Volscars has everything, including a Pearl rap

Tennessee female athletes in high heels and designer dresses, their male counterparts in suits, ties - one even in a kilt - entered the "Volscars" via an orange carpet runway at the Knoxville Convention Center on Monday night.

Some 2 1/2 hours later, master of ceremonies Dane Bradshaw was wearing a snuggy (backwards robe) and trying to sell his Vertical Leap book as the show closed.

Somehow, it all made sense.

Fun was had by almost everyone as the Volscars - an Oscars/ESPYs parody honoring UT's top athletes of the year - enjoyed a successful third annual presentation by the UT Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

Vols tennis player John-Patrick Smith and Lady Vols track star Sarah Bowman cleaned up on more than their fair share of the numerous nominations and awards.

And, of course, there was UT football star Eric Berry, who went from winning men's newcomer of the year last year to men's best male athlete of the year.

Football coach Lane Kiffin exited the convention center with a bemused expression; surely, he thought to himself, athletic director Mike Hamilton won't ask him to perform next year like Bruce "Bling-Bling" Pearl did.

"I don't think so,'' Kiffin said when asked if he had any intention of following Pearl's rap act.

Yes, Pearl rapped, and it was caught by WVLT on camera and will otherwise be coming via YouTube soon.

The main act started innocently enough, with football players Chris Walker and Anthony Anderson taking to the mic for a soulful love song.

But that wasn't enough in this arena; the football players searched out Lady Vols basketball coach Pat Summitt in the audience and brought her before the crowd, the better to sing a song with a chorus of "If I ever fall in love again . . .''

It wasn't long before basketball player Bobby Maze popped on stage to begin a rendition of last summer's "Put on Tennessee,'' and then freshman Renaldo Woolridge got into the act with some lyrics from his Facebook "BallerVols" rap.

And then out came Pearl, from behind the purple curtain, dressed in an orange-and-white checkered jacket with sunglasses, a large silver necklace and a street-wise strut.

"I did it for the students,'' said Pearl, who went on the radio after his performance to recite his rap lyrics. "But yes, Renaldo and Bobby were behind it.''

In addition to the live entertainment, there were numerous taped skits, a favorite among the athletes featured massive football player Vladimir Richard as a recently hired UT office enforcer.

The student athletes gasped at spoof footage showing Richard tackling an office secretary who had gone against posted instruction by trying to clear a paper jam in the copier.

Even Lane and Monte Kiffin had a skit, with Lane drawing up a play on the white board only to come back to discover Monte had drawn in defensive adjustments to counter its success.

Bradshaw got the final dig in on his old team by creating a new award for the Volscars: Best Halftime Adjusment.

"After allowing Kentucky's Jodie Meeks to score 26 points in the first half,'' Bradshaw said, "the team went to work and made adjustments and held him to 28 in the second half.''

And to think, just three short hours earlier, pole vaulter Brad Holtz looked out of place wearing that authentic Scottish Kilt.

"Every day, I realize more about the passion our fans have for Tennessee sports,'' Lane Kiffin said at the start of the night.

By the end, Kiffin and everyone else in attendance could recognize the creativity, energy and passion the UT athletes hold within and among themselves.

© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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