Packer: Weary still remembers the good times at UT

Photo by News Sentinel file

Fred Weary, front, runs through a drill during his playing days at Tennessee in 1997.

Football is a business for former UT lineman Fred Weary. Six years into his career with the Houston Texans and Weary is in a contract year.

"I'm playing for a paycheck now," Weary said. "Mentally I wanted something done before the season started, but it didn't get done so now I have to prove that I'm worth their time and money. I'm not real worried about it, though. If the Texans don't want me, there are 31 other teams who might."

Weary was at Tennessee in the great times of 1997-2001. He was on teams that won SEC and national championships. But, what many people forget is that this offensive lineman was a defensive lineman in the Fiesta Bowl.

"I came to UT as a defensive lineman," Weary said. "My first two years I played on defense until the coaches decided to move me over to offense. I'll admit that I wasn't real happy about it when they did it.

"Coach (Phillip) Fulmer called me into his office and gave me the news that I was moving and I wasn't happy. I remember him telling me that long term it would be the best move for me as a football player. Six years in the NFL later and I look back and realize how much money Coach Fulmer made me with that decision.

"I played in the national title game against Florida State. I actually had an offsides call on me when I was playing defensive tackle. Those were some good times. I love the University of Tennessee. If there's one guy on the Texans who loves his school and his team, it's me."

Weary says he's noticed how players in the NFL, who are from the SEC, love their school more than players from other conferences.

"Oh yeah, guys who played in the SEC are all about their schools," he said. "There are some guys who played in the Big 10 who are all about it, but the SEC guys are a bit more passionate."

Weary may be busy with the NFL life these days, but don't think he is not aware of what's been happening in Knoxville over the past few years.

"Coach Fulmer can still coach," Weary said. "He was a great coach when I was at UT, and he's still a great coach today. Like I said, he made me a lot of money when he moved me from defense to offense. He saw that that was a better position for me and he did what he felt was best for me and team."

It doesn't take long talking to Weary to realize that he loved every minute of his time as a Vol, and will always be a Vol.

"If I had it to do over again, I wouldn't change a thing," he said. "I had a great time at Tennessee. I think some of my best memories involve water guns. We used to have some great water gun fights in Gibbs Hall. I remember getting Jamal Lewis good.

"You know, I think that's what made college so much fun, and what made us such a great team. We were all friends. I remember us all going in together to get five bucks to go get some chicken together. We didn't have much, but we had each other. All the workouts we did together, all the barbecues we did together, those were some great times. And, those friendships we made at UT were friendships that we'll all have for the rest of our lives.

"In the NFL, it's just not that way. Guys have families to get home to. Guys have business to tend to. I mean, it's fun but it's just not the same. The best times I ever had were on that campus at Tennessee."

Weary was back on campus this weekend and on the sidelines for Saturday's game against Arkansas. Seeing the Vols play the Razorbacks brought back some great memories from a different era.

"That Clint Stoerner fumble was the key play to us winning that National Championship," Weary said. "I'll never forget that."

Mark Packer hosts the Locker Room, presented by Parkwest Medical Center, on Sunday at 10 p.m. on MyVLT2.