Talking Points: Eric Berry's long goodbye begins

by Joel Hollingsworth on Dec 14, 2009 7:21 AM EST in Rocky Top Talking Points

The must-read of the day belongs to Wes Rucker, who penned a sort of career-concluding feature of Eric Berry. Most notable is this bit: despite both of his parents having recently lost their jobs to the poor economy and despite the negative impact of a new NFL collective bargaining agreement on returning for his senior season, Berry maintains his decision won't be easy. Probably as in "it's not easy to say goodbye." Berry, by the way, didn't win the Lott Trophy, but Lane Kiffin's calling his trip to California for the ceremony a recruiting victory.
We'll start looking more closely at Virginia Tech shortly, but do we really need stats or extensive analysis to know that special teams is going to be key? Virginia Tech's? Excellent. Tennessee's? Not in the neighborhood of excellent. Eddie Gran, UT special teams coach? Gone to FSU.
Those Vols who were home for Christmas and bowl season last year are using the memory as motivation to get through some pretty daunting practices this week.
The Lady Vols beat Rutgers 68-54 yesterday behind Shekinna Strickland's 19 points.

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after reading that

am i the only one who might even feel guilty if berry were to return? i almost want to start some kind of petition that says “eric, college football is great and we really appreciate everything about you and always will, but please, go do what you need to do for your family. you will always be one of the greatest Vols of all time and no true UT fans would ever question your decision to leave.”

i don’t want the grand aura of Big Orange Nation to be even indirectly responsible for sending his family into an even harder financial situation, even if it was for just a year. i know he has to weigh a gazillion different things making this decision, so if there is anything we as fans can do to make it easier on him, it would be the least we could do.

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

by hal41605 on Dec 14, 2009 11:11 AM EST reply actions