2021 Newsletter

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News from the Knoxville Quarterback Club                                        November 08, 2021

Josh Heupel

First year coach, Josh Heupel, will be our speaker on Monday. Heupel has an interesting story to tell in regards to his playing career. After stints at Weber State and Snow College where he battled injuries, being lower on the depth chart, and splitting time with other quarterbacks, he transferred to Oklahoma after meeting with new coach Bob Stoops. In 2000, Heupel was an All-American, AP Player of the Year, Walter Camp Award winner and Heisman runner-up. The sooners also won the National Championship.
           Heupel began his coaching career in 2004 as a graduate assistant at Oklahoma. Over the last three years, he has been the head coach at UCF where his teams have ranked in the top 10 in the FBS for points scored. Come welcome Josh Heupel to the Knoxville Quarterback Club and hear about his reflections on the season and where we go from here!
           This is our last meeting and want to thank Jeff and Skip and the rest of the volunteers who have made this all happen. We have a great club because of their efforts.
22 November:
Speaker: Josh Heupel, UT Head Coach
Yesterday’s Hero: Glenn Streno, Center 1981-1983
Menu:
Southern Fried Catfish
Grilled Chicken Calhoun
Soinach Maria
Mashed Potatoes
This is our last meeting!

 

News from the Knoxville Quarterback Club                                        November 08, 2021

Neyland Award Winner Mark Richt and AD Danny White

Dear Quarterbacker,

 

Special Announcement: Our 2020-2021 Neyland Award Winner, Mark Richt, will be at the Quarterback Club on Monday as well as UT Athletic Director, Danny White.  This will be an outstanding day so let’s come out in full force to honor Richt as well as hear White.

White left Central Florida to become Tennessee’s Athletic Director in January of 2021. Prior to UCF, White was the Athletic Director at Buffalo. He comes from a family that has considerable experience in the athletic world. His father was the AD at Notre Dame and is currently at Duke. His sister is an Assistant AD at SMU, his brother, Brian, is AD at Florida Atlantic, and his other brother, Mike, is head basketball coach at Florida. Danny played basketball in college and spent three years at Towson before transferring his senior year to Notre Dame. We welcome Danny White to the Knoxville Quarterback Club.

15 November:
Speaker: Danny White, UT A.D.
Yesterday’s Hero: Haskel Stanback, Running Back, 1971-1973
Next week and last meeting:
Speaker: Josh Heupel, UT Head Coach
Yesterday’s Hero: Glenn Streno, Center 1981-1983

 

News from the Knoxville Quarterback Club                                        November 08, 2021

Rick Nueheisel

Dear Quarterbacker,

Current CBS college football analyst on College Football Today, Rick Neuheisel, will be our speaker this week. During his time as a quarterback for UCLA, Neuheisel was the MVP of the Rose Bowl, set the NCAA completion percentage record for a single game (25 of 27 passes), won a PAC-10 Championship, and set a UCLA completion percentage record for a season that still stands. After graduation, he spent a few seasons in the USFL and then a few games in the NFL during the strike season.

Neuheisel then went to law school at USC, but was a grad assistant at UCLA. He became a full-time assistant at UCLA and then in 1994 went to Colorado. After the 1994 season, Colorado coach, Bill McCartney, retired and Neuheisel became the head coach at 34. After four seasons there, he left to become Washington’s head coach. He led the Huskies to an 11-1 record in 2000 and a number three ranking in the final poll. Neuheisel overlooked discipline issues on the team and was targeted by the NCAA for an NCAA basketball tournament bracket and was fired. He sued the school and the NCAA and settled for 4.5 million.

After Neuheisel left Washington, he coached at a high school and then he was an assistant coach for the Baltimore Ravens. In 2008, he was hired by UCLA as their head coach. From 2008-2011, Neuheisel went 21-29 and never beat rival USC. Neuheisel was fired in 2011. Come hear Neuheisel as he should be an entertaining and knowledgeable speaker.

25 October:
Speaker: Rick Neuheisel, CBS
Yesterday’s Hero: John Chavis, Defensive Line 1976-1978
Next week:
Speaker: Danny White, UT A.D.
Yesterday’s Hero: Haskel Stanback, Running Back, 1971-1973

 

News from the Knoxville Quarterback Club                                        November 01, 2021

Rick Barnes

Dear Quarterbacker,

Seventh year UT basketball coach, Rick Barnes, will be our featured speaker this week. The Vols have a dynamic freshman class that will complement the returning veteran players. This should be an exciting season for the Vols. Barnes was awarded the Naismith Coach of the Year for the 2018-2019 season. That year, the Vols tied a school record for wins with a record of 31-6 and held the number 1 ranking for a time during the regular season.

Barnes previously coached at Texas from 1998-2015. While at Texas, Barnes led the Longhorns to 17 NCAA tournament appearances and a final four. He has a career coaching record of 727-385 and is responsible for stabilizing and leading the Tennessee basketball program to new heights. Come hear from our basketball coach and learn about this year’s team and players.

25 October:

Speaker: Rick Barnes

Yesterday’s Hero: Dick Williams, Defensive Line 1966-68

Next week:

Speaker: Rick Neuheisel, CBS

Yesterday’s Hero: John Chavis, Defensive Line 1976-1978

 

 

News from the Knoxville Quarterback Club                                        October 25, 2021

Dear Quarterbacker,
UT baseball coach, Tony Vitello, will be our speaker on Monday so I know we will have a lot more ladies present than usual. Vitello was named the baseball coach in June of 2017 and has transformed the club into a playoff team and last year they made the collegiate World Series. He is known for his relationship with his players and investing in the program. We look forward to hearing from Tony Vitello.
25 October:
Speaker: Tony Vitello
Yesterday’s Hero: Bruce Wilkerson, Offensive Line 1983-1986
Menu:
Bourbon Glazed pork Chop
Grilled Lemon Chicken
Green Beans
Mac ‘n Cheese
Next week:
Speaker: Rick Barnes
Yesterday’s Hero: Dick Williams, Defensive Line 1966-68
Go Vols!

News from the Knoxville Quarterback Club                                        October 18, 2021

Dear Quarterbacker,

Former Interim Head Tennessee Coach, Kevin Steele, will be our speaker on Monday. This should be an interesting speaker as he was hired as Pruett was on the way out. Steele played one season as a linebacker for Furman, before transferring to Tennessee and playing two seasons under Johnny Majors.

After finishing his Tennessee career, Steele began his coaching career as a GA at Tennessee. In addition to Tennessee, Steele has coached at Nebraska, Carolina Panthers, Florida State, Oklahoma State, Alabama, Clemson, LSU and Auburn. We was also the head coach at Baylor from 1999-2002 compiling a 9-36 record.

18 October:
Speaker: Kevin Steele Former UT Coach
Yesterday’s Hero: Bill Rudder, running Back 1971-1973
Next week:
Speaker: Tony Vitello
Yesterday’s Hero: Bruce Wilkerson, Offensive Line 1983-1986

 

News from the Knoxville Quarterback Club                                        October 11, 2021

Dear Quarterbacker,

Reporter and current host on CBS College Network of the Tony Barnhart Show, Tony Barnhart will be speaking with us on Monday. Barnhart as worked with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, ESPN with their College Gameday, and CBS.

According to Wikipedia (below list taken from there), he has earned numerous awards and elected offices including: Barhnart’s awards and elected offices include 2010–Present: Honors Court, National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame, 2009 Bert McGrane Award (FWAA Hall of Fame), Football Writers Association of America, 2008 Edwin Pope Vanguard Media Award, Orange Bowl Association, 2007 Fred Russell Contribution to Sports Writing Award, All-American Football Foundation, 2006 Jake Wade Award, College Sports Information Directors of America, 2006 Alumni Achievement Award, Delta Tau Delta fraternity, 2006 President, United States Basketball Writers Association, 2001-06 Honors Court, National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame, 2002 Furman Bisher Award for media excellence, Atlanta Sports Council, 1999 Sports Writer of the Year, National Sports Casters and Sports Writers Association, 1998 President, Football Writers Association of America.

11 October:

Speaker: Tony Barnhart, SEC Network

Yesterday’s Hero: Mike Stowell Offensive Line 1989-1992

Menu:
Beef Brisket
Fried Bone-in Chicken
Green Beans
Mac n’ Cheese
Next week:
Speaker: Kevin Steele Former UT Coach
Yesterday’s Hero: Bill Rudder, running Back 1971-1973

News from the Knoxville Quarterback Club                                        October 04, 2021

Trent Dilfer Oct 4

Dear Quarterbacker,

Super Bowl Champion, Trent Dilfer, will be speaking to us on Monday. Dilfer was drafted as the 6th overall pick in the 1994 drafted (second QB taken behind Heath Shuler) by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He became a starter in his second season and struggled on a bad team. The following year, the Buccaneers improved their offensive players and Dilfer became the first Tampa Bay quarterback to ever go to the Pro Bowl. In his career, he won more games as a Buccaneer quarterback in franchise history and led the Buccaneers to their first playoff appearance in 15 years.

In 2000, Dilfer was traded to the Ravens and was a back-up for the first few games. After a slow start, Dilfer became the starter and led the Ravens to a Super Bowl win. He was cut by the Ravens and became the only starting quarterback to be cut by a Super Bowl winning team. Dilfer went on to finish his career 14 year career with several other teams.

In 2006 went into broadcasting and has worked for NFL Network, ESPN, and Fox 1. He is also coaching Lipscomb Academy as a high school coach and they played this year in the state championship game against CPA.

4 October:
Speaker: Trent Dilfer, Super Bowl Champion/ESPN
Yesterday’s Hero: Jabari Davis, Running Back, 2001-2004
Next week:
Speaker: Tony Barnhart, SEC Network
Yesterday’s Hero: Mike Stowell Offensive Line 1989-1992

Go Vols!

News from the Knoxville Quarterback Club                                        September 27, 2021

Dear Quarterbacker,

ESPN journalist, Marty Smith will speak to us on Monday. Smith has served in a variety of roles with ESPN since 2006. Smith attended Carson-Newman for a year before transferring to Radford to try and play baseball. After that failed to materialize, Smith began working in the school’s sports information office and channeled his passion for playing sports to covering sports. Smith will be an entertaining speaker and we are glad to have him with us on Monday.

27 September:

Speaker: Marty Smith  ESPN

Yesterday’s Hero: Jeff Olszewski, QB, 1979-1981

 Menu:

Spiral Ham

Smoked Turkey Breast

Spinach Maria

Mash Potatoes

Cookies

Next week:

Speaker: Trent Dilfer, Super Bowl Champion/ESPN

Yesterday’s Hero: Jabari Davis, Running Back, 2001-2004

Go Vols!

Jonathan Johnson

News from the Knoxville Quarterback Club                                        September 20, 2021

Aaron Murray Sept 20

Dear Quarterbacker,

On Monday we will welcome former Georgia quarterback, Aaron Murray, as our speaker. Murray was the first SEC quarterback to pass for over 3,000 yards per year in four seasons.  Murray also leads the SEC in career touchdown passes. After his senior year, Murray was drafted in the fifth round by the Kansas City Chiefs. Murray now is a color commentator for CBS. We look forward to having Murray join us on Monday.

20 September:

Speaker: Aaron Murray

Yesterday’s Hero: Gary Wright, Place Kicker 1966-67

Next week:

Speaker: Marty Smith  ESPN

Yesterday’s Hero: Jeff Olszewski, QB, 1979-1981

Go Vols!

News from the Knoxville Quarterback Club                                        September 13, 2021

Josh Heupel Sept 13

Dear Quarterbacker,
               Welcome back to football season! This is a reminder that the 70th year of the Knoxville Quarterback Club will be kicking off its first meeting on Monday, September the 13th at Calhoun’s on the River. The club is excited to welcome everyone back as we honor a yesterday’s hero, a high school athlete of the week, and an outstanding official of the week. Jeff Hagood has done an excellent job again this year of booking some outstanding speakers. The assistant coaches will be joining us throughout the year as well.
               The list of speakers will be posted on www.knoxqbclub.com. Your membership application can be accessed on the website, you can get one at the door, and one has been mailed as well. There is a printable version that you can print off and mail or bring to the first meeting. You can also follow the club on Facebook and Twitter.
               First year coach, Josh Heupel, will be our speaker on Monday. Heupel has an interesting story to tell in regards to his playing career. After stints at Weber State and Snow College where he battled injuries, being lower on the depth chart, and splitting time with other quarterbacks, he transferred to Oklahoma after meeting with new coach Bob Stoops. In 2000, Heupel was an All-American, AP Player of the Year, Walter Camp Award winner and Heisman runner-up. The sooners also won the National Championship.
               Heupel began his coaching career in 2004 as a graduate assistant at Oklahoma. Over the last three years, he has been the head coach at UCF where his teams have ranked in the top 10 in the FBS for points scored. Come welcome Josh Heupel to the Knoxville Quarterback Club!
13 September:
Speaker: Josh Heupel
Yesterday’s Hero: Honoring the Deceased Vols
20 Sept:
Speaker: Aaron Murray former Georgia quarterback and now with CBS
Yesterday’s Hero: Gary Wright, Place Kicker 1966-1967
Go Vols!