Packer: 'Mitch' filling spiritual need

The relationship between James “Mitch” Mitchell and the Tennessee football program began in 1997. At the time, Mitchell was a volunteer chaplain for the Tennessee Titans when they were located for the season in Memphis and went by Oilers.

“I was working with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at the time when I was asked to do a motivational speech for the team,” Mitchell said. “I guess I did something right, because I was asked to speak to the Vols two or three times during the 1998 season.”

Five years later UT coach Phillip Fulmer decided he had a need for Mitchell with the program on a full-time basis as the team chaplain.

“This whole story with Mitch started when we lost John Stuckey,” Fulmer said of his former strength and conditioning coach. “I could always count on John to be the Christian influence on the players that we needed. John was there to help the players with any personal issues that they had: family problems, girl problems, academic issues. You name it, John was there for them. We, as coaches, can’t be there all the time. But, John was with the players in the weight room dealing with their personal problems, and their spiritual lives.

“When John got sick in 2001, we missed that Christian atmosphere from a guidance structure. After a year without John in 2002, I knew that we needed someone to try and fill his shoes. So, I called the FCA and asked for help.”

That’s when Leon Willis, regional director of the FCA, helped Fulmer locate Mitchell.

“I called Mitch the first time, but he didn’t return my call,” Fulmer said.

“I thought someone was playing a joke on me,” Mitchell said. “Yeah, I got a call from some guy saying that he was Phillip Fulmer and he wanted to talk to me. But, I have a lot of people playing jokes on me, so I thought it was just another joke and I didn’t return the call.”

About a week later, Willis called again and explained that the University of Tennessee was looking for a full-time team chaplain and that Fulmer remembered him from 1997 and 1998 when he had been with the team in Knoxville.

“When I got the second call, I realized that this was the real deal and I called Coach Fulmer immediately,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell had been busy for 14 years as an offensive line coach, and then years with a group called Pro Athletes Outreach. It was a group that visited with every team in the NFL and Major League Baseball.

“I would be in Oakland one day having lunch with several players on the Raiders, then get on a plane and fly to New York to meet with the Giants,” said Mitchell. “Our big deal was to get the players to come to our conference after the Pro Bowl. We would have seminars on finances, bible, relationships and other life lessons. Then, on that Saturday, all the players would go to a jail and visit with inmates.”

With the experience Mitchell had in dealing with athletes at all levels, Fulmer knew this was his man. And, in just four short years, “Mitch” has made his mark on the Tennessee family.

“I’ve married Ken Johnson (UT assistant basketball coach), Jason Respert (former UT offensive lineman), Cody Douglas (former UT offensive lineman), and Dustin Colquitt (former UT punter). I’m about to marry C.J. Fayton this spring,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell may be listed as the team chaplain, but somewhere in his heart is the former offensive line coach.

“I’m always watching the offensive line,” Mitchell said. “Coach (Greg) Adkins has been gracious to let me hang out at drills in practice. I watch films with the coaches all the time. I still want to coach, it’s just in my blood, but I’m coaching in a different way now. I still coach stance, technique, awareness and schemes. I’m just coaching those things in relation to life now instead of football.

“I have the best of both worlds. I watch film, go to practice, and then I get to go home and sleep,” Mitchell said with his infectious chuckle.

It’s hard to figure out where Mitchell makes his biggest impact, on the coaches or the players. Both sides will argue their point.

“Mitch is the best,” quarterback Erik Ainge said. “He has a different perspective than most team chaplains because he can relate to us. He’s been a player and a coach. So, he understands all that we’re going through on a daily basis. I think the coolest thing about him is that he doesn’t cram faith down players’ throats. If a guy isn’t interested in hearing the word, Mitch will leave him alone. But, as soon as he gets any idea that the door is open to share the word with the player, he’s all over him.”

As far as Fulmer is concerned, it’s not just the players who have benefited from Mitchell’s influence on the program.

“We have a staff devotional on Monday mornings and a bible study on Wednesday mornings,” Fulmer said. “It’s a special time for us to keep everything in perspective. The job can be very demanding. It’s important for us to get together with Mitch and keep our priorities in the right place.”

So, the next time you see Mitchell huddling up with a player on the sideline after a great play, or after a mistake, realize that you’re seeing first hand what the Tennessee family atmosphere is all about.

And, I’ll end this column like Mitch ends every conversation by saying, “Peace.”

Mark Packer hosts the Locker Room presented by Parkwest Medical Center on Sunday at 10 p.m. on MyVLT-2.