Should junior Eric Berry run through the T with the seniors on Saturday?

by Joel on Nov 19, 2009 7:35 AM EST in Tennessee Volunteer Football Comment 40 comments

I don't know why Lane Kiffin is even talking about this -- hopefully he was asked the question by some media member -- but the man has said that junior Eric Berry can run through the T solo on Senior Day Saturday against Vanderbilt. Normally, that privilege is reserved for seniors. Kiffin does say that he doesn't believe Berry would want to do that, so I'm guessing the loaded question did in fact come from someone with a camera and/or digital recorder.

The whole thing makes me uncomfortable. I'm a huge Eric Berry fan. Who isn't around here? Shoot, he's like Tim Tebow in that he has fans who root for other teams and those who don't follow football at all. But should he get a solo run through the T on Senior Day as a junior?

There's no question that if Berry decides to hang up the college cleats and head off early into the NFL sunset that he'll be drafted. But what about next year and the years after that when juniors of the future are either just considering going pro or thinking that they can, and then find out they can't. We'd want them if they changed their mind or learned they wouldn't go as high as they'd wished. But would they then run solo through the T again the next year? Would the whole idea of having juniors do it dilute the meaning of the tradition for seniors?

Juniors in this dilemma probably have an NFL career ahead of them. Is that enough to compensate for missing the senior tradition? For the seniors without moneybags in their futures, should they get something that's special?

Yet Berry's almost certainly leaving, and we know it. Shouldn't we have a chance to say goodbye? To devote a mere 30 seconds to acknowledging that this will likely be his last home game in orange?

What do y'all think? Should junior Eric Berry be permitted to run through the T by himself like the seniors on Saturday? Why or why not?

Poll

Should Eric Berry be permitted to run through the T with the seniors on Saturday?

Yes

92 votes

No

209 votes

301 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

It's 'Senior' day

It’s called ‘Senior Day’ not the ‘last home game of my career because I’m going pro early day’. I love Berry, but if he chooses to leave early then one of the things he’ll miss out on is being honored on Senior Day. I’m sure he’ll be able to live with that exchange.

by phil g on Nov 19, 2009 7:59 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Just to throw a hypothetical out there:

What if Berry was on pace to graduate either this semester or in the spring? Would that change the equation?

by Hooper on Nov 19, 2009 8:21 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

yes

whatever your standing is credit-wise. That is technically how you are supposed to be classified anyway, not by the number of years you are in school.

by golfballs03 on Nov 19, 2009 8:34 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

No.

It is a four year program. First year players are freshmen. Third year players are juniors. I love the guy, but it is senior day. Other players have graduated early but only been honored on senior day when they were at the end of their senior season. If it means that much to him, maybe he should stick around.

by Tennexile on Nov 19, 2009 9:20 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

if you are graduating

you are a senior in my book.

The Dual Threat, Official Enforcer/Stat Geek of MCM.

by hal41605 on Nov 19, 2009 10:20 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Let's not confuse athletics with academics here...

I don’t really care if someone is technically a “senior” because of the number of credits he has earned. Football players have four years of eligibility – the ones who are honored on Senior Day are the ones who can’t come back next year because they have no eligibility left.

Crompton was technically a “senior” (by the academic definition) last year, wasn’t he? I notice we weren’t debating whether to let him be honored on Senior Day last year…

Lou Brock loves Lamp.

by birdjam on Nov 19, 2009 10:35 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

To change the hypothetical a bit:

What about a player who redshirts one year, plays three, then intends to leave? (Last year, Crompton had no intention of leaving.)

by Hooper on Nov 19, 2009 10:41 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Pretty simple...

If you have another year of eligibility left, you don’t get honored on Senior Day.

Lou Brock loves Lamp.

by birdjam on Nov 19, 2009 10:43 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Which isn't to say, by the way...

… that EB doesn’t deserve some sort of honor/recognition/show of appreciation.

It just shouldn’t be part of the traditional Senior Day activities.

Lou Brock loves Lamp.

by birdjam on Nov 19, 2009 10:45 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

i completely disagree

the purpose of going to college is to earn a degree. kudos to those who complete their coursework and are ready to move on to the real world in less than 4 years. they accomplished more in 3 than most do in 4, why not get recognized for it?

if the player earns a degree (which, by the way, helps the program’s graduation rate) then he should be honored on senior day.

by golfballs03 on Nov 19, 2009 11:28 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

this just in...

we need to celebrate any payer that help’s our program’s graduation rate….

by golfballs03 on Nov 19, 2009 1:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Good point...

If only there were some type of ceremony to honor college graduates…

Lou Brock loves Lamp.

by birdjam on Nov 19, 2009 1:47 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

you're right

as far as the AD is concerned, we should just ignore those over-achievers!

by golfballs03 on Nov 19, 2009 2:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ignore them with special jersey patches and loudspeaker announcements?

Lou Brock loves Lamp.

by birdjam on Nov 19, 2009 3:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

what?

by golfballs03 on Nov 19, 2009 3:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The players with good grades wear special jersey patches and announcements are made at games...

… plus recognition in the media guide.

So you can hardly say they are ignored.

Lou Brock loves Lamp.

by birdjam on Nov 19, 2009 3:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

so they graduate but they get no senior day

that’s real nice. but i guess that’s where we differ

by golfballs03 on Nov 19, 2009 3:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

They can have a Senior Day when they play out their eligibility.

Like all Vols before them.

Lou Brock loves Lamp.

by birdjam on Nov 19, 2009 3:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

then they should call it

‘No More Eligibility Day’

by golfballs03 on Nov 19, 2009 4:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Rolls off the tongue, doesn't it?

Lou Brock loves Lamp.

by birdjam on Nov 19, 2009 4:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

+1

Lee Corso: How would you describe tailgating at Alabama?
Kirk Herbstreit: Barbecue and Ralph Lauren

by animalcracker on Nov 19, 2009 11:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I wonder what Florida State did with Myron Rolle?

He earned his diploma in less than 3 years, and only played 3 seasons for the FSU. Instead of the NFL, he accepted a Rhodes Scholarship to study at Oxford. I don’t know why anyone would object to honoring him on Senior Day.

by golfballs03 on Nov 19, 2009 3:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I seem to recall this being talked about years ago

I think maybe Carl Pickens when Johnny Majors was here…but it was never allowed then. And like Joel points out, I think this is a non-issue simply because Berry wouldn’t do it.

I never thought I’d say this about any UT player, but when you look at situations like Sam Bradford this year and others along the way, if/when EB goes pro early I won’t feel disappointed one bit.

Rocky Top Talk

by Will on Nov 19, 2009 8:56 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

It just makes far too much sense to leave.

In theory, we go to college to prepare for careers after college. In Berry’s case, he has a dream career lined up at a very lucrative rate right now, and just because it isn’t ‘academic’ in nature doesn’t mean that college hasn’t served its purpose for him.

Going forward, he’d be wise to pick up the degree simply for the convenience it’ll afford him in his non-playing career. But in terms of being a pro player, the extra year really wouldn’t gain him anything and the degree isn’t at all a job requirement.

by Hooper on Nov 19, 2009 9:10 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

And all that said, I am just dumbfounded that nobody has offered Berry's dad a job.

The ZOINKS RUMOR!!! that I keep hearing has something to do with whistleblowing and getting blackballed in the industry, but anybody who saw the highlight piece they did on him earlier this year has to realize that he’d be a great employee to have on hand. And if a Vol alum employer hired him where Vol P.R. is a good thing, then he’d give the company tons of ‘street cred’. ;-)

by Hooper on Nov 19, 2009 9:13 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Plus, isn't there a younger Berry who "is even better"?

(I know, I know, the youngest is always allegedly “even better…” They even said that about Eli.)

Lou Brock loves Lamp.

by birdjam on Nov 19, 2009 9:33 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Eff that

I can’t believe people are even talking about this.

I love Eric Berry, love everything he has done since he got here. And I think he should leave early and would be stupid not to.

All that being said, what part of “Senior Day” don’t you people understand? (I’m guessing the “senior” part. Although, to be fair, with a 7pm kickoff, perhaps the “day” part is a little confusing too.)

Didn’t they honor Candace Parker on “Senior Night” a couple of years ago? I thought that was bush league, but no big deal because it was the same sport in which Nykesha Sales “broke” Connecticut’s all-time scoring record…

Lou Brock loves Lamp.

by birdjam on Nov 19, 2009 9:08 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Yes, Candace got the senior treatment.

by Hooper on Nov 19, 2009 9:51 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Even though Dearstone claimed this morning that she didn't...

I know she did – I was there.

Lou Brock loves Lamp.

by birdjam on Nov 19, 2009 1:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

me too

by Hooper on Nov 19, 2009 3:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

So on the one topic you would think you could rely on Dearstone's opinion...

… he was wrong. Keep up the good work, Mickey.

Lou Brock loves Lamp.

by birdjam on Nov 19, 2009 3:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

As Long As He Comes Out and Tells Everyone that He is Definately Going to the NFL

I don’t see a problem with it. I think he should be honored for all of the hard work he has put in as an athlete and a student for the past 3 years at UT. He has awed us with his playmaking and HUGE hits, so we should send him off with his last home game! Imagine if Peyton has left… It would have been a travesty not to send that man off with by letting him run through the “T” alone!

Dan Marino, Pitt Panthers, and Miami Dolphins

by JStarr23 on Nov 19, 2009 9:19 AM EST via mobile reply actions 0 recs

One idea...

I heard this morning on the radio an idea that I liked. Instead of giving him his own solo run through the T: After all the Seniors have run out, have the PA announcer say something like “And now All-American Eric Berry to lead the rest of the Vols..” It draws a little more attention to him without grouping him in with the Seniors.

The only way I could see him being allowed to run through the T is if he came out this week and said he was definitely leaving early. Otherwise, you open the floodgates for future Vols to want to do this.

by Solid Orange on Nov 19, 2009 9:45 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Or...

Next year he can donate a million dollars and run through the T like Thunder Thornton.

Lou Brock loves Lamp.

by birdjam on Nov 19, 2009 9:56 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, I think that if they want to honor him . . .

. . . they should put him in position that will maximize the possibility he gets that blasted interception return yardage record.

Or make a point of taking him out late in the game to a standing O or something. Or running all of his Heisman videos back to back during halftime or a timeout or something. There are other ways to recognize him.

Rocky Top Talk

by Joel on Nov 19, 2009 10:03 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I was completely against the black uniforms, and that happened...

So I’ve kind of been on the wrong side of these things. That having been said, they can’t seriously be considering this, can they? If they do, they might as well stop celebrating Senior Day altogether.

If he is graduating this academic year and if he knows for absolute certain that he’s not coming back, it would be a little bit bush league but I guess I could see it. The question then becomes would you do that for everyone else in that situation. And if the answer is that you’re only doing it because it’s Eric Berry, then you still can’t do it.

But if that exact set of circumstances isn’t present (and I don’t know what his graduation track looks like), he simply cannot do it. End of story.

by nirwin on Nov 19, 2009 12:18 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Another hypothetical:

What if a player takes the minimum credit load every semester (12, right?) and plays all four years? That 4th year, he’d only have 24*4 = 96 credits, which isn’t enough to graduate under any degree program.

Or suppose he redshirts one of those years, but plans on going into the draft after his 4th overall year? That way, he plays three and doesn’t graduate, but is on the team for four.

by Hooper on Nov 19, 2009 4:48 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

how about this

if you are a senior according to the university and contribute to the team’s graduation success rate, then you get honored at your last home game.

by golfballs03 on Nov 19, 2009 7:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Changed my mind.

My original opinion on this was “heck yes he should be able to, he’s been great for this program and the only reason he’s leaving is to help his family.”

But upon further consideration, I have to say that I changed my mind. I think senior year is for guys who stay in as long as they can and show devotion to the team rather than bouncing for NFL bucks or real world jobs. I realize that EB is justified in his decision. i have no problems with him leaving, but I think that the rule shouldn’t be open to exceptions on a case by case basis because it sets a precedent that could eventually
cheapen the achievment for the guys who do get it.

Sure Eric has had a great career. I’ve loved watching him play. He is actually my second favorite Vol all time behind Chris Lofton. I will watch whatever NFL team he plays for, just like I do with the Colts. But if you make this exception then next time we have a guy who has had a great career but jumps to the NFL just for the money without any altruistic motives, maybe that guy wants to be treated like a senior and that actually would cheapen it for the guys who stuck it out for four years.

IMO Senior Day is about dedication to the team, and while I think family is more important, giving up events like running through the T is part of the sacrifice involved in Eric’s decision.

by Prometheus1185 on Nov 19, 2009 8:57 PM EST reply actions 0 recs