Vols DL coach Rodney Garner drops quote about Tennessee that longtime fans will love
Tennessee Vols defensive line coach Rodney Garner made some comments this past weekend about UT that fans — especially longtime fans — will absolutely love. Garner, a former Auburn defensive lineman who is in his second stint as an assistant at Tennessee (he previously coached at UT from 1996 to 1997), met with reporters on […]
Tennessee Vols defensive line coach Rodney Garner made some comments this past weekend about UT that fans — especially longtime fans — will absolutely love.
Garner, a former Auburn defensive lineman who is in his second stint as an assistant at Tennessee (he previously coached at UT from 1996 to 1997), met with reporters on Saturday and he talked about how no one — player or coach — is bigger than the Power T.
And it's that belief in the program that's helped create a strong culture in Tennessee's defensive line room.
According to Garner, that hasn't always been the case. He mentioned that in the past, the Vols have had some players who felt like Tennessee was "blessed" to have them, instead of them feeling blessed to play at Tennessee.
"I think the guys are buying in to what we believe and what we preach," said Garner. "I know everybody thinks it's cliché, but I truly believe in my heart that we are all blessed just to have the opportunity to be at the University of Tennessee. We've had some guys in the past that always felt 'Tennessee was blessed to have us (players)', and that's not the case. These guys, I think they are believing in what we are doing and how we are doing things. They understand it's bigger than us as individuals. It's bigger than me as Coach G. It's bigger than Coach (Tim) Banks. It's bigger than Coach (Mike) Ekeler. It's bigger than any one of them. It begins with the T and ends with the T."
"They are starting to see that when we play together, and we play as brothers, then we have an opportunity to achieve something good," added Garner. "We have the opportunity to display playing at a high level, being able to have more guys get accolades and being able to do great things. It's been rewarding for me to have an opportunity to coach these young men. I enjoy my role. I really do, but I don't want y'all to take that as I am soft on them. We still have come to Jesus moments. We had one yesterday with Mr. Omarr [Norman-Lott]. They all need to be checked, just like me. And I guess they put me in those moments to check me to make sure I'm still running hot, too. It's those checks and balances, but I really love the guys. My role is to try to minister to them and help them grow in all areas. Not just on the football field but academically, socially, spiritually and athletically. That is something that we don't take for granted."
Individual talent only takes a team so far. And Garner, who has four decades of experience in the SEC as a coach/player, knows that as well as anyone. He understands that the only way to win a conference championship and/or a national championship is for players (and coaches) to put the program first. And that's the culture that he's helped instill at Tennessee.
It sounds like everyone is pulling in the same direction at Tennessee. It's only when that happens that special seasons are possible.
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