The Commercial Appeal

Mr. James Herbers' family added a light touch as the last word on the Tennessee fans’ passing, a reflection of how a lot of Vol fans have felt this season.

There’s little doubt it’s been a stress-filled season for Tennessee fans. Routinely facing two-touchdown deficits in game. Hurling Hail Mary passes to pull out last-second victories. Overtime wins. Double-overtime losses. Many a Tennessee fan has grabbed their chest at the drama.

And it appears, as noted by the family, Herbers may have been no different.

The obituary notice of his Oct. 15 death closed with: "The Tennessee Volunteers lost one of their biggest fans, even though they may have contributed to the cardiac arrest!"

In the end, Herbers succumbed where the game of the day wasn’t even close – a 49-10 loss at No. 1 Alabama.

Maybe it was the fact it marked the second straight week the Vols couldn’t pull another miracle win. But certainly, Mr. Herbers was a fan who gave his all for Tennessee.

James Louis Herbers's Obituary on The Commercial Appeal