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UT freshman cornerback Eric Berry, left, goes through preseason workouts as he tries to win a job in the secondary before the Vols’ first game Sept. 1 against California.
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The seeds of success were planted long ago amid hot, humid conditions. But it was the competitive environment that made stifling weather conditions seem very secondary.
Throughout summer workouts, observers didn’t have to look long nor hard to see two players already determined to establish a spot in the Tennessee football pecking order.
There were freshmen Eric Berry and Gerald Jones, always close by, always the first to participate in sprints, agility drills and weightlifting sessions designed to improve their athletic ability and stamina for the 2007 season.
Competitive? Absolutely. The intensity between the two was palpable this summer, no matter the drill.
“If you push each other to be the best, that’s what will come out,” said Jones, the highly touted receiver from Oklahoma.
The hard work seems to have had an effect. Jones made four receptions for 20 yards in Saturday night’s scrimmage and has shown an ability to register spectacular catches during preseason camp, putting him in strong position to secure a spot on UT’s travel squad for the season opener against California on Sept. 1.
“I think I’ve showed a lot of energy, adrenaline and the urge to work hard,” Jones said. “I’m a hard worker. I go 110 percent every drill and every play. Our theme is to be totally committed in everything you do and that’s to work hard.”
Berry has been even better. It seems to only be a matter of time until the athlete from Georgia secures a starting cornerback spot. He said the offseason competition between himself and Jones has helped both to prepare.
“Just trying to get each other better,” Berry said. “We know that when we line up against Cal, the corner isn’t going to take it easy on him and he knows that (Cal receiver) DeSean Jackson isn’t going to take it easy on us.”
In preparing for such times, Berry and Jones have made sure not to take it easy on each other. It started when Berry and Jones found themselves matched up in last January’s U.S. Army All-America Bowl in San Antonio.
In Berry’s first game at cornerback, he held Jones to one catch, good for a two-point conversion. Jones also carried once for 16 yards.
“Off the field,” Berry said, “we’re real cool. We’re like brothers basically. But when we’re on the field he’s trying to take my head off and I’m trying to take his head off. It’s just competitive.”
Said Jones: “We’re on opposite sides of the ball. We’re taught to be physical with each other. It’s like we never even knew each other on the field but when we’re off the field, it’s back to friends.”
So who is the better athlete?
“We both are,” Berry modestly claimed.
“I call it dead even,” Jones agreed.
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Comments » 17
tnmantravel#531151 writes:
nice "problem" to have,.... doin' it and doin' it well
andy112382#209793 writes:
Two guys who look like they have very bright (orange) futures at Tennessee. Who knows, Gerald Jones could be the next WR out of Oklahoma to break the single season receiving record! GO VOLS!!!
cdldoc#211897 writes:
for good video of the scrimmage go to Volquest.com (Tennessee.Rivals.com)
kaplan#211944 writes:
We have a link to video on this site from WVLT. It's on this page and the bottom left on the home page. Only members of rivals can access the video. This site is free.
txsvol#372416 writes:
This friendly rivalry started in the Army All-American Bowl here last January, when Eric covered Gerald like a blanket. I'm glad that they are competing against each other. It will only make both better. Go Vols! SAVol
BOASoldier writes:
Not this weekend, but next weekend ... ladies and gents, boys and girls, rednecks and ruffians alike.... IT will be FOOTBALL TIME IN TENNESSEE!!!
Volchaz writes:
With the experimenting of possibly going with the 3-4 defense a little bit, I wonder if Chavis is finding a way to get these athletes on the field. SHould be fun to watch, and should be little dropoff back there.
abrown#232236 writes:
Certainly a better freshman story than this one...
Irish QB, gets misdemeanor for transporting alcohol
Posted: Monday August 20, 2007 1:42AM; Updated: Monday August 20, 2007 7:20AM
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) -- Freshman Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen has entered a pretrial diversion program after receiving a misdemeanor citation for transporting alcohol as a minor, a newspaper reports.
Indiana State Excise Police cited Clausen and a 23-year-old on June 23 outside a liquor store near the University of Notre Dame campus, police said Friday.
Excise police were in an unmarked car outside the store to catch minors attempting to get alcohol, Lt. Tim Cleveland, a police spokesman, told the South Bend Tribune.
Clausen was cited for a misdemeanor citation, while the 23-year-old, a recent Notre Dame graduate, was cited for inducing a minor to possess alcohol, an infraction.
Clausen declined comment Friday through the university. Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis also declined comment.
Police said the 23-year-old entered the store and bought two 1.75-liter bottles of vodka, a 200-milliliter bottle of whiskey, and case containing 30 cans of beer.
Clausen remained outside the store in a Chevrolet Tahoe along with another Notre Dame freshman, who was not cited.
Clausen has entered a pretrial diversion program with the St. Joseph County prosecutor's office, said Linda Scopelitis, who directs the program.
Under the terms of the agreement, signed on July 11, Clausen agreed to pay a $170 fee and to not commit a similar offense for a year, Scopelitis said.
If he meets those terms, he will not face a misdemeanor charge for the June incident, she said. But if he's cited for the same offense within a year, he'll face two misdemeanor charges.
Clausen must also likely deal with the university's Office of Residence Life and Housing, as well as Weis.
The Irish open the season at home Sept. 1 against Georgia Tech.
Clausen, the nation's No. 1 recruit in the last recruiting cycle, is battling for the starting quarterback job at Notre Dame.
orangebloodgmc writes:
Clearly a program out of control.
backwoodsvol writes:
Notre Dame and Clausen deserve each other--never was to high on the young qb. or any Clausen for that matter...
volfandambrosio#229657 writes:
WE ARE GOING TO FREAKIN' KILL CAL! 34-17. I just read their starting FB is out for the UT game. Longshore is a sitting duck. 4 sacks minimum and tons of hurries. Longshore 10 for 27, 124 yards. 3 INT's. O TD's. Benched in 4Q.
ElizabethtonvolnNC writes:
like the "program out of control" remark....ND football can burn. 'brosio, I want some of that kool aid you been sucking down....GO VOLS!
vol4jesus writes:
Casey and Rick steer little bro the direction he should go....and it ain't the local liqour store in south bend! Clausens were not Peyton, but Casey did beat Florida twice and Rick helped direct dismantling of Franchione at Tex A & M in bowl. Wonder what Coach Weis will do?
tnmantravel#531151 writes:
hey eVOLution....after the heisman was taken from peyton, i truely give no value to the heisman trophy ...don't watch the presentation ...could not care less about the award....Vols 31 Cal 6
cwisenhower#637741 writes:
Let's not forget it was Rick that also dismantled LSU after they got a 21 point jump on us. If Jimmy had wanted to be in Knoxville, he woulda been there.
But it's obvious that he ain't that good. Hell, he can't even get someone else to buy alcohol for him and not get caught. That already tells me his instincts are off.
I mean damn! What freshman do you take to the liquor store? ZERO! Unless she's your girlfriend!
But back to the primary subject, I can't wait until 9-1-07, and I can't wait to see the talents of this Eric Berry guy. Good times! Go Vols!
hueypilot writes:
Clausen must have popped the top and drank one in the car right in front of the officers. Otherwise the 23year old would have said, "it's all for me" and I don't see anything the cops could have done about it." If he's that stupid (Clausen) , then I don't want him running the team in Gainesville and Athens
JUGHEAD writes:
You wanna know another thing that's sad about the Jimmy Clausen story? Did you notice the names were withheld of the other two subjects in the story? They're referred to simply as a 23-year old Notre Dame graduate and another Notre Dame freshman (a minor, by the way, just like Clausen). Yet they repeatedly mention Clausen's name simply because he's a high-profile athlete, while the rank-and-file student or graduate can remain anonymous. I find that just a bit unfair.
By the way...GO VOLS!!! I......CAINT.....WAIT!!!!
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