Keith “HatVol” Hatfield Passing

Great to see you, Jay. I hope all is well with you and the family.

 

Emain is going to post that picture for me.

 

You too. Same to you.

Life has really changed for me, but that's for another day.

 

Courtesy of JayVols, NYY and Hat mocking the ole Butch “fist up”

This, from the infamous “healthy cookies” tail gate

 

Thanks. I'm still kicking, much much slower & with much much less enthusiasm, but kicking nonetheless.

I do remember. And yes it is sad circumstances. I'm crushed too.

 

Not to be confused with the tailgate where that soccer loving dork ate a ghost pepper.

 

Thanks buddy.

That was Oct 5th, 2013.

 

Oh lord, I think that was the Vandy night when it was about 4 degrees outside. Also a fun one

 

Tremendous memories.

 

One of the highlights of my life is basilio referring to me as “Keith Hatfield’s mouth breathing friend” on his show once

 

That was it. I believe I heard someone from another tailgate say, "I think I just saw French Stewart puke over the balcony."

 

Does anyone here that was closer to him have any insight into what happened these past few days? Heart attack? Cancer? Organ failure from the years of boozing? He was active per usual on his Twitter just a couple days ago and never put out any indication that he had a serious health issue. Everything just happened so suddenly it seems.

 

I messaged often with him on Twitter. Had no indications of anything. No clue.

 

It’s true. Healthy cookies are like plastic in that they never decompose.

 

That was a miserable, miserable night/game.

 

Sad news. My condolences to his family and to those who knew him in real life. RIP Hat

 

One of my favorite memories of Hat was the time he texted to tell me that he’d just gotten banned on VN for having blistered several mods.

I log on and start laughing my ass off at all of his posts.

He sent me a text saying he had appealed directly to Freak, and that he had lifted the ban and allowed him back on.

His very first post back was a scathing takedown of Freak, and closed with something along the lines of being unsurprised that a stupid and weak-willed Admin would attract and hire weak-willed mods.

He was again suspended for a week or so after that.

 

Granted it would have been very on brand for him to withhold any serious health battles he may have been dealing with assuming his passing wasn't completely unexpected. I did not know him that well-only interacted with him a couple of times in person at DTGB when I still lived in Knoxville for my first job post college-we only talked ball and his radio show during our few conversations. But he definitely gave off the vibe that he wasn't one to ever solicit sympathy for himself. Him requesting that there not be a traditional funeral for him where people gather and mourn feels very much on par with his personality.

 

The 8th will do a three tree memorial in his honor, per the request on his obit.

Someone do a write up for a card, and I'll attach it.

Keep it clean, as this will go to his family.

 

Good to see that you're ok