Role-model Respert takes on new role

Sure, coach, what you really mean is you can't afford to lose a kid who can make tacklers miss, or sink the sweet jump shot or hit a curveball out of the park.

Sometimes, though, the coach is right. Sometimes, second chances work.

Jason Respert arrived at the University of Tennessee with his second chance already used up.

Four years later, he hasn't required a third one. He's a graduate, a team captain and a positive role model for any and all.

"He's all the things you'd like a young person to be,'' said head coach Phillip Fulmer.

Respert will be the starting center when the Vols kick off the 2004 season against UNLV one week from tonight at Neyland Stadium.

He has high aspirations for himself, for the offensive line and for the team as a whole. But just getting through a season healthy would be an accomplishment to savor.

Injuries are part of the game, but Respert has had more than his share. His 6-foot-4, 305-pound body has undergone surgery to mend a season-ending ankle injury in 2001 and to reconstruct a mangled shoulder in early 2003.

Those major injuries - and other minor ones - have conspired to limit Respert to only 10 starting assignments in his career. That's a number he hopes to double by some time in November.

"I've got a few nicks and bruises,'' Respert said as the Vols head into their game-week routine, "but for the most part, I feel good.''

Anyone who's been around the polite, friendly, articulate lineman would agree with Fulmer's positive assessment. But the general public had reservations in the beginning.

Respert enrolled at UT in 2000 with a thick scrapbook of All-America prep credentials from Warner Robins, Ga. - and with a stigma.

A night of excesses on a recruiting visit to Florida led to felony charges of sexual groping of a coed. The charges were eventually reduced to misdemeanor level, to which Respert, an honors student in high school, entered a no-contest plea.

His signing at UT was delayed from February to June and even then, the head coach took a little heat for it.

Fulmer said at the time he was confident Respert would prove to be a good citizen. That confidence has been rewarded.

"Jason is a quality person who got in a situation - some of it not of his own making - as a very young person and learned a great lesson,'' Fulmer said recently.

"He's smart. He's got great character. He's involved in a number of student organizations here on campus. He's not just a leader on the team, he's a leader in the community.''

Respert, who was elected a team captain by his peers, doesn't expect any blue ribbons for good conduct.

"I take pride in doing what I've been taught to do,'' he said. "That's the person I am.

"I don't look at that as an achievement. That's what I was expected to do when my mom sent me off to college.''

In addition to earning his degree, Respert has been a team leader in various campus and community public-service projects. Last spring, he served an administrative internship in the athletic department.

Now, if he can only help administer an upgrade in the performance of UT's offensive line.

He's replacing four-year starter Scott Wells at center, no small task. If he can keep his major body parts intact, Respert is optimistic that he can finally fulfill the promise of those initial expectations.

"Thank God I finally went through a full off-season and now I feel healthy,'' he said.

Jimmy Ray Stephens, his position coach for the third year, was, ironically, recruiting him for Florida when the recruiting incident happened.

"It all starts mentally,'' Stephens said, "and Jason knows his assignments real well.

"He's kind of the glue in between those other four and he does a great job of making the front calls and communicating to the other linemen.

"He's athletic, he's got good feet and he's physical. Let's keep him healthy.''

Respert would give an amen to that.

He starts the season on the watch list of the Rimington Award - given to the top center in college football - and could play his way into an NFL draft pick with a solid finish.

"If the NFL doesn't work out,'' Respert said, "I hope to come back here and G.A. (graduate assistant) and hopefully go somewhere in coaching or administration.''

Fulmer says if that's the case, the welcome mat is out.

That's a no-brainer now. But four years ago, Fulmer put the welcome mat out when he could easily have shut the door.

"I'm forever grateful to coach Fulmer,'' Respert said, "for sticking his neck and his reputation out on the line for me.''

Mike Strange covers University of Tennessee sports. He may be reached at 865-342-6276.