I was playing catcher in a baseball All Star game about two counties removed from my hometown, and the umpire recognized some of my relatives in the crowd (they were quite boisterous). He began to tell me stories about growing up with my extended family. My great grandmother had nine children, and every day for lunch there would always be several extra place settings at the table. It wasn’t unusual for her to feed all nine kids and ten of their friends. As I listened to Johnny Majors on the Animal yesterday it made me think about the dinner table at the University of Tennessee.
Tennessee football has a long and proud history. Like every other program in the country (including Bama, Ohio State, Michigan, Southern Cal, and Notre Dame etc.) it has suffered its ups and its downs. No program is immune to the hardships that accompany competition.
If you listen to Johnny long enough you can hear the toll that competing in the college football world have taken on his life and health. Growing up near Lynchburg probably hasn’t helped his cause much either. Sure, he spent a half an hour answering two questions. He was off topic more than he was on, and yes, he did manage to take a swipe or two at Phil Fulmer while he was on the air.
If you are too wrapped up in the missteps, you are missing the beauty of the interview. This isn’t about looking for bitterness. This is about listening to the story. Majors coached in a much simpler college football world than we know today. His tenure concluded in an era of running players until they passed out, and a time withholding water was popular. This was long before ESPN, modern recruiting, and huge, widespread multimillion dollar coaching salaries. He poured his soul into a program before the Orange Parachute was available.
When asked about what his highlights were, of course Majors mentions the Sugar Bowl victory, but he is also quick to mention all of the walk-ons and forgotten names who “Volunteered” their services when the program was at a low point. Through their blood and sweat they put the program on their backs and built the launching pad for the success that UT had in the nineties.
For his time and toil he is being nominated for the Hall of Fame as a coach. He is already in as a player. Tennessee fans should rally behind his cause, and be very proud about what Majors accomplished. Hopefully in a few years people will be able to talk about what Johnny Majors and Phil Fulmer did for this university in a positive light. The way ol’ Johnny was talking I’m not that sure it will happen before he passes on. Either way it is great to have Majors back on the hill.
If you get too wrapped up into Tennessee’s version of the Hatfields and the Mccoys, you are missing the point. The UT family dinner table is a bountiful spread. In the end, maybe most fans will see that there is room at the UT dinner table for Johnny and Phil.
Now let the arguments about who sits at the head of the table commence. Go Vols!