ETSU quarterback Austin Herink, who played at Cleveland High School, looks for an open receiver during Saturday's game at Tennessee.KNOXVILLE - At least those folks in East Tennessee who live along Interstates 40 and 81 won't have to concern themselves with what might have happened if East Tennessee State University's football team had beaten Tennessee on Saturday.
When broached with that longest of long shots this past week, ETSU coach Randy Sanders - a former Tennessee player and assistant coach - said, "I'm going to have that goal post thrown over my shoulder coming back up the interstate. I wouldn't be riding no bus. I'd be walking, probably naked, with the thing on my shoulder."
Instead, after the Vols won 59-3 over Sanders' Buccaneers, he said of the experience of returning to Neyland Stadium as the head coach of the visiting team: "Everybody had asked me about that all week, and I didn't really think it was that big of a deal because I had been back four times (as an assistant) at Kentucky.
"Turned out, it was kind of a big deal. I saw so many people that I hadn't seen in a while. I saw a guy who was an RA in my dorm where I lived for three years. One of the ball boys came up to me and told me who his dad was. He was a manager when I was playing. I thought, 'Holy smokes, that makes me feel old.' I have ball boys who are my classmate's son. I thought it was a nice gesture when they had 'Welcome Back' on the JumboTron. I can't lie to you; that distracted me for a second. I thought that was a really nice thing. I didn't expect it at all. It was special coming back."
Sanders also felt a bit old when the Southeastern Conference officiating crew overturned an apparent fumble by the Vols, returning it to the home team despite ETSU already having run one offensive play.
"This is my 30th year coaching, and I have never seen anything like that," Sanders said. "Obviously, we haven't had replay during all 30. I don't even think we had color television when I started out. The answer I got was that they were trying to buzz down on the official, but it wasn't working. Once they got their attention, they said they had been trying to get them since before the last play."
Kirkland's moment
Darrin Kirkland Jr. happened to be in the right place at the right time for a second-quarter interception he returned for a touchdown to put Tennessee ahead 31-0. For a player who missed all of the 2017 season and nearly half of 2016 with injuries, it was a long overdue break.
"Special moment," he said. "Super excited to be back in Neyland Stadium today. It was my first time in a long time. Having my family here to witness it, God is good, man. I'm just excited."
Kirkland led Tennessee in tackles in last weekend's season opener and finished with four tackles, including one for loss, against ETSU. The interception was the second of his collegiate career.
DK to the house! That was fun.#ETSUvsTENN // #PoweredByTheT pic.twitter.com/YqOmXm8lmG
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) September 9, 2018
"It was pretty exciting," senior defensive tackle Shy Tuttle said. "I'm happy for him. He's been through a lot of adversity off the field. So it was good to see him out there make a play."
Kirkland said the 33-yard return went "very fast."
"Everything kind of goes quiet," he said. "It's kind of weird. I've got to do it again, though."
Local legend honored
Tennessee honored the late Reggie White as its legend of the game. White's widow, Sara, wore Reggie's No. 92 jersey and watched from the field as a video played in the stadium with moments from White's illustrious college career.
Special moment before the game when Tennessee honored the late, great Reggie White. His widow, Sara was joined on the field by Reggie’s former teammates Phil Stewart and Bruce Wilkerson. #Vols pic.twitter.com/c7KBldXtxD
— Chierstin Susel (@ChierstinSusel) September 8, 2018
The Chattanooga native and Howard School graduate played for the Vols from 1980 to 1983 and went on to make 13 Pro Bowls during an illustrious NFL career. He retired in 2000 as the NFL's all-time sacks leader.
White's legacy extended beyond the playing field and into Christian ministry. He retired after the 2000 season and died in 2004 at age 43 from cardiac arrhythmia.
Local ties
Former Cleveland High School star quarterback Austin Herink served as one of ETSU's four captains for the game. Herink, a three-year starter for the Bucs, entered as the backup Saturday with 4:02 remaining in the third quarter and completed one of three passes. Herink scrambled 33 yards on second-and-23 during his first series.
Freshman running back Jacob Saylors from Marion County led the Bucs in rushing with eight carries for 41 yards. He also took a screen pass 18 yards in the third quarter to help ETSU get in position for its only points of the game.
Fifth-year senior linebacker Austin Gatewood from East Hamilton made two tackles.
Contact David Cobb at dcobb@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DavidWCobb and on Facebook at facebook.com/volsupdate.