University of Tennessee Athletics
Negedu Hits the Road
February 28, 2010 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 28, 2010
Drew Rutherford
UTsports.com
Emmanuel Negedu has always been driven. But that is about to change.
Let me explain. The Tennessee hoops star and native of Nigeria just got his driver's license.
"The test went pretty well," Negedu said with a grin. "I missed a couple of things--my instructor said I didn't check before pulling out and that I went too fast in my U-turn."
For E-Man, as he is affectionately known by the team, getting a driver's license is a major milestone in his life.
"It is really awesome to be able to drive myself now," Negedu said. "I have always had to ask people for a ride, but now I can give people rides."
And he did just that Friday, as teammate Scotty Hopson became the first Vol to be a passenger in an E-Man-driven vehicle.
"I rode with him Thursday before he took the test and he was pretty choppy driving," Hopson said. "I told him to relax, not grip the wheel too tightly and don't hit the brakes too hard.
"I got in the car with him (Friday) and he seemed so confident. He was behind the wheel with a smile on his face. The music was at a lovely level--just like I like it."
However, not all of Negedu's teammates are so excited he'll be behind the wheel.
"I will never ride with him," Bobby Maze deadpanned. "He doesn't know how to drive. E-Man is a great person, but I'm not sure he is a great driver."
E-Man would be well advised not to ask Bobby for his keys, either.
"I will never even consider letting him drive my car," Maze said. "If I had a cramp in my leg and couldn't drive, I would call someone to come get me before I let E-Man drive my car."
Upon hearing the news that Negedu got his license, Vols head coach Bruce Pearl expressed concern for those on the roads in East Tennessee.
"Beware," Pearl said. "Be afraid. Be very afraid. I would let E-Man drive me across the street, but no further."
While it only took Negedu one try to pass his driving exam, his learner's permit proved to be a tougher challenge.
"That learner's permit took some work," Negedu said. "The first time I went to take it, I didn't study at all. And I failed it badly."
Learning from his mistake, E-Man responded by studying the second time around, but to no avail. He missed a passing score by two questions.
"I was mad, too," Negedu said, the anger still in his voice. "I took it again a third time and missed it by one point. Then I was really mad."
One-way streets and four-way stops proved to be an Achilles' heel for E-Man.
So he studied even more. He would not be denied.
"I took it the four times and then I passed it," Negedu said.
In Nigeria, no such driver's test is required in order to obtain a license.
"Back home, you just pay for it, and then you get a license," Negedu said. "You don't have to take any test to drive."
With a license in hand, Negedu's focus now turns to landing a set of wheels. While many college students vision a luxury car in their dreams, not E-Man. He just wants to find one within his budget.
"I don't need anything fancy," Negedu said humbly. "I just want a simple car--like a Honda or something."
Whether you like it or not Vols fans, you will now be sharing the roads with (a smiling) Emmanuel Negedu.
