Punter Britton Colquitt has had plenty of memorable moments as a Tennessee football player.
Two occurred in his first big game, which happened to be in the heart of enemy territory: The Swamp in 2005.
Colquitt, just a redshirt freshman, was called on to punt at the Tennessee 13-yard-line following the Vols' opening, three-and-out drive in Gainesville, Fla.
Problem was, Colquitt was a bit distracted.
"There's like eight Florida cheerleaders; I'm just kind of caught in a daze," Colquitt said on the News Sentinel's radio show, The Sports Page. "All of a sudden, I hear 'Punt! Punt team!'
"I'm just like 'Oh, gosh!' Everything happened so fast and I was so distracted that I ended up hitting a 54-yard punt."
That's Britton Colquitt, who is as known for his carefree demeanor as his brother, Dustin, is known for his intense focus. Dustin also punted for UT and is now the starting punter for the Kansas City Chiefs.
"I've always taken the pressure a little bit lighter than maybe Dustin and other people would think I would just because I guess my personality is so happy-go-lucky and worry free, which obviously has probably not helped me as much as it's hurt me in certain aspects," Britton said, referring to his well-publicized issues off the field.
"But in the playing aspect I think it's really helped."
Now, both Colquitts are in the same division, the AFC West. Britton signed a free-agent deal with the Denver Broncos on Sunday after not being selected in the NFL draft.
"I can't wait and Dustin couldn't be more jealous of me," Britton said jokingly. "Because we're in the same division we play each other twice a year, which is awesome.
"But I get to punt in Mile High Stadium - hopefully. Now I've got to win the job still. Dustin gets to punt in 100-mile-an-hour winds. So I'm pretty excited."
Mile High Stadium is known for its thin air, which lends itself to long, high punts.
Colquitt's chief competition to make the team is Brett Kern, the second-year pro who averaged 46.7 yards per punt last season.
"He's a solid punter," said Colquitt, who averaged 43.4 yards per punt in five games for UT last season. "He was good in college and we're about the same age so it's going to be real competitive."
Despite Kern's gaudy average, Colquitt likes his chances to compete, especially with a new coaching staff in place.
One of those coaches, special teams coordinator Mike Priefer, has a history with the Colquitt family. Priefer coached the last three seasons in Kansas City with Dustin.
"He and I have been talking a lot," Britton said. "He came into it saying he would like to get me. It's kind of one of those things like when you get new coaches, they want to groom their own guys.
"He loved Dustin. He loves our family. He and I have a good relationship. So I think he would like for me to win the job but at the same time, it's a clean slate and I have to win it."
Winning a starting job is nothing new for the Colquitt family. Dustin and Britton's father, Craig Colquitt, punted in the NFL 1978-87. Uncle Jimmy Colquitt also punted in the NFL. Both punted for UT.
"I still don't think it's set in yet," Britton said of playing in the NFL. "My dad probably still hasn't slept since the night we signed. It's always been a dream for him for both (sons) to punt, much less in the same division."
The Broncos probably won't ask Britton to throw the ball anytime soon, which reminds many of another classic Colquitt moment in The Swamp.
It occurred later in that 2005 game when UT was faced with another punt in its own territory.
Britton mistakenly believed he was supposed to execute a fake then threw his one pass as a Vol, which was incomplete.
"The last thing that my muscles and mind were saying was 'Throw the ball!' " Britton said. "I like to tell people that if that (Florida) guy hadn't seen what was going on, (former UT defensive back) Inky (Johnson) might have taken that thing to the house and we could have won the national championship."
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Comments » 33
VAvolfanRON writes:
come on guys....leave the booze commits out....we've heard them before......
he can punt...as his ancestors before him....hehe.....
show 'em up britton!!!....stay away from the gators..they'll lead you to harder stuff........
(ok, did i just insinuate what i was preaching agains?)....im such a hypocrite
woodwr#217203 writes:
Where is the NEXT Orange Colquitt?
The games lost during BC's suspensions were close enough, benching him (instead of other punishments) might have cost Fulmer's staff their jobs?
UTandETSUfan writes:
are their any other Colquitts? Cousins, Nephews, ect. ect? or are we going to have to wait for Dustin to have kids... Idk if I can go 18 years without a kickin-colquitt at UT!
rocky_topper writes:
Well, what I will always remember Briton for is 4-time DUIs. That said, I don't think too highly of him!
Dustin was a great kid however, and I will always have fond memories of him, and I will always wish him the best.
101st_AIRBORNE_VOL (Inactive) writes:
Pot, meet kettle.
agentorange writes:
I still wonder why people who don't like UT football read this Web site and post on here. Anywho...the words of Peyton come to mind ..."some idiot kicker who got liquored up."
Bigger_Al writes:
I like Britton. He is a good kid who did some wild and foolish things in college involving alcohol (Wow, imagine that!) We learn from our mistakes, and I wish him the best in the pro's.
I, too, will be thrilled when the next Colquitt arrives at UT. Maybe we should make all incoming punters change their last name to "Colquitt"...
TommyJack writes:
What are you, eleven? Lay off the guy. He's cleaned up. He should pay for his past forever? Maybe your remarks are funny in middle school, but not here.
RPWhite writes:
How about when during that Floirda Game, The Gators tricked Colquit into a fake punt and UT turned it over; he was probably drunk then too.
CoachNeyland writes:
riveting.
jclowers writes:
Hey Bigger_Al, I just got out of college and I enjoyed my time doing "foolish" things with alcohol, but I never got a DUI nor let down a team and therefore a fan base with my actions.
Doubt he will make it in the NFL, and if he does? Who cares. Noone really knows how well Dustin is doing without having to look up his stats because he's a kicker. CLK isn't going into recruits homes and saying "Dustin Colquitt." He's preaching about Peyton, Haynesworth, Jason Witten, etc.
DenverVol writes:
Dude, uncalled for. Get a life!
CheckerboardPhilosopher writes:
Check out this hilarious fark of Kiffin one of our 3sib guys did for this Pearl blog.'
http://www.3sib.com/2009/04/29/pearl-...
TrouserCough writes:
Maybe you had four DUI's in college putting other people's lives at risk, I didn't. Just because he wore the orange he's a "good kid" who "made some mistakes". He's actually a serial drunk who is a danger to our families on the road. If he was just a someone in the paper arrested for yet another DUI you would have a vastly different opinion, much less if he killed one of your family members "just being a typical college student".
TommyJack writes:
So, what would you suggest? Lethal injection? Electric chair? Firing squad? What?
TaintBuster69 writes:
Good Kid, made some bad decisions, has even worse luck with getting caught. Didn't drink and drive anymore than the average college student(even his brother) does(whether it was 2 blocks over to get food or what-have-you)...I dont condone drinking and drinking, period, but he seems to be on a right path and can afford to get a cab in Denver if he chooses to drink, even making the league minimum. Some of you need to lay off the guy.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
How about a cross-country trip with 3 'loper's in a Yugo?
Moaninglikeheck writes:
Good grief folks. Has MADD brainwashed us all this much?
I don't condone drinking and driving, but LORD KNOWS when I was Colquitt's age I managed to get home on more than one occasion without remembering how. This doesn't excuse him, his age doesn't excuse him, and if someone died, the death is no less a crime than if he were 65 years old.
However, I somehow made it through my early twenties, managed to maintain a career without coming to work drunk, raised a child who makes straight A's, never spent a night in jail, own a home, a car and motorcycle that are paid for, and while I'm on my second marriage the first one had no problems with alcohol on my part.
In other words, I grew up. Some do, some don't. At this point with Colquitt its too early to say.
As of yet, he hasn't killed anyone. Let's quit skewering him as if though he has.
TommyJack writes:
And you're calling me names, why? I've always had the highest regard for Coach Stallings. You're way off base here, sonny.
TommyJack writes:
Love Yugos. The cutting edge of Serbo-Croatian technology.
Mr_Brownstone writes:
Check out the Coors Brewery in Golden - it's just outside of Denver. Oh - you're already there.
orangebloodgmc writes:
Britton, hope ya do well.
murrayvol writes:
How bout from Jacksonville to Needles in August with no AC?
the10sevol writes:
"There's like eight Florida cheerleaders; I'm just kind of caught in a daze," Colquitt said on the News Sentinel's radio show, The Sports Page. "All of a sudden, I hear 'Punt! Punt team!'"
"I'm just like 'Oh, gosh!' Everything happened so fast and I was so distracted that I ended up hitting a 54-yard punt."
I'm just, like, thinking that he's stoned to the bone during this interview or the football version of Richard Simmons. He didn't mention the gender of the cheerleaders who enthralled him, so I don't know.
Note to EB: punch each kicker and punter in the mouth just before kickoff of each game. Thanks.
jfg1980 writes:
Bet ya I know who wins in beer pong.
CoverOrange writes:
"I like to tell people that if that (Florida) guy hadn't seen what was going on, (former UT defensive back) Inky (Johnson) might have taken that thing to the house and we could have won the national championship."
One word: DELUSIONAL
Britton, they gamed your butt on that play. That "guy" knew what was going on before YOU even stepped on the field. Oh, and your pass was 10 yards short of Inky.
Seriously, I hope he has grown up some over the last year. Friends with the coach or not, going to be tough to unseat Kern.
TXTN writes:
nothing, and I mean NOTHING, more riveting than a good punter rivalry. Count me in!
gnm53108 writes:
Me too.Britton is a good kid.Wild and foolish things involving alcohol?I sure cant say anything.I was a professional for six years.
US Navy.
You know,tradition to uphold and all...
gnm53108 writes:
SI has ND preseason #25?
Where'd they have them last year?
Top 10?
B freakin S!Sceeeruuuuw ND!
gnm53108 writes:
ND Hype(B.S.)has been going on for the last 80 or so years.
#$#*&#@^)&^ *&#$$@(&% ND!
ethanfrome writes:
He was joking.
BigOrangeVol writes:
Looks like we're going to have to wait a while for Dustin & Christine's two boys Brinkley ans Colston to grow up.
Colliervol writes:
Could we possibly care less about Gene Stallings or what a SlingBlade like you thinks? Move along now kid. Nobody cares.
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