A House Divided: Lenoir City patriarch loves WVU, family loves Vols

We've found a real "house divided" story here with kickoff approaching for the Vols and West Virginia.

Tony Angelelli is married, has three daughters and seven grandchildren. All of them either went to UT or love the Vols.

And, you guessed it - Tony is the lone West Virginia fan in the Angelelli clan. And not just a casual fan. A die-hard, blue-and-gold-wearing, "Country Roads"-singing, WVU fan.

"When it comes to athletics, you cut me, I bleed blue and gold," Tony says. "Now I'm sure [my grand-kids] like West Virginia. But they're just holding it back."

Silence fills the room. Tony's granddaughter, Baylee, shakes her head deliberately. Caroline Brown, another one of his grand-kids, asks to speak up and defend Tennessee immediately.

"Oh, they're not even going to score," Caroline says matter-of-fact about WVU. "Tennessee's definitely going to win."

Smack talk has taken over the family.

But all things considered, Tony Angelelli lives a happy life.

The retired engineer spends most evenings with his seven grandchildren, many of whom play softball. Tony dabbles in coaching, but also takes in games, relaxed, from the top of the bleachers on the CBFO ballpark near Concord Park.

After spending most of his life working in Oak Ridge, he's moving into a new home in Lenoir City. Life is very enriching for a man who once specialized in uranium enrichment.

And Tony does have a degree from UT. It's just, he's bled blue and gold for more than 40 years. He's seen the Mountaineers play for a national title, gone to five alumni basketball camps,

And all this aforementioned conflict is coming to a crescendo with kickoff approaching.

"They retaliate. Look around you," Angelelli says. "On the way here, they grabbed the cell phone and I had to hear Rocky Top."

Caroline, 15, covets her grandfather's car - which currently, has a license plate that reads "WV MTNR".

"If West Virginia wins, I will be driving home," she says. "And he will be walking."

Baylee says if Tennessee wins, grandpa will have to sing Rocky Top.

Tony winces.

"That's fair," he says.

BACK
9/3/18