Adams: UT should give thanks with Georgia on its mind

On a day for counting your blessings, the University of Tennessee athletic department has plenty of counting to do.

UT is blessed to have two of the largest fan facilities in college sports, Thompson-Boling Arena and Neyland Stadium. It also has a number of outstanding coaches and student-athletes.

It has so much going for it, some of its blessings often get overlooked. Take Georgia, for example.

The Vols are taking it for all they can.

Georgia's most significant contribution to UT sports was realized at the end of the 1998 football season when the Vols celebrated a national championship - thanks, in part, to Georgians-turned-Vols like Jamal Lewis, Deon Grant, Cosey Coleman, Fred White and Steve Johnson.

The series turned Georgia's way when Mark Richt became the Bulldogs head coach in 2001. About the same time, Georgia won three consecutive men's basketball games from the Vols. And UT also had a series of misadventures in the Georgia Dome, losing back-to-back Chick-fil-A Bowl games and, more significantly, two SEC championship games.

But if you are still harboring a grudge against the Peach State, you should be ashamed of yourself. Georgia has become your kindly southern neighbor, so accommodating that you could think of it as South Tennessee.

Georgia was well represented at Neyland Stadium on Senior night last Saturday as the Vols defeated Vanderbilt, which reminds me: Don't forget the Commodores today. You couldn't ask for a better in-state rival.

In the press box, you had a Chick-fil-A Bowl official; on the field, you had UT All-American strong safety Eric Berry. The Fairburn, Ga., native is one of the best players in UT history.

Berry hasn't been Georgia's only contribution to UT football the last few years. The Bulldogs were accomplices to two of UT's most impressive performances.

In 2007, UT routed the Bulldogs 35-14 in Neyland Stadium. That same Georgia team finished the season second in the final Associated Press Top 25 poll. The Vols looked just as good last month when they waylaid the Bulldogs 45-19.

Credit first-year UT coach Lane Kiffin with recognizing Georgia's value to the Vols. He already has made a strong commitment to beating Georgia with Georgians. He even rented a helicopter to recruit Atlanta.

Coach Bruce Pearl also realized that Georgia could be a friend to UT basketball. Not only is he 8-0 against the Bulldogs, he's recruiting Georgia as well as beating it.

Pearl's team includes two Georgians, sophomore guard Cameron Tatum and freshman forward Kenny Hall. But there are more on the way. Two of UT's two signees for its 2010 class are from Georgia.

The Lady Vols have a Georgia presence as well. Two of coach Pat Summitt's starters, center Kelley Cain and forward Alicia Manning, are from Georgia.

Eventually, maybe UT will be grateful enough for all those Georgians that it will designate a day in Georgia's honor. Until then, it should at least remember Georgia on Thanksgiving.

Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com.