Who's the real UT? Davy Crockett and my wife helped me decide between Tennessee, Texas | Adams

One of my bosses recently suggested I write a column on why Tennessee , not Texas , is the real “UT.”

I immediately composed an email that read something like: “It’s my column, not yours. And I pick my own subjects. Is that clear?”

After deleting that email, I composed another message: “Thanks for the idea. When do you need the column?”

I sent that email.

Then, as I would for any column, I began extensive research. I only needed a couple of Google clicks to realize the UT vs. UT topic had been broached before.

Colleague Blake Toppmeyer, who hosts our wildly popular SEC Football Unfiltered podcast, columnized on the subject just two months ago. His column was thoroughly researched and well crafted but sort of ended in a tie.

I don't write ties. More important, I don’t think that’s what my boss wanted.

So, I had to pick a UT, which wasn’t as easy as you might think. Although I’m a Louisiana native, I’ve now lived in Tennessee longer (since 1987). I also lived and worked in Texas for several years and visit there often. I’m a fan of both Tennessee and Texas.

In fact, no other state can compete with Texas, which has everything: mountains, coast, desert and four of the 11 most populated cities in the country. But this isn’t about states. It’s about universities.

Unfortunately, after brainstorming on UT vs. UT for several minutes (I never want to overthink a column theme), I gave a slight edge to Tennessee. But a slight edge isn’t good enough.

Whenever I need a strong – though perhaps irrational – opinion, I consult with my wife, Melinda, who in 24 years of marriage has never uttered these words: “I don’t have an opinion on that.”

And so, I asked: “Since Texas and Tennessee answer to “UT,” who should maintain that identification now that they’re both in the SEC?”

She expressed disbelief, hesitated for a second and said: “We are the SEC. UT is the SEC. They are coming in. We’re already here. You can’t just bully your way in.

“I’ve been a nurse for 20 years. I don’t want some new nurse telling me how to do an IV. Nobody wants that.”

I played the devil’s advocate.

“But Texas is a much bigger school. Texas was a great get for the SEC. It’s a big deal. And it’s good in almost everything.”

“I don’t care,” she said. “That doesn’t matter. They’re lucky to be getting into the SEC. They need to play by our rules.

“Nobody in the SEC is going to call them UT. Not Georgia. Not Alabama. Nobody. And they’re not even in the South. They’re in the Southwest. And Missouri isn’t in the South. They don’t belong in the Southeastern Conference.”

I sensed she was about to shift topics and was on the verge of advising all the new Knoxville residents from California that they also needed to play by our rules.

I was headed back to my office when she shouted from the kitchen: “We helped them at the Alamo.”

That hit a nerve.

I was a big Davy Crockett fan long before I moved to Tennessee. I had a coonskin hat and a toy musket as a kid. I even called the musket “Old Betsy,” just like Davy’s weapon of choice.

I later learned that Davy had more than one rifle. There was a “Pretty Betsy” and an “Old Betsy.” He didn’t take either one to Texas, which in retrospect could be regarded as a bad omen.

His heroism reminded me: Texas owes Tennessee.

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Tennesseans volunteered to fight at the Alamo. That’s a fact. We can only guess whether Texans would have rushed to Tennessee’s aid if Kentuckians had invaded it from the north.

Conclusion: Texas can be the Longhorns. It can raise its hands in a “hook ‘em Horns salute.” It can sing “The Eyes of Texas.” It can be bigger and better. But it can’t be UT.

If that’s a deal breaker, I’m sure the Big 12 would welcome it back.

John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or john.adams@knoxnews.com . Follow him at: twitter.com/johnadamskns.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Who's the real UT? Davy Crockett and my wife helped me decide between Tennessee, Texas | Adams