“But the greatest team ever? That honor has to go to a team from the University of the South which is affectionately known as Sewanee after its small-town Tennessee mountain top location. The Sewanee team of 1899 left a legacy that will probably never be equaled. ” ~ Rufus Ward, The Dispatch

“Really in athletics it is the ultimate David and Goliath story . . . . It’s unparalleled in the annals of college football.” ~ Mark Webb, Sewanee AD.

“Anytime that anything is written about the history of college football, Sewanee will be mentioned.” ~ Robert Black, former Sewanee player and Head Coach

“It’s more than lore – it’s true.” ~ Dr. John McCardell, Vice Chancellor

“Our duty to posterity demands that we duly record in print that shall never die the achievements of these twenty-three brave souls . . . . The story might read like an epic poem if it had not become prosy to us through the dint of repetition, but the world must know, and those yet unborn must know what mighty things Sewanee can do and has done . . . .” ~ The Sewanee Purple 1899

“There was a time, more than a century ago, when the University of the South was the baddest college football team in America. ” ~ Adam Doster, “The Future of College Football”

“1899 Iron got us through a string of bad times as nothing else could have done-basically it restored and preserved faith in Sewanee. The emotion about 1899 is not just the celebration of football; it is the triumph over both adversity and power. We faced the giants and won. The story, the victories, are infused with biblical imagery and especially that of young (little) David, facing the giant Goliath and winning. This is not just a story to brag about but a story to inspire. Religion is about redemption and salvation. Sewanee was about to disappear, overshadowed by the mighty and pushed aside. Sewanee was about to be lost, but Iron not only won games, it saved Sewanee. . . . The story of 99 Iron lives not because of games and scores but because it took Sewanee to a greater vision of itself.” ~ Gerald Smith, Sewanee Historian and Religion Professor

“It will be remembered as long as they’re lacing up the football.” ~ Coach Larry Majors

“People on campus saw this as a team for the ages.” ~ Professor Woody Register