Ex-Vol Little Speaks To UT Team; Some Feathers Ruffled

 Send This Story To A Friend

Prior to this morning’s practice session, former Tennessee defensive standout Leonard Little addressed Derek Dooley’s team.  The coach said Little’s motivational message was one the team needed to hear.

Little, of course, left UT and went on to have a lengthy career in the NFL as a pass rusher.  But he was also involved in a drunk driving accident that left one woman dead.  And he followed that up with yet another drunk driving incident.  No doubt some will wonder if having Little back to speak to the troops was such a good move by UT’s second-year coach.

For his part, Dooley simply sounds like a man who likes have ex-stars — any ex-stars — talk to his squad:


“Leonard’s got his picture on the wall, he was an All-American, he was a part of one of those banners in there.  That’s what we’re playing for.  He’s a guy who lived it, he breathed it.

I think he lost about four games in his career and then he went on to be a great NFL player.  So, he represents everything to me that Tennessee is all about.  The more guys like that come back, I love it when they get in front of the team.”


For all we know, Little might have referred to his past troubles and tried to send a positive message to UT’s players.  Or maybe he just talked football.  Either way, if you read this site regularly you know that we’re pretty big believers when it comes to second and third and fourth chances.  So if Dooley wants to ask Little to speak to his squad, we’ll not throw stones.

But you can bet some will.


(Sidenote — We just found this write-up at CBSSports.com between finishing and posting this story.  Two words: thought so.)