Bates, others didn't wait until Halloween to haunt Vols

Long before the subplot of the Leaks - Chris and his older brother, C.J., a reserve at UT - splitting family loyalties in the battle of SEC archrivals, there was the storyline of the Bates brothers of Sevier County. They played against each other in the fourth quarter of 1995 Tennessee-Florida game.

James was a linebacker at Florida. His younger brother, Jeremy, was a reserve freshman quarterback at UT that season.

"You don't need any extra incentive in this game, but I think you dig a little deeper if your brother is on the other team,'' says Bates, a free-lance television host in Gainesville, Fla.

"For me, the Tennessee game was also a little extra special because that's also where my dad (Jim) played and where both my parents went to college. One of the best feelings of my college career, was to go up to Knoxville and stand on that field after we beat them for the fourth year in a row."

As a high school prospect, Bates attended summer football camp at UT, considered the Vols, but picked the Gators.

Chris Leak also was a frequent visitor to UT camps and practices and the Vols were considered the frontrunner in his recruitment, until his relationship with the program turned sour over an ESPN.com diary in which he criticized UT coach Phillip Fulmer.

Will Chris Leak join Bates, Auburn running back Carnell Williams, and a handful of others who seriously considered signing with UT, but went to a rival school and came back to haunt the Vols with outstanding performances?

Bates haunted UT not once, but several times.

In the 1993 game at Florida Field, he forced a fumble on a UT kickoff return early in the second half. The Gators recovered, scored on the next play and won 41-34. In 1995, he made 10 tackles and recovered a fumble in the Gators' 62-37 rout over the Vols. Jeremy Bates, who is a Tampa Bay Buccaneers assistant coach, was a reserve UT quarterback. He later transferred to Rice.

"The game had gotten out of hand and I had come out and was on the sidelines,'' James recalls. "But when I saw Jeremy in there, I begged my coach to send me back in the game.

"I tried to talk to him when he came to the line of scrimmage but he just ignored me. He just handed the ball off a few times."

Half-jokingly, Bates added, "I never got a chance to get a good lick on him. That may be the biggest disappointment of my career."

Bates said for most of his Florida teammates, the Florida State game was the biggest game of the season.

"Tennessee was my Florida State,'' Bates said.

"Absolutely I know what it's like playing against your brother. Everybody is going to say, 'Oh, I'm not thinking about that. I'm just thinking about this game.'

"But believe it with Chris Leak. He's like a robot. He's special."

The top five players UT nearly signed who came back to haunt the Vols during the 1990s or after:

• Carnell Williams: Verbally committed to UT on his official visit in January 2001. Reneged on his commitment after a late concerted push by Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville and his staff.

Last season, in his first game against Tennessee, Williams rushed a season-high 36 times for 185 yards and a touchdown to key Auburn's win over the Vols. He had 232 all-purpose yards and was named SEC offensive player of the week.

• James Bates: (see above).

• Tony George: A cousin of Eddie George, he was heavily recruited by UT and indicated on his official visit he was leaning to the Vols. The recruitment turned nasty when he picked the Gators over the Vols and accused UT's coaches of negative recruiting.

In 1997, George had one of the best games of his career playing cornerback against UT. He was so fired up about playing UT that he exchanged heated words with some of the Vols' players and coaches on the field during warm-ups.

He intercepted a Peyton Manning pass and returned it 89 yards for a touchdown that turned the game in the Gators' favor. He also caused a fumble, sacked Manning on a cornerback blitz, had three pass deflections and four tackles. He was named SEC defensive player of the week.

• Antonio London: One of the top recruits when he came out of Tullahoma in 1989, he narrowed his choices to UT and Alabama before signing with the Tide. In 1991, he played a key role in Alabama's 24-19 win by blocking John Becksvoort's 32-yard field-goal attempt. He also had two sacks and a tackle for a loss. He was honored as SEC defensive player of the week.

"I get a special feeling playing against my home boys,'' London, a defensive leader on the Tide's 1992 national championship team, said before facing UT. "To me, the Tennessee game is the biggie."

• Brandon Bennett: Had a significant role in a game that changed the course of Vols' football history. He rushed for 122 yards on 22 carries in the Gamecocks' 24-23 stunning win over UT in 1992. That was the third consecutive loss for then head coach Johnny Majors, who was coming off heart surgery. Majors was subsequently forced to step down and Fulmer took over.

"I always thought in the back of my mind, 'What if I had gone to Tennessee?' '' Bennett said after the game. "It makes me feel good today after beating them that I decided to come here."

Gary Lundy may be reached at 865-342-6274.