Packer: Plenty of Gaines from defensive back

Audio slide show of Tennessee-Florida

Audio slideshow UT-UF

Former University of Tennessee defensive back Cory Gaines was a part of quite possibly the Vols' greatest recruiting class ever. It was the Class of 1994 that included the likes of Peyton Manning, Jonathon Brown and Terry Fair.

"I don't know where I was rated in that class, but we had athletes all over the field," Gaines said. "The class was so good that I was supposed to redshirt my freshman year. That was the plan until right before halftime of the Alabama game. Ray Austin got hurt, so they moved Jason Parker to strong safety and put me in at weak."

You'd think that Gaines might have been nervous stepping onto the field for the first time, especially with it being against Alabama.

"No, I wasn't nervous," he said. "I didn't have time to be nervous. I didn't have time to feel anything. To be honest, when you come in as a part of a class like that you want to contribute just like the other guys. Terry Fair and Steve Johnson were both playing and I wanted to play, too.

"There wasn't any choice at that point in the 'Bama game. I will never forget (assistant coach) Lovie Smith turning to me and saying, 'Big fella, we need you.' I don't remember what the score was when I went in, but I do remember that we lost a close game when Sherman Williams scored late. I actually hit him as he was running into the end zone."

Gaines believes it will take several recruiting classes like 1994 by first-year coach Lane Kiffin to put Tennessee football back on the map.

"These new coaches have to recruit like they did this year," he said. "The last few years we haven't seen top recruiting classes, and that catches up with you. We are seeing the effects of those classes now. The good thing is that recruiting is just like a football game. Don't ever underestimate the power of momentum. The '94 class carried over into the next classes that led to the 1998 national championship. I don't know if UT would have gotten guys like Jamal Lewis, Cosey Coleman and Peerless Price if the '94 class hadn't of happened.

"Any coach can draw up Xs and Os and show how a touchdown can be scored on every play. But if you don't have the players to make it happen Xs and Os don't mean much. Kiffin has started with a good nucleus. He's got some top-rated athletes who have chosen Tennessee over other top programs. That is the key. If you see that prospects are choosing Tennessee over Vanderbilt and North Carolina then it doesn't impress the top players. But if you see that players are choosing Tennessee over Florida, LSU and Alabama, now you start seeing the top players want to jump on the bandwagon.

"I think the biggest signing for Tennessee in the last class was Nu'Keese Richardson. I know that Bryce Brown was the top recruit in the country, but he didn't choose Tennessee over Florida, Richardson did. A signing like that sends shock waves around the country.

"One thing that had to show UT fans how serious these coaches are about recruiting was after last week's loss to UCLA. The next day three top recruits committed to Tennessee. This coaching staff has its eye on the future and improving the talent."

Gaines said he heard about Kiffin's comments about how cruel the media and the fans have been to Jonathan Crompton. But, according to Gaines, that's a big part of what makes Tennessee football great.

"I would much rather play in front of over 100,000 fans with some booing and calling me names, than 40,000 where everyone loved me," Gaines said.

"You know when you come to Tennessee that that kind of stuff is part of the deal. I wanted to play somewhere that greatness was expected. Right now, greatness is not expected, but it needs to be. Give these guys a few years, and greatness will be expected again."

In 1996 the Vols were a preseason No. 2 pick in the country when Gaines witnessed one of the funniest things he ever had seen.

"We were in two-a-days my junior year when two defensive backs got in a fight in the morning practice, Shane Begnaud and Troy Pratt," said. "When the coaches broke up the fight, Coach (Phillip) Fulmer told them to run to The Strip and back in full pads. So, they took off with helmets, shoulder pads, pants … the full getup. We broke for the end of practice and showered up. Well, when we came back for the afternoon practice, Coach Fulmer got us all together in the meeting room and told us that there was a problem. He popped in a tape of Begnaud and Pratt sitting under a shade tree on campus when they were supposed to be running to The Strip. The video guy, Joe Harrington, had seen the two of them laying under the tree and videotaped it for Coach. Everyone died laughing, everyone except Coach Fulmer that is. I think fire and smoke were coming out of his ears. Those two had to run sprints before and after every practice during two-a-days after that one."

Gaines is yet another former Vol who is standing by his program through thick and thin.

"I will be wearing my Orange for every game, even when we're a 4-touchdown underdog," Gaines said. "I'll also be wearing my orange when the bar has been raised and Tennessee is back in the championship picture."

According to Gaines, that will be sooner than later.

"Three years from now, you watch, we'll be back," he said.

Mark Packer is a freelance contributor. He hosts the Locker Room on MyWVLT2 on Sundays at 10 p.m.