No Nuke Fallout: Breakout game eases Richardson's mind

Photo by Joe Howell // Buy this photo

Tennessee wide receiver Nu'Keese Richardson (7) celebrates after scoring a touchdown with teammate Tennessee running back Montario Hardesty (2) on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009 at Neyland Stadium.

A week later, the storm has passed.

Nu'Keese Richardson was a no-show for one Sunday practice. At the next he was laughing, joking and clearly at ease with his role.

The Tennessee freshman had been nearly invisible the week before against South Carolina and was an afterthought at receiver. Against Memphis on Saturday, Richardson was back in good graces with the Vols, and - for the first time - in the end zone as well.

The seven days in between weren't all that easy, but Richardson and UT both made it through in one piece and perhaps in better shape than when they started.

"I wouldn't say it was frustration," Richardson said. "I just had a problem I was going through, I had a lot on my mind and I just wanted to take the time off and just have a clean head, go (back) in with a clean head.

"I mean, it was just a blessing that Coach (Lane) Kiffin let me go out and play, let me play with my teammates. Just being out there with my teammates, knowing that they've got my back, that was the best feeling I could have."

The 14-yard touchdown catch didn't feel too bad, either, and it was a long time in the making for the Vols (5-4, 2-3 SEC).

After largely spending eight games in the shadows and struggling to make an impact, Richardson turned the night into a small coming-out party that doubled as a reminder of why Kiffin wanted him in the program so badly to begin with.

And though it was only three catches for 54 yards, they also illustrated why UT would work overtime to keep him if it had to.

"We try to teach our kids how to deal with adversity," Kiffin said. "That's what matters. It's always going to happen in football and in life, but how do you deal with it? Do you sit around and pout and complain, do you bring other people down? Or do you just control what you can control and go work extremely hard, and Nu'Keese did that last week.

"He had by far his best week of practice last week and it showed in the game."

It technically might not have been a full week of practice, though the Vols apparently are ready to put that issue behind them heading into a trip to Mississippi that could determine how high they can reach on the bowl shelf.

UT has played its best football during the past four games and the offense could hardly have been any more efficient than it was in piling up 42 first-half points against the Tigers.

The running game continues to roll, the offensive line has kept Jonathan Crompton clean in the pocket and the senior quarterback appeared to have a limitless supply of weapons open downfield in the rout.

Richardson still has plenty more development left, but he was certainly a dangerous part of the arsenal at the end of a trying week. And there's no reason to think that will change anytime soon.

"It wasn't anything planned, I was just in at the right time and he called the play and I came through," Richardson said. "Every week I feel like I'm getting better, I'm learning the system and still going out and competing at the highest level. I feel like I'm doing a good job of it.

"(Last week) just let me know that (Kiffin) is always going to be there for us, no matter what we're going through. For a player, knowing that a coach is always going to have his side, that's something good."

After a rough week, the outlook for Richardson and the Vols looks just as good.

© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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