of Energy, making UT the lead institution in a consortium that will advance global security, clean energy and artificial intelligence.
The spot highlights UT’s leading role in supporting the design, installation and management of 16 football stadiums and dozens of training grounds for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
And to cap off the most successful year in UT athletics history, the Vols celebrated their first national baseball championship, four Southeastern Conference titles and their third consecutive SEC All-Sports Trophy win.
The video will premiere during the Vols’ game against UT Chattanooga on Saturday, August 31, at Neyland Stadium and will be televised nationally during future UT sporting events.
