Tennessee Football: Eric Berry For Heisman! Wait, Do They Do That?

In Knoxville the new school year is starting up, and football is a mere five weeks away.

The Tennessee Volunteers football team is full of controversies and changes this year: A new head coach and staff, a new style of play, and new batch of players. Though this year, deep within the Volunteer fan base, there is a campaign brewing, one to break normality.

Eric Berry is about to start his junior year at the the university. His second year playing at the safety position, after moving from cornerback following his freshman year. 

Berry stands just 15 interception return yards away from holding the all-time NCAA record of 501 yards set by Florida State's Terrell Buckley from 1989-91. 

Berry also comes back from a unforgettable season in 2008, in which he was the first player at Tennessee to claim unanimous All-American honors since 1990. He also led the nation with 265 interception return yards among other statistics.

Midway through this summer, as preseason practices were in full swing, the Volunteer faithful began their campaign to thrust Eric Berry into the Heisman Trophy spotlight. 

It is undoubtedly certain that Berry has the accolades, talent, statistics, and therefore the argument to be considered for such a prize, at least for Volunteer fans that is.

Barring any injuries or a major slump by Berry there is but one problem with him possessing the trophy: It seems they just do not do that!

Berry, hypothetically suggesting he does win the Heisman, would become not only the second defensive back to win the trophy, but the second defensive player to win the trophy ever.

The prestigious Heisman Trophy is almost always given to a QB or RB with an occasional receiver. 

Charles Woodson, a cornerback from Michigan, became the first and only defensive player to win the trophy in 1997.

Why you ask, are alternative and defensive positions such an extreme rarity for possession of the award? It is a mystery to most. In no fine print does it list specific positions or requirements to winning the award.

 As it also happens, when Woodson became the first defensive player to win in '97 he beat out Tennessee's beloved QB Peyton Manning by a mere 272 votes. Many who remember say Manning was "robbed" of the award. Peyton's loss is the closest the Volunteers have ever come to winning the Trophy, outside of John Majors' loss to Paul Hornung in 1956.

Knowing that helps one to understand the excitement and sincerity behind the fans push for Berry's Heisman honors.

However, all things considered, it will be a near insurmountable achievement for Berry. 

He will need to have outstanding performances game in and out on the defensive side of the ball, as well as gaining some probable statistics either on special teams or on offense (Berry has one career reception for three yards, two career kickoff returns for 32 yards, and seven career rushing attempts for 37 yards.)

Also, keep in mind that a certain Florida QB will be back for his last year to try and become only the second player in NCAA history to win the Heisman twice.

Nonetheless, certainly many eyes will be on Berry's performance this year. We will only be able to sit and watch to see if he achieves the impossible and makes the '09 Heisman unforgettable.