A Life Transformed by Rocky Top
Once upon a time in 1977, a young student stepped onto the University of Tennessee campus to study Animal Science, completely unaware of the adventure ahead. Joining the Alpha Gamma Rho (AGR) fraternity made the giant university feel like home, bringing together a brotherhood of ag students with a very special honor: taking care of Smokey, the beloved mascot. Alongside Smokey’s trainer JK Graves, stepping onto the field unlocked a whole new world—turning a former sports bystander into a lifelong fan captivated by game day strategy and stadium energy. That passion never faded, leading to a long tradition of attending nearly every home game at Neyland Stadium for four and a half decades following graduation in 1982.
The story took its best turn in 1998 with the arrival of Drew, sparking an immediate and everlasting bond during the Vols’ undefeated National Championship run. A celebratory trip to the Fiesta Bowl introduced them to Kokopelli—the iconic symbol of joy that instantly became a trusted lucky charm and the spark for a grand new tradition: the annual KokOasis Challenge. Today, the KokOasis Challenge brings the magic of community and college sports together under one banner. Built to bring family, old friends, and new faces together, it’s a living tale of camaraderie where there is always room in the stands for one more. — Kev
How the KokOasis Challenge Works . . .
- Participants Register for each Challenge every year at THIS LINK.
- All collected registration fees are returned as cash prizes.
- Pick sheets are submitted online before each round.
- Final scores are predicted for every game on each pick sheet.
- Points are awarded for picking the correct winning teams.
- Bonus points are awarded for accurate score predictions.
- Updated point totals & cUrrenT standings are posted online.
- Cash prizes are awarded to the Top Four Challengers in the final standings.
- Read the official Football Rules at THIS LINK.
- Read the official Basketball Rules at THIS LINK.
- Participation is Loads of fun!