[Rhodes22-list] Wally! It's Football Time in Tennessee

Brad Haslett flybrad at gmail.com
Fri Sep 29 21:32:34 EDT 2006


The game tomorrow is the talk of the town here, ten years since Memphis beat
the Vols.  Here is an article from today's Commercial Appeal.  Jeremy is a
regular at the 'think tank' and a close friend of my ex UofM quarterback
buddy. Steve (the QB) brought a huge signed photo of Jeremy on the final
drive to RP Tracks today and we had Jeremy sign his photo from today's
newspaper for patrons.  A lot of regulars didn't know who he was but
remembered the play.  I missed his first fight because of work (he got the
snot beat out of him) but am going Tuesday night to watch him fight.  He's a
really nice guy!  I wouldn't want to be on the wrong side of him.

Brad

------------------------

'Once-in-a-lifetime opportunity'

*By Phil Stukenborg
Contact <http://contacts.commercialappeal.com/reporters/emailreporter.cfm>*
*September 29, 2006*

He's been a bounty hunter, a professional football player and now, at age
30, Jeremy Scruggs is trying his hand, or hands, at boxing.

No matter how successful Scruggs becomes in this next phase of his career,
the fledgling cruiserweight will always be remembered -- as long as he
trades his punches in Memphis -- for contributing to a stunning knockout
blow on Nov. 9, 1996.

On that late afternoon nearly 10 years ago, Scruggs delivered a powerful
punch to the Vols' midsection -- a 13-yard run to the Tennessee 3-yard line
in the closing minute -- to help the University of Memphis to an improbable
21-17 victory over sixth-ranked Tennessee.

''I was a little upset for a second that I didn't score on my run,'' said
Scruggs, a fullback. ''Then I remember saying 'Get back in the huddle, we've
got three yards to get.'''

Most remember Scruggs popping up from the pile after the run and
emphatically signaling first down.

''I don't know if I'll ever live that down, that play, that game,'' Scruggs
said. ''And I don't think I want to. When I busted through the line and made
a little move and saw the end zone, I just kept saying 'Don't fumble, don't
fumble.' Then I got stopped and got up and signaled first down.''

Scruggs was given a chance to score the winning touchdown, but was stopped
for no gain by Vols linebacker Al Wilson. On the ensuing play, quarterback
Qadry Anderson tossed the game-winning 3-yard pass to tight end Chris
Powers.

''I was just very happy to have the opportunity to play in that game,''
Scruggs said.

In the mid-1990s -- several years before Tommy West would take over the
program and lead the UofM to three straight bowls -- Tiger football was
mired in mediocrity. The UofM hadn't been to a bowl since 1971. The 1996
team wasn't going, either. It had struggled to a 3-6 record before Tennessee
came calling.

''It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for people who play at a school
like Memphis, where you didn't always get the exposure and chance to play
teams like that on a regular basis, to play a team like Tennessee,'' Scruggs
said. ''It was our time to say we were somebody, that we had good players
and could succeed playing somebody at the highest level.''

Scruggs said he felt as if the Tigers would complete the comeback when
receiver Chancy Carr caught a 41-yard pass from Anderson to give the UofM a
first down at the Tennessee 16.

''After that I said to myself there is no way we can't score here,'' Scruggs
said. ''At the minimum, we'll get a field goal, but we aren't kicking a
field goal.''

Scruggs, 1-1 in his young fight career, has a bout scheduled for Tuesday at
the New Daisy on Beale. While he loves his newest sport, it may be a while
before it creates the memories his former sport did, especially the one from
10 years ago.

''I remember (Tiger basketball stars) Cedric Henderson and Chris Garner and
all those guys were in our locker room after the game,'' Scruggs said.
''People were in tears. It was unbelievable. And a lot of the Tennessee
people were very supportive. They came up and said, 'Y'all lined up and beat
us.'

''It was just electric. If anyone would have said before the game, 'I'll
take Memphis to win,' they would have been laughed all the way to China.''


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