RE: AAFL Newsletter -- December 12, 2007 -- Vols Return to Tennessee

 

The headline says it all: Vols Return to Tennessee. And did they ever.

Dozens of former players, coaches and Tennessee dignitaries descended on Knoxville last week for two days of running, catching, drilling and talking football.

Let's get some names out there Tennessee fans will recognize: Tee Martin, James Wilhoit, Bobby Graham, Corey Larkins, Rashad Moore, Constantin Ritzmann, Cody Douglas, Doug Dickey, Jimmy Dunn, Clint Stoerner.

Wait a minute, Clint Stoerner did not play for Tennessee -- as every Volunteer and Razorback knows.

But Stoerner was still there -- his first time back since Tennessee won the national championship in 1998. Stoerner had never met his rival quarterback from that fateful game -- Tee Martin.

But he did last week. And they got along quite well. Full of respect and admiration and eagerness to get back on the field in the Spring.

Whatever fans remember about Stoerner from 1998, real fans also remember he came back in 1999 and beat Tennessee.

The week got off to a great start. ESPN Classic TV showed the famous game between Number One Oklahoma and Number Two Nebraska. Featuring of course our own Heisman winner Eric Crouch.

With the game still on the line in the middle of the fourth quarter, Crouch broke a 19 yard run. Just a few plays later Crouch handed off in what started out as an ordinary running play around the corner until the running back handed off to the end.

A reverse.

The end takes off but stops a few yards short of the line of scrimmage. But what about Crouch? He was a very physical quarterback, known for sticking his nose into places where most quarterbacks fear to tread. So we could have expected him to be right there, taking out some big lineman with a bigger block.

But Crouch was not there. He was streaking down the field on a post pattern. Where his end found him and threw him a perfect strike.

Crouch caught it perfectly and was last seen running away from several of Oklahoma's fastest defensive backs. A 64 yard touchdown. Game over.

At our AAFL Christmas party in Knoxville after our first day of workouts, Crouch fans reminded him of the great play.

With characteristic modesty, Crouch deflected credit.

Tennessee fans of course remember Crouch's performance in the Fiesta Bowl the year following Tee Martin and company's national championship.

Crouch drove his team on touchdown scoring drives of more than 90 yards three times in the fourth quarter.

Looking forward to seeing more of that in the Spring. Stoerner and Crouch and Tee Martin.

Back to Tennessee.

For the first time Turner Sports broadcast our entire practice on the web. You can see player interviews, the new Tennessee Coach Andy Kelly, and lots of other good things at our web site: aafl.com.

Great reception in Tennessee from local dignitaries, celebrities, football players and media -- with stories in Knoxville, Chattanooga and Nashville TV and newspapers.

Check out some interviews with our AAFL Tennessee team members at:

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2007/dec/06/kelly-plans-stock-tennessee-aafl-team-quality-peop/

http://www.wbir.com/sports/story.aspx?storyid=52134

http://www.wrcbtv.com/news/sports/index.cfm?sid=1354

http://www.volunteertv.com/sports/headlines/12213431.html

Other random moments: Michigan great and prospective AAFL coach Ty Wheatley talking about how when he was one of the top running backs in the NFL he "loved big hitters" but didn't like guys like John Lynch who know how to tackle by hitting low. "I'll take a big hitter every time. I can handle them."

Or NFL Hall of Famer Joe DeLamielleure and Arkansas offensive coach Ray Isaac talking about chop blocking. And how it can ruin the sport -- and the career of some fine football players.

This much is clear: The AAFL is a league for people who love football. And when you throw our fans into a room with people like Danny Wuerffel, Eric Crouch, Chris Leak, Ty Wheatley, and dozens of other NFL and college greats -- well it just doesn't get any better than that.

Not until Spring.

More later.

 

Marcus Katz
CEO
All American Football League
Visit us at http://www.allamericanfootballleague.com/