The checkerboards first appeared in Neyland in 1964. Here's the background for anyone interested.......

"The fabled story goes back to the man Neyland Stadium was named after, General Robert Neyland. Sheild-Watkins Field was built in 1921, holding a grand total of 3,200 people. That same year, Ayers Hall was completed on the Knoxville campus, and there was a “subtle” checkerboard design at the top of what would become one of the university’s most well-known buildings.

Back in those days, before what is now iconic Neyland Stadium, it was extremely tiny, and so there was a clear view of the tall, well-built Ayers Hall from the field. Coach Neyland connected the fire and passion of football with the fine artistry of a tall campus building, and a tradition was born.

When the Volunteers were on offense and facing Ayers, Irons noted that Neyland would say things to his players like, “Don’t stop until time runs out or until you reach the checkerboard and once you get there … get there again.” He would also say, “Charge the checkerboard!”

It was a motivational tactic from the great Neyland, and you can probably say that it worked. Neyland had a record of 173-31-12 during his three coaching stints in Knoxville from 1926-52, a legendary career at Tennessee broken up twice because of his military service.

Turned out the General was brave and bold, as well as creative. He led men in the service and those in football stadiums, and he told them to aim for that end zone. The checkerboards didn’t exist there yet, of course, but he wanted to have his players pretend they were there already and not just sitting atop Ayers Hall."