UT’s Pruitt wants to keep former players around
Jeremy Pruitt is less than four months into his tenure as the Tennessee football coach.
But on Saturday, the first-year Vols coach spoke at length about the importance of those who came before in Knoxville, the pride of the historic program and his desire to see as many former players — Vols For Life — spend time around the team.
“I want as many former VFLs back as we can get,” Pruitt said. “It’s going to take all of us to get this program back where it’s supposed to be and, I think, that everybody is willing to do that.”
The sidelines at Tennessee’s first six spring practices have been scattered with people ranging from recruits to high school coaches to athletic director Phillip Fulmer.
On Saturday, former Tennessee running back Alvin Kamara — last year’s NFL offensive rookie of the year with the New Orleans Saints — was on the sidelines at Haslam Field, chatting with Pruitt and watching some of his former teammates.
Hall of Fame coach Johnny Majors and former UT tight end and current Buffalo Bill Jason Croom attended Saturday’s practice as well.
“Well, I think it’s good for the program,” Pruitt said. “It’s good to get everybody back. Tennessee is a football program that has a lot of pride and has had a lot of pride for a long, long time. It’s like I tell the guys, they were playing football here long before we were born and they’re going to be playing football here long after we’re gone.
“It’s our job to leave it better than we found it. And we’re going to take a lot of pride in doing that.”
Pruitt grew up in Rainsville, Ala., not far from the Tennessee border. He then played college football at Middle Tennessee State in Murfreesboro, before transferring to Alabama and walking on
for his final two seasons.
From his proximity and experience, the longtime defensive coordinator is well-versed in understanding and knowledge of the Tennessee program. When he was hired on Dec. 7, Pruitt emphasized getting Tennessee back to a place where it is “feared among SEC teams.”
He then said the process “starts with everybody at the University of Tennessee.”
Pruitt echoed that sentiment Saturday in his remarks about former players and having them around as much as possible.
“There’s been a lot of men over the years that have worked very hard to build this program up and I get it and I want these guys to come back,” Pruitt said. “I know the sense of pride when they come back and, I think, they like what they see from our guys.
“Our guys are working hard. We’re not perfect, but we’re working, I can assure you that. They’re getting coached in everything that they do.”