I tried to be cool when presented with such stuff, but I childhood idols were an exception to the rule. I will admit that was a fun call when I called dad and told him I met Reggie Cobb that day.
One of the first days I was in school there, I was at Gibbs waiting on the elevator. Door opens, Tee Martin walks out. My jaw drops, he says "hey man". I mumbled something and shook his hand. Then, the first time I met John Ward, I couldn't speak.
Same with Ward. He graciously smiled, said hello, and shook my hand. The picture of said encounter looks like I peed my pants. Freshman year at UT I ate lunch with Jeff Hall every Friday because of a football friend. My dad thought I was lying. (Note this was before unlimited cell phone usage....and I feel old.) Anyway, one Friday I asked him if he would come to my dorm so I could call my dad and prove this to him. Jeff being Jeff, he didn't understand the big deal (remember this is the guy who went home, ate a bowl of cereal and went to bed after the Florida game) but did it. That one was a fun one to hang over dad.
I went and sat in a different section at TBA than my usual seats with one of my former college teammates a few years ago. I was extremely lucky to be sitting one row in front of John Ward. My son was probably 4 at the time. During a timeout I turned and told him that I appreciated everything he meant to UT, and how growing up he WAS UT sports to me. He was gracious, humble and said he appreciated my kind words. He looked at my son and told him to soak up every moment with his dad. My son asked like all kids do, "who is that dad?" I said, "the best to ever do what he did buddy."
https://theathletic.com/938643/2019...remember-running-back-reggie-cobb-dead-at-50/ Good write up. Learned he loved Smokey and the Bandit too.
Made this years ago hence the poor quality. IMO his ‘87 freshman season is the best single season ever by a Tennessee RB.
It's pretty cool watching him get 8 yards downfield before anyone touches him. A couple of other points, 17 touchdowns. [uck fay] every coach Tennessee has hired since Fulmer. Also, Tampa Bay was trash.
I know various message boards are littered with my effort posts about how good he was but allow me to point out one more small thing. Cobb and Jamal Lewis were the best about switching ball hands to the outside and then using their off-hand to setup and work through defenders. Imo, Cobb’s 60 yard TD run against Duke in ‘89 is the best in Tennessee history.
Look how often we were in a 2 TE, FB/RB formation. "We are going to run right THERE, and you won't stop us."
