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| James Berry |
James Berry, who will be honored as this week's UT Legend along with former Vols coach Johnny Majors, will stop by UTSports.com for a live chat Friday afternoon at 1:30.
Berry, a running back from 1978-81, ranks 19th on UT's all-time rushing list with 1,721 career yards. He also led the Vols in rushing during both the 1980 and 1981 seasons.
In 1981, Berry served as a UT captain. Just last week his son, UT safety Eric Berry, was voted a team captain last week by his teammates.
Go ahead and start leaving questions for James Berry in advance of Friday's chat. Please post your name and hometown when submitting questions.
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Drew Edwards: We've had a great response so far, and James Berry will join us in just a few moments.
Keep those questions coming! |
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Drew Edwards: We've got James Berry on the line, and we're ready to begin. |
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| Wesley Knoxville: Hey James How do you think the Tennessee Football program is doing so far with Lane Kiffin?
Thanks!! |
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James Berry: I think that Lane's doing very well this year. I think the players have bought into his program and what he's trying to accomplish there, and I think we'll be very successful this year. |
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| Frank (Nashville): How does it feel to be honored as a Tennessee legend? |
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James Berry: I think it's a great honor. It makes me feel real good to be honored. It's a good thing not to be forgotten.
I owe a lot of that to Eric being up here. He kind of rekindled the fire in his dad. I think it's a great thing, and I really appreciate it. |
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| David, Naples: How do you feel when you watch your son Eric score a TD on an interception? Do you call anyone? |
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James Berry: I don't call anyone. Most all our family, we're together watching the game.
I receive a lot of phone calls, and that makes me feel proud. I'm really proud of the things he's accomplished here at Tennessee. |
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| Steve (Charleston, SC): Who are some of your teammates you still keep in touch with? |
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James Berry: I'm always in touch with a good friend of mine Chris Bolton and Brian Ingram.
I had lunch with them yesterday.
We talk to each other a lot.
Chris's son is riding with me now. We're coming up to the game. |
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| Charles (Cosby): Being a UT alum, what's it like having your son play for UT and being so successful? |
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James Berry: It's great. When Eric made his decision to come to Tennessee, it made me proud.
It was his decision, and he wanted to come play where his father played. That brought a lot of joy to my heart and made me feel good. |
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| Joe (Pittsburgh, Pa.): I enjoyed Coach Majors up here, what drew you to Tennessee? How was it playing for him. |
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James Berry: Coach Majors. He was a heck of a recruiter. He was straight up with me and told me he wasn't going to promise me anything.
He told me I'd have the opportunity to play if would do the things they expected of me. |
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| TIM (BARTLETT, TN): James, if it was 1981 again,do you think your son could lay a lick on you if he were lined up against you, the way he plays football today? |
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James Berry: I think he could, but I think he'd get one back from me.
His toughness, the way he plays, he could have played then. |
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| Adam (Stoney Creek): Mark Richt has consistently built a fence around the state of Georgia since 2001. With you being a former Vol, did Eric feel pressured for coming to Tennessee and leaving Georgia? |
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James Berry: No. I don't think Eric felt any pressure at all. That's one thing me and his mom tried to teach him, don't let anyone pressure you into something you don't want to do.
It was Eric's decision to come to Tennessee. I don't think he felt any pressure at all. |
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| Justin (Germantown): When you played at UT. What was it like playing for Coach Majors when he was trying to rebuild the Tennessee program? |
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James Berry: It was a lot of fun, but it was hard work.
We were one of the only programs to go through three-a-days.
Coach Majors had a plan to get back to prominence.
On thing he did, he worked us hard, but we earned it. |
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| Roger (Kingsport): What other sports did Eric excel in growing up? Could he have been a two-sport athlete in college? |
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James Berry: Eric excelled in everything he did because he worked hard. He was an avid golfer.
He played baseball and basketball and of course he ran track.
Anyone he chose he would have excelled at because of his work ethic. |
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James Berry: He had a pretty good tee shot. A pretty good swing. A pretty average putter.
He was a pretty good golfer. He could golf a little bit. |
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| Jeremy (Chattanooga): Who was the funniest teammate you had? |
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James Berry: Oh man. That would probably have to be myself.
I think cut a fool every now and then. We laughed and joked around every now and then.
I was probably in the mix. I think I could probably win that title. |
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| Kathy, Carthage, TN: What is your favorite memory as a Tennessee Vol? |
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James Berry: It probably was being selected as captain. That would be one of my greatest memories, being elected captain of the '81 team. That was a real honor to have them look at me that way. |
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Drew Edwards: What was it like for you when you found out Eric had been elected a captain? |
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James Berry: Can you say pass out? (Laughs)
It was great for him. We always told him that hard work and dedication would take you a long way.
You don't have to say anything. People will know you by your work. |
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| Ryan (Sommerville): How did Eric finally decide on DB a his final position. |
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James Berry: I think he looked at it realisitically, being 5-11, 6 feet. Trying to play quarterback, a lot of teams wanted a prototype quarterback.
Plus he liked defense. I think he liked giving out licks more than taking them. I think that had a lot to with it also.
We never knew the Wildcat and the Wild Run, all those Wilds would be coming in. Everybody's got a Wild something now. |
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| John/ Knoxville: Your favorite memory of Gibbs hall? |
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James Berry: Oh man, I would have to say having parties in the T Club after games and on Fridays.
All the guys would get together. We would piece together stereos up there, and invite other students up after the game.
That was a good time for us there. |
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| Bobby (Tallahassee, Fla.): What was your reaction the first time you saw Hershel Walker play in person? |
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James Berry: I thought he was a heck of an athlete. I was impressed by him. I thought he was a great athlete. |
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| Mark Patterson-Sebastian, FL: Dear James,
What do you think are the one or two keys that make the inner character of your son Eric such a vital part of who he is as a person, teammate, and football player for the Tennessee Volunteers?
I certainly enjoyed you, especially your character and class James in your playing days at UT!
All Christ's Best To You and Your Family,
Mark Patterson, UT Classes of '73 and '75 |
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James Berry: I think he keeps everything in perspective. He's genuinely a good guy. They give them an opportunity to get to know him, and he looks for those qualities in others.
He's just a good, quality people person. |
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| brandon evans (dyer,tn): How do you think tennessee will handle the 2009 season? |
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James Berry: I think they'll do well. I think the guys are doing well. I wouldn't be surprised if we were 9-3. That's how much I believe in their success. |
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James Berry: I would to see a 12-0! |
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| Terry (Greenville, SC): What does it mean to be a Tennessee legend on the same day as your coach is honored as well? |
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James Berry: That's a true honor right there, to come back and be honored with coach Johnny Majors. That's a once in a lifetime thing right there.
If I had to drag myself there, I'd be there. It's truly special, and it means a lot to me. |
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| Darwin (Columbia): What was Reggie White like in the locker roon? |
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James Berry: Reggie was a good guy. A funny guy. Clowned around in the locker room.
If you wanted to see a guy's demeanor change when he hit the football field, that was Reggie. He could turn it on and turn it off like that. |
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Drew Edwards: The response again has been great. Thanks for all your questions. Time for one or two more. |
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| Tanner (Meridian, MS): How has the college game changed since you played? What are your thoughts on the BCS? Is it a fair system? |
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James Berry: The college game has changed a whole lot. It's sped up a whole lot. At various positions they're so big. It's wide open now. You've got guys the size of linebackers playing tight end. You've got running backs the size of linemen almost running 4.3 and 4.4 40's.
The BCS, it's a good thing. Me personally, I would like to see some kind of playoff system. I would like to see a playoff to get down to a national champion. |
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Drew Edwards: Any final thoughts on your son, Eric, being a legend Saturday or this season? |
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James Berry: As far as Eric goes, I just want to see him stay on the same path he's on. As a father, I wish him much success.
It's just good to be here. I'm looking forward to having a good time and sitting down and catching up with Coach Majors. |
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Drew Edwards: That wraps up this week's chat. Big thanks to James Berry!
And great questions again. Thanks to everyone who submitted questions, and sorry we couldn't answer them all.
We'll be back with another live chat on Sept. 25. Check UTSports.com for more details, and thanks again! |
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