Dougherty Diatribe: Catching Up With Mose Phillips

#19 Weighs In:

When the name Mose Phillips is mentioned many SEC fans remember a long, lumbering run through the rain in 1992 against Florida which ended in the end zone with a look to the wrist as the Vols blasted the Gators. It was his first touchdown as a Vol and the glance was made to signify that it was about time he had reached the end zone.

There were several touchdowns to follow for one of the more likable Vols in the last twenty years, including a TD reception in Columbia against the South Carolina Gamecocks. Tennessee fans remember the play. With Tennessee trailing 24-17 and with less than two minutes remaining, the Vols had a first down at the South Carolina 39 – yard line. Heath Shuler dropped back, rolled to his right and found Mose Phillips open drifting into the right flat. Phillips caught the ball in stride at the 43 and made his first move quickly thereafter making a Gamecock defender miss. Another cut at the 36, two more defenders fly by. Yet another hopeful tackler gets both hands on #19 at the 32 slowing the rumbling runner enough for two other prospective tacklers to get close. Two more broken tackles at the 30. A stiff arm fends off another inside the 25. Still another reaches for the former Nashville Hillsboro High School star at the 20 but comes up empty. The goal line comes into view and so does one more South Carolina defensive player who jumps on to Phillips’ back riding the man on a mission into the endzone setting Tennessee up for a potential last second road victory following a run in which eight tackles were broken.

Phillips was surprised to reach pay dirt, but simply did not want to go down. “The whole time I was running, I was thinking, get the ball into the end-zone,” he said. “When I used to run, all I thought about was to keep my feet moving. I hated to be tackled by one guy. I’ve been like that my whole life.”

The memory of this play is not more cemented into SEC folklore because the Vols failed to convert the two-point conversion that followed the amazing run. Tennessee lost the game and the memory of one of the greatest runs in Tennessee history became almost unimportant. Phillips agrees, “Had we converted the two-point play, I’ve been told that it might be one of the top plays ever at the program.”

The significance of that run and the desire that was exhibited was not lost on John Majors who quickly used the run as a motivating example to his team according to Phillips, “We had our regular team meeting on Monday, and Coach Majors said to the whole team, that if everyone gave effort like Phillips we would be more successful.”

Perhaps Coach Fulmer should show that play to the team prior to Saturday’s game. That highlight, which can be found on You-tube, could be used to signify, heart, desire, leadership and more importantly an unwillingness to accept anything less than your best. The game did not conclude as Tennessee would have liked, but it was not due to a lack of effort by a running back that would not be denied. When players are laughing on the sidelines during another loss to another bitter rival desire has to come into question. Perhaps showing a play against this week’s opponent where a player breaks eight tackles in an attempt to get the ball into the end-zone would illustrate the proper desire that it takes to play football at this level. Win or lose.

Current Distractions:

With the obvious distractions on the Hill, I certainly wanted to get Mose Phillips to remember how he and his teammates dealt with the uncertain stability of their head coach and then with the ultimate change of the coaching position. Phillips said that the change did not affect the team as some might think that it might. “It wasn’t difficult for us as players because we viewed ourselves as being there to do our jobs,” Phillips said. “The team back then was run kind of like a company, you were there to do your job or you would be replaced.” Phillips says that the team was able to, “stay focused on the task at hand.” That team finished with a 9-3 record and a Bowl win despite the controversy revolving around the head coaching position.

Are the mounting questions about Coach Fulmer’s job security and the distractions that come with them having an impact on recruiting? Yes and no. Tennessee did lose a rather large QB commitment when Josh Nunes changed his mind and now says he will attend Stanford. However, the Vols are currently ranked seventh in the nation in 2009 recruiting by rivals.com with eight 4-star prospects in the fold. Tennessee finished 35^th in recruiting last year with only four 4-star prospects. Would a change at the top affect this year’s haul? Not necessarily, according to Phillips, “A coaching change only affects recruiting if the new coach can’t recruit,” he said. “If the school is a quality school like the University of Tennessee, it pretty much sells itself.” Would kids already committed jump? Probably. So, what could be a great recruiting class could be sacrificed by Tennessee making a move.

State of the program:

While Mose Phillips was available for this column, I thought I would ask for his take on the state of the Tennessee program. “I think that we are not playing Tennessee football by running the ball and controlling the game,”  Phillips said. Also, “In today’s game, you need a QB who can get you the extra yards running on the 3^rd and 3’s, not a sit in the pocket passer who throws two yard routes. You need a run/pass threat.”

The former running back continues, “I remember when we would put our best 11 on the field whether they play one way or both ways, Carl Pickens for example. I just don’t feel like we have our best on the field right now, especially in the backfield,” Phillips concludes.

• • Mose Phillips played at UT from 1991-1994 and is now the head football coach at Hillwood High School in Nashville.

Last Week:

5-2 against the spread. The wins were with; West Virginia, MTSU, Florida, Arkansas and Georgia. The losses; Vanderbilt and Tennessee.

Also, 5-2 overall. The losses Auburn and Vanderbilt.

That makes me 37-24 ATS for the season and 47-16 overall.

This Week:

Auburn at Ole Miss: Rebs by 6 ½.

The Pick:  Ole Miss  20

Auburn  14

Tulsa at Arkansas: Tulsa by 7.

The Pick:  Tulsa  31

Arkansas 20

Tulane at LSU: LSU by 25 ½.

The Pick: LSU  38

Tulane 13

Kentucky at Mississippi St.: State by 3.

The Pick: Miss. St. 7

Kentucky 3

Arkansas St. at Alabama: Tide by 23

The Pick: Alabama  27

Arkansas St. 14

Florida vs. Georgia: Gators by 5 ½.

The Pick: Florida 34

Georgia 24

Tennessee at South Carolina: Gamecocks by 6.

The Pick:  South Carolina 13

Tennessee  10

Thanks for reading! -Brent.

brent@1045thezone.com