Roland James is a forgotten legend

[BeattieFeathers]

Guy needs to be honored at halftime as one of our legends. I don't recall that he has ever been back to ut. Former all pro safety spent 11 years in the NFL and was one tge patriots 1985 Super Bowl team. I think he picked off a pass and ran it back for a td against ole miss in 79? Great football player that has somehow been forgotten......

 

[IndianapolisVol]

I'd say Butch will bring him back at some point. I think guys like him, Shawn Bryson, Raynoch Thompson, Aaron Hayden, Marcus Nash and several others seem to fall thru the cracks each year in terms of being remembered for how good they were when they wore Orange.

 

[orangeblooded2]

I kind of agree. I remember him, But you never see him mentioned here, well hardly ever.

 

[BowlBrother85]

That's much better Beattie...His legacy at Tennessee is easy to forget like Craig Puki's because those were such bad teams in the late '70's. Actually, the first football game I ever attended at Neyland wasn't a Vols game. It was a preseason game between the Steelers and Patriots back in 1982 with my dad also during the World's Fair. Both Roland James and Stanley Morgan played for the Pats and received standing ovations during player introductions. Stanley really hammed it up for the crowd. You are right that he would make a good choice to be honored at halftime. I still think the 1K rule for starting threads should be enforced but this was a much better effort. Keep up the good work, Feathers!

 

[govols105]

aaron hayden was told how good he was last year by me. don't worry i even told his kids too. so they know his legacy. also got a pic with him and an autograph. and i haven't forgotten roland james i have his autograph too.

 

[BigBadVol]

I'm always cautious when I open a thread by Beattie but this one is not bad. A quick search produced this: Roland James - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[kyvol98]

Roland James was a bada$$ in the secondary. Heck of a ball player.

 

[StarRaider]

aaron hayden was told how good he was last year by me. don't worry i even told his kids too. so they know his legacy. also got a pic with him and an autograph. and i haven't forgotten roland james i have his autograph too.

All American post for an an All American Vol!

 

[Hacksaw]

Not forgotten by me.

 

[terrypedigo]

He was a shutdown corner before they ever used the phrase shutdown corner.

 

[lincolncovol]

One of the greatest DB's to ever wear the orange & white.

 

[orangebloodgmc]

Corner? I thought I remembered him playing safety. Damn good db either way.

 

[MrBiggles]

I can't believe that Shawn Bryson, Raynoch Thompson, Aaron Hayden, and Marcus Nash haven't been honored.

 

[BowlBrother85]

I can't believe that Shawn Bryson, Raynoch Thompson, Aaron Hayden, and Marcus Nash haven't been honored.

Well, the '98 team as a whole was honored on it's 10th anniversary in '08 during the Bama game so that would cover Bryson and Thompson...Hayden and Nash were good but we only get 7 or 8 home games a year and there are many more deserving of recognition than those two.

 

[allvol4ever]

I can't believe that Shawn Bryson, Raynoch Thompson, Aaron Hayden, and Marcus Nash haven't been honored.

And Greg Amsler .

 

[TNnative]

I remember Roland James running back a punt against Georgia Tech in '79. Absolutely awesome moment. Believe the final was 31-0. Great day.

 

[Volnut]

One of the best athletes to put on an orange uniform!

 

[daj2576]

I can't believe that Shawn Bryson, Raynoch Thompson, Aaron Hayden, and Marcus Nash haven't been honored.

Cool story, bro: My roomate at UT in the late 90s worked with T.Kelly until last year. Todd not only got us sideline passes but put us down in the group of current and former players at the O&W game. He introduced us to Raynoch and some of the others like Al Wilson, Eric Ainge, etc.

I was in awe and couldn't speak which is totally not like me. That was one of the greatest days of my life standing as a mortal amongst the giants of my memory.

 

[Volosaurus rex]

Roland played with a lot of grit, too. He "played with a broken nose his sophomore year and broken thumb as a junior." During his junior campaign (1978), he compiled seven interceptions, including the aforementioned "90-yard touchdown return against Mississippi that ranked third on Tennessee's longest return list at the time. His senior year [culminated] with the All-America nod and his second consecutive All-SEC selection," despite having only one interception, which resulted presumably from the ultimate sign of respect: refusal to throw to his side of the field. See UTSPORTS.COM - University of Tennessee Athletics - Football.

 

[madbamahater]

Roland James isn't forgotten. Forgotten by who?

 

[Hank Bukowski]

Thanks for posting this! He surely aint forgotten by me. One of my all-time favorite VFLs. I remember him as an absolute speedster on returns and as a nasty hitter in the secondary. Could probably shut down Willie Gault and Peerless. But wasn't he a safety?

Google him and you will see the kind of work he has been doing in Boston with inner-city kids. Hoist a glass to Roland James next time you're out.

And Coach Jones...please bring this man back so we can give him the honor and respect he deserves.

Roland: you were, and are, a hero to my generation of Vol fans.

 

[steino]

Rollin' Roland. The original #14.

 

[Chilmonty]

Nice post OP, and I agree 100%!!

Would also like to see Jack "Hacksaw" Reynolds if CBJ could get him, he was awesome and best nickname ever! :rock::rock::rock:


.

 

[onevol74]

And Greg Amsler .

Fist fights will break out in the stands when Amsler appears on the Jumbotron. I love watching this guy play at UT. He was meaner than a rattlesnake.

 

[PowerWookie]

All American post for an an All American Vol!

tru