An Evening With Al Wilson

Sometimes, I feel like the whole world is an expensive tuxedo, and I'm a cheap pair of brown shoes.

I had that feeling last night-- but I enjoyed it.

I was invited by former UT strength and conditioning coach Johnny Long to a house-party reception for former Vol Al Wilson. I was surrounded by heavy hitters-- local politicians, attorneys, former Vols Eric Westmoreland, Terry Fair, Robert Peace, Fred White, Steve Johnson, actor David Keith, and of course, former UT Head Coach Phillip Fulmer and his wife Vickie.

Ok, enough name dropping-- it's not my style. Except this time.

I walked into a room packed with former UT football players and Coach Fulmer. Kidding, I told Coach Fulmer this was the moment he was waiting for (me surrounded by his players). Fortunately they share my sense of humor (I think).

The evening was all about Al Wilson. After an eight-year career in the NFL, Wilson is returning home to Tennessee and will make Knoxville his home. To kick things off, Al is organizing a football camp for youngsters-- you can read more about that at wate.com.

Wilson personified what the 1998 Tennessee national champions were all about. True to his nature, he credits former Vol Tee Martin with leading the team to an unbeaten season. He downplayed his role on the team-- but truth be told, Wilson was instrumental to Tennessee's success, on and off the field.

It was good to see Al again. It was also good to share a few moments with players I used to cover.

There are plenty of positive examples of UT athletes moving on to successful careers after their playing days are over-- Steve Johnson, for example, is successful in the restaurant business in Atlanta. Fred White now has his own radio show in Knoxville. Johnny Long is making plans to open a huge fitness center in Knoxville. He's already established two of them in his home state of Louisiana.

And in the interest of full disclosure-- I stole the tuxedo line from George Gobel-- a 1960s era comedian who ad-libbed it one night during the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. 

It was classic-- much like the 1998 Volunteer football team.