CROSSVILLE —
The second weekend in July is here and that means the Johnny Majors Invitational Golf Tournament weekend is finally here. The “Boys of Fall” from past glory days will be gathering with their revered coach to hit the links and swap stories (and some tall tales) from their time under Johnny’s guidance. It is always a fun filled weekend at Lake Tansi and it wets the appetite for the upcoming season for Big Orange fans in this area.
It is always great to have Tennessee’s legendary coach back at Lake Tansi. Majors was not only an All-American tailback and runner-up for the Heisman Trophy in 1956, but a great head coach for the Vols from 1977 to 1992. He compiled a 116-62-9 coaching record during his tenure at the head of the program. After what Vol fans have endured for the past four years, that coaching record seems wonderful.
Cheer up Vol fans, perhaps numbers can be deceiving. When Johnny came back to Tennessee after guiding the Pitt Panthers to a National Championship, the road to an SEC Championship and a lofty No. 4 national ranking in 1985 didn’t start all that smoothly. In fact, a 21-23-1 record over the first four years, with only one bowl appearance and one winning season, probably tried the patience of many of the fan base back in the late '70’s. Sound familiar yet.
The Vols are currently going into what many hope is breakout season under Derek Dooley after going 23-27 the last four years with only one winning season in the mix. Granted, it took three different coaches to post those sub-par records; it still shows that brighter days could be on the horizon. Just like Coach Majors stayed the course in 1981 and led the Vols to an 8-4 record and a bowl game, Derek Dooley is hoping to see history repeated with his most experienced team since his arrival.
It seems like it has been more than a few months since the Vols played the spring game, but now August and fall practice are only a few weeks away. Before we know it, the ball will be in the air in the Georgia Dome and North Carolina State will be firmly in the crosshairs of our orange clad warriors.
Football hasn’t been the only thing noteworthy coming out of UT lately. Pat Summitt has been busy traveling this fine country collecting awards along the way. From the White House to Los Angeles, Pat has been honored for her character and achievements. In fact, many more awards and she might have to build an addition to her home to display them.
This week Pat received "The Arthur Ashe Courage Award" Wednesday night during the ESPY Awards in Los Angeles. Tonight she will be in Jackson, TN, where the Jackson Generals of the Double A Southern League will host Pat Summitt Appreciation Night. That should be quite a sight when the Generals take the field wearing their special Lady Vol Orange jerseys. The jerseys will be auctioned off after the game with the proceeds going to the Pat Summitt Foundation Fund.
There is something that has been noticeably missing lately, namely Jim Butler. In fact, there hasn’t been a Butler sighting since the weather turned warm. With Vanderbilt playing the Vols at home this year, I am sure that we will be hearing from Vanderbilt’s biggest fan soon. In the meantime, I guess he is still dealing with his bruised ego after the overtime loss to the Vols last season sent his ‘Dores back home with their usual loss.
Enjoy the break in the hot weather and get those outdoor projects completed before the season starts. I really believe this is a year that will have Vol fans singing Rocky Top with pride once again. Go Vols!
Sports Columns
Rocky Top Beat: Numbers can be deceiving
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Tennessee Orange/White game is in the books
The 2013 Orange/White Game is in the books and for now, the immediate hopes and dreams of Team 117 could rest on an improved defense. It is also going to depend on offensive players that either missed the game with injuries or are not yet on campus.
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Rowan adds PrepXtra award to his 2013 honors
Stone Memorial senior Brock Rowan added to a growing list of honors Thursday, as he was named to the PrepXtra Boys First Team by the Knoxville NewsSentinel.
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ROCKY TOP BEAT: UT Orange and White game kicks off Saturday
I can’t believe the Orange-White Game has arrived already. Tomorrow, Neyland Stadium will be the site for what has been an annual rite of spring for the Vol Nation. Fans will get their first glimpse of the new coaching staff and the players that will give their all for Tennessee in the fall.
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Rocky Top Beat: Lady Vols extends NCAA home court record to 52-0
The Lady Vols ran their record in NCAA Tournament games played at Knoxville to 52-0 this past week after winning their two opening round games. Oklahoma City is the next stop, where the Lady Vols will play Oklahoma University on Sunday at 3:35 p.m. CDT on ESPN 2.
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It is sweet 16 for March Madness
March Madness has entered the round of 16 or Sweet 16 as many refer to it, and "how sweet it is" to have a couple of "Cinderella" teams on both sides of the ball.
The Florida Gulf Coast University Golden Eagles and the Delaware Blue Hens have moved into the "Sweet 16" round of both the men's and women's tournaments this weekend. -
All in the Game: Are the ladies taking over some sports?
Though the female kicker didn't do well at all at the NFL combine, she at least did get the opportunity to try out. Danica Patrick did win the pole at the Daytona 500 and also finished well in the event. Is she going to be a factor in the Sprint Cup series or was the Daytona performance just a fluke? Some think that it was somewhat staged to help promote NASCAR, which has staggered a little in their ratings.
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Oh Good Greif: Spring sports dodging bad weather to prepare for the season
"It's beginning to look a lot like...." You know the rest of it, but that came to my mind Wednesday as the snow fell, forcing schools to be closed for another day. This puts a damper on spring sports practices, as the regular seasons for baseball, softball, tennis, boys soccer and track and field begin next week.
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Rocky Top Beat: Vols, Lady Vols waiting for selection weekend
The Lady Vols and the Vols both failed to win on the road last weekend. The men almost suffered a fatal blow to their NCAA Tournament hopes with their second loss to Georgia but, with a weak tournament field this year, they lived to fight a while longer.
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ROCKY TOP BEAT: Only 267 days until Vanderbilt-Tennessee game
It was nice to have Jim Butler back “in the game" again last week. I can’t imagine anyone being more devoted to the Commodores, no matter how misguided that loyalty turns out most of the time. Now, with one successful football campaign in the books, the stakes are sure to rise this fall in regards to that Big Orange rivalry.
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ALL IN THE GAME: It is so good to be back
I want to apologize to the growing number of Vanderbilt fans that I feel that I have let them down by being out of service for a little while. In addition to the apology, let me give my thanks to Frank Gale and others whose thoughts and prayers helped trememdously.
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