Countdown to September 1st vs Ball State (Top 250 Vols)

[TennEddie]

My cousin attended a writer’s’ workshop at Iowa in the early ‘80s. He feels no fidelity to Iowa and disdains college athletics, yet he has a coffee mug commemorating Iowa’s Peach Bowl victory over Tennessee and has made a point of drinking from it on the rare occasions we’re together face to face.

Those people are the WORST.

 

[Tin Man]

Those people are the WORST.

My cousin’s affectionate bedevilment. I don’t respond. His older sister noted my 100 Years of Volunteers mug at our last gathering, ignoring his mug.

 

[photovol]

This will be fun for me to do. I’ve done my research and have made MY list of the top 250 UT Volunteer football players in school history.

There will be controversy, but that is expected and debate is wanted. I did my own research and have come up with MY personal list in order. Stats, All-Conference teams, All-American teams, trend setters, and captaincy, are a few of the criteria that I used to come up with my list.

Here is to a great 2022! Hope you enjoy

Chip Kell and Andy Spiva should be on the list, for sure!

 

[SonOfGodVolforlife]

Chip Kell and Andy Spiva should be on the list, for sure!

I definitely seen Andy spiva on the list, I remember bc he had a tragic story, I could be mistaken but didn’t he pass away in a car crash? Also has the record for tackles as a vol?

 

[MAD]

Chip Kell and Andy Spiva should be on the list, for sure!

Spiva was #24 & Kell was #8

 

[cobbwebb0710]

I figure PM will be #1. I also, figured RW would be 2 or 3.... Counting down the days to see this list!

Obviously Paul Bain is #1, duh.

 

[stevenrich2003]

Obviously Paul Bain is #1, duh.

HAHAHA!!! I forgot all about him. If it is not Paul, this entire list is void and the peay should be taken to the streets and beat!

 

[cobbwebb0710]

HAHAHA!!! I forgot all about him. If it is not Paul, this entire list is void and the peay should be taken to the streets and beat!

 

[peaygolf]

Chip Kell and Andy Spiva should be on the list, for sure!

They most certainly ARE

 

[peaygolf]

View attachment 484530

SOB…..
He was #251 on my list

 

[cobbwebb0710]

SOB…..
He was #251 on my list

 

[stolitonic]

SOB…..
He was #251 on my list

Gentlemen, I regret to inform you that the rest of this list is now suspect..
....

 

[OneManGang]

My cousin attended a writer’s’ workshop at Iowa in the early ‘80s. He feels no fidelity to Iowa and disdains college athletics, yet he has a coffee mug commemorating Iowa’s Peach Bowl victory over Tennessee and has made a point of drinking from it on the rare occasions we’re together face to face.

I have a National Championship mug you can borrow the next time you go see this goober.

 

[IndianaVol]

Obviously Paul Bain is #1, duh.

Only if Rod Wilks is 1b, or at the least #2.

 

[Orange.]

. [off topic, sorry]

 

[Tin Man]

I have a copy of Flannery O'Connor's complete stories you can borrow and display while you ask him why she (who attended to study with teachers there from Tennessee) is the only graduate (1946) of the Iowa Writers Workshop that ever amounted to anything serious. In case you want to ratchet it a notch above the Vols national championship mug.

There was a time when he averred that Dashiell Hammett was the only author worth reading. We were young.

 

[peaygolf]

4 days…..

#4 - Eric Berry

Berry was the #1 corner in the country out of high school and the top ranked prospect in Georgia when he signed with UT. In 2007, Berry became the first defensive freshman to start in the Fulmer era. He had perhaps the greatest freshman season in school history. He led all SEC freshman with 87 tackles. He recorded 5 interceptions with 222 return yards, setting a new school record. He had a 96 yard interception return for a TD vs UF and had a career high 14 tackles vs UK. He was a Freshman All-American and was named 2nd Team All-SEC. As a sophomore in 2008, Eric had 72 tackles for the season and tied for the national lead with 7 interceptions. He broke his own record, and set a SEC record, with 265 return yards, including 2 for TDs. He was a unanimous All-SEC and unanimous All-American. He was the ‘08 SEC defensive player of the year and was a finalist for the Jim Thorpe award. As a junior, Eric was second on the team with 87 tackles. He had 19 “big plays,” including 7 PBUs, 7 tackles for loss, 2 fumble recoveries, and 2 interceptions. Again, he was named 1st Team All-SEC and was a unanimous All-American for the second consecutive season. He was awarded the Jim Thorpe Award as the nations best defensive back, was a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Award, and won the Vince Dooley Award (Top Defensive Back in Southeast by Touchdown Club of Atlanta.) Berry decided to forgo his senior season and was the fifth pick in the 2010 NFL draft by the Chiefs. Berry was a 3X All-Pro and one of the leagues best players, but had to retire due to health reasons. Berry probably holds more awards than any defensive player in school history. His leadership on and off the field are unequaled, and without question, he is the greatest player since 2000.

 

[Orange.]

4 days…..

#4 - Eric Berry

Berry was the #1 corner in the country out of high school and the top ranked prospect in Georgia when he signed with UT. In 2007, Berry became the first defensive freshman to start in the Fulmer era. He had perhaps the greatest freshman season in school history. He led all SEC freshman with 87 tackles. He recorded 5 interceptions with 222 return yards, setting a new school record. He had a 96 yard interception return for a TD vs UF and had a career high 14 tackles vs UK. He was a Freshman All-American and was named 2nd Team All-SEC. As a sophomore in 2008, Eric had 72 tackles for the season and tied for the national lead with 7 interceptions. He broke his own record, and set a SEC record, with 265 return yards, including 2 for TDs. He was a unanimous All-SEC and unanimous All-American. He was the ‘08 SEC defensive player of the year and was a finalist for the Jim Thorpe award. As a junior, Eric was second on the team with 87 tackles. He had 19 “big plays,” including 7 PBUs, 7 tackles for loss, 2 fumble recoveries, and 2 interceptions. Again, he was named 1st Team All-SEC and was a unanimous All-American for the second consecutive season. He was awarded the Jim Thorpe Award as the nations best defensive back, was a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Award, and won the Vince Dooley Award (Top Defensive Back in Southeast by Touchdown Club of Atlanta.) Berry decided to forgo his senior season and was the fifth pick in the 2010 NFL draft by the Chiefs. Berry was a 3X All-Pro and one of the leagues best players, but had to retire due to health reasons. Berry probably holds more awards than any defensive player in school history. His leadership on and off the field are unequaled, and without question, he is the greatest player since 2000.

View attachment 484643

Tell it!

 

[cobbwebb0710]

Only if Rod Wilks is 1b, or at the least #2.

Texas strap, cage match to determine #1

 

[MAD]

4 days…..

#4 - Eric Berry

Berry was the #1 corner in the country out of high school and the top ranked prospect in Georgia when he signed with UT. In 2007, Berry became the first defensive freshman to start in the Fulmer era. He had perhaps the greatest freshman season in school history. He led all SEC freshman with 87 tackles. He recorded 5 interceptions with 222 return yards, setting a new school record. He had a 96 yard interception return for a TD vs UF and had a career high 14 tackles vs UK. He was a Freshman All-American and was named 2nd Team All-SEC. As a sophomore in 2008, Eric had 72 tackles for the season and tied for the national lead with 7 interceptions. He broke his own record, and set a SEC record, with 265 return yards, including 2 for TDs. He was a unanimous All-SEC and unanimous All-American. He was the ‘08 SEC defensive player of the year and was a finalist for the Jim Thorpe award. As a junior, Eric was second on the team with 87 tackles. He had 19 “big plays,” including 7 PBUs, 7 tackles for loss, 2 fumble recoveries, and 2 interceptions. Again, he was named 1st Team All-SEC and was a unanimous All-American for the second consecutive season. He was awarded the Jim Thorpe Award as the nations best defensive back, was a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Award, and won the Vince Dooley Award (Top Defensive Back in Southeast by Touchdown Club of Atlanta.) Berry decided to forgo his senior season and was the fifth pick in the 2010 NFL draft by the Chiefs. Berry was a 3X All-Pro and one of the leagues best players, but had to retire due to health reasons. Berry probably holds more awards than any defensive player in school history. His leadership on and off the field are unequaled, and without question, he is the greatest player since 2000.

View attachment 484643

 

[Jravol78]

 

[MAD]

This was hilarious, thanks for posting.

 

[MAD]

It’s getting closer…..

 

[stonesk]

Thank you @peaygolf for doing this.

 

[stevenrich2003]

Thank you @peaygolf for doing this.

^^^^^YES^^^^
As painful as the off season normally is, your list this year has certainly made it easier. I love reading about former players. Also, I have learned a lot about former players before my time. Really good stuff sir. Thank you!