Please don't take it for granted.
This right here is the truth. I hope everyone who's young will heed those words.
In 1998, after the SEC title win over Mississippi State, my father asked "do you want to go to the national title game?" Now, at that time, Tennessee was winning almost 90% of its games. Phil Fulmer looked like a football icon. Tennessee was always in the Top 5. And frankly, I knew it would be a lot of money to go to the Fiesta Bowl. I thought good times were plentiful, and there'd be more chances to see Tennessee play for titles in the future. So I said so I said "no, that's okay."
Now, to preface this part, my father was also a football coach. A pretty good one, actually. Never had interest in going "bigger," but he loved to coach. He was sharp. I remember when Nick Saban first faced off against Tennessee as the head coach at LSU, and Tennessee barely squeezed out a win against the Tigers in Knoxville. I was thrilled, but dad was silent. After a few minutes of my cheering (and posting on Gridscape), dad said "I don't know who has better players, but LSU was a much better coached team than Tennessee tonight. If they play again, LSU will beat you."
Like I said - he was sharp.
Well, anyway, when I said I didn't want to go out to Tempe, my dad just got this look on his face, shook his head, but didn't really say very much. I wondered why he was disappointed by my reply; I was trying to be conscientious about money. Fast forward to the championship game. When Tennessee won that title, right as that dude from the Fiesta Bowl was trying to shove a bag of Tostitos in Phil Fulmer's hands at the award ceremony, my dad said to me, "You better make sure you enjoy this. It doesn't come around very often."
I said "I understand," but I didn't understand. Not one bit. It never occurred to me that I was seeing the top of the mountain for us then. I didn't understand.
Well, I understand now. I wish dad was here to tell him. If he was, I'd tell him that I understand now.
If Tennessee wins, that's great. If they win the SEC title, that's great. If they make the playoffs, or win the playoffs, that's great. That's all great. But no matter how this moment or that moment goes, I
appreciate what this season has been for Tennessee. I'm glad they've done well. I'm glad the players put in hard work, I'm glad it's paying off for them. I'm grateful for the AD and the staff bringing the pieces together. And I'm glad people talk about Tennessee. I appreciate every bit of it.
Regardless of any game or score, I hope every Vol fan can do the same. Enjoy these Vols - and appreciate them - while they're here. Times like these do not come around very often.
