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The chant started with 10 minutes, 37 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.
There was no doubt what the crowd was saying. It definitely wasn't "over-rated" in reference to Mississippi State. It wasn't "We're No. 1" in reference to Tennessee.
The loud, long chant ringing throughout Neyland Stadium was "Eric Berry . . . Eric Berry . . . Eric Berry."
The sophomore defensive back's reputation is quickly growing to legendary proportions.
All he did Saturday was set an SEC record in career interception return yardage - in his 21st game as a collegian - as UT buried the Bulldogs 34-3.
"Just the crowd chanting your name, that's more like a dream," Berry said after his 10th career interception was returned 72 yards for a touchdown. "I can't really imagine that happening. I had to pinch myself."
It was real, and to a man, Vols' coaches and players said it was earned.
Berry has 397 return yards on interceptions, breaking an SEC record set by Bobby Wilson of Ole Miss in the late 1940s.
He took advantage of a tipped ball by UT linebacker Ellix Wilson and raced 72 yards down the right sideline to give UT a 20-3 cushion early in the fourth quarter.
Coming into Neyland Stadium, Mississippi State quarterback Tyson Lee hadn't thrown an interception all season.
Tennessee made sure that changed quickly and dramatically as it clung to a 13-3 lead.
Nevin McKenzie got the first one on another tip by Wilson.
Then came Berry's romp followed quickly by Demetrice Morley tacking on his 32-yard return for a touchdown just a minute and a half after Berry.
Defensive coordinator John Chavis was watching all this unfold from the press box for the first time since 2001.
"Mississippi State had been doing a lot of stuff really quick, getting to the line and snapping the ball quick and we wanted to be able to get things to our players as quickly as possible," Chavis said of calling the defense from a different vantage point. "We felt like it would work a little better.
"I came down in '01 and that's the first time I've been back in a press box since, so it was a little different at first, but it's kind of like riding a bicycle."
It worked and Chavis plans on sticking with the press box view for now.
Even he continues to be wowed by Berry.
"We know he's a special guy," Chavis said. "If you see him practice, that's what is amazing. The way he plays in games is the way he practices. That's the way Al Wilson was and I could go on and on. He does a great job of leading by example."
That's a big reason why his teammates voted him as a permanent captain for the 2008 season Friday.
"It just felt really good to be seen as a captain by my teammates," Berry said. "Me being only 19 and having grown men looking up to me and looking towards me to lead them in a football game, that just makes me feel a lot better about how I'm respected and how much respect I have for those guys."
Defensive backs coach Larry Slade raved about Berry, the entire secondary, more press coverage and the push the Vols got up front to make some of those interceptions possible.
The Vols had a season-high five sacks and eight tackles for loss in limiting the Bulldogs to 189 total yards.
Still, Berry was the person everyone wanted to talk about.
Besides grabbing his team-high fifth interception of the season, he also led the Vols with 10 tackles, including a sack and two passes broken up.
"He's an offensive machine when he touches the football," Slade said. "If he intercepts it, it's instant offense.
"He expects to make plays and when he touches a ball he expects to score."
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Comments » 38
utmdm writes:
Wow! Words just fail express how great Eric is.
onevolfan99 writes:
the guy is amazing
mempuss writes:
Eric Berry = The MAN!
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
More press coverage. More blitzes. If we continue to play this way... we could really take it to Bama! There defense has not been mindblowing so if we capitalize on their mistakes and Stephens continues to be adequate... we might blow up their little party!
rblakeh writes:
Eric Berry is awesome! I had the privilege of sitting in the first row, just behind the defense's bench. After his pick 6, almost every single member of the team (including Coach Fulmer and Nick Stephens) walked over to congratulate him. After soaking it all in, he turned to the crowd and started jumping up and down, making everyone in our section go absolutely NUTS. He's a special player that comes along every decade or so. We are fortunate to have him at UT.
mlbrown5454 writes:
Let's appreciate it while we have it.
Substitute any number for the age, but it's hard to think he is only 19. This kid will be great no matter what he does.
"It just felt really good to be seen as a captain by my teammates," Berry said. "Me being only 19 and having grown men looking up to me and looking towards me to lead them in a football game, that just makes me feel a lot better about how I'm respected and how much respect I have for those guys."
wildberry14 writes:
does anyone know what the ncaa record is? cause at his current pace he might break it by the end of this season.
rblakeh writes:
wildberry,
The record is held by an FSU player (the name escapes me), and it is 501 yards. Eric Berry (397 yards) is only 105 yards shy of surpassing it. He could definitely break it this season.
WeLoveTennesseeVols writes:
This would be a great program to inherit, if you could and would get the job done.
bluetick writes:
They need to get him on some offensive plays too.. not many but some special plays.
jsm67vol writes:
I know Fulmer doesn't want to get him hurt but for heavens sake let this young man return some punts or kickoffs. They have to get close enough to touch him before they can hurt him. Bama would be a great game to let him provide a spark on special teams. Eric is a game changer. Go Vols, beat bama!!!!
BSweet writes:
I think for Chavis to compare his fire with that of Al Wilson's speaks volumes. I wish all of our team could play and practice with the same passion. Eric Berry is a very special talent. I look forward to seeing him in many more Vol games to come and to someday watching him on Sundays. Congratulations Eric! And thank you for being a Volunteer!
indianacurly writes:
i'm not one usually prone to unwarranted gushing, but tha kid is one of the best safeties i've ever seen play. every time he touches the ball, it feels like a 50/50 if he'll take it to the house. anybody notice him trailing mckenzie on his pick hoping for a lateral? add to that 10 tackles a game - not because rb's are deep in our secondary, but because he's outrunning lb's to the ball. awesome to watch him in orange!
lomas98 writes:
How great would it be to actually get the ball to your best athletes. They need to get this guy some touches in the return game. Most other teams in the country will have some of their best players returning kicks. He makes something special happen everytime he touches it. Great game.
rockytopjeff writes:
I have a feeling that nobody will ever wear #14 for Tennessee after he moves on to the NFL. He may be the best defensive player in the country, PERIOD!!! Put his number in same endzone as Peyton's
ravensearay writes:
Wouldn't that be poetic justice??? Eric Berry winning the Heisman?? Stranger things have happened............
tnbigg writes:
Man...what can anybody say that hasn't been said already. We are truly Blessed to have Eric...and MANY thanks to his Dad for raising such a gentleman superstar. Johnny Majors did do us a huge...long term favor by recruiting his Dad and establishing such a great relationship with him. Now...if Eric has a son and he comes here to...
About Berry for Heisman...
If it really were about the best player he could win it this year...but as for Tennessee's history in the Heisman...we can't even begin to realistically expect one...ever...because of the Regional politics...
ravensearay writes:
Politics is the bane of my dislike and distrust of the NCAA. If it were just left up to the facts on paper, there is no way Charles Woodson ever wins a Heisman and no way that anyone could questions Eric Berrys' credintials for winning one.
richvol writes:
The boy is an All-American at 19.
He should return kicks but what I would really like to see is us line him up at wide receiver. The opposing defenses would panic and he would most likely draw double coverage. I don't care if he doesn't know the plays...just send him out.
Can you imagine him with the ball in the secondary? Even if we don't get the ball to him it would open up other receivers.
smokeysal22 writes:
Berry is Amazing, He is the kind of football player you tell your grandkids that you got to witness to play. He seems like a good kid too, I think he also makes exceptional grades.
utkell65 writes:
Eric is the best DB (Safety or CB) in college hands down. Like everyone else I hope he sticks around for two more years, but if not, then we can watch him at the next level. One only hopes that he'll go to the Titans so he can stay in Tennessee. Him and Griffin in the same secondary would be unreal.
Oh and there are two more Berry's coming down the pike and Eric says they are even better than he was at the same age.
tnbigg writes:
This is still my favorite and there will be many...many...many more to come barring injury:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kk7Oj8...
CT_VOL writes:
That was excellent! My favorite line is at the end where the announcer says "oh, my....he's not used to that".
Frank
tnbigg writes:
Yup. That line was priceless! Knowshon got up and didn't even know where he was! That hit was one for the ages!
givehim6 writes:
Berry what can I say that new? Just "YOU THE MAN"! Bama need burned for last year, you was there you know. Berry & Moretly tag on there stupid bama heads.
rclarkvols#224537 writes:
There was another #14 safety at Tennessee who was also pretty good. Anyone remember Roland James. Eric Berry won't be around for a senior year. Next year he'll be a top five pick in the draft. Go Vols!!!!!!!!! We have the crimson tide right where we want them. Payback time
gohawks1 writes:
Nice. The guy is a beast, no doubt about it.
mtnsvol44 writes:
If the team values Berry enough to make him captain, then you would think they would get off their a@@es and play like he does!
pammyvol1000 writes:
For real? Do they play for the same school as Eric did?
cjraney writes:
Let's give our coaches some deserved props for saving the Eric Berry offensive package til we really need it....the Bammer game. The first 7 games didn't matter, just a warmup for Bammer. Take down the Tide. Please.
FLVol writes:
"Every Decade" no it would be once in a lifetime. This guy is breaking every record there is in return yards. Berry for Heisman next year!
Let him return punts and give him the ball on offense and in space.
volintexas writes:
We have had some great DBs like Roland James, Terry McDaniel, Dale Carter, Deion Grant, etc. However, I can't remember any of them making this big of an impact at this point in his award. Thorpe award for this guy and congrats to Johnny for recruiting his dad.
FWBVol writes:
Terrell Buckley is the FSU guy with 501.
ellisonfamily writes:
"He's an offensive machine when he touches the football," Slade said. "If he intercepts it, it's instant offense.
"He expects to make plays and when he touches a ball he expects to score."
Which is exactly why our coaching staff does not use him on offense at all or in kick returns. Maybe it is the same reason they do not involve freshman All-American Brandon Warren in the offense. And...the same reason it took five games to figure out that Nick Stephens could do a better job at QB....
Great strategy.
VOLorado writes:
If this isn't an argument for cloning....
Clone Berry! We need a whole team of #14s.
Thank you Eric.
murrayvol writes:
That's a good thought but very few guys can play like Berry.......no matter how much they might want to.
stormblast writes:
Yes. Why not Berry for Heisman?
He's already shown he is much better than the ABC/ESPN product that won it in 1997.
murrayvol writes:
He'll be among the best there ever was.
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