Are you talking about the city or the geography near the city. My guess is, since you've been to some games, you're talking about the UT campus and the nearby mountains (the Smoky Mountains are roughly an hour away, and you can't see them from the city). I agree that the mountains near Knoxville are beautiful, but the city itself is u-g-l-y once you get away from the UT campus. You could also be confused by thinking the area of the airport is part of Knoxville. It's not. That's Alcoa/Maryville which is a very nice area and within view of the Smokies, but it's 15 miles away. Any city that brags about the Sunsphere as their signature building doesn't have much to brag about. When it's not winter, I'll take Syracuse over Knoxville everyday. Onondaga Lake Park is nicer than anything Knoxville has to offer. Of the cities you've mentioned I think Philly, Cincinnati, Buffalo, and Rochester all look better, with the little time I've spent in them. I agree it's not the ugliest of the SEC cities, Columbia, SC is indeed awful, but that's not saying much, considering the competition. Chattanooga is nicer, and my wife, who went to Auburn, says Birmingham is nicer too. I know a number of people that have come into town to visit friends/family and were surprised at how ugly Knoxville is. They couldn't believe that so many strip malls could be in one place. Next time you come for a game, I'll show you the rest of city.
Jason Lieser @PBPjasonlieser35m
