Riggs grows up just in time

The junior rushed for 182 yards and two touchdowns on just 11 carries in the 38-28 loss to Auburn.

It was the type of performance Tennessee fans had been waiting for since Riggs arrived in 2002 as a Parade All-American out of Chattanooga's Red Bank High School.

But a year ago at this time, Riggs said he was one move away from transferring out of UT and starting anew at another school.

"I was pretty close at one point and time,'' said Riggs, who leads the Vols with 1,005 yards rushing this season. "I kind of felt I had worn out the bridge between me and the coaches.

"I think they where at the point where they were going to wash their hands and say we're done, and I was at that point, too.''

Now, Riggs is at the point where he'll be a key factor in Saturday's Cotton Bowl clash with Texas A&M and beyond.

"You talk about Jamal Lewis, Aaron Hayden, James Stewart and Travis Henry, and Gerald Riggs is in that category from a talent standpoint,'' UT coach Phillip Fulmer said. "Has he arrived? I think he's pretty darn close to being a guy you can give the ball to 30 times a game.

"It just took some time for Gerald to grow up.''

Riggs admits he struggled with the transition to college, be it getting up on time for class, meeting with tutors or attending meetings.

It led to Riggs landing squarely in the doghouse of former running backs coach Woody McCorvey, who had other options at tailback with Cedric Houston and Jabari Davis.

"The facts were the facts: There were a lot of things I was immature about and a lot of things I wasn't taking care of the right way,'' Riggs said. "A lot of things we disagreed about, but I could have handled things differently. We didn't bond, I guess. I'll take the blame for that.''

And Riggs just about took his ball and went home before McCorvey accepted a job as the offensive coordinator at Mississippi State.

When Trooper Taylor was hired to replace McCorvey, Riggs sensed a second chance.

"When he came in, it gave me a new outlook; a new life,'' Riggs said. "It was a fresh start. He gave me an opportunity, and I felt he was genuine about it and wanted to give me an opportunity which I didn't feel I was given my first couple of years.

"I truly believe if he wouldn't have come here, I would have been gone.''

McCorvey, a disciple of former Alabama coach Gene Stallings, does not regret the way he handled Riggs. Discipline and trust comes first and foremost in McCorvey's book.

"Some of these guys come out of high school with all these numbers, but having to adjust to college life is tough for them,'' McCorvey said. "They all want to be the guy coming in, and then they're not, and that's hard on them.

"We knew how good Gerald could be, but you never knew what to expect from him. You've got to trust him to do the right things, on and off the field.''

Fulmer agreed.

"(Riggs) never crossed that line where you wanted to get rid of him,'' Fulmer said. "He was about to get rid of himself as far as academics. Gerald has come a long ways as a young man.''

Riggs said he didn't feel he had arrived until his SEC championship game performance.

"To do it on that stage, it was big for me,'' he said. "It brought back that confidence I had in high school. I was disappointed we didn't win, but when you look back, you'll say that might be a turning point in my career at Tennessee.''

Not only has Riggs transformed himself as a student-athlete and runner, he's also starting to sound like a leader who's far from satisfied with what he's accomplished.

Riggs' take on the Vols receiving rings for winning the SEC East Division is evidence of as much.

"I'm not into consolation prizes,'' said Riggs, who helped the Vols win the East with a game-high 102 yards rushing in a 19-14 win over Georgia. "I'll take mine, but I will never wear that ring. I'm not into moral victories. I want 'the' ring. Next year, there's not going to be any excuses.''