Monday, June 15, 2009

B

B

GEORGE BALAS
POSSUM CAREER: 1994
POSSUM NUMBER: 145

BOB BALL

DREW CAREY BEFORE DREW CAREY - AT LEAST WITH HIS BLACK-RIMMED GLASSES AND BUZZ-CUT, BUT IT'S SAFE TO SAY BOB BALL GOT INTO A FEW MORE RUCKS AND MAULS THAN THE COMEDIAN.
AND BOB BALL WAS PRETTY DAMN FUNNY, TOO.
LAST KNOWN LOCATION WAS IN THAILAND IN 2009.

FULL NAME: ROBERT ELROY BALL
RUGBY NICKNAME:
POSSUM CAREER: 1989-1996
POSSUM NUMBER: 72
HEIGHT: 5-9
WEIGHT: 215
POSITIONS PLAYED: PROP/HOOKER
OTHER CLUBS: NASHVILLE

RODNEY BARNES

VERSATILE RODNEY BARNES FILLED IN AT A NUMBER OF SPOTS FOR THE POSSUMS OVER THE YEARS.

BARNES WAS COMFORTABLE IN THE CENTERS MAINLY, BUT ALSO SAW ACTION AT WING AND FULLBACK.

POSSUM CAREER: 1994-1997
POSSUM NUMBER: 197
POSITIONS: CENTER
HEIGHT: 5-11
WEIGHT: 183
OTHER CLUBS: UT


FRANK BARBER

DOWN IN THE FRONT ROW - WHERE IT'S DIRTY AND NASTY - YOU'LL STILL FIND SOME NICE GUYS - EVEN THOUGH THEY MAY BITE AN EAR OR TRY AND GOUGE AN EYE LIKE THE REST OF THE NO. 1 TO 3 CRETINS.
FRANK BARBER WAS ONE OF THE NICE GUYS - BUT DON'T LET HIS OFF-FIELD PERSONA FOOL YOU. HE WASN'T AFRAID TO DO THE GRUNT WORK AS A PROP AND HOOKER.
"FRANK WAS ALWAYS THERE TO SUPPORT YOU, ON AND OFF THE FIELD," SAID PAT DORWIN.

FULL NAME: FRANK CHARLES BARBER
RUGBY NICKNAME:
POSSUM CAREER: 1981-1991
POSSUM NUMBER: 33
HEIGHT: 5-9
WEIGHT: 185
POSITIONS PLAYED: HOOKER/PROP
OFFICES HELD: PRESIDENT



LEE BARTLETT

A HULKING PROP AND LOCK, LEE "BURGERS" BARTLETT TERRORIZED POSSUM OPPONENTS FROM 1998 TO 2002. HE IS CURRENTLY PLAYING UNION WITH MYSTIC RIVER RUGBY CLUB.

FULL NAME: GARY LEE BARTLETT
RUGBY NICKNAME: BURGERS
POSSUM CAREER: 1998-2002, 90 MATCHES; 14 7s MATCHES
POSSUM NUMBER: 191
HEIGHT: 6-2
WEIGHT: 285
POSITIONS PLAYED: PROP/LOCK
TEAM/PERSONAL HONORS: "HAHA, NOTHING I'D LIKE TO HAVE ON RECORD."
BIRTHDATE: 8-3-75
BIRTHPLACE: PHOENIX
OTHER CLUBS: UNIV. OF TENNESSEE, PROVIDENCE RFC, NEW HAVEN WARRIORS RFL, VANDALS RFC, BOSTON 13s RFL, MYSTIC RIVER RFC
RESIDES: BOSTON
OCCUPATION: SERVICE ENGINEER


FRANK BEACHAM

PLAYED FLYHALF FOR KNOXVILLE FOR SEVERAL SEASONS BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE HE SAID HE PLAYED, ALTHOUGH HE WAS MUCH BETTER SUITED FOR FIRST CENTER OR EVEN WING, WHERE YOU DON'T HAVE TO PASS MUCH.
FULL NAME: FRANK DAVID BEACHAM
POSSUM CAREER: 1990, 1992-93
POSSUM NUMBER: 89
HEIGHT: 5-11
WEIGHT: 190
POSITIONS PLAYED: FLYHALF, CENTER


TOMMY BECKLER

MOVING TO THE AREA AFTER PLAYING AT TENNESSEE TECH WITH MARTY BRADLEY, TOMMY BECKLER HAD A RELATIVELY SHORT POSSUM CAREER, BUT WAS PRIMARILY AN A SIDE LOCK NEVERTHELESS.
BECKLER WAS A DECENT ATHLETE, AND ALTHOUGH NOT VERY BULKY, RAN AND TACKLED WELL.
FULL NAME: THOMAS MITCHELL BECKLER
RUGBY NICKNAME:
POSSUM CAREER: 1990-1992
POSSUM NUMBER: 88
HEIGHT: 6'3
WEIGHT: 185
POSITIONS PLAYED: LOCK
OTHER CLUBS: TENNESSEE TECH

FRANK BENNETT

VOTED TO ALL-TIME POSSUM TEAM AS A SIDE WING

SPEEDY AND ATHLETIC, FRANK BENNETT BURST ONTO THE POSSUM SCENE IN THE EARLY 1990s, IMMEDIATELY MAKING AN IMPACT ON THE WING OR AT OUTSIDE CENTER.
"PERSONALLY, I THOUGHT HE WAS THE PERFECT OUTSIDE CENTER," SAID PAT DORWIN. "BUT THAT'S BECAUSE HE WAS PUSHING ME OFF THE A SIDE AT TIMES. SERIOUSLY, HE HAD GREAT BALANCE, WAS STRONG AND FAST AS WELL AS A SURE TACKLER."
INDEED, BENNETT WAS A REGULAR IN THE NO. 13 JERSEY FOR SEVERAL SEASONS, WHILE ALSO SEEING TIME AT WING AND EXCELLING ON SOME OF KNOXVILLE'S BEST 7s TEAMS.
"FRANK'S ONLY REAL WEAKNESS WAS HIS BOOT," DORWIN SAID. "HE GOT BUNDLED INTO TOUCH AT TIMES ON THE WING IN BOTH 15s AND 7s, LOSING POSSESSION. BUT HE WORKED AT GRUBBING AHEAD AND BECAME EFFECTIVE AT THAT."
WITH BALL IN HAND, BENNETT'S "TERMINATOR" LIKE STRIDES HELPED HIM BLAZE PAST MANY A DEFENDER.
"FRANK REALLY PUMPED HIS ARMS AT FULL SPEED, LIKE THE COP IN THE FIRST 'TERMINATOR' FLICK," DORWIN SAID. "HE WOULD HAVE MADE A GOOD FLANKER, TOO."
BENNETT (WING), STEVE CUNNINGHAM (WING) AND DORWIN (FULLBACK) FORMED THE BACK THREE FOR THE POSSUMS MIDWEST DIVISION III CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND IN 1998.
PLAYED 7s ON THE CAPE FEAR CLUB DIVISION CHAMPION IN 1995 WHEN KNOXVILLE STOPPED THE PHILADELPHIA MAVERICKS 14-10 AND ON THE THE RUNNER-UP SQUAD THE NEXT YEAR THAT LOST TO METRO (MINNEAPOLIS) 26-5.
FULL NAME: FRANK STEVEN BENNETT
RUGBY NICKNAME: HAIR FRANK
POSSUM CAREER: 1992-2003; 191 15s MATCHES; 77 7s MATCHES
POSSUM NUMBER: 111
HEIGHT: 5-8
WEIGHT: 175
POSITIONS PLAYED: WING/CENTER
TEAM/PERSONAL HONORS: 1998
PERSONAL QUOTATIONS: "OH, WE'RE NOT DATING, WE JUST SPORT #@$%," EX-PARTNER OF HAIR FRANK'S.
OCCUPATION: HAIR PRODUCTS GURU

"BIG BOB"

A MASSIVE PLAYER, "BIG BOB" WAS ONE OF TWO NEW PLAYERS FOR THE 1986 POSSUMS.
NICKNAME: LARGE RO-BEART
POSSUM CAREER: 1986
POSSUM NUMBER: 49
POSITION: PROP


PAT BISESE

LIKE MANY POSSUMS, PAT BISESE PLAYED FOR SEVERAL SEASONS, THEN DROPPED OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH.
PRIMARILY A WING AND CENTER, HE PLAYED OUTSIDE CENTER IN AN EPIC DOGWOOD WIN OVER THE ATLANTA RENEGADES AND MOVED TO FIRST CENTER IN THE SECOND MATCH OF THE DAY TO ALLOW GUEST PLAYER MARCUS "AJAX" WILLIAMSON TO SLOT INTO SECOND CENTER.
AFTER SOME IDIOT FOR BLACKSBURG UTTERED A RACIAL SLUR, WILLIAMSON PROCEEDED TO RUN IN THE MOST OF HIS SIX TRIES.
THAT'S RIGHT, SIX FREAKING TRIES.
"IT WAS LIKE, SKIP TWO RIGHT TO AJAX, AND BINGO, FOUR POINTS WERE ON THE BOARD (BEFORE THE FIVE-POINT TRY BECAME LAW)," SAID PAT DORWIN. "I DIDN'T HEAR ABOUT THE SLUR UNTIL AFTER THE MATCH, BUT AJAX GAVE THOSE PRICKS WHAT THEY DESERVED. IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST OUTSTANDING ATHLETIC PERFORMANCES I HAVE EVER SEEN ON A RUGBY PITCH."
DORWIN SAID OTHER SUPERB ATHLETIC SHOWS INCLUDED, "PRETTY MUCH ANYTIME DIXIE DEAN (15s FOR JOHNSON CITY, AND 7s FOR NOVA, ATLANTIS AND THE USA EAGLES) TOUCHED THE BALL, FORMER EAGLE WING/FULLBACK RICH SHURFELD'S LENGTH OF THE FIELD RUN AT THE DOGWOOD ONE YEAR, AND TOM WILSON'S DROP-KICKS FOR GOAL WHEN KNOXVILLE WON THE CLUB DIVISION IN 1995 AT CAPE FEAR."
WILSON DROPPED 16-OF-18 CONVERSIONS IN FIVE STRAIGHT WINS, INCLUDING BOTH KICKS IN THE FINALS, A 14-10 WIN OVER THE PHILADELPHIA MAVERICKS.
IF YOU EVER RUN INTO PAT BISESE, ASK HIM IF HE HAD A PLEASANT DRIVE TO PLAY LEXINGTON ONE SEASON.
FULL NAME: PATRICK VINCENT BISESE
POSSUM CAREER: 1991-1994
POSSUM NUMBER: 102
HEIGHT: 5-10
WEIGHT: 177
POSITIONS PLAYED: CENTER, WING


ROB BLACKMAN

JOINING THE POSSUMS FROM A LOADED OAK RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL TEAM, ROB BLACKMAN MADE AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT AT WING IN HIS FIRST SEASON PLAYING RUGBY.
BUT SINCE HE WAS ATTENDING UT, MOST PEOPLE AGREED HE SHOULD GO PLAY UNDER BUTCH.
"I SEE THE REASONING, BUT ROBBIE WAS ALREADY VERY MATURE - AND HE WAS ONE OF OUR ONLY REAL SPEED THREATS," SAID PAT DORWIN. "IT WAS LIKE HAVING A BASEBALL PLAYER GET DRAFTED OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL, HIT .335 IN TWO OR THREE MONTHS IN THE MAJORS, AND THEN START HIM OFF THE NEXT YEAR IN CLASS A BALL.
"BUT I'M SURE HE LEARNED PLENTY AT UT AND WAS ABLE TO HANG OUT WITH PEOPLE MORE HIS OWN AGE."
POSSUM CAREER: 1996
POSSUM NUMBER: 187
HEIGHT: 5-8
WEIGHT: 180
POSITION: WING

RICKY BLAIR

COMING OVER FROM THE DARK SIDE (JOHNSON CITY), STANDOUT FLYHALF RICKY BLAIR HAD A SHORT RUN IN KNOXVILLE.
"RICKY WAS ONE OF THOSE RARE FLYHALVES WHO MIXED IN RUNNING, PASSING AND KICKING ABILITY WITH DECENT DEFENSE," SAID LONG-TIME RIVAL PAT DORWIN. "RICKY WAS TALL AND FAST AND HAD A GREAT LEG, WHETHER KICKING DEEP OR POP-KICKING OVER THE MIDDLE IN BOTH 15s AND 7s."
FULL NAME: RICHARD STEPHEN BLAIR:
POSSUM CAREER: 1995-96
POSSUM NUMBER: 159
HEIGHT: 6-2
WEIGHT: 205
POSITIONS PLAYED: FLYHALF
OTHER CLUBS: JOHNSON CITY
OCCUPATION: FBI AGENT

BRENT BLAND
POSSUM CAREER: 1992-1993
POSSUM NUMBER: 112
HEIGHT: 5-10
WEIGHT: 215
POSITIONS PLAYED: PROP


KEVIN BLALOCK
VOTED TO ALL-TIME POSSUM TEAM AS A SIDE WING

THE 'EVIL KNIEVEL' OF POSSUM RUGBY, KEVIN BLALOCK WAS EITHER ZIG-ZAGGING ACROSS FORKS OF THE RIVER PARK - OR STANDING ON THE SIDELINE DRINKING A BEER AND SPORTING A CAST ON WHATEVER BONE HE'D RECENTLY BROKEN.
COMING TO THE POSSUMS IN EARLY 1990s FROM A LOADED UT CLUB, HE COULD GENERALLY BE FOUND MANNING FULLBACK FOR SEVERAL A SIDE YEARS. NEVER ONE TO PASS WHEN THERE WERE THREE DEFENDERS TO TAKE ON, HE GOT BANGED UP THAT WAY, BUT HOBBIES LIKE RACING MOTORCYCLES, COCK-FIGHTING IN NEWPORT AND PLAYING ON THE PROFESSSIONAL BADMINTON CIRCUIT ALL TOOK ITS TOLL. HE'S NOW A LICENSED AIRPLANE AND HELICOPTER PILOT, LOOKOUT BELOW!
"SNAP!"
"WAS THAT KEVIN BLALOCK'S ARM, PAT DORWIN'S HAMSTRING OR KRIS DYE'S COLLARBONE?" WAS OFTEN ASKED ON THE PITCH.
BLALOCK ALSO PLAYED WITH SOME TOP-FLIGHT KARS TEAMS AS WELL, AND COULD REALLY SHOWCASE HIS SHIFTINESS AND ELUSIVENESS THERE.
FULL NAME: KEVIN BLALOCK
RUGBY NICKNAME: 113
POSSUM CAREER: 1992-1997
POSSUM NUMBER:
HEIGHT: 5-10
WEIGHT: 165
POSITIONS PLAYED: FULLBACK/CENTER/WING
TEAM/PERSONAL HONORS: MVP, DOGWOOD TOURNAMENT-1994
OTHER CLUBS: UT
RESIDES: WEARS VALLEY
FAMILY: MARRIED TO LORI, TWO KIDS
OCCUPATION: BLALOCK CONSTRUCTION CO.



ERIC BOOTH

A FORMER MARYVILLE COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYER, ERIC BOOTH IMMEDIATELY PICKED UP THE GAME, MUCH LIKE THE MAN WHO PLAYED THE SAME LOCK POSITION SEVERAL YEARS BEFORE, DAVE CHRISTOPHER.

BOTH WERE TALL AND CEREBRAL, NATURALS TO THE SPORT.

"ERIC MAY HAVE BEEN A BIT TALLER THAN DAVE, BUT BOTH WERE TOP-NOTCH ATHLETES," SAID PAT DORWIN. "THEY PICKED UP THE INTRICICIES OF RUGBY QUICKER THAN YOUR AVERAGE NEW PLAYER."
BOOTH HAD A SHORT BUT SUCCESSFUL POSSUM CAREER.

FULL NAME: ERIC LINDSEY BOOTH
RUGBY NICKNAME:
POSSUM CAREER: 1996-2000
POSSUM NUMBER: 174
HEIGHT: 6-4
WEIGHT: 215
POSITIONS PLAYED: LOCK
OFFICES HELD: VP
TEAM/PERSONAL HONORS: ROOKIE OF THE YEAR


BOB BOGEN

ONE OF THE FOUNDING MEMBERS OF THE CLUB, BOB BOGEN STAYED IN THE AREA JUST A FEW SEASONS BEFORE ENDING UP IN CAPE FEAR.
PRIMARILY A FLYHALF AND CENTER, BOGEN WAS TEAM CAPTAIN AND PRESIDENT OF THE CLUB DURING HIS TWO-YEAR STINT AFTER THE POSSUMS WERE FORMED AND HE HAD PLAYED AT UT.

FULL NAME: BOB BOGEN
RUGBY NICKNAME: BOGEN/SPACEMAN
POSSUM CAREER: 1980-1981
POSSUM NUMBER: 4
HEIGHT: 1.79 CM
WEIGHT: 12.5 STONE
POSITIONS PLAYED: 6 TO 15, PRIMARILY FLYHALF AND IN THE CENTERS
OFFICES HELD: CAPTAIN, PRESIDENT
TEAM/PERSONAL HONORS: MANAGER OF A GIRLS' SOFTBALL SQUAD CONCESSION STAND
MEMORABLE GAMES/SEASONS: MOOSE/HUNTER CLASHES
PERSONAL QOUTATIONS: NEVER, EVER GIVE UP; EK MAT WAT EL WUL
OTHER CLUBS: UT, CAPE FEAR RFC, VIRGINIA CARDINALS
BIRTHDATE: 4-8-54
BIRTHPLACE: WASHINGTON, D.C.
RESIDES: WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH, N.C.
FAMILY: PARENTS; TWO SISTERS AND THEIR HUSBANDS,; NIECE, KRISTIN AND NEPHEW, LIONEL
OCCUPATION: COMPUTER/NETWORK TECH

RON BOWLING

CLUB FOUNDER.
POSSUM CAREER: 1980-1981
POSSUM NUMBER: 11


MARTY BRADLEY
VOTED TO ALL-TIME POSSUM TEAM AS A SIDE FLYHALF

A NATURAL FLYHALF, THE LEFT-FOOTED MARTY BRADLEY WAS AN ADEPT GOAL-KICKER, TOUCH-FINDER AND DISTRIBUTOR FOR NINE POSSUM SEASONS, THE MAJORITY FROM THE NO. 10 JERSEY.

HE ALSO SPENT TIME AT SCRUMHALF, CENTER AND FULLBACK, BUT WAS A MID-SOUTH SELECT SIDE FLYHALF.

"ONCE A GAME, MARTY WOULD FAKE A PASS, AND CUT BACK INSIDE," SAID PAT DORWIN, BRADLEY'S UNDERSTUDY FOR SEVERAL SEASONS. "YOU KNEW IT WAS COMING, BUT YOU COULDN'T STOP IT. HE USUALLY GAINED 20 OR 30 YARDS PAST HIS OPPOSITE NUMBER AND SOME SURPRISED FORWARDS, EVEN OFF A LINEOUT."

BRADLEY SPEARHEADED THE HIGH SCHOOL RUGBY PROGRAM AND WAS A UT ASSISTANT COACH AFTER "RETIRING" FROM RUGBY. AFTER TAKING OVER FOR BUTCH ROBERTSON AS UT'S COACH, LED THE VOLS TO THE FINAL FOUR.


FULL NAME: MARTIN T. BRADLEY
RUGBY NICKNAME:
POSSUM CAREER: 1988-1996, 171 MATCHES; 78 7s MATCHES
POSSUM NUMBER: 61
HEIGHT: 5-9
WEIGHT (PLAYING): 190
POSITIONS PLAYED: FLYHALF
OFFICES HELD: PRESIDENT, SECRETARY, CAPTAIN, CO-CAPTAIN
TEAM/PERSONAL HONORS: TEAM CAPTAIN 1989-1994; MIDSOUTH SELECT SIDE 1990-1992; UT ASSISTANT COACH 1997-2010; SPEARHEADED HIGH SCHOOL RUGBY IN THE AREA. KNOXVILLE MVP 1991-1994 AND OUTSTANDING CLUB MEMBER IN 1992.
MEMORABLE GAMES/SEASONS: 1995 DOGWOOD ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM; GOT THE POSSUMS' FIRST-EVER 5-POINT TRY IN A BLACLKSBURG TOURNAMENT, ALTHOUGH PAT DORWIN HAD SCORED MINUTES EARLIER BUT WAS WRONGLY PENALIZED FOR NOT RELEASING AFTER BEING ANKLE TAPPED BUT NOT HELD IN THE TACKLE. "THAT WAS ONE OF THE THREE WORST CALLS I HAVE SEEN IN MY LIFE, ANOTHER WAS A REF MAKING THE OPPOSING TEAM KICK A 22-YARD DROPOUT AFTER WE MISSED A CONVERSION KICK, THE OTHER AT CAPE FEAR IN THE OLD BOY DIVISION WHEN I PICKED UP A LOOSE BALL ON OUR ADVANTAGE AND WAS ON THE WAY DOWN THE SIDELINE WHEN THE REF BLEW IT DEAD. WHEN I ASKED HIM AT THE HALF WHY HE DIDN'T PLAY THE ADVANTAGE, HE ANSWERED, 'WHY'S THE SKY BLUE?' NEEDLESS TO SAY, I THINK IT WAS THE CLUELESS OLF FART'S LAST TIME REFFING AT FEAR."
PERSONAL QUOTATIONS: KEEP THE GO FORWARD
BIRTHDATE: 05-02-1964
BIRTHPLACE: NASHVILLE
OTHER CLUBS: TENNESSEE TECH, MID-SOUTH RFU SELECT SIDE
RESIDES: KNOXVILLE
FAMILY: WIFE, SHAUNA; DAUGHTERS, CLAIRE AND OLIVIA
OCCUPATION: CREDIT UNION EXECUTIVE



JOE BRANDT

 

A GUTSY SCRUMHALF, JOE BRANDT PLAYED SEVERAL SEASONS AS A POSSUM, SOME AT A SIDE, AFTER MOVING OVER FROM UT.
FULL NAME: JOSEPH TODD BRANDT
RUGBY NICKNAME:
POSSUM CAREER: 1996-1999
POSSUM NUMBER: 176
HEIGHT: 5-10
WEIGHT: 175
POSITIONS PLAYED: SCRUMHALF
OTHER CLUBS: UT



DANNY BRASWELL
VOTED TO ALL-TIME POSSUM TEAM AS B SIDE OUTSIDE CENTER

A FINE ATHLETE, DANNY BRASWELL HAD A LONG CAREER AS A POSSUM IN THAT HE DUSTED OFF HIS CLEATS IN 1995 TO PLAY FOR A FEW MORE SEASONS. PRIMARILY A CENTER DURING HIS FIRST STINT IN KNOXVILLE, BRASWELL RETURNED TO PLAY WING AND FULLBACK AT HIS USUAL HIGH LEVEL LATER IN HIS CAREER.
"DANNY WAS AN AWESOME ATHLETE," SAID PAT DORWIN, A TEAMMATE FOR BOTH OF BRASWELL'S "CAREERS."
"HE SLOTTED IN PERFECTLY AT NO. 13, WHERE I HAVE ALWAYS THOUGHT YOU WANTED YOUR BEST ATHLETE PLAYING," DORWIN SAID. "HE WAS A HARD AND SHIFTY RUNNER AND A STRONG TACKLER. I'M GLAD HE CAME BACK FOR A FEW YEARS, IT HELPED ME TO NOT FEEL SO OLD."

FULL NAME: DANIEL JACKSON BRASWELL
RUGBY NICKNAME:
POSSUM CAREER: 1982-1989; 1995-1997
POSSUM NUMBER: 39
HEIGHT: 6-1
WEIGHT: 185
POSITIONS PLAYED: CENTER/FULLBACK/WING


BOB BROWDER


SCRUMHALF BOB BROWDER WAS A TEAMMATE OF FLYHALF MARTY BRADLEY'S AT TENNESSEE TECH AND BROWDER PLAYED FOR BOTH KNOXVILLE AND JOHNSON CITY.
A FINE DISTRIBUTOR FROM SET PLAYS, BROWDER GAVE GOOD SERVICE TO HIS NO. 10 FROM SCRUMS OR OFF LINEOUTS.
"BOB WAS ALSO A GOOD OPEN-FIELD RUNNER, BUT GOOD LUCK IN GETTING HIM TO PASS WHEN HE WAS RUNNING," SAID PAT DORWIN. "I GUESS HE FELT HE'D DONE ENOUGH PASSING FROM SET PIECES, THAT WHEN HE HAD THE BALL IT WAS GOING DOWN WITH HIM, BUT HE WAS A VERY SOLID, ATHLETIC PLAYER."


FULL NAME: ROBERT EVERSON BROWDER
POSSUM CAREER: 1989-1995
POSSUM NUMBER: 74
HEIGHT: 5-10
WEIGHT: 175
POSITIONS PLAYED: SCRUMHALF
OTHER CLUBS: TENNESSEE TECH, JOHNSON CITY


DOUG BROWN


FULL NAME: DOUGLAS ROBERT BROWN
RUGBY NICKNAME: DEE-YOU-GEE
POSSUM CAREER: 1981-1997

PROTYPICAL PROP FORWARD DOUG BROWN WAS A PRANKSTER DELUXE.
"DOUG WOULD CERTAINLY MAKE THE ALL-TIME POSSUM COMIC TEAM," SAID PAT DORWIN. "AND HE WAS GOOD ENOUGH TO GAIN VOTES FOR THE ALL-TIME TEAM AS WELL."


POSSUM NUMBER: 30
HEIGHT: 5-11
WEIGHT: 208
POSITIONS PLAYED: PROP/HOOKER/FULLBACK
OFFICES HELD: MATCH SECRETARY, SERGEANT-AT-ARMS
MEMORABLE GAMES/SEASONS: PLAYING FULLBACK AT JOHNSON CITY WITH A BAD ARM AND ONE GOOD LEG. HAD TO WHIRL HIS GOOD ARM TO TURN AROUND AND FIELD KICKS.
PERSONAL QUOTATIONS: "WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT?" "SHUT YOUR PIE HOLE."


GREG BROYLES


GUTSY, GRITTY GREG BROYLES COULD BE FOUND AT A NUMBER OF A SIDE POSITIONS FOR KNOXVILLE - SCRUMHALF, FLYHALF AND INSIDE CENTER.
"ABOVE ALL, GREG WAS A TEAMMATE, HE WASN'T GOING TO STAND FOR ANY OF HIS FELLOW POSSUMS BEING WRONGED," SAID PAT DORWIN. "ANYBODY WHO CHEAP-SHOTTED A POSSUM WAS GOING TO GET PAID BACK BY GREG - IMMEDIATELY. THAT'S SOMETHING I REALLY RESPECTED."

FULL NAME: GREGORY HARRIS BROYLES
RUGBY NICKNAME:
POSSUM CAREER: 1994-2002
POSSUM NUMBER: 146
HEIGHT: 5-11
WEIGHT: 185
POSITIONS PLAYED: SCRUMHALF/FLYHALF/CENTER
OFFICES HELD:
TEAM/PERSONAL HONORS: 1998 MIDWEST D-3 CHAMPSIONSHIP SIDE
MEMORABLE GAMES/SEASONS: 1998 - IT WAS ALL SEASONS ROLLED INTO ONE
PERSONAL QOUTATIONS:
BIRTHDATE: 8-25-64
BIRTHPLACE: GREENEVILLE, TENN.
OTHER CLUBS: UT, ASHEVILLE, RALEIGH
RESIDES: MARYVILLE
FAMILY: WIFE, HELEN; CHILDREN, RACHEL AND JOHN


CHIP BUDDE


"SHOELESS" CHIP BUDDE WAS A HULKING PROP IN THE LATE 1980S.
POSSUM CAREER: 1989-1991
POSSUM NUMBER: 75

TROY BURKLOW

A KNOXVILLE RFC FOUNDER.
POSSUM NUMBER: 6



ROBERT BURNETT

FULL NAME: ROBERT RICHARD BURNETT
RUGBY NICKNAME: WALLY
POSSUM CAREER: 1987-1992
POSSUM NUMBER: 51
HEIGHT: 5-9
WEIGHT: 185
POSITIONS PLAYED: CENTER/SCRUMHALF

WALLY BURNETT

FULL NAME: WALTON TERRY BURNETT
RUGBY NICKNAME: ROBERT
POSSUM CAREER: 1987-1990
POSSUM NUMBER: 52
HEIGHT: 5-9
WEIGHT: 185
POSITIONS PLAYED: CENTER/SCRUMHALF

A

A

SCOTT ADCOX

VOTED AS ALL-TIME POSSUM B SIDE FLANKER

A HARD-CHARGING FORWARD, SCOTT ADCOX WAS A LONGTIME SERVANT FOR AREA RUGBY, FIRST WITH UT (1993-1996) , KNOXVILLE (1996-2008) AND AS A HIGH-SCHOOL COACH (2002-2003).

TOUGH PLAYER WHO GROUND OUT THE HARD YARDS AND LED BOTH BY EXAMPLE AND WORDS. NEVER ADVERSE TO PLAYING ON THE EDGE OF THE LAWS.

FULL NAME: AVERY SCOTT ADCOX

RUGBY NICKNAME: ADCOX

POSSUM CAREER: 1996-2008; 222 MATCHES; 44 7s MATCHES

POSSUM NUMBER: 173

HEIGHT: 6-0

WEIGHT: 190

POSITIONS PLAYED: #8/FLANKER

OFFICES HELD: MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS, MATCH SECRETARY, SECRETARY, PRESIDENT

TEAM HONORS:
 1998 MIDWEST DIVISION III CHAMPIONSHIP, PARTICIPATED IN BOTH DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE COURT MARTIALS IN POSSUM HISTORY - ONCE AS A DEFENDANT, AND ONCE ON THE COMMITTEE.

PERSONAL QUOTATIONS: "I'LL FIGHT EVERY SINGLE PERSON ON THIS BUS."

MEMORABLE GAMES/SEASONS: 1998

OTHER CLUBS: S.O.B.S, BREVARD COUNTY RUGBY CLUB

RESIDES: FLORIDA

OCCUPATION: COMPUTER GURU



STEVE AHILLEN

FULL NAME: STEVEN TODD AHILEEN
POSSUM CAREER: 1980-1981; 28 MATCHES
POSSUM NUMBER: 23
HEIGHT: 5-7
WEIGHT: 160
POSITIONS PLAYED: SCRUMHALF/FULLBACK
TEAM/PERSONAL HONORS: "HIGHLIGHT FOR ME WAS HITTING A DROP GOAL TO SEAL A WIN OVER VANDERBILT, BUT THAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED AT UT. OTHERWISE, TOO SLOW AND SMALL TO DO MUCH DAMAGE. BUT, I WAS PRETTY GOOD AT THE SONGS, PLAYED WITH VAL AND BOBBY H., SOME WITH ART REYNOLDS (BUT WHO DIDN'T?). ALSO, OF NOTE DURING MY STORIED CAREER WAS BITING A HOLE THROUGH MY TONGUE DURING A MATCH IN NASHVILLE AND SPENDING THE WHOLE SECOND HALF SPITTING OUT BLOOD."
MEMORABLE GAMES/SEASONS:
PERSONAL QUOTATIONS:
BIRTHDATE: 7-13-52
OTHER CLUBS: UT, UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI, LAMAR UNIVERSITY, SAN ANTONIO GARGOYLES, ST. LOUIS BLUES
OCCUPATION: FORMER EXECUTIVE SPORTS EDITOR, KNOXVILLE NEWS-SENTINEL

MARK ALTOONIAN


MOVING FROM THE GREAT WHITE NORTH, MARK "TUNA" ALTOONIAN MADE AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT AT WING AND HOOKER WITH HIS SPEED AND TOUGHNESS DESPITE HIS SLIM FRAME.

TUNA COULD ALSO BE FOUND AT A FLANK POSITION AT TIMES AND WAS ALSO ONE OF THOSE CRAZY POSSUMS WHO TRAINED OUTSIDE OF PRACTICE, PUTTING MANY A

MILE ON HIS JOGGING SHOES AS RYAN MILLER WOULD DO A FEW YEARS LATER.

"TRAINING OUTSIDE OF PRACTICE? THAT'S CRAZY TALK, MILLHOUSE," SAID PAT DORWIN. "BUT NOW THAT I AM RETIRED I CAN COME OUT OF THE CLOSET: THERE WERE A NUMBER OF YEARS I, TOO, TRAINED OUTSIDE OF PRACTICE.

"OF COURSE, I INEVITABLY TORE A HAMSTRING AND SPRAINED AN ANKLE. BUT I THINK IT HELPED GUYS LIKE TUNA AND RYAN MILLER STAY HEALTHIER THROUGHOUT THE SEASON. IT WAS FOOLING AROUND ON LADDERS THAT GOT RYAN IN TROUBLE."

BUT IT WAS ON THE PITCH THAT TUNA HAD HIS CAREER PRETTY MUCH SHUT DOWN.

"THIS BIG ASSHOLE NAMED CURT FROM CHATTANOOGA PICKED TUNA UP AND SLAMMED HIM ON HIS HEAD, HURTING TUNA'S NECK," DORWIN SAID. "I HOPE THAT DUMB PRICK CURT EVENTUALLY GOT A DOSE OF TREATMENT LIKE THAT, MAYBE A CAR WRECK. PIECE OF SHIT."

ALTOONIAN WOULD EVENTUALLY COME BACK TO PLAY (AND WITH THE HELP OF ORTHODICS IN HIS JOGGING SHOES) BUT THE NECK INJURY EFFECTIVELY ENDED HIS CAREER.

"LET ME REITERATE," DORWIN SAID. "CURT, YOU'RE A PIECE OF SHIT. DIE A PAINFUL DEATH."

FULL NAME: MARK DENNIS ALTOONIAN
RUGBY NICKNAME: TUNA
POSSUM CAREER: 1988-1997, 145 MATCHES; 27 7s MATCHES
POSSUM NUMBER: 63
HEIGHT: 5-7
WEIGHT: 155
POSITIONS PLAYED: WING/HOOKER/FLANKER
OFFICES HELD: TREASURER, YANKEE-SPEAK INTERPRETER


HARRISON AMBROSE


COMING TO THE POSSUMS FROM THE MILITARY, A FIT HARRISON AMBROSE WAS SLOTTED INTO WING AND WAS EFFECTIVE FOR A SEASON.

HOWEVER, TOO MUCH FOOD AND NOT ENOUGH FITNESS LED TO HIS SHIFT TO PROP, A MOVE LATER PERFECTED BY RON SILVER.

"HARRISON WAS FAST AND STRONG WHEN HE FIRST JOINED THE CLUB," SAID PAT DORWIN. "LATER, NOT SO FAST. 'H' WAS ALSO EFFECTIVE AT PROP BECAUSE HE WAS PRETTY STRONG."

A TRIP TO DAYTON FOR A MATCH PROVED FUNNY FOR A COUPLE OF POSSUMS. KNOXVILLE WAS READY TO PLAY WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE AND MANY POSSUMS HAD SPENT THE NIGHT AT A NEARBY HOTEL.

PAT DORWIN AND REX WOLFE WERE IN A ROOM GETING DRESSED WHEN H WALKED THROUGH THE CONNECTING DOOR. ALL OF A SUDDEN, THERE WAS A HUGE ROAR AS A MILITARY PLANE WHOOSHED BY THE AREA.

"HARRISON POINTS OUT THE WINDOW AND YELLS "JET!" AT THE TOP OF HIS LUNGS," WOLFE SAID. "PAT AND I LOOKED AT EACH OTHER AND JUST CRACKED OUR ASSES UP. I THINK WE BOTH HAD TEARS RUNNING DOWN OUR FACES WE WERE LAUGHING SO HARD."

DORWIN ADDED BIT OF LEVITY FROM FULLBACK DURING THE MATCH WITH THE POSSUMS TRAILING BIG IN THE SECOND HALF.

"A HELICOPTER LOUDLY FLEW NEAR THE PITCH, SO I SHOUTED WAY DOWN FIELD TO REX AND POINTED TO THE SKY," DORWIN SAID. "REX IGNORES THE PLAY AND TURNS AROUND TO SEE ME YELL, 'HELICOPTER!!!!'

"WE BOTH WERE LAUGHING SO FREAKING HARD WE HAD TO BEND OVER, OUR BELLIES WERE HURTING SO MUCH."

FULL NAME: HARRISON AMBROSE IV
RUGBY NICKNAME: H, AND SINCE HE WAS THE FOURTH CONSECUTIVE PERSON IN HIS FAMILY WITH THE NAME, HE JOKED HE WANTED TO GET A PERSONALIZED LICENSE PLATE THAT SAID "HIV."
POSSUM CAREER: 1991-1995, 64 MATCHES; 12 7s MATCHES
POSSUM NUMBER: 101
HEIGHT: 5-11
WEIGHT: 225
POSITIONS PLAYED: PROP/WING
PERSONAL QUOTATIONS: "SOMETHING SMELLS LIKE SHIT," HE SAID AS WE LOUNGED AROUND IN LAWN CHAIRS BETWEEN MATCHES AT A BLACKSBURG TOURNEY. SEEMS A DOG HAD TAKEN A DUMP ON THE PITCH AND SOME FOLKS HAD IT ON THEIR BOOTS.
NOT HARRISON.
"CHECK YOUR MUSTACHE," BRIAN NIEKERK TOLD HIM.


DAVE ARMSTRONG

POSSUM NUMBER: 136

ADAM ASHCRAFT

A RATHER LARGE MAN WITH RATHER LARGE FEET, ADAM ASHCRAFT COULD BE SEEN TRIPPING OVER POSSUM TOUCHLINES FOR SEVERAL SEASONS.

FULL NAME: ADAM ASHLEY ASHCRAFT

POSSUM CAREER: 1990-1993, 47 MATCHES

POSSUM NUMBER: 81

HEIGHT: 6-6

WEIGHT: 250

POSITIONS PLAYED: #8/LOCK