Good Old Boys
The early 1900 UT football players described in Jack Neely's article "Free the Vols" ["Secret History," Vol. 9, No. 39] sound remarkably similar to a group of student athletes (heavy emphasis on "student") who have been competing virtually unnoticed at the University since 1972. The spectators at their games are made up mostly of parents, friends, and a few curious passersby and can hardly compete with the 107,000 that show up for football games. There are no officially licensed sweatshirts for sale, no concession stands with overpriced, watered-down sodas, and no ticket scalpers or parking problems that make big-time college football so enjoyable. The UT Rugby Club (heavy emphasis on "club") is made up of a group of students who are, as described by Neely, "normal, healthy, young guys." They don't wear pads, and only practice about five hours per week.
Most of the participants are of normal stature and weigh less than 200 pounds. A player weighing over 250 pounds is usually either a new player who has yet to be exposed to the stringent conditioning necessary to compete, or a true freak of nature. Their club is operated on a annual budget of a few thousand dollars made up mostly of players' dues to the club and donations from Old Boys (UT Rugby alumni). Most importantly, these guys are students first and rugby players second. The only opportunity for financial assistance comes from the three small scholarships awarded in memory of a deceased Old Boy only after a player has proven himself on the field AND in the classroom. As longtime coach Butch Robertson reiterates in his pre-season speech each season, the priorities of a rugby player at UT are set as follows: "Family first, then school, then whatever else is important to you. If it happens to be rugby, that's great." It is truly a shame that so few large college athletic programs choose to emphasize the ideals that are so prevalent in college club sports where player participation is based solely on a love for the sport and as a supplement to education and the college experience.
Scott Adcox
UT Rugby Old Boy
Captain, Knoxville Rugby Club
Mandatory Lectures
Almost every day I hear a comment condemning the loss of Christian prayer and teachings in our public school systems. Political and religious leaders promote or demand its return claiming implicitly that only Christian prayer and the posted Ten Commandments can save us. It is said that a lie repeated often enough becomes the truth. Such is the case here.
Christian prayer remains in public schools. It never left. Christian mythology and superstition are thrust upon all students regardless of individual faith and in opposition to the wishes of parents.
Just look at Knox County schools as an example. Without naming names, school leaders begin every introduction at parent's night emphasizing their Christian faith. Is one to believe this is the only time such speeches are given? Are we to believe non-Christian students would not be intimidated by such leaders? Or protected from intimidation from fellow students?
Schools give mandatory lectures on the importance of abstaining from sex until marriage. This is a Christian religious belief, which, while shared by many faiths, is not universal.
The East Tennessee Nurses Association, a zealous anti-abortion group, give "Child Development" lectures in health classes throughout Knox County with the knowledge and support of the school board. "They are only supposed to talk about child development—not abortion. But if the child asks they take them aside and explain individually," I was told.
I have never seen anyone stop a pre-game football team prayer. I have never heard of anyone who was silently praying before a midterm or final being told to stop. I have never even heard of such things reported in the media. Yet, every day the lie is repeated: "They've taken prayer out of our school!"
It seems the goal is government sponsorship of a particular Christian denomination carefully disguised and embraced even by the media. After all, it is they who continue to print and speak the lie.
Chuck Janack
Knoxville
Ed. Note: Jesse Fox Mayshark wrote an "Insights" column on just this topic in 1997 ("The 3 Rs? Reading, Writing, and Religion," Vol. 7, No. 50).
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