Torchbearer: Summer 1998

Indianapolis Meets Manning

Peyton-mania has gone national.

Even though Peyton Manning's stellar career has come to a close here at UTK, fans may still keep up with him at the Indianapolis Colts' website. In fact, they might win a Manning jersey if they correctly answer five Colts' trivia questions on-line.

The site had more than half a million hits the week after the Colts made Manning the number one pick in the NFL draft-181,000 hits in the first 48 hours.

Logo Athletic, the Indianapolis company that produces NFL souvenir jerseys, printed 3,000 Manning jerseys before the rookie quarterback even signed a contract.

Jay Leno wants Manning. ESPN wants Manning and his father. Fox Sports is calling, as are television stations in Knoxville and New Orleans.

Colts' ticket sales were up 10 percent for the coming season a week after the pick. They expect record sales in 1998.

Here at UTK, Manning's No. 16 jersey was retired at the April 18 Orange and White game. Manning will wear No. 18 at Indianapolis. His father wore 18 at Ole Miss. His jersey was retired as well.

During the game's halftime ceremonies, Manning presented the first Peyton Manning Scholarship to Jay S. Burns, honor student and senior class vice president at Greeneville (Tenn.) High School.

In March, the University honored Manning by establishing the academic scholarship in his name. The four-year award provides tuition, room, and board for a student selected on the basis of academic achievement, leadership, and community service. The scholarship is funded by gifts to the university from Manning's athletic awards, the athletics department's corporate matching grants program, and other private gifts.

"Of all the great things that have happened to me at UT, this may be about the best," Manning said. "I am grateful that a scholarship bearing my name will continue to be linked with the school that has meant so much to my life."

Manning's whirlwind UTK football career still has heads spinning. He holds 33 school records. He was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy. He holds NCAA records for the lowest interception percentage for a season and a career. He is the "winningest" quarterback in SEC history, with a 39-5 record as a starter.

Ditto for his academic career. Manning graduated cum laude from UTK in three years with a degree in speech communication and was the No. 1 graduate in his major. He was 1997 National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame Scholar-Athlete and an NCAA postgraduate scholarship recipient.

Return to Summer 1998 table of contents.





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