This year’s Steak & Burger Dinner, the flagship fundraiser for the Boys & Girls Club of the Hatchie River Region, was a sea of orange.
This year’s special guest speaker was famed University of Tennessee Vols football coach Phil Fulmer, who led the team to a national championship in 1998.
Before the big event, Fulmer met the club’s members and special guests to share with them an inspirational message.
During his keynote, Fulmer and former tight end John Finlayson, who was on the ‘98 team, discussed the successes of the big wins from a quarter century ago.
“Our football team in 1998 would be called underestimated. We had just lost Peyton Manning. We lost three, counting Peyton, three guys in the draft in the first round,” he said. “Twelve total left the team, and we probably weren’t expected to be that good.”
Being underestimated worked in their favor. Fulmer made sure of it.
“In fact, just we were picked third in the east. I know that firsthand because I used it every day I could to motivate the team, but we would be underestimated.”
Fulmer said they had a tough schedule, especially early on and having a quarterback – Tamaurice “Tee” Martin – who hadn’t played a lot.
“Nobody knew what we knew about Tee Martin and how really great a person and leader and football player he was.”
And the ‘98 team showed the country what happens when you underestimate them.
“Everybody expected us to not do anything because nobody knew about Tee,” Finlayson said. “A lot of [the guys] said, ‘Look, we’ve got a quarterback, guys. Everybody’s got to protect this guy. We’ve got something special going with this kid right here.
“Our players were so good on both sides of the ball. That made us successful and have the success we had going at each other every day. And Coach can attest to that. I mean, we had a heck of a team.”
Fulmer wholeheartedly agrees.
“It was that kind of era of everybody working so hard and working so diligently … with administration and the president and obviously our loyal fans to make something like that happen,” Fulmer said. “And I want to tell you on the front end that I really think that we are close to being that kind of football team again.”
The Steak & Burger Dinner raised more than $150,000 for the program.
In addition to Fulmer’s speech, the event hosted a silent auction, live auction, speeches from club members, and awards.
For more information about the Boys & Girls Club of the Hatchie River Region, see www.bgchrr.com.
Author: Echo Day
Echo Day is an award-winning journalist, photographer and designer. She is currently The Leader's managing editor.
