How many Smokey Mascots has Tennessee had?

Having played football for 132 seasons since 1891, the Vols have an overall record of 870–415–53, which places them at number fourteen on the all-time win list for NCAA football programs. They have won a Peach Bowl, a Fiesta Bowl, two Orange Bowls, three Cotton Bowls, and four Sugar Bowls. They are eighth in bowl victories and sixth in bowl appearances. They have won 16 conference championships and six national titles.

Neyland Stadium, on the university's campus in Knoxville, is the venue for the Vols' games. Tennessee is the school with the most home-field victories in college football history, having won 485 games at its current home stadium.

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Tennessee Mascots Smokey

Up until August 2025, the University of Tennessee will have eleven Smokey mascots, the most recent of which is Smokey XI. Smokey, a Bluetick Coonhound, is the university's main mascot. A popular symbol for the Tennessee Volunteers sports teams, Smokey made his debut in 1953 after being selected through a student-led poll.

The History of Smokey Mascots, Tennessee

The journey of Smokey mascots in Tennessee began with Blue Smokey in 1953-1954 and continued through ten more generations, culminating in Smokey XI in 2023.

Dog	Years	Record
Blue Smokey	1953–1954	10–10–1
Smokey II	1955–1963	58–39–5
Smokey III	1964–1977	105–39–5
Smokey IV	1978–1979	12–10–1
Smokey V	1980–1983	28–18–1
Smokey VI	1984–1991	67–23–6
Smokey VII	1992–1994	27–9
Smokey VIII	1995–2003	91–22
Smokey IX	2004–2012	62–53
Smokey X	2013–2022	68–56
Smokey XI	2023–present	17–6

Smokey II

At the age of three months, Smokey II ("PR Brooks Blue Smokey II") succeeded his father as the Vols' mascot. Shortly after the Vols' game versus Kentucky in 1963, Smokey passed away in Lexington, allegedly as a result of being fed a chocolate pie.

Smokey III

On June 18, 1964, Smokey III ("PR Brooks Blue Smokey III") became the mascot for Tennessee. During his career, he presided over two SEC titles, visited ten bowl games, and amassed a 105-39-5 record.

Smokey IV

On September 24, 1973, Smokey IV ("PR Blue Smokey Joe") was adopted as the mascot. He finished the Vols with a 12-10-1 record, but on December 4, 1979, he passed away from cancer. The bloodline was disrupted because Smokey IV never had children before he passed away.

Smokey V

Smokey IV's nephew was Smokey V ("PR Blue Smokey V"). On June 1, 1980, at the age of twelve weeks, he took on the position of mascot. In a single season, he would outgrow five jackets. He was struck by a car and his reign was abruptly ended.

Smokey VI

In addition to becoming Tennessee's mascot, Smokey VI oversaw the team's three SEC titles. At the age of ten, Smokey VI passed away from brain cancer in late 1991.

Smokey VII

From 1992 to 1994, Smokey VII stalked the Tennessee sidelines. In 1994, he bit the same member of the UT band at back-to-back games, forcing him to retire early.

Smokey VIII

Of all the live dogs, Smokey VIII was the most successful. He served as the Vols' mascot while they finished 91–22, won two SEC crowns, and took home a national championship in 1998. Smokey VIII, who was born on November 10, 1994, started his reign in 1995 and retired following the 2004 Peach Bowl in Atlanta after receiving a diagnosis of a nasal malignancy in December 2003. On March 17, 2006, Smokey VIII passed away due to complications from kidney illness and high blood pressure.

Smokey IX

Smokey IX started working at the Peach Bowl in 2004 and retired in 2012. During pregame warm-ups in 2006, he bit a player from Alabama.

Smokey X

In 2013, Smokey X made his debut. He is the first Smokey from a new Tennessee-born and bred bloodline, but he was also the first not descended from the original Smokey bloodline.

Smokey XI

During the 2022 football season, Smokey XI trained alongside Smokey X, and in 2023, Smokey X was officially adopted as the team's mascot. He continues to serve as the mascot as of August 2025.

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