Tennessee coaches told Maurice Staley he was blowing a great opportunity. Family members told him the same thing.
But he couldn't hear them for the roar of the crowd.
The crowd got in Staley's head early. It helped identify him as a football star by the time he was in the second grade. Every game, every season reinforced that self-image.
He scored three touchdowns in a game before he attended his first class as a high school sophomore in Charlotte, N.C. Blue Chip Illustrated rated him as the No. 1 receiver prospect before he signed with the University of Tennessee in 1994.
College wasn't a goal. It was a gateway.
One day, the gate would open and Staley would step into the NFL, where further stardom awaited. He had no doubts.
"No doubt at all," Staley said with a laugh.
The laugh reflects Staley's transformation. He will graduate from UT today, 14 years after he enrolled the first time.
"Attaining my degree is better than any touchdown I've ever scored," he said.
The degree means more because it comes from UT. It means he has finished what he started 14 years ago.
"I wanted to come back and face what I had done," Staley said. "When I looked at my transcript (upon his return to school in 2004), I was embarrassed. It was terrible."
Staley accomplished virtually nothing academically in his first two years at UT. He didn't live up to his recruiting billing as a football player, either.
After the 1995 season, in which he caught 25 passes for 307 yards, he was dismissed from UT following a positive drug test.
"Coach (Phillip) Fulmer told me it was an attitude thing," Staley said. "He said talent was never my problem. It was my off-the-field issues.
"I thought because of my talent somebody owed me something."
The dismissal from UT didn't change his mind. A year later, he tried out for the Carolina Panthers, still confident that his talent would prevail.
He said he impressed the Panthers by catching 150 passes without a drop in a tryout.
"But I was noncompliant, just as I was at UT," Staley said. "I had the audacity to take (the same attitude) from a university to the NFL business."
Staley never played a down in the NFL. He never scored another touchdown. And the crowd that once applauded him fell by the wayside.
"When you lose what you have identified with for so long, I can't even explain the void - the pain I felt," Staley said. "You feel like you don't know the person that stares back from in the mirror. All those people who were cheering you because you are an athlete, they're gone."
As stunning as that must have been, it didn't change Staley. He still partied and drank too much while working in a series of "dead-end" jobs.
But that didn't cure his deepening depression. And it didn't alter the reality of his failure. He had wasted his football ability.
"All I had been told by family and coaches - 'It's nobody's fault but yours' - was right," he said.
The self-realization was the first step toward a different life. He then reclaimed his Christian faith that his mother and step-father had introduced him to as a child.
"I guess you could say I had a 'burning bush' experience," he said. "It was just me and the Lord.
"The date was June 6, 2003. That's the last time I had a drink or any other mind-altering stuff."
A year later, he called Dan Carlson, the director of UT's RAC (Renewing Academic Commitment), which assists former student-athletes. Staley moved to Knoxville, got a full-time job at night and re-enrolled at UT as a part-time student. He also visited his former football coach.
"The first thing I did when I got back was talk to coach Fulmer," Staley said. "I told him that I respected him and loved him, and I thanked him for the opportunity to come back."
Staley's second UT experience has been nothing like his first.
Two years ago, he married Becki Wells, and they now have two small children. His transcript looks different, too. He will graduate today with a degree in psychology.
"And my family will be just as happy as if I had been drafted in the NFL," he said.
Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com.
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Comments » 45
TommyJack writes:
Good article
dcvolfan98 writes:
Way to go Maurice. Congratulations for getting it together and turning your life around. Your wife and kids will be proud!! Maybe you could stick around campus and try to help those who are much younger than you are but think much like you did. Maybe we could see fewer offseason headlines made by student-athletes and more headlines about young people who are prepared for life after college.
murrayvol writes:
Amen.
ggriggs939#223122 writes:
Maurice should be hired by the University as a consultant for the students and athletes who enroll at UT. He is just one of many who have made bad choices and wasted a period of their lives because of an attitude that was more important to them than reality. He has finally matured and applied himself to the pursuit of a
goal that will help him throughout his life. The cheers won't be as loud as some he has heard, but the results will be more meaningful.
Bigger_Al writes:
Maybe he can get a gig as the KNS Sports Editor. Can't be worse than the buffoon they have now...
FWBVol writes:
Maurice's story should be an inspiration for all of us whether we ever played sports or not.
Speaking from personal experience, it's not just athletes that UT gives second chances to. The academic reentry program allows students that have been out for several years to return to school and works with them to correct past problems. After, I believe it's 24 academic hours, a reentry student can petition that their new GPA be counted on their record. They are credited with passing all classes they had previously made a C or better in, and the new GPA is placed on their record if the petition is approved.
When I returned to school I had a 1.80. Through academic second opportunity, I graduated with a 3.21. I was 40 when I went back 10 years ago and it was the best thing I ever did career wise.
It's not too late for anyone to get that degree from UT. And alumni everywhere will welcome new graduates into our family.
murrayvol writes:
FWBVol: Good move. Better late than never. I'm afraid it is too late for some though.
BigVolinCarolina writes:
Great turnaround, Maurice. Sounds like you've reckoned with the Lord and He's changed your life. I wish you the very best and, too, I hope some other ex-Vols can learn from what you've been through.
MillisaAnn writes:
That's a great idea ggriggs939, He could help alot of the younger players.
vol_in_lsu_land writes:
John Adams.
Thank you for writing this article. As crazy as it sounds, I half believe this is a bit of penance for another article that was over the top. This article shows that Fulmer has given tough love and it has had a positive effect on more players than we realize. Good show John Adams.
MidTennVol writes:
Congrats, Maurice. A new life for you. Your best days and years are still ahead of you. Carpe diem...
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
Wonder if Peyton could've beaten Florida with Maurice having his head on straight...
Can anyone say National Championship?
rabidvol1998 writes:
Volinlusu. Great point. We generally hear about too many chances being given. This is one where coach cut the cord and it took a while for the player to get the point. Some get it by being let go, so by getting another chance on the team. Coach Fulmer makes those tough decisions and we should always respect that whether we agree with the decision or not.
The internet is amazing. I'm sitting in Beijing China talking UT football.
Go Vols.
GreerVol22 writes:
alcohol and drugs are baffling how they can grip certain individuals and really ruin the best years of their lives. Fortunately, I had the desire never to give them the chance.
txvolsfan writes:
Great though ggriggs, With a psych degree it would be a natural. The Lord will lead you down the right path!!!
Congratulations Maurice.
TheVolMan writes:
Great article--really happy for Maurice. Nice to see nearly no buffoon JA-bashing weenies posting today. Perhaps they graduated at some time in their lives and are smart enough to stick to their supposed KNS boycott. LOL...
Again, this was a great article about Maurice, Coach Fulmer and Tennessee football. As always, great job John.
CoverOrange writes:
Good article Mr. Adams. You've found your forte.
FWB, wish I could have done that re-entry, forget your gpa thingy after my freshman year.
So many kids, not just athletes, grow up with that ego and attitude coloring their worlds. Some never grow out of it, evidenced by some posters on here. Nice to see the light bulb come on for Mr. Staley.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
I knew Staley slightly when he was here before. He seemed like a fairly nice guy with a good personality, but it was clear that he was all about his self-image as an athlete, which was the only thing he seemed to take seriously. I was sad but not surprised when he was dismissed. I am surprised but elated that he has seemingly turned his life around. I agree with others that he would be a great addition to the UT staff in some capacity, while he is still young enough to relate to today's players.
orangesox writes:
I have to agree that this is a great story. As someone who fooled around in my younger years and didn't get my degree when i should have, i can relate. It's a little different when you get older and it's actually your money paying for the classes. You certainly are forced to take things more seriously.
I am also pleasantly surprised that some of the usual suspects haven't chimed in bashing Maurice for trying to get his act together.
invisiblekid writes:
Nice story regarding Staley and I hope he can be an example for the majority of athletes who will not make it into the pro arena.
On a side note, I didn't condone the fire Fulmer article by Adams or his actions after the fact in the least. However, it would be nice if we didn't have to hear the slams against him every time he puts pen to paper. This story is about Maurice Staley, not John Adams. He writes a feel-good success story about a former player and it still goes back to an opinion piece that happened 3 months ago.
BigVolinCarolina writes:
invisiblekid, great point and I fully agree.
TommyJack writes:
What The Kid said.
FlushTheJohn writes:
Why would anyone congratulate JA for this story? All he has done is contradict his previous points against coach Fulmer. I guarantee you he is not trying to make amines, he is just an idiot! He went on a 3 state campaign to get Fulmer fired for god's sake!!
We as Vol fans have absolutely nothing to thank John Adams for!!
thesavageorange writes:
ggriggs939 at 8:41 p.m. ,Excellent idea.Good post!
murrayvol ,AMEN indeed!
invisiblekid at 9:32 a.m. ,Totally agree.This is much bigger than an opinion peace.Cease fire!
invisiblekid writes:
Thanks BVC, TJ, and SavageO.
Concerned_Mother_Focker writes:
i would totally trade my degree from UT for a touchdown at Neyland Stadium
Volunatic writes:
Could someone in the KNS Sports dept check on John Adams-- I don't think he's feeling well. He just wrote a positive column about a former UT football player, and even put a quote in the column that was complimentary of Phil Fulmer!
Congratulations on graduating, Maurice-- best of luck to you in your future endeavors!
givehim6 writes:
Another example of someone whom got over themselves and getting back on the wright path after God gets hold of there lives. I do hope he can work with or for UT in a way to help some of UT's problem kids.
Concerned_Mother_Focker writes:
for a moment to be a god in the the coolest football atmosphere on the planet, sure. I didnt need the degree for what i do now anyway. Plus, being an exVol football player would help bring in more clientele to my unlicensed back-alley abortion clinic...hypothetical perks I know.
jcherrie#219531 writes:
Wow - what a great story.
rrvolfan#230816 writes:
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From reading the comments, it looks like John Adams may have written a nice article... To bad that I will never read it....
John Adams will always be a jerk in my book...
JOHN ADAMS BYLINE = IGNORE THIS ARTICLE
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davidray31#232814 writes:
Great article John Adams.Way to go Staley.Great player,bad decisions,turned out to bounce back and become heck of a man. Got to go,Lofton is coming on Jim Rome is burning!!
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Kudoes, Staley, you're a rare one.
Vol13 writes:
Boy, ya'll really showed John Adams by negatively commenting about an unrelated subject on this thread regarding this great story. Awesome boycott. I wish I was so good at boycotting. How do you do it? Please, tell us your secrets. I bet ya'll could make a fortune selling Amway as well. ROTFL!!!!!!
philfan writes:
I like the John Adams who is able to tell such a poignant, human interest story of a former UT player who lost his way, found it again, and finally got his life going in the right direction.
I despise the John Adams who slanders our great football coach, who accuses him of turning players long ago graduated into thugs, and who travels far and wide, even into the State of Alabama, to denounce him publicly.
I hope we see more well thought out stories like this one instead of the articles which appear to be biased and based upon conjecture and vindictiveness.
gohawks1 writes:
Nice. Best wishes, Maurice. You have an opportunity before you now to be a positive role model to others. Your God given talent may just turn out to be something other than athletic skills. Use this talent wisely.
Vol13 writes:
Sometimes I wonder what some of you people do for a living. For those who are unaware, there are some people in this world in positions of power who are actually accountable for other people and their actions during their watch. If they screw up, you shoulder some of the blame.
Fulmer's the coach. If one of his players is out of line, then he is partly responsible whether you like it or not. All John Adams did was deliver the message.
Vol13 writes:
72, you are your ilk or more Fulmer's boys it seems. I've never seen a group of grown men (presumably) try to shield someone who is so mediocre. At least when he's gone in 3 years or so we won't have to put up with it anymore.
LongtimeVol writes:
Another excellent Adams article and an inspiring story.
philfan writes:
Vol13,
Fulmer will not be gone in three years. He has said he will coach until age 65 and maybe longer and Mike Hamilton has stated that Fulmer can stay as long as he likes. Once again you are incorrect. In fact, it would not surprise me in the least if Fulmer stays in his current position longer than Adams stays in his. Just wait and see.
GoVols77 writes:
Maybe he can get a gig as the KNS Sports Editor. Can't be worse than the buffoon they have now...
Vol13...wipe the off your chin...we can see you are Adams boy!!!! lol
philfan writes:
Vol13,
Why is your handle Vol13. Why not Vol12 or Vol14. Some people consider 13 an unlucky number. Does this reflect your wish for the Vols to do poorly in football or does it reflect a consistently negative attitude towards life in general? Yes, I do agree that Fulmer is overweight and needs to lose some pounds. I think he would be the first to admit he is obese. But what does that have to do with Tennessee football?
Vol13 writes:
pillfan:
It appears you have been in the pill bottle again. I don't care what Fulmer said. If I got paid $2.0 million per year to go 8-4 and lose to Florida by 39 points, only to have "fans" like you say that was cool then I'd want to keep that gig until I was 65 too. Mike Hamilton is clueless as well. They'll go out together in a mess that will make the Johnny Majors ouster look like everyone was hugging and crying when it happened.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Gen F 6:01, little can be said other than you are crowding tngeoff as king youtuber.
You are the man.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Vol13 1:02, you put that one in by the blowhole. Probably was mortal wound. Lol
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