It was at this same time- yesterday was National signing day- back in 1994 that a young phenom named Peyton Manning committed to UT, further propelling what was already a dominant program, and taking the Vols to new heights in their storied tradition. And of course at this present time it is also Super Bowl week, where Peyton is preparing to play in his 4th Super Bowl. The oldest QB to ever start in the Super Bowl. And I might add, his 4th Super Bowl, with his 4th head coach (never done before)- with 2 different teams. I will refrain in this post from building my case for Peyton to be, what I believe is on the "Mt Rushmore" of greatest NFL QB's of all-time. That time will come soon!
Peyton Manning announces commitment to UT
When Peyton came to the Vols, they were consistently a top 5-10 team, and competing for not only the SEC Championship, but the National Championship virtually every year during this glorious era. And now they would be led by Manning, one of the best QB prospects the sport had ever seen. In his first full season as QB at UT, the Vols finished 11-1, defeating Ohio St in the Citrus Bowl and were ranked #2 in the country after the season. 1996 was also a stellar year. Though the Vols started the season ranked #2 in the country with high hopes of a National Championship run, there were heartbreaking losses at home to Florida (I went to the game and almost witnessed a miraculous comeback) and then a fluke loss at Memphis. Led by Peyton, the Vols were still dominant and finished #8 in the country after dismantling a good Northwestern team in the Citrus Bowl, 48-28. After the season, rumors were swirling as to whether or not Peyton would forgo his senior year and head to the NFL, where he would likely be the #1 pick in the draft, or do something most players of his caliber wouldn't do- stay in school. The anticipation was so high. The Knoxville area was in a buzz with nervous excitement as the day, March 5, 1997 came. The announcement came while I was in between classes. I'll never forget the press conference, when Peyton announced, "I'm gonna stay at the University of Tennessee." The city and all of Vol Nation was elated.
During the fall of 1996 when I was living in Tennessee, I spent a lot of time studying in the UT library while I was currently going to school at a community college in Knoxville. At the time, my plan was to transfer to UT the next year. And yes, I went to just about every Vols home game.
It was a Sunday night, October 20th, 1996 to be exact. The Vols had just won on the road in Georgia the week before and it was their bye weekend, prior to facing Alabama at home the next weekend. I was in the UT library- per usual for a Sunday night at this time- and needed to find a couple books for a research project. Now of course at this time, resources were much harder to come by in this just-launched, brand-new, pre-explosion of the internet- "world wide web" age! In fact, it was only a few weeks earlier that I had gotten my very first access to this new world via my school account and had this new thing called email. Using the library computer, I was able to locate the books and then print off the library sheet for where to find them. The location of my needed books was on the 5th floor. I'll never forget it. I was walking on the far left of the room near the windows, and coming up to the row where my sheet was leading me. I arrived at the row and as I started turning right, I collided with someone who was coming out of that aisle at the same time. I said, "I'm sorry!", while looking up simultaneously, and said, "Oh, HEY PEYTON!!" Yes, I was stunned. In what was a very empty room (about 6PM on that Sunday night), the great Peyton Manning and I collided in a moment of fate. Of course, he was classy, polite, and kind. Though I remember exactly how I responded and what I said, I don't remember exactly what he said but I do remember we both laughed and he said something to the effect of "Hey! No big deal, that's ok!" I walked over with him to a corner table where he was studying with who he said was his girlfriend, I believe wife now. I didn't want to take a lot of his time but we talked for a minute or so. Among a few things, I told him: "great game last week" (GA), "looking forward to the Alabama game next weekend!", and "it's so great having you here at UT". Of course, this was also pre-selfie, iPhone age so I really wish I could have gotten an easy picture! The only thing I could think of to highlight the incredible moment was ask him if he could please sign the only thing I had on me at the moment- my library sheet! Though I was only 1 year older than him, of course I was in awe and honored to meet him face to face in that quiet setting. A moment I will forever savor.
Peyton signs the only thing I had on me: the library print out sheet for books I was trying to find!
And you better believe I will be cheering hard for this same guy to win his 2nd Super Bowl ring this weekend, and perhaps call it a career and ride off into the sunset. Thanks for the great memories, Peyton. On, and off the field!
