Tennessee spring football practice begins March 9, but the first meaningful competition of the Butch Jones era begins Wednesday morning.
Coaches have selected two captains for each of 10 teams. On Wednesday, the captains will conduct what Jones described as an "NFL-style draft" to fill out each team with roughly 10 players.
Dubbed the "VOLympics," the event allows teams to amass points without scoring touchdowns or kicking field goals.
Here's how Jones laid out the scoring during one of his tour stops last week:
Players will gain points for things like acing a test, attending a Bible study session, volunteering in the community or generally behaving in a way that reflects well on the program.
Coach can take away points from players who do things like miss a study hall or dress sloppily. (Jones cited wearing a cap sideways or sagging pants as examples).
The winner is crowned at a Night of Champions event later in the spring.
A team that lags behind might be sent to a 6 a.m. workout, Jones said. But there's a catch. Only the two captains will be forced to do the workouts, even if they didn't do anything wrong.
Jones said he hopes the resulting accountability forges leadership skills and fosters a positive peer pressure to do the right thing.
The selection of the 20 captains could already provide some early clues about who the coaching staff sees as potential leaders.
Here's how the teams break down: Brian Randolph and Jason Croom (Team Power T), Antonio "Tiny" Richardson and A.J. Johnson (Team Checkerboard), Justin Worley and Eric Gordon (Team the Hill Gang), Marlon Walls and Rajion Neal (Team Rocky Top), Ja'Wuan James and Channing Fugate (Team Smokey), Corey Miller and Nathan Peterman (Team Neyland), Curt Maggitt and Marlin Lane (Team Orange & White), Zach Fulton and Raiques Crump (Team The Rock), Brent Brewer and James Stone (Team Vol Navy) and Byron Moore and Maurice Couch (Team Vol Walk).
The teams will be drafted Wednesday morning. The UT website will provide a live blog beginning at 10:15 a.m. as the teams are selected.
Evan Woodbery covers Tennessee football. Follow him at www.Twitter.com/TennesseeBeat.
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Comments » 117
Rumblefish writes:
Best laid plans of mice and men....
keepitreal4vols writes:
How about an automatic DQ for anyone yelling "Woooo" during Rocky Top.
volhome writes:
This is a superb idea. Accountability to yourself, your team, and then the university can be fostered. The guys can learn what it means to care for and about the team, and then bring that to the team as a whole. Coach, we are behind you 100% in this houshold. Great idea.
Fall_Creek_Vols writes:
I like it (especially the side-ways hat thing). Get on board, or we'll Butch-slap you.
BrassMonkey writes:
I like it
springtx_vol writes:
I like it, especially the part about the captains doing the running. Talk about peer pressure!
fratricide08 writes:
I feel for the guys on Tiny's and AJ's team -- would NOT want them mad at me!
VOLS_SEC_RULES writes:
Responsibility 101. Great idea.
eb502us#225637 writes:
Sounds good, just wondering how many negative points for an arrest?
Never mind, I forgot this is a new era of UT football.
NGage writes:
A huge +1...this fosters responsibility and a sense of team.
I like it.
voloffaith writes:
Are you asking to be called Grumblefish instead?
On topic, new and fresh and at least trying to make culture changes that affect team chemistry etc...
volaholic45 writes:
So, Dennis Rogan would have gotten like a minus 10 points today?
Rumblefish writes:
Nope. Just saying that the best laid plans often go awry.
Can you argue against that??? Didn't think so.
CoverOrange writes:
Bible study session? Guess they are all Christians or are expected to be.
iowavol writes:
Peer pressure, peer review, teambuilding 101. Great idea indeed. Think about Al Wilson being a team captain and some punk tries to rob some guys of the hamburgers. We would never hear about the beating Wilson would deliver. The message would be received.
w4tey#282182 writes:
Man I hope all the positives and strategy of this guy translates to the field of play. If so the Vols are on the way back.
DwayneElizondoMountainDewHerbertCamacho writes:
Well, if we learned anything from Derek Dooley (orange dog, mountain climbing, VFL, etc.)...team building gimmicks always WORK with 18 to 20 year old kids.
I'm sure this will work well too.
Also, the Bible study class is a great idea. Great way to distinguish ourselves as not a backwoods, hillbilly high school with a huge stadium. Of course...that's just me believing that a person shouldn't be rewarded for choosing one religion over another.
pcorange writes:
They'd be a whole lot better off at a Bible study than at a bar drinking "fawties" and fighting.
VolInIndy writes:
it is an option,not required.
DwayneElizondoMountainDewHerbertCamacho writes:
Didn't you know that only Christians win football games in the SEC? God LOVES football but he hates it when agnostics, atheists, muslims, jews, hindus, buddhists, pagans, taoists, etc. play and win. Nothing bothers God more than multi-cultural football players.
At least, I think it's God that it bothers. Sometimes I wonder if its the redneck fans of UT that it bothers more, but they tell me that it's God, so that's probably true.
MikeTheTiger writes:
Man, I am not even a TN fan and I am starting to like this guy! Get 'em Butch!!
Vols4life77 writes:
Your an idiot! You never have anything intellectual to say and it's always the same negative garbage to anything you hear. Your boyfriend must be miserable to have to come home to you every night. Maybe you should pray to GOD for a better attitude.
PHAT_VOL writes:
What an astute observation. Wouldn't religious studies had been a better choise of words? I wonder if coach Jones reserches each recruit to see if he is a christian? I just wonder how many players the Bible study clases puts at a disadvantage?
Better off at Bible study than at a bar,
how about musical chairs. That would be better still. But oh well something new. Maybe it will do the trick. Its just that I never heard of The General or other great coaches using this type of tactic.
GO VOLS !!!
PHAT_VOL writes:
OH so you dont like Gays either? What else dont you like? Maybe yourself.
therightstuff writes:
Team Checkerboard!!! Wow, AJ and Tiny....that team will tow the line for sure. The fact that the captains do the running..... I love it!!!
Good stuff Coach BuTch, really good stuff.....
KDOG1973 writes:
Like that's a bad thing? Come on, it's the main reason why were here on this Earth, is to worship God. Try picking up a Bible and read it. It might just change your life. Read John 3:16 for starters.
Love the whole idea Coach. Go Vols!!
bspurlingcac#225603 writes:
I like it....and here is why!
The coach in me thinks that this is an easy way to find out who the 10 worst behavior problems are likely to be. The Captains will pick the screw ups last in the draft. This will give the coaching staff a good read on the makeup of players. It will also help identify the players most likely to become leaders in the future(as they will be picked first). Just a thought…GBO!
notfunanymore writes:
Does anyone want my opinion?
jt45 writes:
Sounds like Coach Jones is working on building the foundation of some good sound principles and someleadership training thrown in for good measure.
Things like this will stay with these young men much longer than all the glitter and gutters they are sure to see in their young lives along the way to game day.
PHAT_VOL writes:
Of course!
junkball10 writes:
Maybe Rumble just needs Butch slapping. Thanks Fall Creek for that line
gwavescVOL writes:
Your posts are as sad as your username, pathetic attempts to appear creative and intelligent. Hollar upstairs and remind Mom not to drink the OJ with your name on it, what a joke
Rumblefish writes:
You wish junkboy. Got something wrong with being skeptical about another mid-major hire after seeing how bad the last one worked out???
Get bent.
junkball10 writes:
Has anyone heard from Bones lately? We could use some words of wisdom from him about now.
Rumblefish writes:
Interesting take.
Olddogsrule writes:
Sure, just don't come across as some whinybrook pseudo intellectual as some others have chosen to in their above posts. Anything that helps in team building is a good thing and practiced from grade school through zillion dollar corporate retreats, athletic teams or sales teams or research teams. It IS a good thing and it works. Whether it's a spirit stick, dinner out, a gift card, climbing a mountain, paintball, bible studies (for those who wish- and could be any spiritual activity such as Zen meditation, Hindu, or Koran for that matter), anything as a reward for team building, and consequences for destructive behavior. Sure wish there could be consequences for the destructive behavior toward fan spirit some posters on here continuously exhibit. This site should be fun and a place we all could enjoy; not feed ulcers.
Olddogsrule writes:
Neyland would sometimes 'motivate' the team when they weren't practicing with his desired intensity by having them step over creosote poles ... that divided the practive field from a gravel parking lot, where they would practice until the desired intensity was reached. ... Didn't take long.
redskinvol1 writes:
I like this.Find your leaders now.Great idea.
tovolny writes:
Jews read the Bible too...it is called the "Old Testament." How an idea like this,which is wonderful, turned to Christian Bashing is beyond me. I am a Christian, and I believe there is room for all religions. I don't get upset every time a promotion of another religion pops up. We live in a "Freedom of Religion” country. After all this was the reason this country was formed. If you are upset, try relaxing and enjoy your freedom.
Olddogsrule writes:
we know you are skeptical
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just following your lead there bentfishbreath
Rumblefish writes:
Have you been a douche your whole life? Or just recently?
VolAlumbutBamaFootballFan writes:
If you go to jail, your off the team. Period.
richvol writes:
Woo is sublime,woo is cool,woo is the man,woo is woo.
nocleats writes:
Post of the Year!
thevoice writes:
I guess this is Dooley's equivalent to the ceramic dog; what a joke. Go Coach Jones, we're behind ya.
NYCApple writes:
DwayneEl,
I just wanted to let you know that some total #+£¥€le has logged in to your account, and has been posting idiotic stuff on this site under your name. You may want to check that out and chane your pass code before any more stupid remarks are posted.
THEKIDWISCONSIN writes:
What a novel idea...kids actually being held accountable! The VFL thing has a nice ring to it...but what did it mean? How was it measured?
This is so anti-Dooley! Love it!
Geofffourmyle writes:
If you use a possessive pronoun instead of a contraction, you are off the team.
FIGHT WITH ALL YOUR MIGHT FOR THE ORANGE AND WHITE!!!
Walt
UT '81
kyvol98 writes:
Probably only hear that the perp's were seeking a medical redshirt.....
CCLC writes:
Whatever became of the ceramic dog?????
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