University of Tennessee Athletics
A Simple Message
September 17, 2014 | Football
Sept. 17, 2014
By Brian Rice KNOXVILLE, Tenn.
UTSports.com
Short, simple, as messages under 140 characters typically are. From the phone of Justin Worley, a photo sent to him by his mother of the front page of a newspaper sports section, accompanied by words for his offensive line.
Through thick and thin I know @KylerGreens77 and the rest of the #OLP have my back. #ONE #TennesseeTough pic.twitter.com/VP5JrO5FCq
-- Justin Worley (@WorleyBird_14) September 14, 2014
"Kyler (Kerbyson) and I roomed together last year and we're really close," Worley said of the picture and the accompanying tweet. "I just wanted people to know that I have faith in my offensive line. I'm going to get hit regardless of who we're playing. I've got to take pride in what I'm doing and support those guys in front of me."
The faith may have taken a hit with some quarterbacks. Worley was knocked down multiple times as the game in Norman went on. He absorbed big hits, often just as he released the football. On five occasions, he was hit before releasing the ball, resulting in sacks. A bone-crushing hit from the blind side on UT's second possession resulted in a drive-ending fumble.
Despite the bruises and grass stains on his jersey, Worley's support for his offensive line never wavered. If anything, the effort they showed in the face of adversity actually strengthened his faith.
"I know every time we step on the field, they are giving their all," Worley said. "They knew they had a big test in front of them last week, I knew they did. They fought hard. Unfortunately, there were some miscues during the game, but that's going to happen. I still have faith in them."
It was a message he delivered loud and clear to the line in the locker room after the game and one that was underscored with the tweet.
"He said we would learn from it and get past it," Kerbyson said. "He was a really good leader and showed he still has faith in us."
The leadership displayed by Worley and the response from the team as the game wore on Saturday night was one of the most encouraging aspects of the meeting with Oklahoma for the head coach.
"Our players rallied around him," Butch Jones said. "He rallied our players. No one on this football team blinked. That was the great thing. We competed from the end to the start."
And the tweet took that rallying public.
"It made me feel good," Kerbyson said. "He sent me that picture through text before he tweeted it out. He said `Love you bro,' and I said the same back. Our relationship could never be stronger."
