Football – Keynote QB: Manning coming to grips with changes for UT football; see video

Colts star talks about life after Tony Dungy, relationships with former Cajuns Jake Delhomme and Brandon Stokley

Bob Heist • bheist@theadvertiser.com • May 21, 2009

He’s a Louisiana native, but bleeds orange.

He’s celebrated in this state, but a god in Tennessee. 

Athletic Network Footnote
Click here for video of speech at Acadiana Ambulance program – includes anecdotes of Jake and Brandon http://www.theadvertiser.com/article/20090521/SPORTS/905210323/1006/Keynote�QB��Manning�coming�to�grips�with�changes�for�UT�football��see�video

Think Peyton Manning was caught off guard after Phillip Fulmer was forced out on Rocky Top, John Chavis landed in the bayou and Lane Kiffin’s first few months as head coach have made the Vols a bit of a laughingstock in Southeastern Conference football circles?

"I’ve been getting to know Lane these past few months," Manning said after delivering the keynote speech during Acadian Ambulance Service’s annual Paramedic Luncheon in the Cajundome Convention Center.

"It’s been a difficult transition for me, like a lot of Tennessee folks. I’m a Phillip Fulmer guy, he recruited me and coached me."

The star of the day at a fete that drew 1,500 to celebrate LaPlace employee Chuck Benedict as Paramedic of the Year, Manning – a three-time NFL MVP selection with the Indianapolis Colts – was not at a loss for words on what happened at the University of Tennessee last year.

Fulmer, who recruited Manning out of Newman High School in New Orleans, went 152-52 in 17 seasons with UT. But in the middle of a 5-7 season in 2008, he was informed his tenure would not continue. New coach Lane Kiffin, fired in the middle of the NFL season by the Oakland Raiders, was hired.

Chavis and the rest of Fulmer’s key assistants weren’t retained and the noted defensive coordinator was hired by Les Miles at LSU.

It’s been a whirlwind circus that’s seemed to work in LSU’s favor. Spring drills ended with the Tigers looking like one of the country’s top defensive units again under Chavis’ new scheme. Kiffin has broken several minor NCAA recruiting violations since his arrival and made numerous wild statements about other SEC programs – including Florida’s national championship coach Urban Meyer.

"Obviously, the nice thing up until this past year, every time I went back to Knoxville, really the entire coaching staff that coached me was still there," Manning said. "Coach Chavis – Chief was what we called him – I was not surprised to see Coach Chavis rebound and get a great job. LSU is lucky to have him as their defensive coordinator.

"But like I said, I’m a Phillip Fulmer guy. There’s something about a player and their college head coach that’s a special bond. My Dad (Archie Manning) and Johnny Vaught at Ole Miss were super close, and I’ll always be that way with Coach Fulmer."

Manning added: "I’m kind of getting to know Lane. He and I are communicating …"

Following are Manning’s comments on several topics from a quick Q & A media session before he was whisked back to Indianapolis by Acadiana Ambulance CEO Richard Zuschlag.

Feelings on New Orleans being awarded the 2013 Super Bowl:

A: I was real excited about that – it’s awesome. New Orleans deserves that. Indianapolis is excited, we get to host the 2012 Super Bowl, but New Orleans is one of those cities that easily could have it every single year. I’ve never heard anyone say they didn’t have a great time in New Orleans, period, but especially for the Super Bowl.

I hope I have enough eligibility left in me, I hope to be a part of that game down there in 2013.

Thoughts on changes in Indianapolis with the hiring of Jim Caldwell as head coach after Tony Dungy retired and the release of former All-Pro wide receiver Marvin Harrison:

A: When you have a new leader in the top position, there will be a change. (Caldwell’s) been my quarterbacks coach, so I feel I know him, but it’s always different with a new coach … Marvin Harrison is one of the greatest teammates I’ve ever had. It’ll probably be the biggest change in my career as far as not having Coach Dungy and Marvin on the sidelines. I’ll always be indebted to Marvin for what he’s done for my career.

How does he look at Michael Vick’s release after serving 19 months in federal prison on a dogfighting conviction:

A: I know Coach Dungy went (to the penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kan.) and visited with him a couple weeks ago … I feel I have a pretty good idea, knowing Coach Dungy like I do, some of the things he said to him. Obviously it’s going to be a challenge. I don’t think anybody can put themselves in those shoes and know what he’s feeling and thinking. The times I’ve been around Michael, he’s been nothing but nice to me. I’m pulling for him.

On his relationship with former UL stars Jake Delhomme and Brandon Stokley, who was a teammate on the Colts’ 2006 Super Bowl championship team:

A: Quarterbacks, aside from when you’re playing against a guy on that Sunday … it’s a pretty unique fraternity. You pull for guys. You don’t like to see a quarterback get hurt, get injured, get booed, have one of those games where the ball is just not going to where you want to go. I’ve had some tough games where you get back on the bus and check my phone and I’ve got a voice message from Jake or a text message from Jake, and I’ve tried to reciprocate. You pull for each other … Jake is kind of in that fraternity of quarterbacks that’s one of my close friends.

And then Brandon … I’ve known both of these guys since they were back in college, back when they were the Jake and Bake show back here (at UL). Stokley and I always used to room together in training camp; just a great teammate, a great friend. That’s probably the worst part of pro ball when you have a guy that’s a great teammate, a great friend, and due to the business side of it, he’s no longer a teammate, like Edgerrin James, like Marvin Harrison, like Brandon Stokley – I miss him every day not being on our team, but I pull for him.

His feelings on the level of talent possessed by Louisiana football:

A: Louisiana plays great high school football … Three, four years ago, the trivia question was, ‘Which state currently has the most NFL players?’ Of course, all of the players were guessing California, Texas – it was little old Louisiana. That made me proud. That’s why you’re seeing the resurgence of LSU football, they’re keeping those players in-state.