Summer is time to get started
Despite budget woes, Vol freshmen are arriving
By Mike Griffith, News-Sentinel sportswriter
June 30, 2002
Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer says the arrival of football signees this week represents an exciting time for both the players and the program.
"I'm looking forward to the freshmen coming in so we can go on about our business,'' Fulmer said. "Coming in early helps them with their adjustment to college life and allows them to get ahead academically.''
The threat of a state governmental shutdown has raised questions about the school's operations, but Fulmer said he's working under the premise that classes will begin on Friday as scheduled.
Of the 25 players the Vols signed in the 2002 recruiting class, at least 22 will have enrolled in school by the middle of this week.
"Instead of having three weeks before they play their first ball game, they have nine weeks,'' Fulmer said. "This is an important time for them and for us.''
Cornerback Antwan Stewart from Dumfries, Va., said he might report for the second term of summer school if he receives the financial aid for which he applied.
Two other players - defensive lineman Greg Jones of Jonesboro, Ark., and linebacker Marvin Mitchell of Norfolk, Va. - said they won't report until Aug. 4, when their scholarships kick in. Both players said they considered enrolling this summer, but their financial aid applications were denied.
Fulmer said financial aid shouldn't be necessary.
"I think the NCAA is looking at the need for the kids to have their scholarships activated earlier, so they can attend summer school,'' Fulmer said. "We're going to pay for their education on the front end or the back end of their careers, so why shouldn't they get a chance to get started early?
"There's no reason in the world not to let the kids' scholarships start in the summer.''
Fulmer said it would also solve the problem that some Vols have faced when they leave school early after being selected in the NFL draft in April of their senior years.
PAPER TRAIL: Jones said he's still getting his transcript cleared up with UT officials.
"I'm still waiting to make sure everything goes through the (NCAA) Clearinghouse,'' Jones said. "I've sent in my ninth grade transcripts from when I lived in Louisiana.''
Stewart, who returned two kicks for 60 yards in a recent Maryland-Virginia high school all-star game, said he qualified by attending night school the past two months.
Mitchell said he, too, is qualified.
SUDDEN IMPACT: UT offensive coordinator Randy Sanders said the freshmen most likely to make an impact are the ones who catch the ball.
"We need Aaron Kirkland to contribute for us right away, just because of our numbers at tight end,'' Sanders said.
The Vols currently have two tight ends: Jason Witten and converted defensive end Sudan Ellington. Junior college signee Leon Pinky left school in May after complications arose with his transcripts, and sophomore Courtney Rogers quit the team.
Sanders said he believes Kirkland has the tools to make the transition quickly.
"There's still a lot of things he'll have to learn,'' Sanders said. "Aaron's not used to blocking guys as big and athletic as we have here, but he's a pretty good athlete.''
Kirkland, a 6-4, 250-pounder from Fayetteville, N.C., chose the Vols over Florida State.
Sanders said incoming receivers Jonathan Wade and Chris Hannon will have a chance to compete immediately, while the incoming offensive linemen could push for backup roles.
As for Parade All-America tailback Gerald Riggs, Sanders said his playing time would "depend on whether or not he's as good as advertised.''
HAM BONE: Justin "Ham'' Harrell plans on reporting to UT on Tuesday sans the crutches he has been hobbling around on since undergoing surgery on June 21.
Harrell, a 6-5, 300-pound defensive tackle, said he had a rod inserted in his leg as the result of a stress fracture in his tibula.
"We think it occurred during basketball season in February,'' said Harrell, who is from Westview High School in Martin, Tenn. "I'm going to school early, anyway, so I can hit the books and rehabilitate.''
NO SHOT: LaRon Harris, a 6-3, 300-pound defensive tackle from Kingsbury High School in Memphis, said he's been itching to get back to Knoxville since playing in the Tennessee-Kentucky all-star game earlier this month.
"Even that week I was there, I was going over to the complex to see what they were doing,'' Harris said. "I want to get to know what college life is like.''
Harris said one thing his collegiate life won't include is a career on the track team. Harris finished in the state's top three in the shot put each of the four years he competed in the state meet.
"I know I'm not going to the Olympics,'' Harris said. "But if I do what I need to, I'll have a shot at the league (NFL).''
BANKS ON IT: Incoming Parade All-American quarterback James Banks said he's on target for his arrival in Knoxville.
"I've been throwing three or four days a week and running,'' Banks said. "I'm getting my mind ready for the adjustment.''
Banks said he has been invited to play in an Indiana high school all-star game on July 20 in his hometown of Indianapolis.
"I don't know for sure if he's playing in that game,'' Sanders said, "but James Banks is going to have a chance to compete for the backup role with us.''
Banks' competition will be C.J. Leak, who sat out last season after transferring from Wake Forest.
Despite budget woes, Vol freshmen are arriving
By Mike Griffith, News-Sentinel sportswriter
June 30, 2002
Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer says the arrival of football signees this week represents an exciting time for both the players and the program.
"I'm looking forward to the freshmen coming in so we can go on about our business,'' Fulmer said. "Coming in early helps them with their adjustment to college life and allows them to get ahead academically.''
The threat of a state governmental shutdown has raised questions about the school's operations, but Fulmer said he's working under the premise that classes will begin on Friday as scheduled.
Of the 25 players the Vols signed in the 2002 recruiting class, at least 22 will have enrolled in school by the middle of this week.
"Instead of having three weeks before they play their first ball game, they have nine weeks,'' Fulmer said. "This is an important time for them and for us.''
Cornerback Antwan Stewart from Dumfries, Va., said he might report for the second term of summer school if he receives the financial aid for which he applied.
Two other players - defensive lineman Greg Jones of Jonesboro, Ark., and linebacker Marvin Mitchell of Norfolk, Va. - said they won't report until Aug. 4, when their scholarships kick in. Both players said they considered enrolling this summer, but their financial aid applications were denied.
Fulmer said financial aid shouldn't be necessary.
"I think the NCAA is looking at the need for the kids to have their scholarships activated earlier, so they can attend summer school,'' Fulmer said. "We're going to pay for their education on the front end or the back end of their careers, so why shouldn't they get a chance to get started early?
"There's no reason in the world not to let the kids' scholarships start in the summer.''
Fulmer said it would also solve the problem that some Vols have faced when they leave school early after being selected in the NFL draft in April of their senior years.
PAPER TRAIL: Jones said he's still getting his transcript cleared up with UT officials.
"I'm still waiting to make sure everything goes through the (NCAA) Clearinghouse,'' Jones said. "I've sent in my ninth grade transcripts from when I lived in Louisiana.''
Stewart, who returned two kicks for 60 yards in a recent Maryland-Virginia high school all-star game, said he qualified by attending night school the past two months.
Mitchell said he, too, is qualified.
SUDDEN IMPACT: UT offensive coordinator Randy Sanders said the freshmen most likely to make an impact are the ones who catch the ball.
"We need Aaron Kirkland to contribute for us right away, just because of our numbers at tight end,'' Sanders said.
The Vols currently have two tight ends: Jason Witten and converted defensive end Sudan Ellington. Junior college signee Leon Pinky left school in May after complications arose with his transcripts, and sophomore Courtney Rogers quit the team.
Sanders said he believes Kirkland has the tools to make the transition quickly.
"There's still a lot of things he'll have to learn,'' Sanders said. "Aaron's not used to blocking guys as big and athletic as we have here, but he's a pretty good athlete.''
Kirkland, a 6-4, 250-pounder from Fayetteville, N.C., chose the Vols over Florida State.
Sanders said incoming receivers Jonathan Wade and Chris Hannon will have a chance to compete immediately, while the incoming offensive linemen could push for backup roles.
As for Parade All-America tailback Gerald Riggs, Sanders said his playing time would "depend on whether or not he's as good as advertised.''
HAM BONE: Justin "Ham'' Harrell plans on reporting to UT on Tuesday sans the crutches he has been hobbling around on since undergoing surgery on June 21.
Harrell, a 6-5, 300-pound defensive tackle, said he had a rod inserted in his leg as the result of a stress fracture in his tibula.
"We think it occurred during basketball season in February,'' said Harrell, who is from Westview High School in Martin, Tenn. "I'm going to school early, anyway, so I can hit the books and rehabilitate.''
NO SHOT: LaRon Harris, a 6-3, 300-pound defensive tackle from Kingsbury High School in Memphis, said he's been itching to get back to Knoxville since playing in the Tennessee-Kentucky all-star game earlier this month.
"Even that week I was there, I was going over to the complex to see what they were doing,'' Harris said. "I want to get to know what college life is like.''
Harris said one thing his collegiate life won't include is a career on the track team. Harris finished in the state's top three in the shot put each of the four years he competed in the state meet.
"I know I'm not going to the Olympics,'' Harris said. "But if I do what I need to, I'll have a shot at the league (NFL).''
BANKS ON IT: Incoming Parade All-American quarterback James Banks said he's on target for his arrival in Knoxville.
"I've been throwing three or four days a week and running,'' Banks said. "I'm getting my mind ready for the adjustment.''
Banks said he has been invited to play in an Indiana high school all-star game on July 20 in his hometown of Indianapolis.
"I don't know for sure if he's playing in that game,'' Sanders said, "but James Banks is going to have a chance to compete for the backup role with us.''
Banks' competition will be C.J. Leak, who sat out last season after transferring from Wake Forest.
