University of Tennessee Athletics
Vols Embrace "My All" Theme At Camp
August 05, 2015 | Football
Vols Swooshed Up
When Tennessee took the field for practice Tuesday, the Volunteers became the first team on campus to officially sport the new Nike apparel that UT unveiled on July 1.
"Whenever you align with the best, that's very, very big," Butch Jones said. "I know our players were excited for report day because it was like Christmas for them. Seeing them and the joy on their faces enjoying Nike, now we have to represent that brand just like we have to represent the Tennessee brand."
The new gear will not necessarily make players run faster or jump higher out of the gate, but the excitement in the air was noticeable on the field. It was even bigger in the locker room.
"Guys were excited and hyped up putting on the new Nike gear," defensive back Cameron Sutton said. "It brings out the swagger in every player and has us ready to go each and every day."
It also led to a few photo opportunities for sophomore running back Jalen Hurd.
"I'm not a big selfie guy," he said. "But I took a few in the locker room in this jersey before coming out here."
Putting on the Nike practice gear had Mack Crowder dreaming about the jersey he will put on for the Vols' opener in Nashville on Sept. 5.
"It feels great. All of the stuff feels good and looks good, so I can't wait for the game jerseys to come on."
-Brian Rice
By Brian Rice
KNOXVILLLE, Tenn.
UTSports.com
Bold white letters on a perfect orange image of the state of Tennessee read "My All." It appears on signs that line the practice fields. It adorns the doormats that sit in front of doors and meeting rooms. It is on t-shirts, notebooks and even the cell phone cases of coaches and staff members.
But "My All" is more than just a slogan for Team 119 to see around the facility. It is a way of life for the Volunteers to follow as they go through training camp in preparation for the 2015 season.
"It's all about Tennessee," head coach Butch Jones said. "It's about giving your all each and every day for Tennessee and what you represent on a daily basis. Not just on the field, but in the classroom, in the community. For us to achieve the goals we have set for ourselves, it's everyone's responsibility to give their all, not just on game day but each and every day."
The slogan came from the famous "I Will Give My All For Tennessee Today" sign that players tap at the locker room exit before taking the field on game day. A sign was added to the locker room at the Anderson Training Center when Jones became head coach so players would have the same locked-in attitude that they bring on game day.
"I love it," junior quarterback Joshua Dobbs said. "We touch the sign every day, but having that slogan for camp, especially for the younger guys really [asks] us are really giving our all for Tennessee every day? Are we really grinding, are we not taking any days off? It's a great slogan and definitely fits this team well."
As part of the message, each player had to share his own personal "My All" statement or goal for the season during the team's annual Orange Coat dinner prior to the start of camp.
"My `All' was to play my senior year with confidence," Mack Crowder said. "I have to go in every day and act like I'm the best center in the nation and play like that. I want to play the best I can and play with confidence."
It is not uncommon for Jones and his staff to put a slogan all over to drive a message home. "63" is still prominent around the facility for the six second, three great strains philosophy that is at the heart of Jones' system. Last season's theme of "One" got a similar treatment, with reminders everywhere to keep the focus on the message.
It is just another way to put the mind of every player on the same goal, something that is critical to Tennessee's success this season.
"If everybody comes with the mindset every day to give their all and lay it all out on the field every day, you can't be unhappy with that," Crowder said. "If everybody does their job, then we'll have a good year on the field."
