kamoshika
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Almost every recruit who commits to UT says something like, "It just feels like family." This excellent piece -- which isn't as sappy as the title suggests -- tells how Coach Jones is inculcating this sense of family in his team.
It's abundantly clear that Jones is not your typical head football coach.
The list --- first started less than four months after Butch Jones was appointed on Dec. 7, 2012, to resuscitate the lagging University of Tennessee football program --- includes the obvious names.
Peyton Manning. Inky Johnson. Al Wilson. Phillip Fulmer.
All Volunteers icons; all among the nearly three dozen people in the intervening months Jones have invited to address his team in an effort to reshape the culture around and within the Tennessee program.
First, however, was the Christian rapper Lecrae, whose full name is Lecrae Devaughn Moore. He spoke to the Vols' team in March 2013 --- Jones' first invited guest.
"Well it's all about the personal development and growth and development of every player in your football program," Jones said. "Football is a very small part of it. But it's life after football. It's creating individuals who are going to be successful when their football careers are gone.
"It all goes hand-in-hand. You win in the classroom, you win in the community and you're going to win on the field. It all starts with winning in the locker room. It's the character education we talk about and implement; it's everyone's personal growth and development. That's why you coach. There's life after football. It's making every individual the best person they can possibly be because they were a part of Tennessee football."
https://tennessee.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1766467
It's abundantly clear that Jones is not your typical head football coach.
The list --- first started less than four months after Butch Jones was appointed on Dec. 7, 2012, to resuscitate the lagging University of Tennessee football program --- includes the obvious names.
Peyton Manning. Inky Johnson. Al Wilson. Phillip Fulmer.
All Volunteers icons; all among the nearly three dozen people in the intervening months Jones have invited to address his team in an effort to reshape the culture around and within the Tennessee program.
First, however, was the Christian rapper Lecrae, whose full name is Lecrae Devaughn Moore. He spoke to the Vols' team in March 2013 --- Jones' first invited guest.
"Well it's all about the personal development and growth and development of every player in your football program," Jones said. "Football is a very small part of it. But it's life after football. It's creating individuals who are going to be successful when their football careers are gone.
"It all goes hand-in-hand. You win in the classroom, you win in the community and you're going to win on the field. It all starts with winning in the locker room. It's the character education we talk about and implement; it's everyone's personal growth and development. That's why you coach. There's life after football. It's making every individual the best person they can possibly be because they were a part of Tennessee football."
https://tennessee.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1766467