Will there be a greater allegiance to your college team?

[Reginald Rutledge]

Some guys love the NFL. Some love the NCAA? I know that back in the day, in 1970, when I first fell in love with the game of football, it was those NFL logos and the possibility of becoming an NFL star that entered my brain. Heck Oscar Reed and Terdell Middleton among others had lived with in 20 yards of my house either way and they made it big in the NFL!

However, there was still something about a school up in east Tennessee that lived on the banks of the Tennessee River. They were called the Volunteers. Legend has it that Davey Crockett, Sam Houston and many others from the state of Tennessee went to Texas to fight at the Alamo. I know the stories well. I never thought those two worlds would collide for me!

I went to both universities. I studied engineering at both, one in aerospace and one in electrical. But for whatever the reason, my heart and soul has remained with Tennessee. I love the school. When I die, my coffin will be Orange and White. My money went to Tennessee for 5 years, to Texas for 4. However, when I line up my CBSMF team, I can not help but think I will take on a different type of seriousness from when I play with the Cowboys.

Yeah, like anyone, I want to win but at the end of the day, it's still not that serious to me. But for whatever the reason, I am thinking when I finally get a chance to play in my Neyland Stadium for the first time, it will take on a different meaning. Yeah, the DFW has played in the stadium but not for these type of stakes.

My stadium will be decked out. I get to play one of my arch enemies, Barry Stephenson, in Neyland Stadium. This should be fun. While Barry and I are great friends, this is one of those situations where I want to whup his $$@(!
This is Tennessee, my home state, my school, and the traditions of Rocky Top. I will take this a little more serious than the NFL. That's just me! I love the traditions of college football. And I will not be quick to give up calls. The refs will make the call! But for me, it will be a greater allegiance to my college team. I invested in that school, financially, academically, socially, etc.

How will you fellow CBSMFers feel about your college experience?

Coach Reginald Rutledge
Tennessee Volunteers - Southwest Conference

[WolverineFan]

It would be nice to play with my Wolverines.I am known mostly for my sweet looking Michigan squad.We will discuss that more later but just to play EF with the best coaches in the country and friends is what does it for me.Win or lose I will have fun.My purple wildcats are ready to roll.