Wiedmer: Josh Dobbs doesn't need football to be one of UT's all-time greats

Quarterback Joshua Dobbs, shown in 2016 when he was still playing at the University of Tennessee, is now an NFL quarterback.
Quarterback Joshua Dobbs, shown in 2016 when he was still playing at the University of Tennessee, is now an NFL quarterback.
photo Pittsburgh Steelers quarterbacks Mason Rudolph, left, and Joshua Dobbs drop back to pass during minicamp in May.

In a few minutes, Josh Dobbs would do what he does as well as anyone who has ever played football for the University of Tennessee. He once more would pay forward all the success he has experienced in his relatively young life. He would treat 10 young people to a shopping spree at the Dick's Sporting Goods store at Hamilton Place.

Each youngster would get a $75 gift card to Dick's and a free pass to Saturday morning's football clinic at McCallie School. But before the third-year Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback could help these youngsters pick out the best cleats, workout gear and ballcaps Friday night, he had to meet with the media, which brought about the following question:

"Josh, which fan base is more crazy, the Steelers' or the Vols'?"

Replied Dobbs: "They're pretty similar. Probably two of the most passionate fan bases anywhere at both levels (college and pro). They both travel great, they're both intense. It's been pretty cool to be a part of both of them."

And given that loyalty and passion, Dobbs presumably would not find himself paying for many drinks, would he?

"I just drink water," he said with a smile. "Water is free most places."

photo Mark Wiedmer

It was classic Dobbs. As square as a Rubik's Cube. As pure as a mountain stream. Or as Dick's employee Theresa Tucker said after she asked Dobbs if she could pose for a picture with him - and he answered, "Yes, ma'am, of course" - "What nice manners."

The young folks were chosen for this excursion by members of Red Bank Baptist Church and Girls Inc. Dobbs had become impressed with the church after speaking there a few months ago, and he often has worked in Knoxville with Girls Inc., a nonprofit affiliated with United Way that teaches girls to be "strong, smart and bold."

Said Dobbs of Girls Inc.: "I'm very impressed with the work they do. They're very active in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math). They're big into giving girls opportunities, big into telling them not to let other people put you in a box."

So these 10 kids came to Dick's, most of them with parents who quite possibly were more impressed than their children to be in the company of Dobbs.

"When we first heard about it, we thought it was a scam," said Tracey Roberts, whose son William, a 16-year-old running back at Sale Creek, was one of the lucky 10. "Then Josh's mother called us back to assure us it was real."

Eight-year-old Abigail Doss, a third-grader at Rivermont Elementary, wasn't real sure why Dobbs is famous, but she was very sure she wanted to use her gift card for some soccer cleats and clothes.

With her father Taurus arriving at Dick's clad head to toe in UT orange, 15-year-old Lovelei Pulliam had no doubt about what Dobbs did or that her collegiate sports allegiances are to be limited to the Volunteers.

"I have to be (a UT fan)," said the 15-year-old Chattanooga High School Center for Creative Arts student whose older sister Jasmine attends UT.

But if her gift for dancing had not landed her in CCA, she might have been the first female running back to score touchdowns in the Chattanooga area, her exploits as a Barger Academy fifth-grader still the stuff of legend around Brainerd.

Riley Edmonson, 12, is a wide receiver and cornerback at Red Bank Middle. Asked his favorite memory of Dobbs' time with the Vols, he recalled the same moment most UT fans embrace: the last-second, Hail Mary touchdown pass to Jauan Jennings at Georgia that turned defeat into victory in 2016.

"Four seconds on the clock, Dobbs to Jennings, never forget it," Edmonson said.

Added his mother, Melissa Acuff: "Riley's stepfather and I were there. I still had hope. But we were walking away from our seats when we scored."

Added Dobbs: "I still dream about that one a little bit."

Jack DeFriese wasn't part of the shopping spree, but thanks to his parents Robbie and Cara, the 13-year-old at Hunter Middle did get the back of his UT T-shirt signed by Dobbs, who also signed a cap for his brother Dylan, who couldn't get off work.

"He's always been my favorite UT quarterback," Jack said.

Asked if h e intended to wear his autographed T-shirt again, he instantly exclaimed, "No!"

There was no way that Hixson High junior offensive tackle and defensive end Parrish Pacetti was going to say no to the Dobbs shopping spree or Saturday's clinic at McCallie.

"It's a big thing to be chosen," he said. "It's a testament to hard work."

Dobbs has worked hard both on and off the field all his life. Some of that mindset surely will be discussed with the 270 or more youngsters expected to attend the McCallie camp. It's also a big reason why he is making pretty good coin in the NFL.

But Dobbs being Dobbs, he isn't limiting his career goals to professional football.

"I've got an internship set up with NASA next winter," said the man who majored in aeronautical engineering at UT.

It makes perfect sense, given that the Big Orange Nation is already certain Dobbs hung the moon.

Contact Mark Wiedmer at mwiedmer@timesfreepress.com.

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