Insider: UT’s football players shoulder a lot of pressure, former co-captain reveals

As soon as I

— “Party Like A Rock Star,” Shop Boyz

Playing football for the University of Tennessee can be “an unbelievable amount of pressure” for a college student, says former Vol Bill Duff.

“If you win, you can’t pay for a meal in town. You can try, but it’s hard,” he tells the Insider.

“You lose, and you can’t buy a hot dog.

“For a 19- or 20-year-old kid, it’s almost over the top. It’s hard to comprehend.”

Duff was co-captain during the Vols’ SEC championship season in 1997. After playing pro ball and being a professional wrestler, he has now emerged with a new career altogether — TV host.

He’s co-starring in the History Channel’s newest series, “Human Weapon,” debuting tonight. In the show, he travels the world to learn a martial art and then, after a week of training, he challenges a master in the art form.

During an interview in Beverly Hills earlier this week, Duff reflected on his days with the Vols — both the ups and the downs.

Newcomers recruited to play at UT “have no idea that (locals) live, breathe and die by football,” he says.

“If you lose, they are depressed for a week. If you win, you’ve made their week.

“After playing for the Vols, my blood runs orange. It ruins my week now if they lose.”

Duff, who lives in New Jersey, also busted some myths. Despite headlines to the contrary, most UT football players don’t have time for partying excessively, he says.

He says the truly dedicated ones have too much on their schedule to party too much.

For those guys who party, he has a bit of advice: “The most important thing is to remain grounded,” he says.

“If you can’t remain grounded and remember where you came from, you turn into this media-created football guy.

“I don’t know any other way to put it but that way.”

Oh, Duff says not all the guys on his team were angels. “There were the guys who could walk into any bar, with their head up high, and they were above everyone else,” he says. “I was never that way.”

Duff says Peyton Manning was “the perfect example” of how to handle all the local fame that comes with playing football for the Vols.

“He was the quarterback. He’s gotta study every week the defense these guys have done for three or four days.

“On top of his classes and practice and training, he has to know what they are going to throw at him. It’s a lot to keep up with.”

Whisperings

NOT ‘BEST.’ Sevierville resident Dennis Murphy was eliminated from the ABC competition “The Next Best Thing.” On the show, which airs Wednesday nights, participants are celebrity impersonators trying to impress a group of judges with their skills. Murphy, a drummer for the Kingdom Heirs gospel group, is also a part-time Kenny Chesney impersonator.

WORDS TO LIVE BY. “Gentlemen, the hopes and dreams of an entire town are riding on your shoulders. You may never matter again in your life as much as you do right now.” — Billy Bob Thorton (as Coach Gary Gaines), “Friday Night Lights”

Terry Morrow’s blog is http://blogs.knox news.com/knx/telebuddy/. He may be reached at 865-342-6445 and Morrow2@knews.com.