News Sentinel
Tennessee's Fred White, 2, and Ron Green crush Florida quarterback Jesse Palmer during the Vols' 20-17 overtime win against the Gators in 1998. The win helped propel Tennessee to a 13-0 record that season.
The crowd sometimes is more memorable than the game in the spring.
Do you think the average Alabama fan remembers who did what in its 2007 spring football game? No, but he remembers the stadium was full.
Some Florida fans will remember last week's spring game as an introduction to the next Percy Harvin (see Chris Rainey). But most will remember it for the exposure, compliments of ESPN's game-day coverage.
Tennessee's spring game Saturday won't be on ESPN. The stadium won't be full. But the crowd will be significant.
It's a comeback crowd.
I can't give you a head count or drop many names, but I hope Al Wilson is among them. He's the player most responsible for UT's 1998 national championship, and he's rarely seen on the turf he once protected as fiercely and loyally as the most dutiful watchdog.
Former UT football players - most of whom played in the mid-to-late 1990s - are planning a Knoxville homecoming this weekend. It's not an athletic department promotion or a Letterman's T Club production. It's just a group of former football players who want to get together in the name of camaraderie and a shared love for UT football. It's more passionate than organized.
"It's mostly been by word of mouth," said Fred White, a local resident who was the starting strong safety on the national championship team. "I've talked to 50 people myself.
"We all love UT football. Why not get together in the spring? Plus, we're getting older. We would like to tell some old stories. The wives might not have heard those stories."
Easy on the stories, I advise him. He laughs.
War stories have been told before, particularly among the players from the late 1990s, some of whom were so closely connected they might as well have a chain running between their championship rings. Just last December, about 20 former players rented Warrick Dunn's luxury box in the Georgia Dome to watch UT play LSU for the SEC championship.
"Bruce Pearl (UT basketball coach) came by and hung with us awhile," White said.
They had so much fun they decided to do it again. But this time, they wanted to do it on their home ground.
"I remember (the late) Derrick Thomas say he couldn't wait for Alabama Week (every spring)," White said. "Takeo Spikes talked about how he couldn't wait to go to Auburn (for a similar spring gathering).
"The majority of (UT) guys don't come back. We want to create an atmosphere where they want to come back. … Everybody said if they had a reason to come back to Knoxville, they would."
So they're trying to come up with reasons, the biggest of which is as basic as kinship. They have planned a bowling outing for tonight and will attend the spring game Saturday afternoon.
Not surprisingly for athletes as competitive as these, bowling won't be sufficient competition. They will play a basketball game Saturday evening at West High School. The game is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m., and fans are welcome.
If the basketball game doesn't fit your schedule, maybe you can catch it next year, because the players don't want this to be a one-weekend deal.
"We want it to be an annual event," White said.
"I think UT would want us here," he added. "And I think it will help recruiting. Everybody preaches 'family.' It's a little easier (to preach), if every spring, all these older guys are back in town."
But that's a side effect, not a goal. Instead, this is more about a team trying to stay together long after its last game.
And if they are to stay connected, it's only fitting they meet where their connection is the strongest.
Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com.
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Comments » 40
rusty_shackleford writes:
Well phooey! I hadn't seen johnny boy's byline in a while and I had hoped he was long gone.
GreerVol22 writes:
Adams, you never cease to amaze me. To take a great feel good story and screw it up by dissin' UT with your snide Alabama and Florida references.
rusty_shackleford writes:
McIdiot: Rivals.com has UT v. UCLA as one of the best games of 2008, while listing UF v. The Citadel as one of the WORST! Tough schedule big guy! At least you can look down on FSU who has two teams from the Southern Conference.
Volfan1 writes:
rusty,
Easy on Gomer mcbrim. He's a new member of the Vol Nation. He is obsessed with reading & posting here....even John (Mr. No Credibility) Adams' articles.
Welcome him. Welcome him often. Every post he makes proves his hidden love for the Vols. If that were true about only three fans present, he would be one of them.
Sincerely,
Goodvol writes:
Having 94,000 and then 78,000 at your spring game shows the excitement that the Bama fans have for the upcoming season and the thought of having a great season. You have to understand its been awhile since they've had one. It's like a kid with a new toy. If Bama was coming off a few successful seasons they would have more trouble filling their stadium for the spring game. Most of the fans would be waiting for the real season.
sstterry#205746 writes:
Will there be televion covrerage (replay coverage)available one Directv? I seem to recall seeing that Comcast will have replays at some point.
writer#358485 writes:
I do believe Mr. Adams has taken all the flack he caught after his Fulmer tirade personally. Good!
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Alabama will never be out-mulleted.
Used to go th Gainesville quite often.
To the Gatornationals.
Volfan1 writes:
Gomer,
Ho hum....again with unfounded, juvenile, personal attacks. Sad, yet typical of someone with schizophrenia as you are.
But I have learned something from your posts. Not only are you obsessed with Tennessee by constantly being here, but you have demonstrated what it means to be "owned".
I don't post on a UF site. It's the last place we Vols care about being. It has no hold on us. But it's funny, you seem to be drawn here constantly....you just can't get away from the Vols....as in, you are "owned".
Should your username be changed to "mcowned"? Has the ring of truth to it.
See you in the funny papers,
volipop3#328757 writes:
Thanks guys for all the great memories, and welcome back to Knoxville. Inspire the players here now to make some of their own. Go Vols!
hcjournals#206623 writes:
Great initiatve by the players. After you stop playing for the Vols, you are an alumni with a lot to give to the players coming up. We are a family,and I hope y'all are all invited on the field, or in the locker room talking to the players. Can't think of anything more positive than that! Thanks.
rusty_shackleford writes:
Mcowned, UT doesn't schedule IAA teams, period. UAB and NIU are both DI, dumba$$. The Citadel has trouble competing in IAA. When was the last time UF went cross-country for a matchup? BTW, how was your New Year's Day this year? Appy State did what you guys couldn't! hahahaha
I agree with 55; we all know that suburban will keep teabag in the game deep into the 3rd qtr, so anything less than 750 total yards of O will be a BIG hit to his heistman creds for the year.
Go bite yourself, McOwned!
rrvolfan#230816 writes:
ADAMS BYLINE = IGNORE THIS ARTICLE
Volfan1 writes:
Gomer mcowned,
I love it. Not only are you totally wrong in every thing you mention, you keep coming back for more.
Hey, that's ok. We all know you have such an obsession with the Vols and a love for the Big Orange that you hide under that ugly gator disguise. This conflict going on inside of you has even made you attack my gender. And who knows if my race or religion will be next? But if that's the best you can do, we can deal with it.
Here's something to help you. Just take some deep breaths, and say, "It's ok to be owned. It's ok to be owned."
We really can't be emphathetic with what that feels like, but we do extend our hand of sympathy & pity to you.
I just relax & love watching you demonstrate your obsession over...and over...and over...
Smiling the day away!
TheVolMan writes:
WEENIE BYLINE = PUT YOUR HEAD BACK IN THE SAND
losvolsganan writes:
I have criticized Adams when I didn't like his work, so I will take a moment to applaud his work on this article. Good job!
I don't read the references to other SEC schools as a snide byline or dissing; he mentioned Auburn also, not just Alabama and Florida. I take it for what it is, a comparison to what goes on at other SEC schools.
Having these older Vols come around campus more often is good news. It can only help the program. Go Vols!!!!
rusty_shackleford writes:
Mcowned, Look yourself, goober. http://www.soconsports.com/ViewArticl...
The Citadel plays in the Southern Conference, which used to be DI-AA, but is now the Football Championship Subdivision conference.... which is NOT I-A in football. FCS = Fewer athletic scholarships and smaller budgets.
It is sooo easy to correct a stupid lizard!
IBleedOrange444 writes:
This quote is taken from an article posted today on volquest.com.
Good job Mr Adams. Way to alienate our players!
"Robert Ayers, who has been one of the most quotable Vols since his playing time began to merit media attention, has avoided speaking with the media all spring. He did so again on Thursday when he turned down requests to discuss being named one of the most improved players on defense.
As the request was relayed to Ayers as he exited the practice field he was observed telling a representative of the UT Sports Information Department that he was unwilling to meet with the media and firmly cited John Adams' column in the Knoxville News Sentinel from two months ago, in which Fulmer was called to be fired, as the reason for his refusal."
rusty_shackleford writes:
Good lord, you ARE STUPID! Your original point was the Cit was DI, which it is not. For the last time....I'll try to type slow so you can understand...The Citadel is NOT A D1 PROGRAM!!!! They belong to the SoCon, which is in the FCS, which is comprised of the old D1-AA football programs.
Who cares who was in the Southern conference in 1921? That wasn't the origin of your comments ("The Citadel is a division I team").
Losers tend to change the topic when they are getting their butts handed to them, so you are on YOUR game there! Keep on posting and show everyone how dumb you really are. And while you're at it, smile and show everyone your tooth!
knoxtenor writes:
Surprisingly (I know! Big time!), I don't see how Adams is "dissin' on" the Vols by talking about other former SEC team members holding ad hoc events at their alma maters' spring scrimmages. If anything, I think he points out how UT is STILL considered the red-headed stepchild of the SEC by the national media. Let's face it! It applies to pretty much all sports--even women's basketball, as evidenced by recent ESPN pre-championship-game comments.
Oh sure, we'll be able to see the O&W game on SportsSouth, eventually, but we won't have Lee Corso here Saturday to yell obscene comments at. A pity. With less crowd noise at Neyland, one might be able to actually hear it on the air. ;)
thesavageorange writes:
"I think UT would want us here," he added. "And I think it will help recruiting.
Hey Fred, see if you can get Big John or Albert on the horn.We need some DT's.
On a serious note, Fred was a very underated player.He was great against the run, and was the emotional leader of the secondary.
jack_2222#231746 writes:
How many Alabama fans were in the stadium in the waning minutes of last year's UL Monroe game?
tnbanker_govols writes:
Hey Adams, those former players who will be in the stadium this weekend will include some of those who had to take out an ad to support their former coach because some idiot journalist had something to say about a "change at the top." Yeah, I would probably stay away this weekend if I were you.
Bigger_Al writes:
Adams would rather dig at something in each player's personal life and blame it on Fulmer.
Adams is a weasel.
IBleedOrange444 writes:
mcbrim-
Are you for real? Trying to knock the Vols for the schedule that they ran through in route to the '38 championship!?!? This may be a hard concept for your dumba$$ to pick up on, but a lot can change in 70 years! Did you actually look into the teams on that schedule and see how good they were or weren't at that time or do you think that the current powerhouses are the same ones that have always been? Sewanee, whom you attempted to use to nullify that NC, appears to have actually been a decent program in those days. The Gators played Sewanee in '38 too and managed to eek out a 10-6 victory, but all of this really has no bearing on the fact that the Gay-ters went ahead and put the D-2 Citidel on their schedule for '08. Maybe you should do a little research before you let your ignorance roll across the keyboard.
CoverOrange writes:
UF schedules fodder teams for the same reason UT does, to enable at least 7 home games every year. Real teams want home and home series which stifles goal number one: butts in the seats as often as possible. Don't matter if they leave at halftime, season tickets were paid for.
CoverOrange writes:
Obviously you are not putting enough dough on the table.
bigbluevol writes:
mcbrim-
In the early half of the 20th century (that means the 1900s) Sewanee was an excellent program. At one time they took a train and played something like 5 or 6 major teams in one week. They won all the games. The Citadel is, as many have pointed out, in the FCS of football. This is formerly known as D 1-AA. This subdivision exists only in football. As for your claim that teams only are willing to schedule the Vols because they know they will win, you are sorely mistaken. We have earned a reputation as a team that will play anyone, anytime, anywhere. Even if your accusation was true, it doesn't make sense that a team would trade a loss in Knoxville for a potential win at home as you're saying. With the exception of Notre Dame, we have at least split with the major opponents we have scheduled of late. A large reason you cannot schedule teams of a higher caliber is because you are unwilling to trade for a home and home. Miami is an advantageous series because it gives you exposure in the talent rich portion of South Florida where you have historically struggled to recruit athletes. Aside from that, your only home and home out of conference is with traditional rival FSU who, of late, has not had jack squat. Remember when a lot of you wanted to keep Zook because he beat them in Tallahasee, something Spurrier couldn't do? Know what you're talking about before you come and talk smack.
rusty_shackleford writes:
So, Mcowned, you said at 2:35 "I am not knocking the vols on their 38 championship." So, what did you mean when you said at 11:34 "It appears that the mighty vols have a leg up on the Gators when it comes to playing the Citadel, and SEWANEE! You won the national championship with THIS SCHEDULE?!! AND YOU COUNT IT?!!"
That's not a knock? Who are you Hillary in disquise? Do you not think that we read what you just typed? Maybe that juvenile logic flies on the lizard boards, but not so much here.
Again, my statement from 11:52 stands: "Keep on posting and show everyone how dumb you really are. And while you're at it, smile and show everyone your tooth!"
bigbluevol writes:
Mcbrim, with the exception of Spurrier's Heisman, your history had not been exceptionally legendary until the mid 80's. It's taken you two national championships in the last 20 years, a strong run in the SEC for about a 10 year window, and the continual selling out to the media to get on our level. We have more national championships than you, more All-Americans and more College Hall of Famers than you. We've been around a long time son. It's us and Alabama as the king's on the block. You and Georgia and a smattering of other teams are simply pretenders to the throne. We'll let you know when you can come eat at the adults' table.
bigbluevol writes:
mcbrim...face it, even if that were true it would take you several more decades to catch up with us. You're like most Gator fans: exceedingly arrogant and not very knowledgable. Congratulations on your flash in the pan status. We'll see you September 20th in Knoxville.
Good day.
bigbluevol writes:
Tebow wouldn't let you near him to talk, so don't flatter yourself with the idea that you could even come within 100 yards of him. I know counting is hard, but since more than 3 people have posted on this story alone, clearly your joke is without merit and humor. You will not score anywhere near 55 on us. That is a guarantee.
1974Vol writes:
mcbrim unless ya'll moved TT to defense he's going to have a hard time keeping us from hanging a 55 on ya. You going to play "slowdown" like your BB team did in K-town when we hung a 100 on ya?
VolStuckInOrlando writes:
You guys are wasting your time expending energy on McOwned here. I live in Orlando and this town is absolutely infested with his type of swine. I cant swing a dead cat without smackin some obnoxious and overconfident Gator in the grill. Its amazing how quickly they forget how they were pummeled by Michigan right here in my backyard. Ah good times....
Im glad to hear some of the alums are making an effort to get back to UT in the spring. But what sucks is that it almost sounds forced. And it also sucks that Adams still has work. He and McOwned should collaborate their manure shoveling efforts and exit stage left.
Volfan1 writes:
VolStuckInOrlando,
"McOwned" is appropriate for a name, isn't it?
I wish mcowned could take some personality lessons from 99gator.
Enjoying life,
rusty_shackleford writes:
Mcowned, this is getting too easy, son!
Posted by mcbrim1998 on April 18, 2008 at 10:32 a.m.
"Again, I have asked TT to keep the score to under 60 this year."
---
Posted by mcbrim1998 on April 18, 2008 at 3:41 p.m.
"Again, I have asked Tebow to keep our score under 55 this year."
So, which is it, McChucklepud? Did you tell McTeabag 55 or 60? Honestly, haven't you had enough? Pointing out your fallacy in logic and/or your mistakes is just too easy!
rusty_shackleford writes:
McOwned, those 59 points got UF all the way to 3rd in the SEC East and a loss to Michigan on New Year's Day. Congrats!
Just think, if UF hadn't scored 59, the lizards would be fighting the cocks and mildcats for FOURTH in the East. hahaha
rootin4volz writes:
Aaaaaaaaannnnnd John Adams remains an idiot.
b writes:
STFU, Adams!!!
You big LSU Tool!!!
littleorange writes:
Too bad the Sentinel can't hire have a competent sports editor....
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