"I can honestly say that I have the best job in America, serving as an ambassador for the state and university that mean so much to me," Phillip Fulmer said in a statement. "There is no place I'd rather be than on our campus and on our sideline teaching our young men."
(The Tennessean 3/1/07)
Life as a Vol
Here's a couple of quotes from former Vol player Trey Teague, now playing for the Buffalo Bills.Question: Your talent for playing football has taken you to many cities to play. You have also met many people from around the country. How does the following the Vols get year in and year out compare to some of the other fans you have seen around the country?
[T. Teague] Tennessee definitely has one of the best fan bases in all of football, and they travel with as many fans as anyone in the country. There are only a few schools that can compete with Vol fans, teams like Nebraska and some SEC schools travel like Tennessee, but not many. Then again I don't think you could ever hope to have any more support as a Tennessee player, from the fans that UT brings game after game. It really is amazing.
Question: What part do you miss most about your time as a Vol?
[T. Teague] It has to be the atmosphere the SEC brings to football. Going on the road to cities like Athens, Tuscaloosa, Baton Rouge and Gainesville week after week was amazing for any football player. There is a lot of history in these college towns and in the SEC.
(By Troy Schneider - Reporter of The Jackson Sun 7/21/02)
This team is very special, because it has the total package when it comes to playing football at its best. This team had a vision to be the best in the land. The Bible says: Without a vision the people perish. On Jan. 4, 1999 the Tennessee Vols became National Champions in the Fiesta Bowl by beating Florida State 23-16. Tennessee became the first team in school history to go undefeated in the season since 1938 and the only Tennessee team to be 13-0.
(Smokey's Trail - UT Reporter 1/05/99)
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| No. 27 Linebacker Al Wilson caused a school record three fumbles to lead the Vols in their overtime win 20-17, against their biggest rivalry Florida. |
(Football Time in Tennessee- 12/18/98 News Conference)
Tennessee defensive coordinator John Chavis says there's not a better linebacker in the nation. Wilson's toughness has been proven by the fact that he played most of the season with a partially dislocated shoulder that was so painful he often slumped to the turf in agony.
(After SEC Championship - Knoxville News-Sentinel 12/6/98)
I'm here to say that this Tennessee team is very special, because they are playing as one and there's no super stars shining brightly. They are playing as one bright shining star, on both sides of the ball.
(After the Alabama game - Smokey's Trail - UT Reporter 10/24/98)
No. 27 Linebacker Al Wilson caused a school-record three fumbles to lead the Vols in their 20-17 win against their biggest rivalry Florida. "I've never had a player who hits you as hard as Al does," Fulmer said.
(The Tennessean 9/19/98)
"I've made a really big deal this year out of physical play. We said going into the season we had to do three things to have a good year. We had to run the football well, so we wanted to lead the conference in rushing...We wanted to lead the conference in turnover ratio...We had to lead in scoring defense, and we were three tenths of a point from doing that."
(National Coach Of The Year Phillip Fulmer - UT bowl news conference 12/18/98)
"This bunch had the right chemistry. It's been the most focused team I've ever been around. One thing that makes them special is that they have listened to their coaches and gone about their business week by week. This has been a unique team from the chemistry standpoint, and I'm thankful for that. They have played with great intensity."
(Head coach Phil Fulmer - Smokey's Tale Volunteer Magazine 12/18/98)
"Thank God for these kids. All year long they have been up to the challenges that have been there."
(Vanderbilt post game comments 11/28/98)
"I like the fact that we go to work every day and are pretty serious about getting better and each time we've had some adversity, somebody else has stepped up. That says volumes about this team and quality of the organization."
(UT Head Coach Phil Fulmer - Gannett News Service 10/28/98)
"This team is special, we have that bond and focus that a lot of teams don't have. That's really what is setting us apart. It's not always going to be pretty, but we're going to get the job done."
( Al Wilson after Alabama game 10/24/98)
"Attitude is what has changed this year. "Nobody's a star on this team, and that's what makes it special."
(UT kicker Jeff Hall after Alabama game 10/24/98)
I wonder what ESPN Sports Center, and the critics are saying now about the Tennessee Volunteers now. Tennessee was a 3 point underdog, before they came to Athens, Georgia. Tennessee prove to themselves, and the sports world, that they can play football at it's best. UT Vols beat a good football team on it's own turf, 22-3.
(After Georgia game - Smokey's Trail - UT Reporter 10/10/98)
The way I saw it, we looked unbeatable the first half. The defense was unbelievable, Shaun Ellis intercepted a pass for a 90-yard TD run, and the UT defense held Auburn on the six inch yard line for four downs, it was truly awesome!!!
(After Auburn game - Smokey's Trail - UT Reporter 10/03/98)
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| Our national symbol the eagle, flies down on the field as the Tennessee Marching Band plays the National Anthem. |
The Tennessee marching band plays the National Anthem, and from the north end of Neyland Stadium, from the very top, a trained bald eagle named Challenger glides down to the 10-yard line to his trainer, just before kickoff. That's it!!!, I was ready to jump on the field, and play football with the Vols!!! That set the tone for what was going to happen to me, and every Tennessee fan that was there. I'm talking about the 12th man from the fans that caused Florida trouble in the game. The noise was so loud they couldn't hear their signals, and had to use all their time outs! "WHAT A GAME", "WHAT AN ATMOSPHERE", "IT WAS AN AWESOME SIGHT TO SEE THE FANS RUSH ONTO THE FIELD AFTER THE GAME".
(After Florida game - Smokey's Trail - UT Reporter 9/19/98)
"The victory was the result of hard work that characterized our preparation, a testimonial to both our players and our staff. I feel our team had a good attitude and that nobody was down mentally. We accomplished a lot on the practice field and had a feeling of confidence and enthusiasm going into the game."
(UT head coach Phil Fulmer after Florida game 9/19/98)
"I just can't say how proud I am of this football team and staff. I told them this is why you come to Tennessee, to play in games like this setting."
(UT head coach Phil Fulmer after Florida game 9/19/98)
Peyton Manning said his four years at Tennessee were so enjoyable that he's seriously considering making this his offseason home. He mentioned Nashville, Knoxville and Chattanooga as possibilities.
(The Tennessean 1/30/98)
"I'll be a Tennessee Volunteer for the rest of my life" Manning said.-(AP)
I'm glad to have the opportunity to play in the SEC title game.
''It's the biggest game I've played in since I've been here,'' Manning said.- (AP)
Billie Moore, who coached Pat Summitt on the 1976 Olympic team and retired as UCLA coach a few years ago, offers a scary thought about the Lady Vols "I think they will be even better next year." - (AP) 1/27/98
"I think the Lady Vols are, no doubt, the best team that has ever played women's basketball...I think, defensively, they're one of the best teams in the country, male or female." -
(Memphis coach Joye Lee-McNelis 2/12/98)
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