As more than 200 football players flocked out of the Neyland-Thompson Sports Center on Thursday, Andy Kelly had a clear message for the fortunate few who will make the All-American Football League roster.
"For a league like this, we don't need any black eyes," Kelly said just moments after being introduced as Team Tennessee's head coach. "We're trying to put together a great product and something that has a very positive image."
Kelly played quarterback for the University of Tennessee from 1988 to 1991, then starred for 13 seasons in the Arena Football League. In both stops he's come across the type of athlete he'll covet.
"The kind of guys that you're not going to read about in the paper in a negative way," he said. "I'm going to do the best I can to try to put that kind of team on the field.
"I think there's enough good guys out there that are good football players."
Kelly said the players and coaches will determine what type of offense Team Tennessee will run. Neither sets of employees have been determined yet.
Kelly said he is trying to assemble a coaching staff as soon as possible. As for players, Kelly will have to designate 15 to 60 players who played college football within Tennessee's borders by Jan. 18.
AAFL teams will then have one week to evaluate those players before they must take part in a Jan. 25 draft, which is the final step to assembling the 46-man roster.
Team Tennessee also has been granted Kentucky as part of its extended geography. Players from one state can only play for other teams if they weren't protected by their home-state team or a hardship exists.
The first player Kelly is eyeballing is former UT quarterback Tee Martin, who was at Thursday's press conference. Martin said he is considering a return to the playing field.
Martin played for UT from 1996 to 1999, leading the Vols to a national championship.
After stints in the NFL, Canadian Football League and the NFL's World League, Martin, 29, decided to try coaching. He coaches quarterbacks at North Cobb High School in Kennesaw, Ga. and works as a television college football analyst.
"I want to go where my heart's going to be 100 percent," Martin said. "In the last few years, I've been coaching and I love it. As a player, the more I work out, I'm starting to feel like I'm back in that too."
Martin started working out two weeks ago when he heard the AAFL might be interested. Coaching for Team Tennessee also is a possibility.
But Martin knows playing in the AAFL could deal a serious blow to his coaching career.
"That's the risk you take," Martin said. "I'm 29 years old. Come back and play? How many years are you going to actually play?"
Martin said he hasn't talked with the AAFL about doing both, coaching in Georgia and playing in Knoxville.
"If it's possible," Martin said, "that would be a great opportunity."
It seems at least somewhat possible. AAFL games will be played from mid-April to early June.
Martin said he had all but hung up his cleats for good. Then, he heard about the chance to play in Knoxville.
"I want to be here because I obviously love the fans here, love this area and playing in Neyland (Stadium)," Martin said. "That's what's making it so hard."
With its quarterback situation and offense in limbo, Kelly has plenty of work to do.
"I'd be lying if I said I didn't have butterflies and wasn't nervous about it," Kelly said. "But I think that's a good thing. That's going to get me motivated."
Indoor Insight: Kelly said some of his offense could be predicated on the concepts he learned in the Arena League. Kelly said even NFL teams have started to steal some plays from the indoor game.
"There's some concepts that will translate over," Kelly said.
Kelly said he'll tutor quarterbacks to get rid of the ball quickly, a must in the fast-paced game of arena football.
"Hopefully, we'll have our guys ready to make quick drops, quick decisions and get rid of the football," Kelly said.
Kelly also hinted that his offense could have some of the same aggressive attitude that has helped the AFL grow.
"We've got to have a little bit of a flare," Kelly said.
Chris Crossed: Former Florida quarterback Chris Leak, who will play for Team Florida, turned some heads as he walked about UT's indoor practice facility.
"I thought the last time I was going to be here was last season when we were fortunate to get a win here," Leak said with a chuckle.
Leak was all but committed to UT when he came out of Independence High School in Charlotte, N.C., in 2004. After a heated recruiting battle, Leak ended up at Florida instead of joining his older brother, C.J. Leak, at UT.
Chris Leak said he and other players know what the AAFL can do for them.
"That's what this league is for, giving guys the opportunity to showcase their talents for the NFL," Leak said.
For Kicks: Former UT kicker James Wilhoit is working in the AAFL public relations department. He also is expected to be the kicker for Team Tennessee.
"I think it's great timing," Wilhoit said of the league's emergence. "With NFL Europe ending, I think the NFL is looking for a farm system. There are plenty of guys that slip through the cracks."
Wilhoit said an apparel deal has recently been struck with New Balance and a television deal with Fox is being discussed.
Other Former Vols: Several other former Vols, such as defensive tackle Rashad Moore, defensive end Ovince Saint Preux, linebacker Jason Mitchell, receiver C.J. Fayton, linebacker John Poe and receiver Bobby Graham, participated in the tryout.
Notebook: There were more than 200 players who attended the invitation-only combine on Thursday. More than 500 are expected on Friday … Players will be paid between $50,000 and $100,000 annually. That also will include other work with the team in the offseason.
