SPS ARCHIVES FROM ORIGIONAL NET54 SITE Click Above to Read the Actual Threads and Posts that Kicked off the GNP.

The beginning of the second phase started immediately upon the incorporation of the maxims. Coach Fulmer has taken the first phase and put on more steam. The story made the papers in a HUGE way while the members of Sports Parlor South and Neyland traditionalists took to hitting the radio waves in support and rebirth of of the STATUE PROJECT. Dewey Warren has thrown his support of the project through his radio program “The Dewey Warren Show” on WKVL 850 and is in communication with the Lettermen and the quarterbacks club and anyone else who will listen! Below is an account of the media reaction as the full brunt of The GNP makes its way into the lives of the Volunteer Nation!

KnoxNews: Columnists This link takes us to  Gary Lundy's article praising the Maxims and giving Coach Fulmer full credit!

LOWE REPORTS ON THE GNP Link to Chris Lowe’s article in the Tennessean describing the General Neyland Project

    Phase 1 is complete as the Generals Maxims are read by a former player at the start of each game while urging the fans to join in. But many felt that the first game where Coach Fulmer and team were shown reciting the maxims on the Vol-Tron was the hot set up. Also the review of the maxim that applied to a great Volunteer play during the game on the Vol-Tron was neat. It is our hope that the best way to incorporate the maxims before and during gametime along with fan and former Vol participation is revamped to the best possible format! C’MON UTAD Media Dept! Thanks to One Man Gang, CharterVol, TnBigAl, Brockytop, Plumbervol and all the SPS members from our end. Thanks also to our many media friends and inside UT “connections” for making this happen. A special THANK YOU TO COACH FULMER! This former offensive lineman and current Head Coach of our Tennessee Volunteers carried the ball for the SPS family. Proving that General Neyland is a LEGEND, not a concrete stadium! But of course an 8 foot Bronze Statue would fit in kneeling in front of his stadium just fine!

GNP HONOR's LEGENDARY COACH Link to the story ran by Chuck Cavalaris on the GNP in the New Sentinel on September 18th, 2001

On September 26th Jim Wogan ran a five minute interview with Pat Gang (OMG) and Alan Ross (TBA) in Neyland Stadium during his Thursday night “Sports Special” program. A well done piece that summed up the projects goals and objectives very well with some great film clips of the General, as well as Chartervols vision of the statue and his rendition of Neyland on bended knee facing the Tennessee river on the back of the Vol-Tron (Phase III).

Our thanks to Jim and all those at WATE Channel 8 behind the scenes for putting together an outstanding television report of the GNP! Jim Wogans report was actually filmed on September 12th and I am sure this date is easily recognizable as the day after one of our countries worst tragedies. Much thought and discussion went into going ahead with that interview but all involved felt that we had to go ahead with our jobs and the living of life. But after that interview all Americans had to come to terms with what had happened to our nation and as the football season eventually kicked into high gear, some of the maxims were starting to haunt Coach Fulmer and team! (See OMG’s maxims verses Georgia report.) So it was then decided to let the project cool down for a time as these many issues sorted themselves out.

So this brings us up to date as we kick phase 2, the raising of the statue, back to life! Alan Ross has been in contact with a representative of the Quarterbacks club who has given us the name of a world renown sculptor who is hoping to be commissioned for this exciting project. Plans are for us to begin again hitting the airwaves via Dewey Warren, Tony Basilio and Geoff Brock of WKVL 850 as we lay down the groundwork of getting all the parties together in coordinating the next necessary moves. A media announcement will commence soon as we introduce the sculpter to all involved here in East Tennessee especially the existing Neyland family. Exciting times are ahead and the GNP is looking for any and all support that can be generated. Details of the fund raising will be forthcoming, so stay tuned for the next Big Announcement !