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Adams: 'Hit' told 1998 Vols they had QB

By John Adams (Contact)
Originally published 01:43 p.m., April 19, 2008
Updated 01:43 p.m., April 19, 2008

(Editor Note: This is the second in a series of columns commemorating the 10th anniversary of Tennessee's 1998 national championship in football. Fred White, who played strong safety on that team, offers his insight on the team at the end of spring practice 10 years ago).

Tennessee players realized before their first practice the spring of 1998 would be different.

In the previous spring and preseason practices, quarterbacks and wide receivers wore green jerseys, meaning they were off limits to contact. But that spring, no one would wear a green jersey.

There were a couple of obvious reasons for the change. National champion Nebraska had physically dominated the 1997 Vols in the Orange Bowl. Moreover, UT had lost a number of key players, including quarterback Peyton Manning and linebacker Leonard Little.

It would be a spring for proving yourself and for claiming starting positions. The competition had to be intense.

"People were saying we would be an 8-4 team at best," White said. "I remember the secondary was supposed to be the weak link. Nobody knew what we would do."

Most importantly, no one knew what new quarterback Tee Martin would do. The team found out that spring.

And it found out on one hit.

In White's mind, nothing that happened in spring practice was as significant as The Hit. White still sees the play vividly in slow motion.

It occurred in an early spring scrimmage on the practice field, not in Neyland Stadium. It began with Martin faking a handoff and dropping back to pass.

The drama increased when Martin decided to run. As White watched Martin take off around left end, he saw linebacker Al Wilson set his sights on the quarterback.

Long before Wilson became an All-American or almost singlehandedly wrecked Florida's offense in the championship season, his reputation was established on the practice field. He was dangerous if you had a football under your arm.

"If you could take a lick from Al Wilson, you could take a lick from anybody," White said. "That's one of those licks you don't want to take. He hits with bad intentions.

"You would see this guy flying all over the field. He brought energy. A lot of people say he was a great leader. He was. But it wasn't always what he said. He led by example."

Wilson set that example in practice. He played the game at one speed. And he didn't slow down for anyone, not even his quarterback.

The Vols knew Martin was much stronger and more athletic than your average quarterback. But they didn't know if he were Al Wilson strong.

"You knew the lick was coming," White said. "As soon as contact was made, I thought, 'Man, we might have just lost our quarterback.' "

The high-speed collision put Martin on the ground. It didn't keep him there. He popped up and jogged back to the huddle.

"When he bounced back up, we knew we had our quarterback," White said.

Wilson provided confirmation.

Said White: "I remember Al said, 'We don't need to hit him anymore. He's battle tested.' "

So was the team.

"Coming out of spring practice, looking at our whole team - the offensive line, running backs, receivers, everybody - I felt like I had played against the best," White said. "I couldn't play against anybody better."

The 1998 season would prove him right.

Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com.

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.

       31 Comments

Posted by KingsportVol on April 19, 2008 at 1:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)

John that was a great article!We are very lucky to have you writing for us.Dang proud to be a Vol!

Posted by Bigger_Al on April 19, 2008 at 2:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)

John Adams is a jerk. This article is readable because he doesn't try to highlight himself and slander the Vols in order to be paid for his appearance on a rival's radio network.

If Jane Fonda was "Hanoi Jane", maybe Adams should be "Tuscaloosa John"...

Posted by threehundredbowler on April 19, 2008 at 2:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Bigger_Al needs to get control before he passes away with a heart attack.Bigger_Al is the jerk in my opinion.

Posted by Bigger_Al on April 19, 2008 at 2:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Thanks Doc, but I'm in pretty good shape. I can bench more than you can bowl, Geek.

Posted by alfrizzle097 on April 19, 2008 at 2:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)

My classmates are more mature than you guys. Grow up already.

Posted by Bigger_Al on April 19, 2008 at 2:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)

What I lack in maturity I make up for in capriciousness.

Posted by dburgVol on April 19, 2008 at 2:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Thanks John, that's better than alot of most of your other stuff and it makes us proud of our team. I know you don't usually write positive stuff about the Vols, but I won't complain when you do.

Posted by volsrock54 on April 19, 2008 at 3:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Actually Bigger_Al is right on the money. Adams is a jerk. The article is one of very few ones he has posted that is positive about the Vols. Usually Adams slams the Vols pretty good. Good call Bigger_al.

Posted by GerryOP on April 19, 2008 at 3:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Bigger_Al and volsrock54, go to your room and do not come out until you can be civil. Grow up.

Posted by volsrock54 on April 19, 2008 at 3:37 p.m.

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Posted by GerryOP on April 19, 2008 at 3:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)

volsrock54, you are ETTPT. Grow up.

Posted by volsrock54 on April 19, 2008 at 3:46 p.m.

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Posted by Mr_Brownstone on April 19, 2008 at 4:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Tee and Al - two of the best ever!

Posted by rusty_shackleford on April 19, 2008 at 4:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"Tuscaloosa John"...LMAO!!!!

Posted by sevenmaxims on April 19, 2008 at 5:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"Tuscaloosa John"... I love it!

Posted by stroker on April 19, 2008 at 6:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

That was a good article, and maybe a Trogan horse.

Posted by Chrisoda751 on April 19, 2008 at 6:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Same here. Tuscaloosa John or TJ for short.

Posted by ETownVol on April 19, 2008 at 7:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I think "Gainesville John" would be more appropriate considering his man crush on Tebow.

Posted by General_Fritter on April 19, 2008 at 7:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Bigger_Al - you are killing me. Good one and I salute you Sir!

Posted by Bigger_Al on April 19, 2008 at 7:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Thank you General (and others!). I'm looking forward to your insight on the O vs. W game!

Posted by stroker on April 19, 2008 at 8:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Vols’ offense and defense shine during spring football finale
The first team offense scored a lot of points.
The first defense gave up hardly any.
Quarterback Jonathan Crompton, who maintained the lock on his starting role, worked primarily against the second-team defense and was sharp throughout. The junior was 13-of-20 for 266 yards and threw three touchdown passes.

Posted by Silent_Fulmer on April 20, 2008 at 2:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Eric Berry is the only player we have that could get playing time with the 98 team. The rest of the current guys couldnt sniff Fred White's jock let alone the Hitman.

Posted by DCSOvol on April 20, 2008 at 12:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Exactly, PearlFUT. Crompton showed flashes yesterday that he might have a chance of carrying Tee's, though. JC looked pretty good. The whole offense looks effective so far. Let's hope the Great Pumpkin keeps his hands off of it.

Posted by TheVolMan on April 21, 2008 at 10:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Oh my, the JA-bashing weenies are out again. What cowards... LOL

Great article John.

Posted by bigfan502 on April 22, 2008 at 11:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)

In the 1998 championship season the VOLS had several close calls in several games, they survived...but NOT ONE PLAY WAS AS IMPORTANT AS WHEN THE VOLS PLAYED SYRACUSE AT SYRACUSE..AND WITH LESS THAN TWO MINUTES LEFT IN THE GAME..THE VOLUNTEERS WERE BACKED UP DEEP IN THEIR OWN TERRITORY..THEY SEEMED DOOMED...BUT TEE MARTIN, VOL QB., WENT BACK TO PASS...WHEN SUDDENLY HE TUCKED THE BALL UNDER HIS ARM AND RAMBLED 55 YARDS...DEEP INTO SYRACUSE TERRITORY...BEHIND 33-31, THE VOL PLACE KICKER PUT IT STRAIGHT THRU THE UPRIGHTS WITH THE VOLS WINNING 34-33. I DON'T THINK WE HAVE HAD A DANGEROUS PASS/RUN QB. SINCE...MAKES ONE WONDER WHY?

Posted by hiresanders on April 22, 2008 at 2:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)

John Adams is a great friend. Keep up the good work!

Posted by b_appleton on April 22, 2008 at 5:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)

guys - take a look at one of the leading candidates we have for QB next year. Rick is a 6.2" tall, 210 lbs hoss that is basically coming out of west coast and telling you vol fans what you want to hear!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yu_moi...

Posted by gregorsamsa2 on April 23, 2008 at 1:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)

eat sh*t and die adams

Posted by BillVol on April 23, 2008 at 11:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Another good 'un, John. Have to say I predicted -- DOCUMENTED -- a national title before that season on Vol Chat. I knew Tee would be more effective than Peyton because of his mobility. And we were loaded everywhere else. I knew it.

I'm predicting 6-6 this year.

Posted by cjraney on April 23, 2008 at 12:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Hilarious that some on here will blast fellow Vol fans for voicing their opinions in order to show their support for Adams' right to voice his.
Difference IMO being 2 things: (1)"the article" and subsequent radio propaganda tour cherry-picked facts and presented speculation & opinion as fact, and (2) Tuscaloosa John is not a Vol fan of any type. He doesn't need to care about the Vols in order to do his job and I have no problem with that. However, I think some folks forget that fact and think that he does or should have the best interests of UT in mind.

It just blows my mind to hear some of these "smart guys" on here support a paid columnist/editor who couldn't care less about UT while criticizing a fellow Vol fan stating their opinion on a Vol fan site.

Posted by cjraney on April 23, 2008 at 12:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Also, since I no longer read any Adams stuff, can someone tell me the gist of the above article? Figured I would find out from the comments but only found some "Vol fans" calling other Vol fans weenies, cowards, jerks, etc. for voicing their opinion.

Posted by rrvolfan on April 23, 2008 at 4:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)

ANOTHER ADAMS ARTICLE I DID NOT READ!!!

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