University of Tennessee Knoxville - Volunteer Yearbook (Knoxville, TN)

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loosen up and run out the soreness and kinks in our bodies. Thursday is an important day practice-wise because this is our last chance to work on plays that would work against our opponentis defense, and we also work on our kicking game, which is very important. During the entire week of practice the coaches kept stressing Aubumis defense and how we must be ready for it. We were really up for our game with Auburn, and 1 think the 45-19 final score showed it. Sure, Auburn made a lot of mistakes, but I think we had something to do with it. Our defense really pressured them the entire game. Curt Watson was the stand-out of this game. During the game I tried to watch Denbo and see how he was doing against his man. During each game we try to help each other out as much as possible, even though weire after each otherisjob. For our third game of the year we played Memphis State, and we knew this game was going to be no push over because Memphis State had beaten a good team from North Texas State the week before. The players from Memphis State were good athletes. Basically Memphis State was made up of players who couldnit make a major college for one reason or another. We beat them 55-16 and they gave us a fairly good game despite the score. McClain played a real outstanding game that day. MtClain not only has the respect of all the players on the team because of his football ability, but also because he is a good and decent human being. McClaiifs playing for us not only helps UT, but helps the entire SEC as well. Heis certainly an inspiration. Following Memphis State we played Georgia Tech, and our effort could have been better than it was. lim afraid we were all looking past Georgia Tech to Alabama. Georgia Tech had a young reckless team. Their defense was really psyched up for the game. We won the game by a score of 26-8, and the entire team was glad to get that game out of the way so we could start to fully concentrate on Alabama. Therels something about Bear Bryant that brings out the best in you. I wanted to beat Bwant because I respect him so much. Bear tried to recruit me to go to Alabama when I got out of high school, and I must say he was a very nice man. Coach Dickey told us during that weekis practice that we had to keep getting better if we were to stay on top. Coach told us that you either get better, or you get worse, but you donit stay the same. There is no doubt in my mind that Doug Dickey makes the difference in our team. Coach Dickey and his staff are the best around and most of the guys on the team feel that way too. Coach doesnit scream, his assistants do that for him. Coach Dickey concentrates on technique. The only thing that really upsets him is when a person doesnit give one-hundred per cent. During a game you can tell he is upset when he throws his hat down on the field. i We had a real good week of practice in prepaxation for the Alabama game as the boys were very enthusiastic. A good week of practice is unusual for the middle of the season, but like I said, Bear Bryant brings out the best in you. Right before agame the locker room is like a tomb. Everyone is busy psyching himself, especially the first team. We beat Alabama bad and became the first team ever to beat Bear Bryant three times in a row. Steve Kiner was great out there as everyone just followed his lead. Denbo also played well. The ratings came out and we were rated number three in the nation. 1 can't begin to tell you how happy that made us feel. But like Coach Trail said to us, liWeire up there now. Now we have to fight to stay there. And everyone on the team knew he was right. For the rest of the season every team we played would be giving us their best shot. We had become the team to beat in the SEC. After the Alabama game we had an off-week, and frankly I was glad it came when it did becausel think we all needed a rest. Coach Dickey, I think, did not like us taking a week off because he had set us up in a routine, and he didnit want to see us break this routine any; despite the off-week, we had practice. We mostly worked on little details, and on basic plays in our offense. During the week, I remember trying to find any weaknesses in our team, and 1 must say I honestly could not. For a team to beat us they would either have to catch us on a very bad day, or else just not make any mistakes. You could say everybody on the team was beginning to feel his oats. Our next game, the following week, was against Georgia, and we knew they were a threat to our SEC title. In preparation for Georgia we did a lot of running because they were a small team. It rained before the game and therefore the game was a rather slow one. But the muddy field hurt them more than it did us because the mud cut down on their speed. 10

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We won 17-3, but the score could have been worse had it not been for the penalties and the muddy turf. I thought I played well this game although I didnit play as much as I usually had up to this game. Curt Watson was again outstanding as he set a record for most yards gained in a single game. Coach Trail told us that this was our best game, but that we still had room for improve- ment. In preparation for our game with South Carolina we worked on fairly basic stuff. Since this game came right after Georgia and right before Mississippi, we were in good position for being upset. I think Coach Dickey expected a let-down from us, despite the fact that this week was Homecoming. Homecoming is a good time of the year, but more so for the fan than the player. Homecoming helps us get psyched for a game, but it also tends to serve as a distraction. South Carolina, who was in first place in the Atlantic Coast Conference before our game, came to Knoxville ready to play some football. They had a real good game plan. But we won 29-14. I think ifs the mark of a good football team that can win when it has a bad day. We had a bad day and won. The big story this game, I think, was the good job our substitutes did in replacing injured first-stringers such as Steve Kiner and Bill Young. Tim Priest, J ack Reynolds, and Wayne Spain all played good games. After the South Carolina game we were all feeling rather bad because of our sub-par performance. Coach Dickey told us in the locker room that we didnit play too well, but we were still undefeated and that made us feel better. As I said earlier our next game was against the University of Mississippi, and that game proved to be a very important game because 1 found out during Mondayis practice that I was going to start. It would be my first starting game in my college career. There was no big deal about it. Coach Trail just came up to me and said iiYou got it this week? The reason for my starting was also nothing out of the ordinary. Mike Bevins, our center was injured against South Carolina and he would not be able to play this week. So Coach 12