From the desk of Wally Dawkins, Athletic Director:

Sewanee…The University of the South. Sewanee, Tennessee is located about 1 hour from Chattanooga in Middle Tennessee. Sewanee University, or the University of the South, was founded in 1857 by clergy and lay delegates from Episcopal dioceses throughout the south.

On a recent trip visiting schools in the southeast, I had the opportunity to visit Sewanee, and meet with Athletic Director Mark Webb who was more than hospitable.  My purpose in visiting Sewanee was to get Brook Hill student-athletes on the Tigers radar, since it is recognized as a top academic school of 1500 students whose campus sits on 13,000 beautifully wooded acres.  Their buildings are architectural masterpieces, and they are renowned for being purposeful and dedicated to providing a top-quality liberal arts education. It also gave me the opportunity to visit with two friends of mine in John and Kathleen Solomon who are both heavily invested in Sewanee.  It was on this visit, sitting in Mark Webb’s office, that I noticed a white oval sticker with the letters YSR centered in the middle standing for “YEA SEWANEE’S RIGHT”

Since becoming the Athletic Director at Brook Hill in January of 2009, I quickly realized that I was a part of a young, vibrant, and growing school.  Many of the schools I visit each year to get new ideas, information, or help with a program were started as far back as the late 1700’s such as the Trinity School in New York, which was established in 1749.  Brook Hill is a mere 19 years old. Sewanee, as I mentioned earlier began in 1857.  Sewanee is actually famous for their football team which in 1899 went undefeated, winning 12 straight games, including five games during a six day-2500 mile road trip.

The teams they defeated during that unbeaten streak included Texas, Texas A&M, Tulane, LSU, and Ole Miss (see below).

When I took over at Brook Hill in 2009, one of the first things I wanted to do as AD was  come up with ways to “brand our school” with ideas…traditions…”cool stuff” if you will, that we could call our own.

The cheer “Hey Brook Hill-Hey Brook Hill Brook Hill” I brought with me from Whitehouse, as it was a fan favorite of Wildcat backers.  The “Walk To The Rock” was a tradition we started with our football team, cheerleaders, drill team, drum line, and included Steve Dement’s Cannon Guard on home game days. It’s what I saw college teams do when I was a youngster attending SEC games at the University of Tennessee’s Neyland Stadium.

“ALL ORANGE” became our logo, slogan, and declaration of who we were about four years ago as we attempted further branding of Brook Hill Athletics.

The singing of The Victors, our Brook Hill Fight Song, after games as our athletes face the Brook Hill faithful began in 2010.  It is a ritual you will see at the end of almost every college game and at many high schools across the country.

My experience has been that many times you start things…or try new things…and hope they catch on.

The YSR “YEA SEWANEE’S RIGHT” resonated with me, especially after I researched its meaning.  “YEA SEWANEE’S RIGHT” spoke loudly of the school’s pride, tradition, and excellence.  The exact same words I use often to describe how I feel about Brook Hill.  I do think Brook Hill is the best school.  I am proud to work at a Christian school that demands excellence. I am proud to be at a school where there is academic rigor and prepares students to be ready for college.  I am proud to be “ALL ORANGE”.

I think Brook Hill is right.  The right place to be…to grow…to learn…to compete.

So here we go… YBHR or “YEA BROOK HILL’S RIGHT” (you can pick up one of these stickers for free at the BH Athletic Office).

The Brook Hill Yell

All Know

Orange is the color

Better, Brighter,

Stronger than the others.

YEA BROOK HILL’S RIGHT!

And that’s another reason to be “ALL ORANGE…All The Time!

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