Former Tennessee football head coach Johnny Majors poses at the Frank R. Strang Senior Center in West Knoxville on Thursday, May 2, 2013. (News Sentinel photo)

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I witnessed one of my favorite athletic events ever on Feb. 2 — the great University of Tennessee basketball victory over a greatly talented Kentucky team in Thompson-Boling Arena.

My mother and father carried me to football, basketball, baseball and softball games in small towns around Lynchburg, Tennessee, before I could walk or talk. Most of us have our sports heroes, war heroes or others whom we admire and respect. Many of us have witnessed great performers, teams and events, and some of us have been fortunate enough to participate. The great 84-77 victory over Kentucky was one of the most exciting events I have had the good fortune to witness.

The Tennessee victory was a great example of outstanding coaching, sticking to your guns, never quitting, 100 percent effort and superb execution on the part of every young man who played in that game. The character of the players and the confidence of, and belief in, the players and coaches was exemplary. We will never witness a greater example of effort, pride, leadership, character coaching and playing.

I know excellent coaching when I see it. We are in good hands with coach Rick Barnes. Rebuilding athletic programs is a big challenge (I know from experience as a player and coach). There are peaks and valleys in rebuilding a program as chaotic as our basketball program has been for the last few years. We will have more peaks than valleys in the years ahead, and you can book that.

In case coach Barnes needs me, I'm practicing my two-handed set shot and one-handed jump shot and have four years of basketball eligibility remaining. Send me in, coach — I like your style!

John T. Majors, Knoxville