ForumsFormer Tennessee standout quarterback Andy Kelly has been named the Vol Network’s sideline reporter for UT football broadcasts this fall. Kelly will team with Bob Kesling, Tim Priest and Brent Hubbs to describe the play-by-play action of Tennessee football over the 70-plus stations that make up the Vol Network.
Kelly was a three-year starter at quarterback for Tennessee from 1988-91 and led the Vols to back-to-back SEC Championships in 1989 and 1990. With Kelly as the starter, the Vols went 24-5-2 and played in three straight New Year’s Day bowl games. He was named Most Outstanding Player of the 1991 Sugar Bowl and earned second-team All-SEC honors his senior season. He left UT as the career leader in total offense, passing yardage, attempts, completions and touchdowns.
After his collegiate career, Kelly participated in training camps with the Arizona Cardinals (1992) and Pittsburgh Steelers (1994) of the NFL and spent two seasons playing for the Rhein Fire (1995-96) of the World League.
Kelly is best known for his illustrious career in the Arena Football League, where became the most prolific quarterback in AFL history over the course of his 16 seasons with nine teams. Kelly set several all-time AFL career passing records, including touchdown passes, passing yards, pass attempts and pass completions. In an April 2007 AFL playoff game, he became only the fourth quarterback in football history to throw more than 800 career touchdowns. After retiring from football following the 2007 season, Kelly served as the offensive coordinator for the AFL’s Georgia Force in 2008.
Kelly served as a color analyst on regional televised replays of Tennessee’s football games with the late Bob Bell a number of years ago before his playing career forced him to give it up. Out of high school, Kelly was the top quarterback prospect in the state of Tennessee after earning Gatorade All-America honors at Rhea County High School in Dayton. Kelly currently lives in his hometown of Dayton with his wife and young daughter.
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My all time favorite Vol. I was in Elementary and Junior high school when he was QB. Those were some of my favorite teams and every game seemed to matter more back then. I remember every game selling out back then no matter what. And regardless of the record, every game mattered and our fans were die hard!
IMO, the Fulmer years that followed were absolutely great but all the success and 10 win seasons he posted totally spoiled our fans and now a lot of them act like entitled babies. They don’t appreciate the privilege it is to be able to go see the Vols play each Saturday. Don’t get me wrong, winning is the most important thing, but back then in the Kelly era, we supported the Vols through thick and thin.
I wouldn’t trade the success of the last 20 years for anything, I just wish our fans still supported the Vols like we did back then.
Man I’m the same way! Kelley was the first QB I remember too. I will never forget the Christmas of 1990, I got tickets to the sugar bowl. My dad and I went together by ourselves on a road trip. That still is my favorite game of my life!
I will always hold Andy in the highest esteem. It seems that Andy could always mount the fourth quarter winning drive. He is just one of those “never say die” kind of guys. The kind of guy that you want on your team. I remember him most for the Miracle at South Bend which I had the distinct pleasure of being in attendance that day. At the time, I lived in Chicago and made a last minute decision to go to South Bend. I was lucky enough to get a ticket. My heritage is part Irish, too, so there was luck on the Vols side, also. But there were many outstanding games where he made all of us proud that he became a Tennessee Vol. No doubt one of the all time great Tennessee Volunteers!
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