COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier hired one of Tennessee’s best runners to lead the Gamecocks running backs.
Former Vols star Jay Graham has been hired as an assistant coach. Spurrier announced the hiring Monday. Graham replaces former Florida running back Robert Gillespie, who left earlier this month for a position with Oklahoma State.
Graham ranks sixth on Tennessee’s all-time rushing list with 2,609 yards (1993-1996). Graham also played six season in the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens, Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers.
He spent this past season as running backs coach at Miami of Ohio.
South Carolina finished last in the SEC and 112th out of 119 teams nationally this past season, averaging 94.1 yards a game rushing.
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Comments » 26
TommyJack writes:
Good for him.
davemanthevolfan writes:
Good going Jay!!!!
FWBVol writes:
If a former Vol can't coach at Tennessee, I'm glad to see him at another SEC school even if I would have preferred to see him at say Arkansas or some Miss. State than an East school.
Good luck Jay, and thanks for the memories from your wonderful Volunteer career.
bhs120 writes:
first
wally writes:
Great job Jay. We wish you great success. Get yourself some experience as a coach and we'll bring you back home to Big Orange Country!
wagee12 writes:
Jay Graham seems to be an upwardly mobile young coach. He will learn some offensive football from Spurrier for sure, just watch out for flying visors!
JoeVols65 writes:
Good luck Jay! We wish you the best.
Pullingguard writes:
Would have been a nice fit at Tennessee... Its always good to have some home grown people within the system.. Hope how well he does at Carolina.
yeavols#228407 writes:
That's great! They needed to hire someone with some competency.
VOLINSC writes:
Hope he does well (except when his team plays the vols) and one day can coach on the Vols staff. That is one thing about the new staff I am disapointed with - no former UT players as coaches. Hopefully, the coaches pick up some of the former traditions - like the Tennessee Drill and the Last Takle, etc.
Go Vols.
jsm67vol writes:
Agree in your hope that some of the TN traditions continue in practice. I think Lane will embrace UT traditions especially if he has any talks with Bruce Pearl. Bruce knew how important it was to have a good relationship with Pat and it has paid off for him. If Lane wants to really talk to Phil this would be a good ice breaker- get Phil to fill him in on UT traditions.
yabadabadoo1026 writes:
slow on the trigger and slower in the brain--u only missed it by 27 minutes
huntined#565710 writes:
my best remembrance of Graham was at the bowl game here in FL. with Ohio State and they had EDDIE GEORGE At the start of that game they were all saying EDDIE,EDDIE At the end of the game we were saying GRAHAM.GRAHAM..
Best of luck to him
SmokeDog72 writes:
Looks like Jay has sold his soul to the devil.
blitzshoot writes:
Best wishes Mr. Graham.
newtonrail writes:
Ain't gonna happen the way Kiffin Lite's playing his cards now. He's running 180 degrees away from anybody or anything with TN tradition or roots. Some of that I understand as far as coaches, but I get this feeling he's trying to create USC East. I hope I'm wrong.
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
Good, Jay can teach them how to fumble in key games (UT VS UF, Jay Grahame had key fumbles to help UF come back from a huge deficit to hang over 60 points on UT).
Peyton Manning era.
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
so what?? not every tradition is worth keeping. USc is pretty close to being an SEC-type school: strong defense, exciting offense. AS i recall, USC pounded a few SEC teams in years past.
No offense to you intended. In some ways, I see Lane getting us back to our 'roots'; remember when we had kick-butt defense and a great passing attack (Andy Kelley, Peyton, Tony Robinson??)
ZR writes:
Was JG the one with the giant nose?
CHS52VOL writes:
When I think of Jay Graham,I recall the same Citrus Bowl game ('96? '97?) He broke loose on a very long run (50 or 60 yards)and, along with Peyton Manning, was the difference in that game. Remember the goal line stand led by Bill Huff? A thing of beauty!
Good luck, Jay. Hope to see you on the Vol coaching staff in the future.
Couchdummy writes:
Ha, that Citrus Bowl was a full day of torrential rain!! Good game for us, but my step-son sulked the entire day as his wife twice sent him for hot dogs and UT scored on both occassions while he was in the concessions line. He is still mad today, 13 years later!!!!
VOLnAla writes:
Congrats to Graham!
Waldorf writes:
I'll never figure out why the coaching staff decided it was in the best interests to NOT give him the ball 25 times a game in 96 and use multiple-backs. The running game never could establish any type of rhythm all year after being so dominant in 95 with Graham getting the bulk of the carries. he is probably the second-most underrated back in Tennessee history behind Treavis Stephens.
Sounds like he's movin gup the coaching ladder quickly. Best regards to him (except one week a year of course).
Orangeblood13 writes:
Bill Duff
lol
Louisvol8859 writes:
I just feel bad for him that this is a one year deal when CSS goes to the golf course permanently.
WeLoveTennesseeVols writes:
It's funny isn't it. Steve loses 3 people to Tennessee and then goes back and hires one from there. Isn't it the saying, "If you can't beat them , join them."? Anything to break even for Steve, he was losing face on this one, wasn't he.?
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