University of Tennessee Athletics
Vols Enter the Circle Of Life
August 07, 2015 | Football
Aug. 7, 2015
By Brian Rice
UTSports.com
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- It is the oldest of concepts in sport. Two men enter, one leaves the victor.
On the football field, the concept and its many variations go by many names. Some places, it is the "Board Drill." Others call is "King of the Board." Phillip Fulmer had the "Tennessee Drill" during his tenure on Rocky Top.
And when Butch Jones calls for the "Circle of Life," the rise in energy and volume can be felt a practice field away.
"`Circle of Life' is a fun thing that we do," Jones said. "It's part of the `Tennessee Tough' program that our players look forward to. It's a one-on-one matchup where our players form a circle and they try to drive-block to the whistle. It's a way to get our energy going for our players and a way to gauge their competitiveness and toughness as well."
It was one of the first priorities for the Volunteers when they took the field in shoulder pads for the first time on Thursday. But it is not a one-time drill reserved for the early days of fall camp. Often it starts off a practice, an instant flip of the switch to fully engage the players in competition and get minds right go to work.
Other times, the "Circle of Life" comes out in the middle of practice. In that setting, it can re-focus a team that has gotten off to a slow start. It can also challenge players whose bodies are giving into fatigue.
Players have no choice but to rise to meet the challenge issued by Jones, who calls out each matchup on the microphone that he carries during every practice. And one in the "Circle of Life," there is no place to hide. It is man against man.
"They love to compete, they love to hear their name and they love to see who they're going up against," said Jones. "Some individuals will come and request a Circle of Life against somebody and I try to go behind the scenes and talk to the guys and see which matchups our team would like."
Winning can help build confidence in the physicality that a player has to bring to the practice field every day. Being on the other end can motivate a player to get where they need to be to answer the challenge the next time their name comes across the speaker.
No matter what the result, the drill emphasizes a key element that Jones is looking for from every player at every position.
"You have to practice physicality every day and how you finish plays," Jones said. "It's a small thing that adds up to being tough and being a mentally tough and physically tough football team."
The drill goes by many names, but Jones selected "Circle of Life" because the concept is about more than just football. It is about applying the concepts of football to becoming a more complete individual and carrying that lesson off the field.
"It's all about life going in there and competing every single day, you against the man over you," Jones said. "That's life, it's in the classroom, your chosen career, you're always competing to be the best and you're always going against the competition."
