Manning savors his Super Bowl

Peyton Manning seized the day on Super Bowl Sunday. Ever thorough, he then made a point of savoring the afterglow.

The former Tennessee quarterbacking legend finally reached the summit of professional football Feb. 4, when he won MVP honors while leading the Indianapolis Colts to a 29-17 Super Bowl victory over the Chicago Bears.

No more Peyton cant win the big one carping.

Manning, famous for his telephone networking, predictably sought advice on how to enjoy the long-sought accomplishment.

I talked to Derrick Brooks of Tampa, Manning revealed during a campus visit Thursday, whos kind of like me, paid his dues for a long time and then won it in his 11th (ninth, actually) year.

He told me dont be in a hurry to put it behind you. Still work as hard as you always do in the off-season, but to enjoy it, soak it up and dont be afraid to say yes to a couple of things.

Manning said yes to being the official starter at the Indianapolis 500 but no to driving the pace car.

He also said yes to hosting Saturday Night Live in March and to an invitation to the White House to dine with Englands Queen Elizabeth II in May.

The latter was as stuffy as the former was light-hearted. He realized the queen wasnt clued in to his status as one of Americas top sports icons.

Pretty limited conversation, Manning said. I was just trying to follow protocol.

Im kind of a patter. I pat guys on the shoulder. I pat all my teammates on the (rear end). I was sure not to do that.

Manning was on campus Thursday to present the Peyton Manning Scholarship. He spent the previous day in Chattanooga shooting a commercial with his family and Arizona quarterback Matt Leinart for Direct TVs NFL package.

After the ceremony at the Thornton Center, Manning headed off to throw footballs with UTs quarterbacks and receivers.

Ive got my list of receivers Coach (Phillip) Fulmer and Coach (David) Cutcliffe want me to target and see what theyre about, Manning said.

Weve got some young receivers whove got to step up.

When I was here, Joey Kent was that kind of veteran that was always there, but this is somewhat similar to Marcus Nash and Maurice Staley and Andy McCullough. They were called in at a young age to step up and play well.

Manning and UT quarterback Erik Ainge are old buds by now. Manning gives his phone number to every UT quarterback and makes himself available as a resource.

I really pull for him, Manning said. I think hes going to have a great senior year.

Hes paid his dues, hes worked hard and theres nothing like being a senior in college, especially at this place.

Giving Back: The Peyton Manning Scholarship has been awarded annually since 1998 to a first-year student participating in UTs Honors Program.

This years recipient is Kara Leann Seat of Nashville.

The scholarship is funded from gifts to the university resulting from Mannings academic awards during his career (1994-97), the athletic departments corporate matching grants program and other private gifts. Mannings accomplishments generated $165,000 during his tenure at UT.

Mannings PeyBack Foundation has contributed more than $1.3 million since 1999 to help disadvantaged youth in Tennessee, Indiana and his hometown, New Orleans.