Peyton Woods’ ex-Vol father adjusts loyalties for tonight
Peyton Woods grew up watching and supporting the University of Tennessee, his dad having played point guard for the Volunteers. Rodney Woods’ name is still in the record books for his 1972-75 Vols career.
But this evening in Knoxville, it’ll be all about Chattanooga for Peyton and his father.
The 6-foot-4 sophomore guard and his University of Tennessee at Chattanooga basketball team will face the Vols at 7 at Thompson-Boling Arena in the season opener for both teams.
The elder Woods still holds Tennessee records for assists in a season (227) and assists per game in a season (8.73) and career (6.9), and he ranks third all-time in career assists (525)1972-75.
His son, a pure shooter who wears No. 10 just as his dad did, said the two went to a lot of Vols football games when he was growing up, but with Rodney being the head basketball coach at Wayne County High School in Kentucky, there were not many chances to attend UT basketball games.
“That was a dream, but not anymore,” the younger Woods said. “It’s about Chattanooga, it’s about imposing our will and, yeah, I’ll have a little extra motivation, but that comes with it. This game’s about us and what we’ve worked for.”
His UTC teammates believe Woods, who averaged 2.9 points in 6.8 minutes per game as a true freshman, will be prepared for tonight’s game. He shot 47 percent from 3-point range and hit two crucial 3s in last season’s opening win over Georgia and had five points and three rebounds in the NCAA tournament against Indiana.
“I know Peyton is going to give full effort,” senior point guard Greg Pryor said. “Not only because of Tennessee, but because he loves us just like we love him. He’s going to play his heart out for us like we do for him.”
Peyton said his dad still has football season tickets for the Vols and is “still in love with them.”
“Which I understand, because he played for them,” Peyton said, “but I guarantee he’s going to have blue and gold on Friday. If we win, I think he’s going to be a lot more happy for me than he would if they win, but there is going to be that ‘We beat them’ going on.
“I’ll always have that, but he’s a lot more excited for me than he has ever been for them.”