Crown Fits to a Tee at Tennessee

Tee. Rhymes with glee.

And, for all those typically loud, powerfully pleased Tennessee Volunteer fans Monday night: Wheeeeeeeee!

Tennessee quarterback Tee Martin did not dominate this national-title game against Florida State or make a case for the Heisman or do any of the things Peyton Manning did the previous four fun but ultimately frustrating seasons at Tennessee.

Martin’s numbers (11 of 18 passing for 278 yards, two touchdowns, two interceptions) were less than glorious. His performance was up and down.

But, in the Volunteers’ biggest game in almost half a decade, Martin, as he has during this entire, elastic season, made all the plays Tennessee needed him to make.

For 12 previous games, Martin stumbled some in the shadow of Manning, but, where Manning never could even get to a national-championship game, Martin always found a way to win.

“He was completely confident, he’s put things behind him all year,” receiver Peerless Price said. “He made a big play. When he threw an interception, we told him to put it behind him and he stepped up and made the plays.”

On this night, with Florida State’s defense buzzing around his ears and the nation looking in, Martin threw two huge passes to Price, one for 76 yards to set up a score and one for a 79-yard touchdown.

Those were Tennessee’s two longest pass plays of the season, against one of the best defenses in the nation.

“His ability to get the ball to Price,” Florida State Coach Bobby Bowden said, “was maybe the difference in the game.”

Said Martin: “This whole season, we knew Peerless was ready to be a big-time guy. He had one year to prove himself as an established receiver.

“Myself coming in as No. 1 quarterback, I knew I had to find somebody to go to. I worked out with him all summer. So I knew if I gave him a chance to come down with the football, he’d come down with it. That’s how it’s been all season.”

The result was a 23-16 victory in this Fiesta Bowl matchup before 80,470 at Sun Devil Stadium, illuminated and elevated by Martin’s ability to craft big plays out of the tensest moments and shuttle the Volunteers beyond all barriers.

“We’re the only ones who believed in ourselves--it was a long way, but we knew we were going to make it here, baby,” Martin said as the Tennessee fans chanted his name and the band played “Rocky Top.”

Who ever thought Martin, a 6-foot-3 junior out of one of the poorest sections of Mobile, Ala., could bring Tennessee its first national title since 1951?

Who ever thought that, even after Martin let Florida State back into the game with his second interception--early in the fourth quarter on an underthrown deep pass--Tennessee could count on him through to the end?

“The interception wasn’t one of the best of his plays for the year,” Tennessee Coach Phillip Fulmer said. “But I think overall he played an outstanding game. . . .

“Right now, I would take Tee Martin over anybody in the country.”

Who ever thought that Manning would be an Indianapolis Colt when Tennessee finally got its national championship?

Tee Martin did.

Even as Tennessee warmed into the role as the No. 1 team in the nation, Martin quietly established himself as a rising quarterback, throwing for 10 touchdowns, and completing 63% of his passes (and throwing only two interceptions) in the Volunteers” seven games before the Fiesta Bowl.

Martin threw touchdown passes in his last seven games--positively Peyton-like numbers.

“Knowing that a lot of the guys went to the NFL last year, we knew had a lot of big shoes to fill,” Martin said. “We had to make sure our feet started growing.”

Said Fulmer: “Peyton Manning got us off and running, helped us recruit this football team, got us over the hump.

“And then Tee Martin and the rest of the football team took over from there.”

When the game came down to a crucial fourth down, the Volunteers put it back in Martin’s hands, and he delivered.

On fourth and one on the Florida State 33-yard line, Martin rolled left and tossed it to Shawn Bryson, wide open and rumbling for a 22-yard gain.

“Actually, I was surprised to get a pass when it was fourth and that close,” Martin said. “It was a great call. He was so wide open, I just had to make sure I didn’t overthrow him or underthrow him.”

So how did Martin feel after the national title was in his hands?

“I feel kind of tired,” Martin said. “But I’m happy. I got hit kind of hard in the third quarter, got shook up. I’m trying to get back to myself.”

Tee. Rhymes with wear-ee. And legendar-ee.