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Tennessee defensive back Eric Berry (14) returns an interception for a touchdown against Vanderbilt at Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville on Saturday.
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The last time a defensive player won the Heisman Trophy, Tennessee fans were livid. If a defensive back happened to win the award this year, they'd almost certainly change their tune.
Tennessee announced Tuesday that it will actively promote junior safety Eric Berry for college football's top individual honor this season.
“It's hard to remember, I think for all of us, that he just finished his sophomore year,” UT coach Lane Kiffin said during a morning press conference on a variety of topics. “You feel like he's a five-year NFL vet or something.”
Berry, a consensus All-American last season and the reigning SEC defensive player of the year, is the first Tennessee player to be marketed for the award since Peyton Manning finished second in 1997. That year, Michigan cornerback Charles Woodson claimed the award, the last defensive player to do so.
Woodson finished with eight interceptions that season and also played on special teams and some at wide receiver. Returning kicks are a possibility for Berry, Kiffin said, but don't expect any snaps on offense.
“I would never play someone somewhere based on any award,” Kiffin said. “I was hired here to win games and do the best thing for our team. We're going to do whatever it takes to win. To put Eric over there, I really don't see that helping us win.”
No Tennessee player has won the Heisman Trophy. Four players have finished second in voting: tailback Hank Lauricella (1951), tailback Johnny Majors (1956), quarterback Heath Shuler (1992) and Manning.
More details online and in tomorrow's News Sentinel.
© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Comments » 34
ut18vols writes:
BERRY FOR HEISMAN!!!
FearlessFreep writes:
Hard to find a better representative on and off the field for UT Football.
He may not win, but it's definitely the image UT needs to project of their program.
VolFanNC writes:
If he has a year like last year, he should get invited to NYC. He will be the all time leader in INT return yards. UT will need to win 8 games though for him to get invited. Don't see the Big 12 QB's getting the recognition this year, unless they win the big games.
This year it is TT's to lose. He will be the favorite and get the press and FL will be on TV every week. If FL wins the SEC and Tebow has a good year, doesn't matter what anyone else does.
Richardutm writes:
I am still bitter about the last Heisman compaign. They did give it to a db that year but everybody knows Peyton got robbed. Where is that guy today? What was his name, Charles Wordson? Tennessee needs to see if Keith Jackson and Bob Greesey would openly campaign for Eric like they did for Wordson.
Ironcity writes:
I don't care for schools promoting their players for the Heisman or any other post season award until late in the season or after the season. I think its a distraction and more often then not the player doesn't live up to the hype. That said, I hope Berry has the type of season that warrants consideration.
john1998 writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
DC_Vol writes:
I agree 100% with your post. In 1997, Peyton Manning was robbed of the Heisman. He was clearly the best player in college football his senior year. The sad fact is ABC held the Michigan game that year for the National title, so they had an interest in promoting the game and Woodson for Heisman. ABC and ESPN are affiliated companies I believe under Disney. The amount of ABC coverage through telecasts and commercials and ESPN coverage through stories for Woodson compared to similar coverage for Manning was completely unequitable and clearly favored Woodson. The ABC/ESPN juggernaut of commercials and Woodson coverage that year made the whole Heisman race seem underhanded. The race was all about marketing a championship game for ABC and nothing to do with selecting the player that impacted their team the most. ABC figure ratings would increase if they had the championship game and the Heisman trophy winner to sell the big game to advertisers. Sad, it was all about money.
lknvol writes:
Who cares about the Heisman. It became irrelevant when it was awarded to Woodson!
mdvol writes:
For Berry to have a realistic shot at the Heisman, he will need to be used as a WR, KR and DB. I look forward to that.
Bigger_Al writes:
Correct on Keith Jackson, but not on Griese. During the SEC Championship game (in which Manning led the Vols past Auburn despite incredible turnovers by Terry Fair and Jermaine Copeland), Griese was saying what a remarkable player Manning was, and that he was voting for Manning. Keith Jackson responded, "I don't want to discuss it."
I was really impressed by Griese's comments. Not only was he giving his honest opinion as a HOF QB, but Woodson was actually a teammate of his son, who was Michigan's QB that year.
Volstate writes:
Absolute perfect timing to show a player like Jesse Scroggins that UT will take care of it's own if it's warranted. Very strategic move on the part of Lane Kiffin. Berry is deserving, but he won't win it. I think there has only been 1 defensive player to ever win the Heisman.
volboy81 writes:
SO AM I...and ALWAYS will be. The HeisTman is a joke. If Majors and Manning cant win it (one losing to the only person to ever win it with a losing team and the other losing to the only defensive person to ever win it) I doubt anyone from UT will ever win it. Just in case anyone thinks ESPN didnt GIVE it to Woodson, go back and watch the 1997 UT-Southern Miss game from early November...ONE month before the trophy was given out....during halftime, they did a HeisTman watch and WOODSON WAS NEVER EVEN MENTIONED!!...Then 4 wks later, he wins it!!! Its allllll publicity from ESPN now.
Bigger_Al writes:
That said, it will be interesting to see if Teebow is subjected to the same negative reporting as Manning in 1997. Like Manning, he will be a prohibitive favorite for the Heisman, and the sports reporters will be tempted to differentiate themselves from the pack by saying what they do not like about him. In 1997, the reporters and announcers critiqued each performance and actually highlighted his mistakes in the highlights rather than his successes. Contrast that to Woodson, in which they showed his interception against OSU rather than him getting beat deep by David Boston.
The_Four_Horsemen writes:
That'd be a good idea you could use that you the Alabama WR where he sent him spinning.
Can't believe I agreed with a Gator. Maybe it's because I'm in Florida right now.....
Voluvr writes:
Remember boys, Orange Envy runs deep and wide. With 3 of the 6 Heistman voting districts east of the Mississippi and north of the Mason Dixon, the deck is stacked. I'd be surprised.
john1998 writes:
UT's initial original "Berry campaign plan" was to include a video of Lee Corso reacting to the idea of Eric Berry winning the Heisman by noting that defensive backs don't win the Heisman. Then Peyton was supposed to step into the frame, making some self deprecating remarks, alluding to Charles Woodson.
Hamilton, et al just assumed that Manning would go along with it. They don't understand the mindset of a real competitor.
What should we expect from someone who considers the football players as "product?"
daytonabadboy writes:
BER--RY!....BER--RY!...BER--RY!
VOLstuckINky writes:
The Hiestman is overrated and not even worth talking about. EPSN conrols who wins.
Now that ESPN owns part of the SEC, you might see more slant for SEC players.
paradisetaxi writes:
When i got Eric's autograph,last year, I asked him to draw a stickman poising as a heisman....Eric was like ,nooooo way ...as if the thought was way too much of a compliment..Eric is a champion...Best of everything Eric !!!!
rockytopron writes:
Maybe the useless media will make up for their huge error in judgement when they gave the heisman to that thug instead of Peyton Manning.
givehim6 writes:
I am glad Berryis going to get his chance at a Heisman run. Yes Manning got ripe off. But I fill Berry has a better chance because Kiffin will puch harder than Fullmore did for Manning.
Hudro writes:
In order for Eric to have a chance as a Defensive player UT would need to get him in on offense for a few plays. The media eats up throwback two way players. If Eric could get 4 td's on offense and 4 more INTs for TD's he could have a good shot. Playing defense alone will make it an uphill battle with two former winners still playing.
1974Vol writes:
Tebow could get the same hose job as PM. Both are/were over exposed, and too good to be true off the field. The media powers that be want drama so look for them to be tearing TT down with the same exuberance as they built him up the last three years. TT could win another NT and throw for 4k and run for 1k and all he'll get is another free trip to NY to watch the ESPN flavor of the month accept the statue.
Major_Magilicutty writes:
Why is Kiff so convinced Eric will be leaving? Tebow came back! We should still hold out hope. Who know's...if we do well enough, maybe it gives Eric a taste for more. Personally, I would love to see Eric cement his legacy at UT with four solid years and some form of championship win, either SEC, BCS Bowl Game, or NC.
huntined#565710 writes:
Glad to see them do this..At least give him his shot..Even Tebow thinks he is a great player and he plays for another team. Also let's other players coming in know they will back them when they deserve it
GO BERRY
1974Vol writes:
EB will leave after this year if he plays to potential and is healthy. Diffenece between hin and TT is EB is a top 5 pick and will get 8 figures just to sign. TT although maybe the best college player ever may not even get drafted until 3-4th round and then as a SS or big receiver. No one will draft him as a QB.
golfballs03 writes:
The guy would have been a Top 10 pick in this year's draft.
1974Vol writes:
You talking EB or TT?
GahLee writes:
Berry doesn't stand a chance at the Heisman...have to admit it...but a campaign is a good thing...good for Eric, good for UT...to me he is as good as it gets when you talk college football but the fact is that the top 3 Heisman vote getters are returning, including you know who...they are all QB's and have a distinct advantage because of thier position.
With that said I think that Eric is the best player in college football and I will miss him after this year...Go Vols!!!
tngivem6 writes:
I, like most of the posters to this article,
think the Heisman is a joke award, controlled by the politics of ESPN.
after Manning got robbed, it doesn't mean much. Look at all the other awards that Manning received that year and ask yourself why he didn't get the Heisman.
Berry had better stats last year than Woodson had when he won the award.
Heisman award is worthless..
Would love to see EB intercept it for the BIG ORANGE!! though
BolivarBob writes:
Woodson wasn't even the best defensive back that year.
bluetick writes:
I totally agree with exactly everything you said. It has become too political.
GahLee writes:
Everyone knows that Peyton got robbed...but some of you have yet to relinquish the stunned look from your faces...which has to have made for some akward moments over the past 12 YEARS!!!
Lets as a whole ( UT fans ) stop harping on what happened, we all know he got screwed but life goes on.
I would just like to see Eric get invited for the award...just being there is an award...imo...would love to see him get the attention he deserves for being an outstanding player...Go Vols!!!
chad_t31 writes:
Berry deserves all of the recognition and praise he gets. I'd love to see him just get invited to NY.
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