University of Tennessee Athletics
Poole Giving His All For Tennessee
September 03, 2011 | Football
BY: ANDREW LENTZ
UT Media Relations
Last August, Tauren Poole was preparing for his first start at Tennessee after being what he described as overlooked during his first two seasons. One year and 1,034 yards later, he's proven himself. His focus, however, is much greater.
"No one believes in Tennessee," Poole said. "In order to get respect, you have to win. We didn't win much last year. We won a (few) games, but we didn't win at the standard that UT is used to winning at. We have to do that this year because it's all we have. We can't do anything about the past. All we have is now and all we can focus on is now."
Poole heads into his final season at UT with another first - having the same head coach for the second straight season. With Derek Dooley's structure firmly in place, Poole is ready to prove much more than his own abilities.
"There's a lot of positive energy," Poole said. "Guys feel like we can win. Guys know we can work to win. They're confident in their abilities. The coaches are confident in us. All we need is confidence in each other, confidence in the staff and we'll win a lot of ball games."
Despite a lack of national attention, Poole continues to `give his all for Tennessee,' day in and day out.
"Still, no one ranks me in the top five SEC running backs or I don't think they have," Poole said. "It doesn't faze me because it's not going to change my work ethic. It's not going to change the type of person I am or the whole attitude I go out on the practice field every day with to be better.
"I actually like it because it gives me motivation to not be complacent and to not settle for mediocrity, but to always be better. That's what I stand for and that's what I'm going to continue to do."
Just the 15th Vol to rush for 1,000 yards, Poole knows that if Tennessee is going to climb back to national prominence, it starts with improving himself.
"I live to prove people wrong every single day of my life," Poole said. "I need that. I don't need to sit here and say I'm at my best because I'm not. I can be better every single day.
"You can never settle. You have to be better. The coaches expect you to be better. I expect myself to be better and hopefully, I'll be better this season."
If Poole is any better this season, he'll join Johnnie Jones as the second individual in school history to record multiple 1,000-yard rushing seasons. The only number that means anything to Poole though, is the number of games the Vols win this fall.
"I want to walk away with people saying that class - that small senior class - got UT back on track," Poole said. "That's all I want. I just want guys to respect us for how hard we play, how well we play together and how much of a team we're going to be this season."
The only senior projected to start on offense in the Vols' season opener against Montana on Saturday, Poole has taken a larger leadership role.
"I've tried to be more vocal, be more hands-on, talk to guys and show (the team) that I appreciate everything that they do," Poole said. "I know a lot of guys are out there working hard and it seems like no one appreciates the hard work.
"They want somebody that's out there going through it with them to show them comfort. I just love to compete with these guys and hopefully, we can take it into this season and it will carry over into winning more games."
An SEC-best six 100-yard games. The 14th-best rushing performance by a Tennessee tailback. A team-high 12 touchdowns. Not enough proof?
It isn't for Poole, either. His focus, however, is much greater.
