Players feel fans' presence

Photo by Wade Payne

Tennessee quarterback Jonathan Crompton throws to a receiver during practice Friday at Neyland Stadium.

Tennessee didn't have to worry about running afoul of the fire marshal in Neyland Stadium on Friday night, but its prime-time practice drew a crowd despite cold and rainy weather.

About 2,000 watched the Vols' third practice of the spring and their first in full pads, with some even lining up outside the stadium several hours before the workout began.

And although the crowd fell short of the limit of 10,000 imposed by authorities because of ongoing construction on the stadium's west side, those who showed up were loud.

And the players took notice.

"We already had a different level of intensity where it was our first day in pads," defensive end Chris Walker said. "But when we came out and saw the fans there, it really jacked us up to see I don't know how many at a practice. It just jacked us up and made us come to a different level and play and compete."

The Vols began practice at Haslam Field, working for about an hour before busing to the stadium. They gathered in the northwest tunnel before taking the field to a roar from fans.

For safety Eric Berry, it conjured thoughts of game day.

"Practice is crazy," he said. "It was so much fun even yesterday, and we practiced on our own field. The atmosphere was so crazy. It was like a real game. Just having people there cheering while we're going through our drills, it made us go even harder. I felt like it was a pretty good practice."

The Vols went to the crowd-pleasers early.

After taking the field, they held the first "Tennessee Drill" under the new staff followed by a full contact 5-on-4 drill that pitted offensive linemen against defensive linemen, receivers against defensive backs and fullbacks and tight ends against linebackers.

Berry didn't participate in those drills, but was active the rest of the way despite being limited by a surgically repaired left shoulder.

"It's still in effect," Berry said when asked about being restricted from full contact. "I wasn't (hitting). I was just moving out of the way, wasn't taking on any fullbacks or nothing like that. I was in the mix. But during the 'thud' period, I can go around, but as soon as (athletic trainer) Jason (McVeigh) says I run into somebody, he's pulling me out. I just make sure I don't run into anybody and try to go for the ball all the time. That's it."

It's not easy to pull back, though.

"Football's a contact sport, and I love contact," Berry said. "Just being out there playing two-hand touch is pretty much a bummer, I guess you could say."

UT coach Lane Kiffin was pleased with the energy UT's fans brought to the workout.

"It was really neat," he said. "Our players felt it and our coaches felt it. Our coaches have never been in here before. It was really neat to be in here and see guys come out. It was neat to see the fans come out here and support us. It helped us a lot."

Quarterback Jonathan Crompton hopes the intensity of Friday's practice - and that of UT's first two practices - remain when the Vols return March 24 following UT's spring break this week.

"We've got really high intensity because the coaches, how they coach, it trickles down to us," Crompton said. "The intensity's been there now the first three days. I'm pleased, but we're always going to have more to get to. I really expect the Tuesday we get back for our first practice (after spring break), there's going to be even more."

© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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