08/04/06 To: the parents and football players who attended last night’s football parent/team rules meeting   On behalf of the UT football staff, we would like to thank you for taking time from your busy schedules to learn more about our football program.  We would especially like to thank those who previously had not been listed in our rosters. Last evening we picked up 38 potential new players.  As a staff, we were elated with the turnout. We are very encouraged by the interest shown in UT football.   Please remember several very important items:   Everyone must have a physical. Everyone needs all paperwork signed and returned. Pads will be issued to all non-campers on Monday, August 7, at 3:00 p.m. in the varsity locker room. All players must be in the locker room on Monday, August 7, at 3:00 p.m. to receive their game uniforms.  Pictures will be taken at 4:30.   We hope you believe we can be successful. The kids need to believe in themselves, in each other, and in their coaches.  It is a process with bumps in the road, but a process that can bring great rewards. We will show up everyday ready to teach and get better. The coaching staff believes 100% that we can get the job done.   It will take cooperation.  We need to count on you for your support by getting your kids to practice.  We are asking a time and financial sacrifice (gas is not cheap) from you and your family to make this work. What we are asking from you is in many ways similar to why we work hard in the off season. The philosophy we follow is this: hard work in the off season does not guarantee success, but the lack of hard work almost always guarantees failure. We believe positive parental support does not always guarantee success, but a lack of parental support for what we are asking almost certainly leads to failure.   We can do this. We can make this work. It will not be easy, but it can and will happen.   Mike Tracey