University of Tennessee Athletics
Clausen: Calling Signals For The Vols
November 08, 2001 | Football
Nov. 8, 2001
The past is, as they say, prologue, at least in the case of Tennessee quarterback Casey Clausen.
He took over in the Alabama game last season and led the Vols to a 20-10 win on the "Third Saturday in October." He followed that up with last-second drives to help the Vols defeat South Carolina and Memphis, both on the road, the latter under less-than-pleasant weather conditions.
So, no one should have been surprised when Clausen led the way back at Arkansas, a 13-3 victory after the Vols trailed 3-0 going into the final stanza, at Alabama, a 35-24 victory when the Vols trailed 24-21 entering the final stanza, and, just to make things different, at Notre Dame, when the Vols were seriously challenged in the fourth period after lead 21-10 when the teams changed ends for the fourth quarter.
So Clausen, who is 12-2 as a starter, enters the stretch run of the 2001 season firmly ensconced as the Vol starter with a pretty good team around him. Despite not starting until the afore-mentioned Alabama game in 2000, Clausen established UT freshman records in several categories, including passing yards and passing TDs, breaking previous marks held by a youngster named Peyton Manning back in 1994, somewhere back in the Paleozoic era of UT football, but that's no pressure at all.
"Not really," he said. "I think the biggest thing is to just go out and improve and get better every single day. I think one of the things we do here at the University of Tennessee is work hard and be the best that we can be, I think going out there and just trying to compete and do the best we can and hopefully everything else will take care of itself."
His performance this year has impressed his head coach and Phillip Fulmer said so in the days leading up to the Memphis game. "I am particularly pleased with Casey Clausen and the way he's gone about his preparation for each game, how he's managed the game and his decision-making. We haven't turned the ball over on our end in quite some time. That will help keep you from getting beat a lot of times.
"He's taken care of the football, has managed the game and allowed the other players on the field be successful. That's what the quarterback is supposed to do. It goes without saying that he's made a lot huge plays for us throwing the ball. I'm encouraged by that and I fully expect him to stay on that track."
You can expect him to do so, given his football pedigree. He enrolled at UT in January 2000, bringing Parade and PrepStar All-America credentials. He was an All-State and All-Region selection at Alemany High School, throwing for 2805 yards and 31 touchdowns in his senior season, leading his team to a 9-3 mark and the state playoffs.
When things got tight near the end of the Notre Dame game, down at the north end zone in front of the Tennessee fans high above and within sight of "Touchdown Jesus," Clausen told coaches he wanted the ball and that was that. It was fourth-and-1 at the one with the Vols leading 21-18 with just seconds left. He got the ball in the end zone, diving in much as Vol tailbacks have over the years, protecting the pigskin adroitly. After game, he was an equally poised operator, explaining the situation to the assembled media and to two national talk shows via a cell phone. It was impressive.
Coming from California, he didn't know what to expect, but, take a bow, Vol fans, he found at least one surprising thing on his arrival. "I think the biggest thing was the people," he said. "I think the people are a lot more laid back, a lot nicer then they are out in California," he noted. "This whole type of environment, and the atmosphere in the south, is cool and I like it a lot."
He was equally impressed with the commitment he found toward the game of football. "I think the best thing is obviously the football, I think, the atmosphere, the pride and joy the fans have for Tennessee football...it's crazy and that's why I came here," he said.
Let's see now. He's a big-time college quarterback, so his heroes might include John Elway or Joe Montana or some other well-known signal-caller. Right? If you thought that, you're in error. It's... David Robinson, the noted hoops star at San Antonio in the pay-for-play league. That's right. You could also add a couple of other heroes closer to home.
"When I was little I looked up to David Robinson, who was a basketball player," he said. "I think my role models growing up were obviously my parents, my mom and my dad. They raised me, and the reason I am where I am today is because of them...so I would have to say them."
Jim and Cathy Clausen have been racking up the frequent flyer miles watching their son play and that is a factor that helps Casey out a lot.
They're always there, wherever "there" is and Casey appreciates it. "It always does, you appreciate your family a lot more when you are away from home, and anytime they get a chance to come out here I try to play as hard as I can for them. So it's always a special privilege for them to come out and watch me play."
You could tell he was in to this Tennessee thing when he talked about Alabama, just like he was raised on the exploits of McEver, Butler, Lauricella, Majors, Dorsey, Manning and all the rest. He understands the tradition and what it means.
"I think my most memorable moment was my first start against Alabama," he said, "finally getting out there and being the quarterback for Tennessee, being the guy, it was a great moment. Hopefully, there are a lot greater moments that lie in the future."
There really have been. There was one magic moment after the LSU game very few of us got to see this past fall, when Casey, in full regalia, showed up at the door of the LSU dressing room with brother Jimmy in tow to see their brother Rick, who was a signal-caller for the Tigers. You couldn't hear what was said, but, if you've had a brother and particularly one who played sports, you understand. It had to have been special. (After the Alabama game, Jim was figuring the mileage and the time up U.S. 82 so they could see Rick's game at Mississippi State.)
"He wanted to play football in the SEC," Casey said, "and he got it down the about three or four schools in the SEC and he felt really comfortable with the coaches there. I'm really happy for him that he picked LSU, and it's pretty cool that he is there, and hopefully he'll have a good college experience and career at LSU.
"He had interest in Tennesseee, but at the same time he wanted to go to his own school and do his own thing. I'm happy for him where he is and I'm excited for him."
He was asked in a recent interview, "If you could tell people anything about you, what would you want them to know?"
His answer was to the point. "Just that I'm a hard worker," he said. "I'm going to try to go out and compete and play as hard as I can. A lot of people think all we do is play football, but we also go to school and get an education. I just want to go out and work as hard as I can and do the best I can and just try to play hard and be a good person not only on the field, but also off the field."
