Like father like son.
When McCallie stages its Signing Day celebration today for the six seniors from its two-time defending TSSAA Division II-AAA state champion football team who have committed to college football teams, Jackson Burns will be the only one not putting his signature on scholarship papers.
Bruising brothers Austin and Zach Gentle will take their considerable brains and brawn to Harvard University. Running back B.J. Harris – the MVP of the 44-0 state title win over Memphis University School – will head to Missouri. Wide receiver/defensive back/quarterback/kick returner Eric Rivers, as versatile a talent as has ever played for the Blue Tornado, will spend his next four years at the University of Memphis. And linebacker/tight end John David Tessmann will do all he can to help the Davidson College Wildcats.
Even for a team good enough to win back-to-back state titles in the Volunteer State’s toughest prep division, it’s an impressive scholarship haul.
Or as McCallie coach Ralph Potter, whose matchless mother Lorraine passed away Sunday after a long illness, noted Tuesday: “Seeing the success we’d had the last couple of years, the leadership those seniors had shown, these guys stepped up from Day One.