The Tennessee Volunteers are in mourning this week after tough news regarding their mascot.

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville’s cherished retired live mascot, Smokey X, has been diagnosed with cancer.

The nearly 14-year-old Bluetick Coonhound, who made his debut as a loyal ambassador for the Vols in the 2013 football season, had a biannual appointment, and the routine diagnostic imaging found an unfortunate mass on its kidney.

The veterinarian was able to reveal it was renal carcinoma, better known as cancer of the kidney.

The Tennessee Volunteers wrote a statement that, “In true Smokey fashion, he demonstrated his unwavering loyalty to the Vols even during his CT scan,” the university said.

“As he emerged from anesthesia to the notes of ‘Rocky Top,’ Smokey rose to his feet, a te

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