Berry likes new energy at Tennessee
Knoxville—Tennessee’s first game is still five months away but Eric Berry says that the Volunteers are in a good place right now under first-year head coach Lane Kiffin.
“We’re right on that borderline between confident and cocky,” said the All-America safety from Fairburn, Ga. “I don’t think this will be a cocky team. But our confidence will be right up there. That is what our coaches are instilling in us right now.”
Berry’s words carry some weight around here. He has never been a boastful player. When you’re the best defensive back in America and arguably the best to ever play the position at Tennessee, you don’t have to brag. You really don’t have to talk much at all. You just play and Berry is a helluva player, one of the best I’ve ever seen.
But Berry insists there is a new vibe here that was pretty obvious, even to the casual observer, during Tuesday’s indoor practice. The pace was quick. Almost everything is done at full speed. It is the unmistakable energy that comes with a fresh start. And as painful as Berry found it to say good bye to head coach Phillip Fulmer and his DC, John Chavis, this fresh start has been good, he says.
“The energy level here has been ridiculous to be perfectly honest about it,” said Berry. “If you get here at six in the morning you’ll see Coach O (defensive line coach Ed Orgeron) yelling and he’s already at full throttle. He’s got a can of Red Bull in his hand and he is ready to go. All of the coaches on the staff are like that. They really get after it.”
Yes, Kiffin did upset the SEC apple cart just after national signing day with some less than flattering remarks aimed at Florida’s Urban Meyer. Yes, he did get a reprimand from the commissioner and had to apologize. Kiffin deserved the reprimand. And it didn’t help when Kiffin’s own program was found to have committed some minor violations.
But Berry says that to focus on what his new head coach said and the public reaction to it misses the bigger picture.
“I wouldn’t say anything like that personally but to the players it meant our coach was showing confidence in us,” Berry said. “That gives us confidence. It means he’s got our backs.”
And confidence, said Berry, can go a long way in the SEC.
“I believe football is more of a mental game than anything,” said Berry, who led the nation with 265 yards in interception returns in 2008. “If you don’t believe you’re going to make the open field tackle…if you have any doubts about what you’re doing…you’re not going to make the play. Swagger is important when you’re playing football. Especially on defense.”
Berry is still recovering from shoulder surgery (torn labrum) in December. He will not have any contact this spring but should be ready for full contact in August. He plans to stay in Knoxville this summer and work out. He already put together his check list of things he wants to improve on this summer. That’s how good players become great and great players become legends.
Does Tennessee have enough talent to make some noise in the SEC East? I could see a number of thin areas during my visit to practice on Tuesday. The quarterbacks are average but Jonathan Crompton looks confident again in this new offense. Other than Gerald Jones, I don’t see a lot of wide receivers who can make big plays. The offensive line has slimmed down but needs some work. They need some more linebackers. They left senior safety Demetrice Morley go on Tuesday and so now Berry needs a running mate.
The Volunteers are bringing in a great recruiting class and will need at least two more like it to seriously talk of winning the division.
But the players Tennessee does have, it seems, are going full speed and carrying themselves with a bit of that swagger that Berry likes. Will that be enough to beat Florida in Gainesville (on Sept. 19) or Alabama in Tuscaloosa (on Oct. 24)? Probably not.
But this much we do know. Things are different in Knoxville. The players are hungry and they have bought in to what Kiffin and this new staff has to sell. And that’s an important start.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Guides
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2011 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
80 comments Add your comment
Mitch Cumstein
April 8th, 2009
7:41 am
Interesting take. How does their enthusiasm compare to the rest of the league? If its more than average, I’ll bet Tennessee upsets a few times this year, however, enthusiasm can only take you so far. Its obvious that an injection of new blood has restored some swagger to Rocky Top as well as the assistant coaches that Kiffin has brought in, and I fear that guy mike be crazy like a fox.
Same old same old
April 8th, 2009
7:46 am
Just looking at your recent posts (and posts over the last year), shouldn’t you be calling yourself “Mr. SEC College Football?”
Ole Miss Remembers Coach O
April 8th, 2009
7:50 am
Enter your comments here
Dave
April 8th, 2009
8:02 am
I predict the TN fans will be saying where’s the beef at the end of next season. They still have pretty much the same team and claim to have the new improved version of Crompton as QB. Ok show me something.
Atlanta Jackets
April 8th, 2009
8:17 am
So will the shirtless coach now be the new trend? Take that shirt off CPJ!
Good write up. Berry seems like a good kid.
On another note, not sure how we let Berry get out of Atlanta. He would have been another in a long line of great Tech safeties. Oh well. You finish second in recruiting as Tech did here and its the same as finishing last.
ehyoutiger
April 8th, 2009
8:20 am
Tony,
Don’t listen to Same Old. We read your articles because they are about the SEC. Keep up the good work.
War Eagle
Bull Gator
April 8th, 2009
8:20 am
Berry’s comments reveal that Kiffin’s attitude is already infecting his entire team. Swagger may be good, but swagger isn’t going to win you any games. Swagger is going to make you look like a fool when your team gets crushed by the more talented, more prepared, and more focused teams like UF & AL.
It’s great that Berry feels good. He should, he’s a beast and will almost certainly be the first safety taken in the draft next year. But TN’s talent might be, at best, the 5th or 6th in the SEC. When you run your mouth without being able to back it up, that swagger begins to turn into frustration, and eventually it will effect the team’s performance. UT may be on the upswing, who knows. What I do know is that Meyer, Saban and the rest of the SEC are only going to be more motivated by a loud-mouth clown, and UT’s football players are going to be the ones paying the price. Enjoy your season Vol fans. Can’t wait for Sep. 19. The Swamp will be rocking.
Go Gators.
bigdawg01
April 8th, 2009
8:24 am
Same old:
The SEC IS college football. I guess you were wanting to hear about the ACC this morning. Well, as I have said in recent posts as have countless others. NO ONE CARES ABOUT THE ACC OR ANY OTHER CONFERENCE!
Eric
April 8th, 2009
8:32 am
Doesn’t every college team feel that way right about now. TN is no great exception. I’ll worry about them if and when they win some ballgames.
Evan
April 8th, 2009
8:36 am
Swagger and confidence don’t affect the way a team plays? That’s one of the dumber statements I’ve heard. Of course you need some W’s to back it up, but confidence often translates to aggressive, pysical play. I would think a Florida fan would agree more than anybody. Tebow’s play is night and day depending on his swagger.
That is why Phil Fulmer got fired…because he played not to lose. The guy lacked energy and could not keep his team motivated.
Just my opinion, but don’t expect a new coming of Jonathan Crompton. I think he’ll perform better in a simpler offense but I fully expect Stephens (who has been kept out of spring practice due to injury) or Coleman to beat him out.
Eric
April 8th, 2009
8:36 am
And another thing, pigdawg01 is obviously an absolute moron. Maybe he’s really george w bush in disguise.
LSWho?
April 8th, 2009
8:38 am
Good story Tony, as much as I hate to admit it UT could be the real sleeper this year. QB is the big question mark, if that gets settled look out.
Berry likes new energy at Tennessee - VolNation
April 8th, 2009
8:40 am
[...] Berry likes new energy at Tennessee “But Berry insists there is a new vibe here that was pretty obvious, even to the casual observer, during Tuesday
Dr. Phil
April 8th, 2009
8:44 am
Kiffin has brought WWF smoke and mirrors to Knoxville, but aren’t WWF events staged?
buckblue
April 8th, 2009
8:44 am
You reckon Berry is going to like it when UGA, UF and UA each drop 50 on the MT Gumps???
JB
April 8th, 2009
8:56 am
Yes, I agree with all. Tenn. will come on the field spitting fire and whooping it up , giving the ole Stare down, but when the whistle blows and the game is 3 or 4 minutes old and it’s just 11 vol players on that island they call the field, Bama, UGa, FLA. etc are just too far ahead of them , As of now. They will win 7 games this year. They need a QB and some other important cogs. it’ll be a year or two.
Watson
April 8th, 2009
9:09 am
“Kiffin has brought WWF smoke and mirrors to Knoxville, but aren’t WWF events staged?”
You mean something like the entire team dancing in the endzone after a touchdown or having a “blackout”? Wonder what Richt will have to think of next to get his team excited.
Watson
April 8th, 2009
9:10 am
“Yes, I agree with all. Tenn. will come on the field spitting fire and whooping it up , giving the ole Stare down, but when the whistle blows and the game is 3 or 4 minutes old and it’s just 11 vol players on that island they call the field, Bama, LSU, FLA. etc are just too far ahead of them , As of now. They will win 7 games this year. They need a QB and some other important cogs. it’ll be a year or two.”
Fixed it for you.
Big Nate
April 8th, 2009
9:20 am
Everyone is confident until the get punched in the mouth and Tennessee will get punched in the mouth a lot this coming season. Kiffin has proven himself to be an oaf so far and he’ll probablt see a lot of RUTS games in SEC play. I can’t wait to hear him whine about class when it happens too.
gatorref
April 8th, 2009
9:21 am
Just exactly what has Kiffin done – what is his history – he does not have the resume’. When he gets to the swamp in Sept. he will learn a little humility.
Atlanta Gator
April 8th, 2009
9:21 am
Hmmm. We shall see.
“Swagger,” eh? Maybe I’m just old school, but I believe in doing it on the field and letting your actions speak for you. Big talk after a win is unnecessary and borders on poor sportsmanship. Cheap talk before a win is nothing more than smack and bulletin board motivational material for the other team.
Dutch
April 8th, 2009
9:26 am
The UT players have BOUGHT IN. Let’s see if they SELL LOW after Kiffin’s butt gets run by every other coach in the SEC? Bet they do. Kiffin will always be a joke. He’s not qualified in any way to be an SEC Head Coach.
And, for all those VOL Fans out there, check out Tampa Bay’s defensive stats for the last couple of years. I don’t think there were any offensive coordinators in the NFL that were afraid to play TB, including Mike Smith and ATL! Go Falcs (shameless Falcons plug, sorry).
The “Kiffin” name will be synonomous with the “Curry” name soon enough. Average daddy, pathetic offspring.
Kid Ray
April 8th, 2009
9:30 am
Other than the odd comments about the “kid from Pahokee” and the other veiled shots at UM, I think the UT situation mimics the Bama situation from two years ago. New coach…new energy…not enough players. However, it year two (three at the latest) I think UT becomes a major player in the SEC. Both Bama and UF come to Tenn in ‘10 and I think Auburn continues to take a step backwards and Vandy and UK and USC don’t seem like legit top-tier programs to me.
Just my $.02 Go Rutgers
Miles
April 8th, 2009
9:48 am
As I stated a few days ago, Berry is number one on the National Defensive Stud Chart. Other than him, the outlook in Knoxville is pretty bleak. Unfortunately, the spring in the Volunteer’s step, i.e., the swagger to which you’ve alluded Mr. Barnhart, won’t be enough to overcome the SEC East. Barack Obama may have an easier time tuning the country in the right direction in comparison to the task that Kiffin has at Rocky Top. Moreover, a home schdule that includes Auburn, Georgia, South Carolina, Vanderbilt, and UCLA will require more than the help of Ed Orgeron and his can of Red Bull. I hate to say it, but the Vols are in trouble.
The Red and Black
April 8th, 2009
9:54 am
[...] a pretty good read from Tony Barnhart with Eric Berry (spoiler: The Vols are “on that borderline between confident and [...]
Ken Keller
April 8th, 2009
9:59 am
The only thing the UT players have bought into is their loudmouth, looselipped coaching staff. Kiffin tried a 73-yd FG in the pros and got fired two days later with the Raiders (NFL record is 63-yds. Tom Dempsey). This guy is a moron and Orgeron is his running buddy. His goofy recruiting tactics lost Marlon Brown to UGA and UT will always play second fiddle as long as Urban Meyer and Nick Saban are in SEC. Vols will lose 5 games this year and get blowed out by at least 30 against Tide & Gators.
GeoffDawg
April 8th, 2009
10:02 am
Wasn’t that fg record tied by Jason Elam about 6 or 7 years ago?
Mac
April 8th, 2009
10:09 am
Enthusiasm in April carrying over into September? Good to talk about, but means less than a cricket phart. I’ll be interested to see if they are any good next year. My guess is it will take three years to get the roster up to snuff.
JB
April 8th, 2009
10:17 am
Dear Mr. Watson……I’m trying to remember how Georgia’s most injured, uninspired team in the Richt era faired against LSU last year……….Can anyone help me remember ???????
MegaT
April 8th, 2009
10:18 am
The UT program is headed back into the right direction. Kiffin has brought back some much needed confidence that has been missing the past few years. In time, I believe that he will get UT back to where we are competing for titles again. The key is recruiting and he seems to be able to attract top talent. It’s an exciting time for the UT faithful.
And KK, you must have never played football or know much about it. Confidence and swagger are very important, although not the final determining factor in wins and loses. Without confidence in your team, system, coaches and preparation, you have already lost before you step out on the field. It’s got to start between the ears before it can start between the lines!
KiffinSlapsUrban
April 8th, 2009
10:20 am
I like how all the Gator fans are getting their Tim Tebow underwear all in a cram. I hope you lizard lovers are enjoying and have enjoyed your most recent run because it is just about over. There is a new sheriff in town and he is armed with Red Bull, a quality coaching staff and top level recruits. UT..WILD BOYS!!! UT…WILD BOYS!!!
As for UGA. As a UT fan let me go ahead and warn you now. Mark ‘Helen Hunt’ Richt is on the Phil Fulmer career path minus the national title. He is just good enough to get you in the big games from time to time and then lose. You guys have had way too much talent and way too little hardware to show for it. But hey, I hope you keep him.
JB
April 8th, 2009
10:23 am
Let’s see….Mark Richt, Dean of SEC coach’s ….best winning percentage in the SEC during his tenure…..Fulmer fired and replaced with a circus…….I believe I’ll take my chances with Richt……..
Carroll
April 8th, 2009
10:28 am
Alabama fans remember you are just 1 year removed from a season that saw you lose to a small Louisana school and from 15 years of bad football teams, so what are you crowing about? You lost to Utah and even Vanderbilt won their bowl game. Florida don’t get to high and mighty for the day is coming when UF will fall and its going to hurt. bad.
JustCallMeChamp
April 8th, 2009
10:37 am
Mr Berry, “swagger” is easily spoken but much harder earned. And this Mr Kiffin will soon learn. Talk is indeed very cheap when you don’t have the record to back it up. The proof will be in the pounding. Go Gator!…It’s sweeping the Nation!!!
Jack G.
April 8th, 2009
10:40 am
As I have stated before, UT’s problem last year was an uninspired coaching staff.
I think that UT will surprise a lot of folks this year. World beaters—NO, but a good team that will pull a few upsets.
DirtyDawg
April 8th, 2009
10:41 am
Hey Kiffinslaps…looks as if you’re one of those Tennessee peckerwoods that have allowed your ‘blue-tick hound’ mouth get ahead of your fast ass. You had Bill Battle beating the world – and you ended up shooting his dog and sending the moving van to his house…you bally-hooded the return of the prodigal son, Johnny Majors, only to have Georgia lay a forty-plus point shutout on him in his opener (and you unceremoniously dumped him while he was in detox for your savior Phil Fulmer – perhaps the classiest act you’ve had since Bowden Wyatt, and we know how you ended that one. Fact is you folks have a history of shooting your mouths off way before you’ve actually done something. You very well may be good next season, but if past history is a judge, I’d at least try a little humility up front just so I wouldn’t have to go home with my tail between my legs after all the big talk. I mean if I had a set of coach’s whose only claim to fame is that they’d been fired from the last jobs they held before this one…or you had to get your daddy to come along in order to get the job in the first place…I think I’d keep my ‘rocky-top’ mouth shut until I saw some results.
baconboy
April 8th, 2009
10:46 am
Speaking as a Gator fan, the person that Kiffin consistently reminds me of is Ron Zook. Great recruiter, lots of energy, but in over his head.
Volunteer
April 8th, 2009
10:49 am
I think the energy will be there this year. We may lose 4 or 5 games, but it will not be because of a lack of effort. It maybe the lack of talent, but I’m sure the coaching staff will have our guy’s fired up. I also want to touch on somethin. The success Ole Miss is having now is with coach O’s recruits. So give some credit were credit is due. I also want to say that you bama fans are irritating. You all say how lane kiffin did not have sucess in the NFL, But as I recall Nick Sabin didn’t either. You bammers better worry were Nicks gonna go next. His trackrecord shows he will leave the bama program as fast as he did the others. If money talks, Sabin will walk. Now on to florida were you guys will probably beat us . I mean you should beat us. the talent level is off, But give us anouther year or so. We will be back! Our program got very “STALE” under fulmer. We needed a whole different idenity, a makeover.I believe coach kiffin is starting in the right direction. Only time will tell if it keeps going that way,but for now it feels great to be a TENNESSEE VOLUTEER
H1022
April 8th, 2009
10:52 am
I’ll take “business like” over “rah! rah!” any day.
Volunteer
April 8th, 2009
10:57 am
Ditydawg. Jawja was picked preseason NC last year. What happend? Oh thats rigt yall CHOKED.
JB
April 8th, 2009
11:03 am
I do agree about Saban….When you land back to back number 1 recruiting classes ,you making a lot of promises…some you can keep , some you can’t…..If it all works out and he wins 11 or so games every year , he might stay…. but when these 5 stars babies don’t get their promises and the I in Team takes over, ole Nick will bail in a New York minute. Many top 20 programs look for a new savior EVERY year, and he”ll be there ( At 5+ mil a year of course) to save the day. I predict it will be Michigan when they fire Rodregiz in 2 years. Ole Nick may get 6 mil…They will be desperate to get back to the top. ( yes, i know he’s a Michigan STATE man, but he’s a money man first.)
reservoirDAWG
April 8th, 2009
11:07 am
Hey Volunteer, I think we had a better team than that orange clad bunch one state north. Now tell your coach to keep his shirt on douchebag.
whitx2
April 8th, 2009
11:21 am
New sheriff in town. lol. No gun toting Andy and his side kick, fife.
Ed, put that dang can of red bull down and put your bullet in. Shoot UM. We’re down 63-6 and he’s still calling timeouts, dangit. Otis, go fix that hole in the fence, we’re suppose to have this place fenced in.
KiffinSlapsUrban
April 8th, 2009
12:01 pm
HAHAHAHA!! I love the delusional UGA fans. I hope you Dawgs remember what it used to be like with Donnan at the helm because you are about to be relegated back to 3rd place in the SEC East (and I dont see you passing the Gators for 2nd). Last year was your last chance and you choked it away.
PS..Eric Berry says to tell No-title-shaun Moreno HI.
Gen Neyland
April 8th, 2009
12:13 pm
Berry has been designated as spokesman and will be a Captain on the squad. Seems TB spent most of his time in conversation with EB than coaches. Yeah, we’ll see what year 1 brings CLK…buckblue : What you smoking, son..?
Pick up a copy of Richard Whitt’s book, ‘Behind the Hedges:Big Money and Power Politics at the University of Georgia’…Book reports due after the G-Day game…
Here, here "Same old, Same old"
April 8th, 2009
12:26 pm
I hear ya same old, same old……
TB’s articles create lots of “tunnel vision” for southern football fans, particularly SEC fans and a few ACC fans; being that his articles are probably 90% SEC, 5% ACC, and 5% other.
Until he shows that he actually knows football OUTSIDE the South (i.e. Big 10, Big 12, Pac 10, Mnt West, etc.) maybe he should add “Southern” just before College in his so-called title.
I’m neither a UT fan, nor a UT hater, but jeez …. how many articles do you think TB will write about Eric Berry before the 2009 college football season ends? Along with tons of Alabama articles, and “Big Boy Football” comments, and 17-14, 21-17, 28-24, 34-31, 31-28, score predictions.
TB, if you’re going title yourself “Mr. COLLEGE Football” then prove it. Give us all some info we dind’t know about some conf./teams outside the South. And not just 5% of the time.
RAMBLE ON!!!
April 8th, 2009
12:39 pm
Tony gives 20% (FSU 18%), to the ACC, 75% SEC and 5% the rest of the nation.
He can’t help it. You see, he gets this tingle up his leg when a SEC coach says something or takes his shirt off.
hsf
April 8th, 2009
12:40 pm
Tony is writing for a southern paper to a 95% southern audience. If you want to hear about the Big 10 (little 11?) then please move north. Mr. CFB’s assessment of Tennessee is dead on. He is the best in the business.
Otto
April 8th, 2009
1:05 pm
Volunteer so what you’re saying is UT will have a good team in 4 or 5 years with Coach O’s recruits and a new coach?
Atlanta Jackets
April 8th, 2009
1:28 pm
Write on the Robot. Get on it now.
No one can knock the Robot, until they beat the Robot. Shut it mutts.