Copy and pasted from another group:
Guys, I wanted to share this with you... This morning as my gf and I were leaving Knoxville I stopped at a gas station to get some drinks for the trip home. As I came out I seen a man pumping gas in his truck and this truck had a big Tennessee helmet magnet on it that said my player is #70. I thought unless this dudes wife has a huge crush on this #70, this must be a parent of the player #70. So I walk up near the pumps and say, “Sir, does your son play for the Vols?” He said, “Yes he does.” I said, “well you tell him to keep his head up.” He said, “You tell him.” So this man proceeds to turn around and talk into the truck and tell this #70 that a fan out here wants to talk to him and to get out of the truck. Well.... Ryan Johnson (OL) gets out of the truck and we meet each other along with my gf around the front of the truck. Guys.... as I tell you this story, my heart is heavy as much as it was then... Ryan looking depressed af, looks at me and says, “I’m sorry” also apologizing to my gf as she had just told him it was her first game and he tilts his head down slightly. This absolutely crushed me as a fan of The University of Tennessee Athletics. So, I put my hand out for a handshake and he immediately shook my hand. Then I said, “Hey, you owe NOBODY an apology, you keep your head up. Your blood, sweat and tears are appreciated by me. You do your best and that’s all we as fans can ask for. You hit those books and grab that degree and let the rest take care of itself. You’re young, this is gonna fly by... it only lasts a few years. All you can do is all you can do. Keep your head up Ryan.” He shook his head and said, Thank you, I really appreciate that.” And I walked away and he got back in the truck. His dad thanked us as we got back in my car.
To you people on here and fans out there, we are often too hard on these players. Remember where your mind was from 18-22? Don’t criminalize these young men for what they do on the field. They also have heavy hearts... they are practicing their asses off daily for hours and giving us their time on Saturday’s. They are committed to something valuable to help them grow as men that more than half of us weren’t doing at that age. Some athletes just don’t have it and some do.... they are wearing orange on that field. Carry yourselves with pride and humble yourselves. Stop lashing out and making fun of our record, ticket prices, losses, players, etc. What happens on that field doesn’t effect our lives or atleast shouldn’t... if it does then you need to do some self evaluating. It DOES effect these young athletes lives... everything we say about them or their team in general effects them, as well as dedicating themselves to sports. Chill out guys.... try to be more supportive.
