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George Cafego, an All-America tailback at Tennessee and assistant coach for the Vols, posed for this picture in 1984. Cafego, who died in 1998, wore No. 72 during playing days at UT.

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There are a number of people who are legends, but won't admit to it.

When I recently asked Vol fans to name the legendary figures over the course of Tennessee football history, someone wrote in and nominated George Cafego, the Vol tailback from 1937-39. After thinking about it, I thought it was a pretty good idea. There are numerous others, on and off the field, but Cafego is a good starting point.

A number on a Tennessee orange football jersey is merely a number, a ready means of identification. So say the folks uneducated in the ways of football. There's more to a number than you might realize.

There was a night in 1998 that concept hit home. It was Feb. 11, the night the Tennessee community honored George's life at Rose Mann Heritage Chapel in West Knoxville.

On the register outside the chapel, there was the following signature: "Frank Kolinsky, No. 72."

Nicknamed "Bad News," Cafego had worn No. 72, rising from obscurity to be a true Tennessee legend on and off the field. For his part, Kolinsky had worn it during his time as a Vol offensive tackle from 1955-57.

"I was proud to wear his number," Kolinsky said. "It was an indication of the respect and admiration I had for him, on and off the field. I wanted people to know how honored I was to share that number with him."

There were numerous stories about Cafego's journey to Tennessee from West Virginia, starting with an all-night bus ride from Scarbro to Knoxville. He became an All-America in Bob Neyland's second tenure as head coach, a wonderful time to be on campus in Knoxville.

Gen. Neyland described Cafego as "the only practice bum I ever coached who was a true All-America football player. He couldn't do anything in practice, but, for two hours on a Saturday afternoon, he did everything an All-America player is supposed to do."

The SEC Player of the Year in 1938, Cafego was featured in a Look magazine spread on the lure of college football centered around the 1939 Alabama game. He was a consensus All-America selection in 1939 and a No. 1 NFL draft choice in 1940.

A member of the Vols' staff from 1955-84, Cafego coached the backs, kickers and scout squad. He earned great loyalty from his scout team members, as evidenced by another reference in the guestbook.

After a former Vol signed his name, he wrote: "Proud to have been a scout team member for Coach Cafego."

Cafego said his greatest experience was "working with these boys. It's a great chance to be with the boys who are going to be leaders in the community one of these days. Most of the boys who work for me think they'll make it to the varsity. Many do. These boys are part of the team, and they make a great contribution. Once they come to realize this, they work hard."

Cafego, who came to Knoxville as an undersized tailback whom Neyland had never seen play, challenged his charges to make the most of their opportunities on the practice field.

"Sometimes we move the ball down to the 5-yard line, and there is the varsity defense across the line," Cafego said. "I put the monkey on their backs. I tell them every man on the field is watching to see what they can do. If they want to get on the varsity, right there's the place to make it. Take that ball and stuff it down their throats."

Keith Jackson paid Cafego a tribute on ABC's broadcast of the 1999 Fiesta Bowl, noting his passing almost a year earlier. After a review of his life and career, here's what Jackson said: "Phillip Fulmer went to see George Cafego, who is an absolute legend in Tennessee football history, two days before he passed away. George said, 'Good luck. I'll be watching.' Good night, George ... and thanks. Nobody's name rests higher in Tennessee football than George Cafego."

Speaking at the Vol football banquet in 1999, Doug Dickey said cogently that Cafego was such an integral of the Tennessee football tradition, "Whenever they write the definitive history of Tennessee football, the name George Cafego will have to be on p. 1."

Players wearing No. 72 may come and go, but, for one night in 1998, there were entries in a funeral home guestbook that revealed special truths about the life of a great man and his impact on Tennessee football.

No. 16 will always be Peyton Manning. No. 45 will always be John Majors. No. 57 will always be Steve Kiner, No. 64 Jack Reynolds, and No. 92 Reggie White.

No. 72 will always be George Cafego. Frank Kolinsky would second that nomination.

Tom Mattingly is the author of "The Tennessee Football Vault: The Story of the Tennessee Volunteers, 1891-2006" (2006), to be published in second edition in 2008, and "Tennessee Football: The Peyton Manning Years" (1998). He may be reached at tjmshm@comcast.net. His News Sentinel blog on govolsxtra.com is called The Vol Historian.

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