University of Tennessee Athletics
Will Bartholomew: All in the Family
October 03, 2001 | Football
Oct. 3, 2001
Tennessee fullback Will Bartholomew comes by his fullback talent naturally. After all, his grandfather, Sam, played at Tennessee from 1937-39 and was captain of the unscored upon 1939 team. He was a two-time winner of the Jacobs Blocking Trophy, awarded annually to the best blocker in the Southeastern Conference. His father, Sam, Jr., played at Army. You might say Will was born to be a Vol.
"Will grew up watching Tennessee football," Sam, Jr., said.
He may have come by his talent naturally, but he's supplemented it by being a tireless worker in the weight room and on the field. He's won the Lifter of the Year Award in 2000 and likewise won the Bill Majors Award for dedication to football. He's no slouch in the classroom either, having been a three-time Academic All-SEC selection and carrying a UT degree in finance in his back pocket.
He seems ready made for the job at fullback, augmenting that thankless job with service on UT special teams. So it's quite a package Will brings to the table. At 6-0, 232, he's a load.
He was named one of five captains for this season, joining John Henderson, Andre Lott, Will Overstreet and Fred Weary to make up the 2001 captains' corps.
UT had only one father-son captain combination, Steve and Keith Delong, and now it has a grandfather-grandson combination with Sam and Will. Sam, Jr., was captain of the Army team that lost at Neyland Stadium to the Vols in the 1965 season opener. He was steered to Army by a personage no less than Gen. Robert R. Neyland.
"It's interesting," Will said about his family's football heritage. "These are different times, but I hope I can keep it up."
Keep it up he did. Will has played in 40 games, starting 17, at Tennessee entering the 2001 Georgia game and is viewed as an important cog in the Vol offense. He is a fierce blocker from his fullback position, much the way is granddad was more than 60 years ago as a blocking back. There are very few times he doesn't get his man. This past spring, he gained valuable experience in the Vols' one-back offense and gives the Vol offense an added dimension with his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield.
In 2000, he caught 14 passes and scored a TD against LSU, rumbling down the near sideline for a score in a manner reminiscent of former Vol fullback William Howard. He would not be denied as he struck pay dirt against the Tigers. He had a key fumble recovery on punt coverage in the season lid lifter against Southern Mississippi.
He also helped pave the way for record-setting tailback Travis Henry, who rushed for more 3000 yards in a spectacular 2000 senior season campaign. "When I'm hitting a guy and watching Travis run by for a touchdown, it's nice. It's a great feeling when you look up and see his back running down the sidelines and know you contributed to him breaking that run because you made your block."
"From the coaches' standpoint, you better believe Will Bartholomew is appreciated," no less of an expert than Phillip Fulmer says. "He is one of the most physical players on our football team. He has become an outstanding leader for us and is a great example of what is good about college football. The way he lives his life personally, his academics are always a priority, his Christian stance - and to go to with that he's a heck of a football player."
His time away from the field is spent with wife, Shelly, and, when time permits, he is an active member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He is a regular participant in the Vols' community relations program.
"Marriage has helped me," he said. I told the coaches that it was probably the best thing that could have happened to me for football because it really helped me focus. I guess before I was married my mind wasn't on football. Then when you get married, your life settles down."
His prep career at MBA was equally impressive. He was captain of his team and the team's MVP. He was Defensive Player of the Year for Nashville from his linebacker position. He was class 5-A All-State and All-Midstate. He was the 1997 Class AAA Athlete of the Year. In an impressive athletic resume`, he was All-State in football, wrestling and track. His football teams were 32-7 over three years. He was the 1997 Tennessee state wrestling champion and finished second in the state shot put.
It is also interesting to note that Will was president of his class for five consecutive years at Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville from the eighth grade on. He was also a National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame selection.
Consider what head coach Ricky Bowers said about Will in his recommendation for the Scholar-Athlete Award from the Middle Tennessee Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame: Will exemplifies the Montgomery Bell Academy motto of 'Gentleman, Scholar and Athlete." Will is trustworthy, responsible, talented, and is truly a great leader. While averaging 6.2 yards per carry and knowing he was our best running back, he sacrificed individual glory and statistics to become the best lead blocker in MBA history and led his team to an unprecedented 32 wins in three years. He led his team by example. He outworked, out thought, out hit and out hustled teammates and opponents alike. He has a relentless spirit of excellence that is easily observed, incredibly contagious, and extremely rare. He is the player we want to coach, and the son we all want to rear. In my eleven years of coaching and teaching, I have not found a more qualified gentleman, scholar and athlete."
"I'm probably not the best athlete," he once said. "I'm definitely not the most gifted or talented out there. But I feel like I play hard when I get out there. If I can leave here and people actually remember me as a guy who would go out there and stick my head into the line every time that I could, then I will."
That's quite a legacy Will's establishing as a Vol. Vol fans who watch closely will see what he's made of and see his contribution to the success of the team. It's been more than 60 years, but you can see a lot of Sam, Sr.'s competitive spirit in Will.
The passage of time has not dimmed the luster at all. The name Bartholomew means something to Tennessee football and Will is determined his keep up his end of the deal.
