Editor's note: This is the third 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 before the beginning of preseason practice.
A humiliating Orange Bowl loss to national champion Nebraska wasn't the only extra motivation for the Vols in the summer of 1998. They also were motivated by the absence of All-American quarterback Peyton Manning.
For four years, Manning was the lead story of UT football. Almost everything else was a sidebar.
Could freshman Manning beat out Branndon Stewart for the starting position after veterans Jerry Colquitt and Todd Helton were injured?
Could Manning end UT's winless streak against Alabama?
Could Manning end UT's losing streak to Florida?
Would Manning return for his senior season?
Would Manning win the Heisman?
When the Vols did beat Alabama, Manning was the star. When they didn't beat Florida, Manning was criticized.
"If he did well, he was the story," White said. "And if he did bad, he was the story.
"It was always 'Peyton Manning and the Tennessee Vols.' (The 1998 season) was finally our time to get our names called.
"It was nothing against Manning. We knew he was the best thing out there. But nobody thought we could win a championship because he wasn't here. It made us feel like we didn't do anything."
The 1998 Vols began proving themselves long before they played their first game. Their success was measured in pounds and tenths of seconds.
"I remember a lot of records being broken in the weight room," White said. "I remember a lot of guys running 4.3 (40s) who had run 4.4s, and a lot of guys running 4.5s who had run 4.6s. A lot of guys' bodies changed.
"Everybody was looking for that one goal. You could see in the weight room, and you could see it when we ran."
The team ran in two shifts - early in the morning and late in the afternoon that summer. But it wasn't uncommon for players to run in both groups.
"Guys were doing two workout sessions in a day and two running sessions in a day," White said. "Then they were doing their individual stuff (related to their position)."
The summer before, the position workouts had been limited to skill-position players. In 1998, the linemen joined in as well.
"Everybody was working on their craft trying to get better," White said. "We were having almost full-scale practices out there, and it wasn't because coaches were saying go do it. It was because of us."
Leaders emerged at every position. And the peer pressure mounted for everyone to take part in the voluntary workouts.
"If you weren't there, it was like you were letting your team down," White said. "The first week, you would see the five starting offensive linemen out there. The next week, all the linemen were out there."
When the players reported for preseason practice, they hardly could have been more conditioned or motivated. Then, head coach Phillip Fulmer provided even more incentive.
"He told us that we were an 8-4 team at best," White said. "When he said that, we looked at each other like he had lost his mind.
"I don't know if he said it to motivate us or not, or if he really thought that. But he lit a fire under our butt.
"Well, we already had a fire. He made it an inferno."
Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com.
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Comments » 61
Volomatic writes:
what was the point of this story oh yeah 1st
banman360 writes:
this sounds rather similar to this years team. care to make that assessment adams?
murrayvol writes:
From 94' thru 97' coaches, players, and fans looked to Peyton to make a play and he usually did. In 98' the team had nobody to look to except each other and they all wound up making plays at different times.
That was a magical season but the memory is fading.
TommyJack writes:
Interesting story.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
8-4 would have got him a rollover. LOL
LanceR24 writes:
the last line was my favorite
Bigger_Al writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
TommyJack writes:
Just wondering what Naffy would read into this story.
Volomatic writes:
everyone needs to just blow adams phone up and tell him to go write for bams or florida cause it seems he writes that way most of the time anyways
And why keep telling old stories we all lived those stories tell us about the upcoming season the season after we all knoe about peyton and the nc year of 98 If we keep living those years we're never going to get anywhere
Volomatic writes:
i meant know not knoe
murrayvol writes:
TJ: You know exactly what Naffy would read into this story. He'll be along shortly to share his thoughts in vivid detail.
TommyJack writes:
Murray. Yes I do.
OrangeRush writes:
Hey Adams, don't you have a dog to groom or something?
gavol2572 writes:
I sure hope this is one of those times when history repeats itself
BillVol writes:
We can thank Al Wilson more than anyone for our '98 national championship.
cjraney writes:
pd-
8-4 in 1998 and Phil would already be cashing checks from his administrative position most likely.
Saw where you're sticking with your 7-5 in 2008. Possible. Unlikely.
LargeOrange writes:
John, better than your usual, but it still $uck$. Keep trying though, maybe you can upgrade from the #2 sportswriter in TN to #1 someday.
WereInTrouble writes:
Too much football!! Too much football!! The KNS is attempting to brainwash people with football stories. The Good Ole' Boys Club now controls the KNS.
I can see the headlines tomorrow:
Fulmer is a good coach. Fulmer is a good coach. Ignore that he loses 2/3 of his games against top tier teams. Rush out, make a donation to the university and buy your tickets.
threehundredbowler writes:
wereInTrouble,that is exactly what I did.I,along with 70000 other Vol fans.I would bet you attempt to watch available game on your 7 inch portable and then complain because you learned that they were only to be found on cable or pay for view.If you and others hate the Vols so much all you need to do is pull for some other team more to your likeing.
Madkels writes:
Hey BillVol..you can add Clint Stoerner to that thank you list!!
marinevol writes:
I know that team is often portrayed as a bunch of lucky over-achievers, but just look at how many players from that team went on to play, and sometimes star, in the NFL.
marinevol writes:
Some of the players on that "lucky" team include Chad Clifton,Cosey Coleman, Cedrick Wilson, Peerless Price, Tee Martin, Shawn Bryson, Jamal Lewis, Travis Henry, Jeff Hall, Shaun Ellis, Darwin Walker, Eric Westmoreland, Al Wilson, Dwayne Goodrich and Deon Grant. Good thing they were lucky, because they sure didn't have much else going for them.
mattlock writes:
John wrote his article like I used to write term papers in college, extra spacing and lots of quotes to make up for lack of content and unoriginality. I'm not on the fire Adams bandwagon, but I would rather read a controversial column than this kind of crud.
mattlock writes:
By Mr. Hype you mean the Super Bowl MVP who should have won the Heisman, right? I don't hear you complaining about all the hype an overrated Kelly Washington kept getting from the media. And unlike Manning, he sought it out. . .he called himself "The Future" and by future he meant "Future Special Teamer"
givehim6 writes:
That's funny, when john does write a passitive artical about UT, it's old news. Was he telling that story for the kids?
rrvolfan#230816 writes:
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SPEAKING of LOW expectations... John Adams
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rrvolfan#230816 writes:
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JOHN ADAMS is the POSTER BOY for LOW EXPECTATIONS
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mattlock writes:
Woodson played in the Big 10, its the only reason he won. Champ Bailey was much more deserving as a defensive player, so where was the media when he was playing? He's a much better NFL player too.
So are you blaming Peyton alone for the loss to Nebraska? If so, I guess you're giving him all the credit for all the wins that season.
We get it, you hate Peyton, but don't try to support your faulty opinion of him with facts because they aren't any. . .
Go4Two writes:
The difference between the 97 team and the 98 team one word DEFENSE
golfballs03 writes:
John Adams is the best in the biz
jasonn1970 writes:
My boss asked me in August of '98 how I thought the Vols were going to do that season. I told him I thought they would go 13-0 and win the national championship. He said after losing Manning they could be no better than 10-2. I told him I thought they would be a better overall team. Too bad I quit that job in October '98......I never got to tell him I told you so.
Volchaz writes:
naf, thats the most positive thing I've heard you say in a while. IMO, the difference between the 97 and 98 team were ball control. 98's credo: Pound the Rock...not throw it all over the place.....the 1999 to 2007 credo was dink and dunk...lol
VolGraduate writes:
low expectations by kns provide job security for adams. this article reads like something a 1st grader would put together. good topic but it fell flat....imo of course
Bass_Vol_1998 writes:
I remember about the heisman with Peyton that its not about career numbers. Okay. Then the very next year ricky williams wins it for career numbers, then ron dayne wins it for career numbers- that is what i thought was bs.
jasonn1970 writes:
@naslov No, he was a loyal Vol fan. But he bought into the media hype that it was a one man team. There were NFL guys all over those late 90s teams......
longtimefan writes:
1st and last defensive player to win it. no doubt about it , Peyton got the shaft. showed exactly what that trophy is: THE HYPEMAN TROPHY!
Volchaz writes:
Even though Peyton was O for Florida, he should have won that trophy. You could definitely say the same for Majors being robbed of his Heisman as well.
jasonn1970 writes:
The Hypesman is a joke. I have never watched that presentation since the night Manning was robbed and never will again.
Colliervol writes:
Naf, you do realize people are laughing at you, don't you? Just making sure you realize that before you keep posting your nonsense.
Ralph_Crampton writes:
The 2008 Vol team is starting out with low expections according to the vegas wiseguys. Already, UCLA has been made the underdog against BYU, by 1o points, against SO. Cal by 18 points, by Oregon, and Cal., so far. The gamblers in Sin city are holding off the UCLA- Vols game for now. The sin city oddsmakers apparently have little regard for the Volunteers. This could a result of poor performances in the past by Tennessee when they play games in California.
Bigger_Al writes:
Yes, I thought McFadden should have won.
ctownvol writes:
I'm just as sick of Tebow as any other non-Gator, but it's hard to argue with him winning the heisman. 55. Count 'em 55 total touchdowns. In one year. That's impressive. No matter where you play football. Now with that being said. I sure hope he has a terrible year this year. Not wishing any injuries or anything like that... just a few bad games.
invisiblekid writes:
"Anyone disagree with Tebow winning?"
Yeah DCFL, they should have given it to Eric Berry J/K.
No, seriously, they should have given it to Graham Harrell from Texas Tech. He had 5705 yards and 48 TD's without the benefit of a Percy Harvin.
Nah, I am kidding again, we've previously discussed the level of respect I have for Timbow.
TommyJack writes:
Teabow for Heisman was an absolute no-brainer.
Peyton had no chance, being a southern white-boy.
Period. And NO, FL is not considered southern by the media(or me either for that matter).
invisiblekid writes:
Back to the story for a second, it was nice and all but I have to ask: who or what is motivating the team to break weight-training records and improving their 40 times in the here and now?
I also wonder whether Fulmer will still use 8-4 in the same way to motivate the troops.
TommyJack writes:
Kid: If he does, I hope it doesn't leak.
bloodrunsorange writes:
I just read the article different than most. I read it has been 10 years since a national championship. He just wanted to remind us AGAIN! As if we didn’t remember! It does show though, it takes the players on the field to make things happen. The coaches can't go out there and play for them.
Colliervol writes:
Naf, as noted at 2:20 pm, you do know that people are laughing at you, don't you? It's 5:20 and we are still laughing.
rubbervol writes:
lol
TommyJack writes:
Had Peyton played at Ohio State, or Penn State, he would have won unanimously. Period.
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