MARVIN WEST – PRESENTATION AT 2018 UT REUNION

COACH ROHE, DANA, COACH MAJORS, CHARLEY DURHAM, ALL YOU CELEBRITIES...
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN...I AM GRATEFUL TO COPPLEY FOR ADMITTING WHAT HE
HAS DONE TO YOU.

HE AND I THOUGHT HE HAD OVERACHIEVED IN COAXING ME FROM THE SERENITY OF

NORRIS LAKE, INTO A ROAD TRIP TO WEST KNOXVILLE AND BACK INTO THE
LIMELIGHT FOR A FEW MINUTES.

WHEN I HEARD THAT SOME OF YOU HAD NEVER HEARD OF ME, I REALIZED THAT I
HAVE BEEN GONE A LONG, LONG TIME.

I GO BACK WITH OLD VOLUNTEERS TO THE CINDER TRACK INSIDE THE FOOTBALL
ARENA THAT EVENTUALLY BECAME NEYLAND STADIUM. ONLY SURVEYORS COULD
FIGURE HOW MANY LAPS IT TOOK TO MAKE A MILE.

I GO BACK TO THE DAY A MULTI-TALENTED DOUG ATKINS, WITHOUT BENEFIT OF

PRACTICE, HIGH-JUMPED SIX FEET, SIX INCHES IN AN SEC MEET. IT WAS AMAZING
THAT THE REALLY BIG MAN HAD ENOUGH LIFT TO GET OVER THE BAR.

I GO BACK TO THE TIME DR. ANDY HOLT, UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT, TOLD ME THAT
BOWDEN WYATT, INTERIM ATHLETIC DIRECTOR, HAD SELECTED CHARLES HENRY
ROHE AS THE NEW TRACK COACH.

NEITHER OF US HAD ANY IDEA WHO OR WHAT HE WAS. WHAT A SHOCK THAT
DECISION TURNED OUT TO BE.

I WAS THERE WHEN YOU OLD GUYS WON AN SEC TITLE AND, IN A HISTORIC FIRST,
TOSSED COACH ROHE EIGHT FEET, SIX AND A HALF INCHES IN THE GENERAL
DIRECTION OF THE POLE VAULT PIT. I DO BELIEVE IT WAS A WORLD RECORD THROW.

AS HE DUSTED WOOD SHAVINGS FROM HIS CLOTHES, I REMEMBER HIM EXCLAIMING

"WHAT A DAY!"

THROUGH THE YEARS, I HEARD 'WHAT A DAY' SEVERAL OTHER TIMES. IT NEVER
SEEMED TO FIT WHEN HE WOULD WAKE ME UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT TO
TELL ME WHICH OF YOU HE HAD RECRUITED.

HE LOVED TO EXCLAIM 'WHAT A DAY!' WHEN YOU COULD SEE SLEET BY DAWN'S
EARLY LIGHT AND THE CROSS-COUNTRY TEAM WAS GOING OUT FOR A FEW MILES
OF WARMUPS. FOR SOME STRANGE REASON, COACH NEVER NOTICED THE
WEATHER.

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THIS IS MY SECOND AND SURELY FINAL OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS YOUR
DISTINGUISHED GROUP. SINCE LAST WE MET, I HAVE AGED CONSIDERABLY. YOU
LOOK MUCH THE SAME - REALLY GOOD, SOME OF YOU GREAT.

SARAH WEST, YOU AND DANA ROHE REMAIN IN THE GREAT GROUP.

THAT SOME OF YOU LOOK LIKE YOU COULD STILL COMPETE IS, I SUPPOSE, A
REWARD FOR CLEAN LIVING AND A TESTAMENT TO REMARKABLE ATHLETIC ABILITY.

I KNOW ABOUT YOUR GREATNESS. I'VE SEEN YOU WIN CHAMPIONSHIPS.

COPPLEY SAID A LOT IN THAT INTRODUCTION OF ME BUT HE DID NOT MENTION MY

ATHLETIC ABILITY. HE DIDN'T BOTHER TO TELL YOU THAT I AM A CHARTER MEMBER
OF THE POWELL HIGH SCHOOL HALL OF FAME.

IT IS FITTING THAT ON AN EVENING WHEN WE RECOGNIZE DUAL ATHLETES, I TELL

YOU THAT IN MY ATHLETIC PRIME, I WAS A TRIPLE THREAT, WHICH IS PROBABLY
MORE THAN A DUAL.

THIS IS PRETTY IMPORTANT STUFF. SOME OF YOU MAY WANT TO TAKE NOTES.

AS A HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR, BARELY 16 AND 140 POUNDS, I WAS PERSUADED TO GO

OUT FOR FOOTBALL. MY THREE FRIENDS TEASED ME ABOUT BEING SCARED. THEY
ASSURED ME THAT NEITHER TEAMMATES NOR OPPONENTS WOULD EVER CATCH ME.

I SURVIVED PRE-SEASON PRACTICE AS A TWO-WAY GUARD. I DIDN'T BLOCK OR

TACKLE ANYBODY. I HELD DUMMIES AND CHASED STRAY FOOTBALLS THAT MIGHT
OTHERWISE HAVE ESCAPED.

I SAT ON THE BENCH FOR HALF THE SEASON.

IN THE SECOND QUARTER OF A VERY WARM OCTOBER FRIDAY EVENING, WHEN

POWELL HIGH PLAYED TENNESSEE SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF, COACH NORM
MESEROLL CALLED OUT MY NAME, "WEST, WEST."

I WAS STUNNED. I FOUND MY HELMET. I GOT IT ON CORRECTLY, FACEMASK

FORWARD. I RAN TO THE COACH BEFORE HE COULD CHANGE HIS MIND.

''YES SIR" I SAID.

COACH MESEROLL SAID "HOLD MY COAT."

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HE PRESENTED ME HIS NAVY BLUE BLAZER, SIZE TRIPLE XL, NEATLY FOLDED,
DRAPED ACROSS ONE ARM.

I JUST STOOD THERE FOR A WHILE. I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. I WAS CRUSHED.

I WAS WIDELY KNOWN ON CAMPUS. I WAS PRESIDENT OF THE SENIOR CLASS. I

FINALLY RETREATED TO THE BENCH, TOTALLY DESTROYED BY EMBARRASSMENT.

NOBODY LAUGHED. NOBODY SEEMED TO NOTICE. TEAMMATES WOULD HAVE BEEN

FAR MORE SURPRISED IF THE COACH HAD PUT ME IN THE GAME.

LATER THAT EVENING I ASKED NORM MESEROLL WHY HE DID WHAT HE DID TO ME.

HE LOOKED PUZZLED. HE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT. FINALLY IT

DAWNED ON HIM - THE COAT.

HE LOOKED DOWN AT ME, STRAIGHT IN THE EYES, AND SAID ''BECAUSE YOU ARE
DEPENDABLE. I KNEW MY COAT WOULD BE SAFE IN YOUR CARE. THERE ARE OTHERS
WHO MIGHT HAVE LAYED IT DOWN OR EVEN STEPPED ON IT.

"MARVIN, YOU AREN'T A VERY GOOD FOOTBALL PLAYER BUT YOU ARE A SPECIAL
PERSON."

THE VERY NEXT MONDAY I FOUND OUT HOW SPECIAL. THE SENIOR ENGLISH AND
DRAMA TEACHER, FLOY BELL, WANTED ME IN THE SENIOR PLAY. I SAID I WAS
PLAYING FOOTBALL.

SHE CAREFULLY APPROACHED COACH MESEROLL AND ASKED TO BORROW ME.

SHE SAID SHE DID NOT WANT TO DISRUPT THE TEAM BUT SHE NEEDED A LEADING
MALE, BOLD AND STRONG WITH A BURR HAIRCUT, FOR THE FEATURED ROLE IN THE
SENIOR CLASS PLAY.

THE COACH LOOKED AT ME TO SEE IF I KNEW WHAT WAS GOING ON. I DID. WITHOUT
A MOMENT OF HESITATION, HE SAID OK. I DROPPED OUT OF FOOTBALL. ALMOST
NOBODY NOTICED.

I TOLD YOU I WAS A MULTI-TALENTED ATHLETE. I WAS ON THE BASKETBALL B TEAM

AS A HIGH SCHOOL JUNIOR. THE COACH SAID I WAS GOOD ENOUGH TO BE ON THE B
TEAM AS A SENIOR BUT WE AGREED I WOULD JUST BE TAKING UP SPACE, DEPRIVING
A SOPHOMORE OF A CHANCE TO DEVELOP.

HE SUGGESTED I COACH THE EIGHTH GRADE TEAM. WE WENT UNDEFEATED. THREE

PARENTS TOLD THE PRINCIPAL THAT I SHOULD REPLACE THE VARSITY COACH.

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I WAS A BIG WINNER IN MY THIRD SPORT, AIRPORT SPRINTING.

LATE ON A COLD, WINTER NIGHT, DURING A BASKETBALL RETURN FLIGHT FROM

SOMEWHERE, WE WERE IDLING AWAY AN HOUR IN THE ATLANTA AIRPORT, AWAITING
AN 11:10 DEPARTURE FOR KNOXVILLE.

THE LATE, GREAT HAYWOOD HARRIS, SPORTS INFORMATION DIRECTOR, HAD

RECENTLY DEFEATED A NEIGHBOR IN A TENNIS MATCH. ON DISPLAY WERE FIERCE
DETERMINATION, STRENGTH, AGILITY AND QUICKNESS.

SOMEONE ASKED "JUST HOW ATHLETIC ARE YOU, HAYWOOD?"

SOMEONE ELSE LAUGHED AND SAID HAYWOOD WAS LEFT-HANDED - AS IF THAT WAS
THE SAME AS AWKWARD. THEY CONCEDED HE WAS FAST TO THE DINNER TABLE.

SOMEONE ELSE SAID I WAS FAST AT WRITING STORIES.

ALL THAT SMALL TALK SOMEHOW LED TO A GREAT SHOWDOWN, A PROPOSED

FOOTRACE ALONG A DESERTED HUNDRED-YARD CORRIDOR. FOR NO REASON AT
ALL, SOME THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A COMEDY SHOW. THEY PRACTICED LAUGHING.

THERE WAS GOING TO BE HEAVY BETTING, 25 CENT LIMIT, EXCEPT THE ENTIRE
BASKETBALL PARTY, PLAYERS, COACHES RAY MEARS AND STU ABERDEEN,
MANAGERS AND EVEN KEN RICE, WANTED TO BET ON HAYWOOD.

FINALLY, IN THE NAME OF SPORTS PROMOTION, BASKETBALL LEGEND A.W. DAVIS

PRETENDED HE WAS FROM LAS VEGAS AND AGREED TO COVER ALL BETS. HE GAVE
ME A WINK AS IF HE KNEW SOMETHING.

SOMEONE STOOD AT THE DESIGNATED STARTING LINE AND SAID 'BANG' AND THE
RACE WAS ON. HAYWOOD TOOK THE EARLY LEAD. I CLOSED THE GAP. HAYWOOD
HEARD ME COMING. HE PICKED UP THE PACE. HE IMPROVED HIS BODY ANGLE. HE
WAS GOING TO LEAN INTO THE IMAGINARY FINISH LINE.

WE WERE RUNNING IN STREET SHOES ON THAT MARBLE FLOOR. ALAS, HAYWOOD

SLIPPED. HE LOST HIS BALANCE. HE PITCHED FORWARD.

I SPED PAST TO VICTORY. I THREW MY ARMS UP, AS I HAD SEEN OLYMPIC GREATS
CELEBRATE.

A.W. DAVIS GATHERED ALL THOSE QUARTERS. HE INVITED ME TO WALK WITH HIM TO
THE ICE CREAM PARLOR. THERE HAD BEEN NO BUSINESS FOR HOURS.

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A.W. SPREAD OUT THE LOOT AND SAID 'GIVE US WHATEVER THAT WILL BUY.'

HE HAD STRAWBERRY. I CHOSE CHOCOLATE.

YOU ARE VERY FORTUNATE THAT I WILL TELL YOU NO MORE ABOUT MY ATHLETIC
ACCOMPLISHMENTS. I NOW RETURN TO REALITY, TO YOU GUYS, TO TRUE
GREATNESS ACHIEVED.

YOU PEOPLE WERE SO GOOD AT WHAT YOU DID, COACH ROHE WAS SUCH A STRONG
LEADER. THERE WAS A TIME WHEN I THOUGHT TENNESSEE MIGHT ALWAYS
DOMINATE IN TRACK.

I NOW KNOW BETTER.

FOR A COACH WITH EIGHT OR 10 RESPONSIBILITIES SURROUNDING HIM AT ALL

TIMES, CHUCK ROHE WAS THE BEST I HAVE EVER SEEN AT FINDING THE HOURS AND
THE ENERGY TO COMPLETE ALL TASKS, TO FINISH ALL PROJECTS.

CONTRARY TO RUMOR, HE DID NOT INVENT THE CONCEPT OF THE DUAL ATHLETE.
JIM THORPE WON TWO GOLD MEDALS IN TRACK IN THE 1912 OLYMPICS, PLAYED PRO
FOOTBALL FOR THE CANTON BULLDOGS, PRO BASEBALL FOR THE NEW YORK
GIANTS AND PRO BASKETBALL FOR A TEAM THAT I HAVE FORGOTTEN THE NAME.

JACKIE ROBINSON WAS A PRETTY FAIR BASEBALL PLAYER FOR THE BROOKLYN
DODGERS, PLAYED PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL AND WAS A FOUR-SPORT LETTERMAN
AT UCLA.

DAVE WINFIELD WAS DRAFTED BY FOUR PROFESSIONAL TEAMS IN THREE SPORTS --

BASKETBALL, BASEBALL AND FOOTBALL. HE WAS THE GREATEST MULTI-TALENTED
ATHLETE EVER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA.

GENE CONLEY, THREE-TIME NATIONAL LEAGUE ALL-STAR PITCHER WITH MILWAUKEE

AND PHILADELPHIA, WAS ON THREE NBA CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS WITH THE BOSTON
CELTICS.

SOME OF YOU MUST KNOW BO JACKSON OR DEION SANDERS OR RON WIDBY OR

CONDREDGE HOLLOWAY.

CHUCK ROHE WAS QUICK TO SEE THE VALUE OF TRACK ATHLETES ON FOOTBALL
SCHOLARSHIPS. HE EXPLAINED TO DOUG DICKEY THAT IT WAS WORTH DIVIDING
PRACTICE TIME TO GET MULTI-TALENTED STARS TO TENNESSEE.

EVEN THAT ACCOMPLISHMENT WAS NOT ORIGINAL. TENNESSEE HAD

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MULTI-TALENTED ATHLETES BEFORE ROHE.

COACH FULMER MENTIONED NATHAN W. DOUGHERTY, CAPTAIN OF TENNESSEE

FOOTBALL, BASKETBALL AND TRACK - AT THE SAME TIME, 1907 AND 1908. HE IS IN
THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME.

ONCE UPON A TIME, NATHAN HELD THE SCHOOL RECORD IN THE SHOT AND
HAMMER. DOUGHERTY WAS ALSO AN ACADEMIC GIANT. HE BECAME DEAN OF UT
ENGINEERING. HIS NAME IS OR WAS ON A CAMPUS BUILDING.

HE WAS THE UT ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT LEADER WHO HIRED ROBERT R. NEYLAND

AS FOOTBALL COACH.

I HAVE A PERSONAL LINK. DEAN DOUGHERTY WAS ONE OF MY CUSTOMERS WHEN I

WAS A NEWSPAPER CARRIER SALESMAN AT AGE 10. EVERY WEEK HE PAID THE 20
CENTS HE OWED AND GAVE ME A NICKLE TIP. I'M STILL TRYING TO PAY HIM BACK.

OTHER OLD VOLS MADE DUAL IMPACTS. YOU HISTORIANS MAY HAVE HEARD OF
ESTES KEFAUVER, A U.S. SENATOR, ONCE A VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE. HE WAS
THE TENNESSEE FOOTBALL LETTERMAN IN 1923-24 WHO SET THE SCHOOL RECORD
IN THE DISCUS AND RAISED IT FOUR TIMES.

HERMAN HICKMAN IS IN THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME. HE WAS A STOCKY

VOLUNTEER GUARD WHO COULD PUT THE SHOT.

JUST FOR ENTERTAINMENT, YOU SHOULD GOOGLE THAT NAME, HERMAN HICKMAN.
HE WAS ALL-PRO IN FOOTBALL. HE WAS A GREAT AFTER-DINNER SPEAKER. HE
WROTE FOR SPORTS ILLUSTRATED IN THE EARLY YEARS. HE WAS A PROFESSIONAL
WRESTLER. HE WAS FOOTBALL COACH AT YALE.

JOHN MAJORS, A NAME YOU MAY HAVE HEARD, RAN THE 100 IN 10.1 AND THE 220 IN
22.4.

DOUG ATKINS WAS A GENUINE MULTI-SPORT ATHLETE. HE CAME TO UT AS A

BASKETBALL PLAYER. HE ONCE SCORED 38 IN A FRESHMAN GAME. HE DIDN'T
REALLY WANT TO PLAY FOOTBALL BUT WAS PERSUADED.

HE SHOWED UP ON OCCASION WITH THE TRACK TEAM. HE NEVER PRACTICED. I

ASKED HIM ONCE WHY HE BOTHERED GOING TO MEETS.

HE SAID COACH JOHN SINES GAVE OUT MEAL MONEY. IT WAS ALWAYS ENOUGH FOR
THREE HAMBURGERS AND A SIX-PACK OF BEER.

WITH THE ARRIVAL OF CHUCK ROHE AS TRACK COACH AND FOOTBALL RECRUITER,
THE TERM "DUAL ATHLETE" TOOK ON A WHOLE NEW MEANING.

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CHUCK SAW THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENHANCE HIS TRACK TEAM AND HELP FOOTBALL
AT THE SAME TIME.

HELPING FOOTBALL HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE CORRECT THING TO DO.

I FEEL SURE SEVERAL OF YOU CHOSE TENNESSEE BECAUSE OF THE DUAL

OPPORTUNITY. WE KNOW THAT APPLIES TO RICHMOND FLOWERS AND WILLIE GAULT
AND CHIP KELL.

I REMEMBER KARL KREMSER HIGH-JUMPING AND KICKING FIELD GOALS. I REMEMBER

A WHOLE FLOCK OF YOU SPRINTERS AND HURDLERS WHO PLAYED FOOTBALL, SOME
ALL THE WAY TO THE NFL.

NO QUESTION BUT THAT TWO SPORTS WERE BETTER THAN ONE.

RICHMOND WAS A VERY GOOD FOOTBALL PLAYER. HE MADE AN ALL-AMERICA TEAM

OR THREE. ONE SEASON HE HAD 41 PASS RECEPTIONS. HE PLAYED IN THE NFL.

HE WAS BETTER IN TRACK. THERE WAS A TIME I THOUGHT HE WAS THE BEST
HURDLER IN THE WORLD. I THOUGHT HE WOULD GET THE GOLD IN THE MEXICO CITY
OLYMPICS. ALAS, HE SUFFERED A LEG INJURY.

CONSIDERING ALL RICHMOND DID, IT IS STRANGE THAT I WOULD MENTION WHAT HE

DIDN'T DO. FLOWERS GAVE US A COLLECTION OF MEMORIES.

HE WON SIX SEC TITLES AND WAS ON THREE WINNING RELAY TEAMS. HE WON THE
HURDLES RACE IN AN NCAA INDOOR MEET. I REMEMBER WHEN HE DEFEATED THE
GREAT WILLIE DAVENPORT IN BATON ROUGE.

FOR COLOR AND PAGENTRY, THERE WAS NOTHING LIKE OUTRUNNING A QUARTER
HORSE TWO OUT OF THREE RACES IN TELLICO PLAINS.

CHIP KELL WAS A PRETTY FAIR LINEMAN. HE IS IN THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL HALL OF
FAME. HE TWICE WON THE JACOBS TROPHY AS THE BEST BLOCKER IN THE
SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE.

HE WAS THE SEC INDOOR CHAMP IN THE SHOT PUT IN 1968 AND 1969. HE WON THE
OUTDOOR TITLE IN 1969. HE SET THE SCHOOL RECORD AS A FRESHMAN.
HE IS THE AUTHOR OF ONE FINE BOOK ABOUT LIVING.

KARL KREMSER LED THE FOOTBALL TEAM IN SCORING IN 1968. HE KICKED A 54-YARD
FIELD GOAL AGAINST ALABAMA IN A 10-9 VICTORY. HE KICKED THE FIELD GOAL THAT
BEAT VANDERBILT. HE WAS A HIGH JUMP ALL-AMERICAN. HE CLEARED 7-1 FOR
SECOND PLACE IN THE 1968 NCAA MEET.

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TERRY McDANIEL EARNED EIGHT VARSITY LETTERS, FOUR IN FOOTBALL, FOUR IN
TRACK. HE WAS AN OUTSTANDING DEFENSIVE BACK AND THE NINTH PICK IN THE
1988 NFL DRAFT. HE HAD A FINE TIME IN THE PROS.

I REMEMBER HIM RUNNING WITH JEFF POWELL, SAM GRADDY AND ALLEN FRANKLIN
IN WINNING AT LEAST TWO SEC RELAY TITLES. HE HAD THE BEST TIMES IN SCHOOL
HISTORY IN THE 300.

JABARI GREER WAS ONE HECK OF A DEFENSIVE BACK. I THINK HE STILL RANKS
SECOND IN ALL-TIME PASSES BROKEN UP. HE PLAYED EIGHT OR 10 YEARS IN THE
NFL. YOU COULD BORROW SERIOUS MONEY FROM THAT MAN.

HE WAS A TWO-TIME ALL-AMERICAN IN TRACK. HE WON THE ED MURPHEY AWARD AS

THE OUTSTANDING PERFORMER IN 2003. HE RAN THE 60 HURDLES IN 7.13. HE WON
AN NCAA INDOOR TITLE AND WAS A KEY MAN ON A GOOD RELAY TEAM.

ANTHONY HANCOCK WAS ANOTHER OUTSTANDING DUAL ATHLETE. HE LED THE

FOOTBALL TEAM IN PASS RECEIVING FOR THREE CONSECUTIVE SEASONS. THE
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS DRAFTED HIM IN THE FIRST ROUND.

HE WAS ANOTHER TRACK ALL-AMERICAN, A GREAT HURDLER WHO WON SEC TITLES
AND SCORED A BUNCH OF POINTS IN NCAA COMPETITION.

AS I RECALL, ANTHONY, JEROME WILSON, REGGIE TOWNS AND WILLIE GAULT SET
THE SCHOOL RECORD IN THE SHUTTLE HURDLE RELAY.

WILLIE GAULT. OH MY, THERE IS A MAGIC NAME. THIS MAN WAS AND IS TALENT
PERSONIFIED.

WILLIE WAS A CONSENSUS ALL-AMAERICAN IN FOOTBALL IN 1982. HE LED

TENNESSEE IN ALL-PURPOSE YARDS FOR THREE CONSECUTIVE YEARS. HE LEFT AS
ONE OF THE GREATEST KICK RETURNERS IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL HISTORY.

HE BECAME A LEGEND IN THE NFL. NOT THE LEAST OF HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS WAS
THE SUPER BOWL SHUFFLE. I GUARANTEE YOU, WILLIE GAULT CAN STILL DO THOSE
DANCE STEPS.

WILLIE WAS THE 1983 NCAA INDOOR CHAMPION IN THE 60 DASH AND 60 HURDLES
AND A MEMBER OF THE NCAA OUTDOOR WINNING 4X100 RELAY TEAM.

THERE WAS A TIME WHEN GAULT HELD 12 UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE RECORDS IN

FOOTBALL AND THREE IN TRACK.

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WILLIE WAS A MEMBER OF THE 1980 OLYMPIC TEAM. HE WAS ON A RELAY TEAM IN
1983 THAT SET A WORLD RECORD.

HE WON A SPOT ON THE 1988 OLYMPIC BOBSLED TEAM. HE HAS SET WORLD
RECORDS IN MASTERS COMPETITION.

YOU CAN ASK WILLIE ABOUT HIS MOVIES. THIS MAN IS AMAZING.

THESE MEN AND SEVERAL OTHERS - ANTHONY MILLER, STEVE JOHNSON, LEONARD
SCOTT, TERRY SCOTT, MIKE MILLER, JEREMY LINCOLN, PIKE JONES, RODNEY RUTH, I
DON'T KNOW HOW MANY MORE -- DESERVE RECOGNITION.

IF YOU COMPETED IN TWO OR MORE SPORTS AT TENNESSEE, PLEASE STAND AND

RECEIVE YOUR APPLAUSE. ALL OF YOU, PLEASE JOIN ME IN A VOLUNTEER SALUTE.

NOW I ASK YOU, HOW DID WE GET TO THIS MOMENT IN TIME?

IN THE SEC OUTDOOR MEET BEFORE CHUCK ROHE, 1962, TENNESSEE HAD ONE
SCORER. STEVE HENDRICKS PLACED FOURTH IN THE DISCUS.

INTEREST IN TRACK AND FIELD WAS EITHER VERY LOW OR NON-EXISTANT. THERE
WERE NO FACILITIES. THE TRACK COACH HAD A FULL-TIME JOB AS BASKETBALL
ASSISTANT AND PRIMARY LEG MAN IN RECRUITING.

TOM SILER, MY BOSS AT THE NEWSPAPER, A PAST PRESIDENT OF THE UT ALUMNI

ASSOCIATION, WROTE COLUMNS ABOUT THE LACK OF AN ALL-AROUND SPORTS
PROGRAM. HE TALKED AT LENGTH WITH DR. HOLT, UT PRESIDENT. HE TALKED WITH
UT TRUSTEES. HE URGED THE LEADERS TO LEAD.

I CREDIT TOM SILER WITH THE REJUVENATION OF BASKETBALL AND WHAT

HAPPENED IN TRACK AND SWIMMING.

WHAT HAPPENED WAS THE UNIVERSITY FOUND THE RIGHT MEN FOR THE JOBS.
COPPLEY, IF I MAY HAVE TWO MORE MINUTES, I WOULD SALUTE ALL OF YOU FROM
THE CHUCK ROHE ERA WHO DID SOMETHING NO OTHER UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE
SPORTS TEAM HAS EVER DONE.

YOU WON SO MANY EVENTS, YOU SO DOMINATED THE SOUTHEASTERN

CONFERENCE, YOU FORCED OTHER SCHOOLS TO HIRE REAL COACHES AND BUILD
TRACKS AND GET INTO THE GAME.

ADOLPH RUPP AND THE KENTUCKY WILDCATS HAD A SOMEWHAT SIMILAR EFFECT
ON SEC BASKETBALL. I SUPPOSE PAT SUMMITT AND HER LADY VOLS FORCED
IMPROVEMENT IN WOMEN'S BASKETS.

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NOBODY DID WHAT YOU DID. YOU WON WITH GREAT NATURAL TALENT, PROPERLY
TRAINED, CAREFULLY POLISHED AND REFINED. YOU WON WITH STYLE AND GRACE. I
THOUGHT YOU WERE OUTSTANDING AT DIPPING THE CHAMPION COACH INTO
STEEPLECHASE HAZARDS.

I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU EVER GOT EVEN FOR WHAT HE DID TO YOU BUT IT WAS A
GOOD TRY.

WE ARE HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE OF YOU. IT IS YOUR REUNION. IT IS YOUR SHOW.

THERE IS CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION -- BECAUSE OF CHUCK ROHE.

SOON AFTER I MET CHUCK, 55 YEARS AGO, HE BECAME MY POSTER PERSON FOR
THE POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING. HE LOVED LIFE, DIDN'T WANT TO MISS ANY OF IT
AND HE DRAGGED RELUCTANT OTHERS ALONG FOR THE RUN.

THOSE OF YOU WHO WERE ON HIS TEAMS MUST HAVE WONDERED IF HE WAS AT
LEAST HALF CRAZY. THOSE OF US WHO COULD OBSERVE FROM A SAFE DISTANCE
CONSIDERED HIM DIFFERENT. AND INTRIGUING. AND PERHAPS BRILLIANT.

HIS RECORD SUPPORTS THAT SUPPOSITION.

HE AND YOU TOOK TENNESSEE FROM NOTHING TO SOMETHING BIG - 21

CONSECUTIVE CHAMPIONSHIPS IN SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE OUTDOOR TRACK,
INDOOR TRACK AND CROSS-COUNTRY.

I THOUGHT CHUCK ROHE WAS COMPLEX. FOR ENDLESS ENERGY, IMPOSSIBLE

DREAMS AND WILD INNOVATIONS, HE LEADS THE LIST OF TRAVELING SALESMEN
WHO HAVE WORN TENNESSEE CAPS.

RAY BUSSARD WAS CLOSE BUT HE PAUSED TWICE FOR NAPS.

CHUCK ROHE WAS UNIQUE. THERE WAS NO SUCH THING AS 'CAN'T BE DONE.'

THERE WAS ALWAYS A WAY AND HE COULD FIND IT, ORGANIZE THE MISSION,
GATHER A SUPPORTING CAST, DELEGATE DUTIES AND MOTIVATE THOSE WHO
WOULD DO THE LIFTING AND CARRYING.

TURNING THE TOBACCO WAREHOUSE INTO A MAGIC KINGDOM WAS THE ULTIMATE.
PUSHING THE BUS WASN'T BAD.

THANKFULLY, HE IS A LIVING LEGEND, TO BE FOREVER REMEMBERED AND

CHERISHED AS LONG AS THERE IS TENNESSEE TRACK AND FIELD.

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PLEASE GIVE YOURSELVES AND HIM AN UNFORGETTABLE STANDING OVATION.

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