University of Tennessee is reportedly staying put regarding its stance over the issue of praying before football games and other events.

The institution has responded to a 'cease-and-desist' letter from the Freedom From Religion Foundation by saying that there is nothing wrong with its tradition of a brief prayer before home football games and it is not unconstitutional, said Margie Nichols, vice chancellor for communications to knoxnews.

However, due to the legal content in the letter by the foundation, the university has not formalized an official response yet. But the preliminary response issued to the media suggests that it won't back down easily and a tough fight seems to be on the cards.

UT Chancellor Jimmy Cheek stated Wednesday that the university will stand by the tradition of prayer before UT events.

A week ago, the university received a letter from a national organization called Freedom from Religion Foundation which said that the its traditional praying before any of the home games violates the constitution and such rituals do not belong in a public-funded institution. It urged the university to stop the prayers.

Incidentally, a week before the arrival of the letter, the University of Tennessee System's Chattanooga campus replaced the prayer by observing few moments of silence in the wake of complaints from the foundation.

The university chapter of Secular Student Alliance wants the other campuses of UT system to follow Chattanooga's example. Though it is not a party in complaining against prayer at games, but it has been working with the FFRF.

"This is a public university, not a Christian club. It's open to all comers and should be welcoming," said Annie Laurie Gaylor, co-president of the foundation and author of the letter sent to Chancellor Jimmy Cheek, reports knoxnews.

"When you're not religious or are of another faith and you get prayed at during events, it's really very grating. It's a sock in the gut for you to go for a sporting event and then be told to conform to someone else's religion."

She also added that the letter was prompted by the complaints UT alumni and students who felt their right violated by the prayers. The letter also cites a 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision from 1997 that declared sectarian prayers at public universities null and void.

But university has expressed its dismay towards the foundation's interpretation of the ruling.

Father Charlie Donahue who has given the pre-game invocation 3 times told wbir.com that no one is forced to pray and the prayer doesn't name any particular deity.

"All those who wish to participate in it do, those who don't, don't," he said.