Tennessee's Big Orange Caravan to get late start

The University of Tennessee has not canceled the 2017 edition of the Big Orange Caravan. It will roll on, just a little later than in the past.

"It's all going to take place,'' UT associate athletic director for communications Ryan Robinson said Tuesday. "It's a matter of locking up schedules. It's just kind of a late start.''

John Brice reported on his blog that sources in Memphis, the Tri-Cities and the Midstate indicated UT had not attempted to schedule facilities for a 2017 Caravan. Robinson said that was accurate and because of the transition of athletic directors from Dave Hart to John Currie.

Currie took over April 1.

"Anybody who knows John Currie knows he's going to travel across the state on multiple dates,'' Robinson said. "When John came in, we didn't have a schedule set. We wanted to wait and see how John wanted to do it.

"John said in an executive staff meeting this morning some of his first memories of coming to Tennessee (in 1997) were on the Caravan and then watching it evolve.''

The Caravan has rolled across the state for 26 years, offering fans a chance to mingle with UT coaches and the athletic director. The major cites in Tennessee have been usual stops. The Caravan also has appeared in out-of-state cities with large UT alumni groups such as Atlanta and Charlotte.

Fans pay for a meal and a program emceed by UT broadcast voice Bob Kesling. The highlight is hearing from and mingling with coaches.

Robinson said a schedule will be announced in the next couple of weeks. The Caravan normally takes place in May and early June. It could be later this year and scheduled somewhat differently to coincide with already scheduled visits by the coaches to camps and charity events around the state.

The Nashville All-Sports Picnic, a separate event, has just been finalized for July 10, Robinson said.

Robinson added that football coach Butch Jones is scheduled to be in Nashville for public appearances four times in the next two months.