UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE CROSS COUNTRY ( )

1 UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE CROSS COUNTRY (1962-1970) WHAT A DAY! Bowden Wyatt, a legendary football player at the University of Tennessee, returned in 1955 as head football coach and athletic director after winning championships at Wyoming and Arkansas. In his first three seasons at UT (1955-57) the Vols had 6-3-1, 10-1-0, and 8-3-0 season records; a Southeastern Conference championship; two Bowl appearances; and #2 and #13 rankings in final Associated Press polls. In his second season with the Vols (1956), Coach Wyatt was voted national coach of the year in recognition for his team s accomplishments. It was a great beginning for Coach Wyatt and the Vols but then things began to go wrong. Tennessee football teams over the next four years (1958-61) had a combined 21-16-3 record; finished no higher than a tie for fourth in the SEC; and were not invited to any Bowl games. University of Tennessee alumni and fans were not happy and began to demand changes before the 1962-1963 school year began. In response to demands from alumni and fans, President A.D. (Andy) Holt handed down a directive that Tennessee should have good teams in all sports whenever it was possible and it was decided by administrators, committees, and Athletic Department officials to make some changes. Out of these decisions came some events that not only moved Tennessee back to the top in football and basketball, but actually revolutionized the entire spring sports program in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). One of the first big moves came when Athletic Director Bowden Wyatt contacted Furman Track Coach Chuck Rohe on the recommendation of Dean L.R. Hesler. Coach Rohe tells how it all came about: General Robert R. Neyland [Athletic Director at the University of Tennessee and legendary former football coach] had ruled the athletic department with an iron hand. When he passed away on March 28, 1962, there was a general thought among the academic people and the faculty and administration at Tennessee that they needed to be more than a football program, and that s all Tennessee was. They had a pretty good basketball program, but nothing with any of the other sports. So, when the general passed away, Bowden Wyatt was named interim athletic director and continued as head football coach. The athletic board of trustees at the time was headed by Dean L.R. Hessler. He told Coach Wyatt before the athletic board, Look, if you want to become the athletic director, you re going to need to do something with the other sports programs. Dean

2 Hessler had heard from Ben Plotnicki and Sam Venable of the Physical Education Department and Charlie Durham of the Knoxville Track Club that there was guy at Furman that was doing a great job. So Dean Hessler went to Bowden Wyatt and said, Hey, Coach, here s the kind of guy you ought to bring in. I don t know how he decided to contact Ray Mears, who became a close friend, but, Ray had just won the national small college championship at Wittenberg University and was a hot number in the basketball coaching circles. He had Ray Mears and me come over to visit at Knoxville the same week a day or two apart. Ray had just been there and was just leaving when I came in, and he hired us both in the same week. Of course, Ray went on to do some great things with the basketball program. [His career record of 399-135 (.747) ranks among the top 15 all-time NCAA coaching records and includes three SEC championships. He is largely regarded as the father of University of Tennessee basketball. He always wore his trademark orange blazer during games and is credited with coining the phrase "Big Orange Country."] He didn t have quite the success we had in track, but that s how Bowden Wyatt hired Ray and me. Chuck Rohe and Ray Mears exceeded all expectations. Their dedication, enthusiasm, and leadership turned the tide and led directly to the success of Tennessee s initiative to excel in all sports. It was the beginning of a new era for sports other than football at the University of Tennessee and soon spilled over to athletic programs at other schools in the Southeastern Conference. Coach Rohe had the reputation of being a man looking ahead and always on the move. Mrs. Rohe told Marvin West of the Knoxville News-Sentinel in an interview: When Coach Wyatt was talking with Chuck about moving from Furman to Tennessee, he phoned one night after midnight. Chuck wasn t home. Bowden called back at 5:30 a.m. Chuck was already out for the morning practice. Finally catching up with him and with the promise of many scholarships, a new track, and Coach Wyatt s assurance that Tennessee wanted a top-notch track program, Chuck Rohe made his decision to come to Knoxville. Chuck Rohe began his coaching career at Hattiesburg (Mississippi) High School (1954-56) where he directed the junior high basketball team and high school track team to state championships. The following year (1956-57), he did all the recruiting and most of the coaching for the track team at his alma mater, the University of Southern Mississippi. He then served for the next five years (1957-62) as coach of Furman s cross country and track & field teams. During that time the Paladins won the school s first Southern Conference (SoCon) Championship ever in any sport when the men s indoor track and field team won the league title at the 1961 championship meet. He also

3 directed Furman to a SoCon cross country championship in 1961, an indoor track & field championship in 1962, and a second outdoor track & field championship in 1962. Furman athletes won 14 SoCon indoor individual event titles and 17 outdoor event titles (16 individual, one relay) in his five seasons at the helm of the Furman program. Furman was prospering but Tennessee was struggling. Prior to Coach Rohe s arrival in Knoxville in the fall of 1962, Volunteer trackmen had never in the 40 years of its existence won an SEC Track & Field Championship. That was about to change. Coach Rohe was often heard to proclaim, What a Day! He fully believed that every day provided a new opportunity to excel and excel was what his trackmen did best. 1962 Cross Country Regular Season: 3 Wins, 5 Losses SEC: 5th Members of Tennessee s 1962 varsity cross country team were Bill Beall, Rick Fowler, Ronnie Hart, Bill Lawkins, Winston Russell, Tom Scott, and Joe Spann. Tom Scott remembers the 1962 cross country season: I well remember the start of cross country practice in the fall. It coincided with the peak of hay fever season, and so, between sneezes, I was trying to do the hardest workouts that I could imagine. They were hard on my feet too. Within a few days I could count some 22 blisters strategically placed about everywhere. I'll have to admit I was briefly tempted to quit. But the truth is I was having too much fun to let a little pain get in the way. Coach Rohe, of course, was a fabulous recruiter, and it was a privilege to run alongside so many great athletes. No one doubted we were going to be really good when all the Rohe recruits were eligible to compete on the varsity. The Vols ended the regular season with wins over Tennessee Tech, Alabama, and Berea, and losses to Cumberland, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, and Furman. They ended the cross country season with a fifth place finish in the 1962 SEC Cross Country Championships. The SEC cross country meet was held in Atlanta, Georgia. Tennessee s first five finishers over the 4.4 mile course were as follows: 9 Tom Scott 21:38

4 13 Bill Beall 22:23 17 Bill Lawkins 22:43 39 Joe Spann 24:36 42 Rick Fowler 25.26 1963 Cross Country Regular Season: 7 Wins, 0 Losses Callaway Gardens Invitational: Champions SEC: Champions USTFF: 5th Members of Tennessee s 1963 varsity cross country team included Captain Tom Scott, John Ellington, Andy Heiskell, Melvin Maxwell, Don Pinkston, Bob Redington, Rocky Soderberg, Mickey Shelton, and David Storey. The Volunteers went undefeated during the regular cross country season with wins over Tennessee Tech (twice), Alabama, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, and Milligan, and 10 teams at the Callaway Gardens Invitational. They also finished fifth in the National USTFF Meet, and won the Southeastern Conference Cross Country Meet (Coach Rohe s first SEC Championship). Tennessee s first seven finishers in the 1963 SEC Cross Country Championships over the 4.4 mile course in Atlanta, Georgia, were as follows: 1 David Storey 21:29.70 2 Andy Heiskell 22:01.80 3 Tom Scott 22:09.10 4 Melvin Maxwell 22:30.40 5 Rocky Soderberg 22:30.40 7 John Ellington ----- 10 Mickey Shelton ----- 1964 Cross Country Regular Season: 9 Wins, 0 Losses, 1 Tie Callaway Gardens Invitational: Champions SEC: Did Not Compete USTFF: Champions NCAA: 11th

5 Members of Tennessee s 1964 varsity cross country team included Captain Bob Redington, Bob Barber, John Ellington, Roy Hall, Don Pinkston, Mickey Shelton, Rocky Soderberg, David Storey, Mike Tomasello, Coppley Vickers, Carl Williams, and Norm Witek. Tennessee s 1964 Vols were undefeated during the regular cross country season defeating Bowling Green, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Virginia Tech, Alabama, Ohio, Georgia Tech, Western Kentucky, and 11 teams at the Callaway Gardens Invitational, and tying Miami (Ohio). Tennessee also won the National USTFF Championships and finished eleventh in the NCAA Championships. Due to a conflict in scheduling between the SEC and NCAA meets, Coach Rohe decided to send his team to the NCAA Championships. The NCAA cross country meet was held in East Lansing, Michigan, on November 23, 1964. Bob Barber remembers it as follows: We had about 8" (or more) of snow on the ground. There was a path about 5 or 6 feet wide, that was cleared on the golf course. It was very difficult to pass a runner if you were bunched within a group, without going out into the deep snow. It was also very cold and very slippery. We had a great team that year. At worst we were probably third or fourth best in the country in normal conditions. I think we beat Ohio University handily in '64 when Stan Huntsman brought his team down to Knoxville to run us on the AG campus. Most of our team was from the South (I was the exceptional Northerner) and had not experienced a race in those terrible weather conditions. It was very unfortunate timing. Under normal conditions Vick would have been All-American (in the top 15) which he proved the next week at the US Track & Field Federation (USTFF) Cross Country Championships in Chicago, where conditions were better (cold but no snow on the course). Schools finishing in the Top-25 in the NCAA meet were considered to have the best programs in the country and Tennessee finished eleventh. Individual finishes for Tennessee were as follows: 50 Coppley Vickers 21:16.4 58 David Storey 21:21.3 66 Bob Barber 21:28.0 86 Bob Redington 21:40.0 161 Don Pinkston 22:48.0 177 Mickey Shelton 23:54.5

6 The Vols ended the 1964 cross country season on a high note by winning the National USTFF Track & Field Championships, which were held in Chicago. Tennessee scored 41 points, followed by Southern Illinois in second with 76 points and Minnesota in third place with 90 points. The Knoxville Track Club team finished seventh. The USTFF meet was not as big a meet as the NCAA but it was a national championship and pitted the Vols against some very good runners. The first six UT finishers in the race were as follows: 3 Coppley Vickers 9 Bob Redington 11 David Story 12 Rocky Soderberg 17 Bob Barber 23 Don Pinkston 1965 Cross Country Regular Season: 7 Wins, 0 Losses SEC: Champions NCAA District 3: Champions NCAA: 3rd Members of Coach Rohe s 1965 cross country team were Steve Allison, Bob Barber, Steve Deaton, Gerry Eddleman, John Ellington, Roy Hall, Tim Henderlight, Paul Ladniak, Melvin Maxwell, Don Pinkston, Jim Ray, Bob Redington, Henry Rose, Andy Russell, Mickey Shelton, Rocky Soderberg, David Storey, Mike Tomasello, and Norm Witek. Tennessee s 1965 cross country team defeated East Tennessee State, Ohio University, William and Mary, Virginia Tech, Alabama, Georgia Tech, and Mississippi State; were NCAA District Three Champions; were SEC Champions; and finished third in the NCAA Meet. The 1965 SEC Cross Country Championships were held in Pine Mountain, Georgia, on a 4.0 mile course. The Vols took the first six places and won the SEC Championship with a perfect score. Tennessee s top finishers were as follows: 1 Bob Redington 19:15.40 (New Course Record) 2 Don Pinkston 19:46 3 Melvin Maxwell 20:07 4 David Storey 20:08

7 5 Bob Barber 20:10 6 Rocky Soderberg 20:15 8 Mickey Shelton 20:30 13 Mike Tomasello 21:27 The 1965 NCAA Cross Country Championships were held at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas, on November 23, 1965. When the 164 runners lined up for the 6.0 mile race the weather was clear with a temperature of 57 degrees, a 10-15 mph wind, and a light covering of snow at some places on the ground. Tennessee runners represented their school exceedingly well and finished the meet in third place, which meant they had the third best Division I team in the country. This was quite an accomplishment. Tennessee s top finishers were as follows: 4 Bob Redington 30:02.0 19 David Storey 30:44.5 50 Don Pinkston 31:33.0 52 Melvin Maxwell 31:33.4 70 Rocky Soderberg 32:04.3 129 Bob Barber 33:40.0 131 Mickey Shelton 33:49.0 Bob Redington was the SEC Individual Champion and attained All-American status by finishing fourth in the NCAA Championships. Tennessee was to have many other outstanding cross country runners during the Rohe era, but by finishing third this was to be the best they ever performed in an NCAA cross country meet. In addition, Bob Redington and David Storey were the only Vols to finish in the NCAA Top-25 during the Rohe era. 1966 Cross Country Regular Season: 5 Wins, 2 Losses NCAA Region Three: 2nd SEC: Champions NCAA: 24th Bob Barber was Captain of the 1966 cross country team. Other members of the team were Steve Allison, Stan Barbato, Steve Deaton, Gerry Eddlemon, John Ellington, Roy Hall, Tim Henderlight, Larry Kelly, Jim Ray, Henry Rose, Andy Russell, Butch Stewart, Mike Tomasello, and Norm Witek.

8 The 1966 cross country team defeated Cincinnati, Kentucky, East Tennessee State, and Alabama, and lost to Ohio and Georgetown during the regular season. In the big meets the Vols finished second in the NCAA Region Three Meet, won the SEC Cross Country Championships, and finished twenty-fourth in the National NCAA Cross Country Championships. Tennessee won the 1966 SEC Cross Country Championships in Birmingham, Alabama. Volunteer finishers on the 4.065 mile course were as follows: 4 Bob Barber 20:02 6 Larry Kelly 20:33 7 Andy Russell 20:34 10 Steve Allison 20:44 16 Mike Tomasello 21:02 18 Gerry Eddlemon 21:29 30 Steve Deaton 22:20 Captain Bob Barber remembers a story of outstanding leadership, friendship, and courage from the 1966 SEC Cross Country Meet. Our UT cross-country team was very strong in 1965 placing 3rd at the NCAA Championships, with almost all members being seniors. Our 1966 team was not real strong and if ever there was a chance for another SEC team to beat us out, it was 1966. Larry Kelly was a great half-miler and quarter miler. He and the other 880 runners ran XC for conditioning. Coach Rohe may dispute this, but Larry probably could have gotten out of running in the SEC XC meet---heavens, he was our anchor on the mile relay, a 47 flat quarter miler! A week before the meet I begged Larry to run, stressing the importance of our fifth man in the scoring. I told Larry I didn't want to be the first UT captain to lose an SEC meet for Rohe. All week I reinforced his importance as our fifth man. So at the finish of the race, I'm in the chute at fourth place (not a good start to the scoring), and I immediately look back and see Tomasello at about tenth place. I holler back to Mike, do you see Larry coming toward the finish? Again, figuring he would be our fifth guy and his finish would be so important. Just then, I hear this very faint voice gasp: I'm right here Bobby. I turn around and here's Kelly, our anchor on the mile-relay, right behind me in the chute in sixth place in the SEC XC meet!! Talk about having your back, it was unbelievable. Spectators say Larry passed about 6-8 runners in the last quarter mile of the race. We won that 1966 SEC Championship to keep the streak alive, and Larry, Mike and I will be friends till we're in our graves. Tennessee fielded another outstanding freshman team in 1966. Ken Rowlett, who was elected captain, describes them as follows: Our freshman team was a group of six state champion milers, two- milers, and XC champs. We won the SEC XC meet going away. I ran the 3.1 mile course in 14:01 (I

9 think that is correct) which broke the old record by a wide margin. 1966 was the last year of freshman division, so my record stands 48 years later. We became a closeknit team from the beginning. In the 1966 NCAA Cross Country Championships Tennessee finished in 24 th place. The meet was held on a 6.0 mile course on November 21, 1966, in Lawrence, Kansas. Tennessee finishers and their times were as follows: 65 Bob Barber 31:54.5 98 Steve Allison 32:47.0 159 Gerry Eddlemon 34:20.0 169 Larry Kelly 34:56.0 181 Steve Deaton 35:54.0

10 1967 Cross Country Assistant Coach: Jeff Clark Regular Season: 6 Wins, 1 Loss NCAA Region Three: 2nd SEC: Champions NCAA: 12th Sophomore Ken Rowlett was Captain of the 1967 cross country team. Other members of the team were Harris Atkinson, Earl Beatty, Steve Deaton, Gerry Eddlemon, Alan Fletcher, Larry Kelly, Dickie Kleier, Tony Masi, Steve Nelson, Henry Rose, Sam Rutherford, David Scire, Chester Shoemaker, Butch Stewart, and Gordon Wilson. During the regular season the 1967 Volunteers defeated Ohio, Ohio State, Alabama, Western Kentucky, Tennessee Tech, and Virginia Tech, and lost to Georgetown. In the post season Tennessee finished second in the NCAA Region Three meet; won the SEC Cross Country Championships; and finished 12 th in the NCAA Cross Country Championships. The 1967 SEC cross country meet was held in Birmingham, Alabama, on a 4.065 mile course. Tennessee finishers were as follows: 2 Ken Rowlett 18:59 5 David Scire 19:28 6 Dickie Kleier 19:32 7 Sam Rutherford 19:39 8 Steve Nelson 19:45 9 Toni Masi 19:46 11 Larry Kelly 19:55 Florida s Frank Lagotic was the 1967 SEC cross country champion. His time of 18:47 broke Bob Redington's course record of 19:15 by 28 seconds. Ken Rowlett finished close behind with an 18:59 time that was faster than the old course record by 16 seconds. The NCAA Cross Country Championships were next for the Vols. Ken Rowlett remembers the trip to Wyoming for the meet: We left a few days early to acclimate to high altitude and stayed at Coach Rohe's mother's home in Chicago for Thanksgiving. Then, we went on to the Wild West and took a drive up to Medicine Bow. Seven guys in a rental car and as captain, they chose me, a Florida native, to drive on ice and snow. I caught on quickly, swerving and sliding the entire way. I had a blast, but they never let me drive

11 after that. We woke up the morning of the NCAA meet in Laramie (6800' elevation) to a windy 0 degrees F. By race time it had warmed up to 25 degrees and was calm. The ground was frozen solid, and I remember the trail was totally littered with gloves and colorful stocking caps. My lungs burned like nothing I ever felt before. It was a disheartening finish for everyone. Consequently, Tennessee finished twelfth in the NCAA Cross Country Championships in Laramie, Wyoming. Volunteer runners finished the 6.0 mile race as follows: 70 Ken Rowlett 34:25 77 Sam Rutherford 34:38 78 David Scire 34:44 86 Toni Masi 35:08 88 Steve Nelson 35:14 96 Alan Fletcher 35:42 98 Dickie Kleier 36:07 1968 Cross Country Assistant Coach: Thad Talley Regular Season: 6 Wins, 0 Losses Callaway Gardens Invitational: Champions NCAA Region Three: Champions SEC: Champions NCAA: 17th Members of the Tennessee s 1968 cross country team were Captain Ken Rowlett, David Calvert, James Craig, Dick Fairbanks, Allen Fletcher, Bob Halliburton, Audry Hardy, Gary Hiscock, Larry Kelly, Dickie Kleier, Fred Marjenhoff, Tony Masi, Steve Nelson, Sam Rutherford, Owen Self, Jim Smeltzer, Butch Stewart, Bill Villeneuve, and Gordon Wilson. During the regular season the 1968 Volunteers defeated Ohio, Ohio State, Air Force Academy, Alabama, East Tennessee State, and the Quantico Marines. In major meets Tennessee won the Callaway Gardens Invitational, the NCAA Region Three Meet, and the SEC Cross Country Championships. Ken Rowlett remembers the NCAA Region Three Meet as follows: The NCAA East Regional was a most memorable trip. We all ran together in tight groups of 2 or 3, and we strategized as we ran. I coached the guys along and we picked off runners along the way to victory. Our talking during the race gave us advantage and psyched out other teams.

12 The Vols also won the 1968 SEC cross country meet, which was held in Birmingham, Alabama, on a 4.065 mile course. Tennessee finishers were as follows: 1 Owen Self 18:39.90 3 Ken Rowlett 18:55 7 Steve Nelson 19:22 9 David Calvert 19:33 10 Dickie Kleier 19:35 11 Sam Rutherford 19:40 13 Gordon Wilson 19:46 Tennessee competed in the 1968 NCAA Cross Country Championships on a windy November day in the Bronx, New York City, New York, and finished in 17 th place. Places and times for Vol finishers were as follows: 41 Owen Self 30:32 129 David Calvert 31:54 131 Dickie Kleier 31:56 133 Steve Nelson 31.58 140 Ken Rowlett 32:05 157 Sam Rutherford 32:20 207 Gordon Wilson 34:03 1969 Cross Country Assistant Coach: Connie Smith Regular Season: 5 Wins, 2 Losses Callaway Gardens Invitational: Second NCAA Region Three: Third SEC: Champions NCAA: Eighteenth At some point during the year Coach Bear Bryant of the University of Alabama tried to lure Coach Rohe away from Tennessee. Finally, after discussing the matter with Athletic Director Bob Woodruff and Head Football Coach Doug Dickey, Coach Rohe decided to stay at Tennessee. He did get some additional help for the track program, though, and was able to hire two assistant coaches Russ Polhemus to help with strength and conditioning training and Connie Smith to help with the distance runners. Consequently,

13 Coach Rohe turned the cross country team over to Connie Smith in 1969 and 1970 for day-to-day coaching purposes and allowed him to take credit for the results, including an SEC Championship. Ken Rowlett was Captain of the 1969 cross country team for the third year in a row, actually the fourth year in a row because he was also Captain of the 1966 freshman team. Other members of the 1969 cross country team were David Calvert, Dickie Kleier, Pete Matthews, Steve Nelson, Norman Pelletier, Sam Rutherford, Owen Self, David Scire, Bill Villeneuve, Gordon Wilson, and Danny Zoeller. During the regular season Tennessee defeated Eastern Kentucky, Cincinnati, Virginia Tech, East Tennessee State, and Tennessee Tech but lost to Ohio State and the Air Force Academy. In the larger meets, the Vols finished second at the Callaway Gardens Invitational; third in the NCAA Region Three Meet, first in the SEC Cross Country Championships, and 18 th in the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships. The 1969 SEC cross country meet was held in Birmingham, Alabama, on a 4.065 mile course. Tennessee s top finishers were as follows: 2 Owen Self 18:49 3 David Scire 18:51 6 Steve Nelson 19:24 11 David Calvert 19:35 12 Dickie Kleier 19:37 19 Bill Villenevue 19:52 21 Ken Rowlett 20:07 The 1969 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships were held in the Bronx in New York City. Tennessee s runners finished the 6.0 mile race in 18 th place and finished as follows:. 50 Owen Self 30:48 124 Dickie Kleier 32:06 152 Steve Nelson 32:34 163 Ken Rowlett 32:45 169 David Calvert 32:51 183 David Scire 33:06 207 Bill Villenevue 33:30

14 1970 Cross Country Assistant Coach: Connie Smith Regular Season: 9 Wins, 1 Loss SEC: 3rd NCAA: Did Not Compete Members of Tennessee s 1970 cross country team were Captains Owen Self and Danny Zoeller, Doug Brown, Denis Flood, Bill Herron, David Houchin, Guy Kirton, Mark McDevitt, Dan O Connor, and Norman Pelletier. As in 1969, Coach Rohe turned the cross country team over to Connie Smith for day-to-day coaching purposes and allowed him to take credit for the results. The Vols defeated Western Kentucky, Southeast Missouri, Fisk and Vanderbilt in the Old Hickory Invitational. They also defeated Western Carolina, Furman, Virginia Tech, East Tennessee State, and Tennessee Tech during the regular season, but lost a dual meet to Kentucky. They finished third in the SEC cross country meet and chose not to compete in the NCAA meets. The 1970 SEC cross country meet was held in Birmingham, Alabama, on a 4.065 mile course. Tennessee runners finished third. It was the first time since 1962 that they had not been SEC champions. Top finishers for Tennessee were: 3 Doug Brown 18:39 4 Bill Herron 18:42 11 Owen Self 19:09 14 Dan Zoeller 19:21 15 Guy Kirton 19:24 20 Dave Houchin 19:40 35 Dan O Connor 20:11 Tennessee did not compete as a team in the 1970 NCAA Cross Country Championships. Even so, three UT runners went to Williamsburg, Virginia, to compete against Oregon s Steve Prefontaine, Villanova s Marty Liquori, and other top runners. Their finishes and times were as follows: 40 Doug Brown 29:16 113 Guy Kirton 29:59 157 Bill Herron 30:21