Fans get taste of UT football from Berry, Kiffin

Photo by Amy Smotherman Burgess

Former UT running back (1978-81) James Berry shows a magazine cover to his twin sons Evan and Elliott Berry and current UT player Vladimir Richard after he was asked to autograph it at the 2009 Welcome Back Barbeque at Thompson Boling Arena on Friday. James Berry is the father of current Volunteer Eric Berry.

Photo by Amy Smotherman Burgess

UT player Eric Berry signs autographs at the 2009 Welcome Back Barbeque held at Thompson Boling Arena on Friday night for head football coach Lane Kiffin and selected players.

What was billed as the Knox County Chapter of the University of Tennessee Alumni Association’s Welcome Back Barbecue on Friday night more closely resembled a Lane Kiffin and Eric Berry fan fest.

Not only were the Tennessee football coach and his Heisman Trophy candidate hounded by autograph seekers and picture takers at Thompson-Boling Arena, so also were their families.

Berry’s younger twin brothers, Evan and Elliott, could be seen signing regularly at the family’s table, as could his father, former Tennessee player James Berry.

And when a Kiffin family helper picked up Kiffin’s baby son, Knox, and carried him away from the Kiffin family table to calm him, one woman with two small children asked if they could all be in a picture together.

Such was the festive atmosphere, as several hundred alumni and fans gathered to munch on Buddy’s barbecue and hear from Kiffin and several players.

The program was scheduled to start at 7, but a late practice delayed the event 30 minutes. That did not seem to dampen the enthusiasm of the fans, who lined up in the concourse area to get autographs from such Vols as Kiffin, Berry and quarterback Jonathan Crompton.

Teenagers Kelsey Mayes and Emily McCallie said they were most interested in getting Kiffin’s signature.

“We don’t really know what he is going to do yet,” said Mayes. “He could be really good or he could be really bad.”

Added McCallie, “I’ve heard good things about him.”

Several dozen other players ate at tables with the Big Orange supporters before leaving for a team meeting.

During the official program, Berry, who spoke along with running back Montario Hardesty and defensive tackle Wes Brown, was asked by Tennessee radio announcer and event host Bob Kesling how he makes big plays.

“It comes from study and most of it comes from preparation,” the junior defensive back said. “And the easiest thing to do is to run to the ball.”

Kiffin told the crowd that he has not had much free time since practice began.

“This is the farthest I’ve been from my office since Sunday,” he said with a smile. “So this feels like a vacation.”

At one point, Kiffin’s young daughter, Landry, came up on stage with him.

The first-year coach also told the gathering that he is not afraid to tout Berry.

“To me, he is the best player in America,” he said, as the crowd applauded.

Kiffin signed a few autographs after his talk, and then tossed his Sharpie pen in a nearby trashcan — which prompted one youngster to retrieve it.

John Shearer is a freelance contributor.