What is a Volunteer? So often, students enter and exit the University of

Tennessee and never know what a real Volunteer is.

Tuesday, five freshmen football players attended a rehabilitation day camp

held by East Tennessee Children’s Rehabilitation Center at the Kiwanis

Fresh Air Camp off Rutledge Pike. While some of the athletes have

experience in volunteer work, others learned the experience

first-hand.

“It means a lot giving back to the community and working with the kids,”

said Mark Jones, a wide receiver from Wallingford, Pa. “Just messing around

with the kids and having a fun time-that’s what I like and I think that’s

what they like too.”

The athletes spent time with the children playing football and tee-ball.

However, with the hot weather and humidity, the group spent most of the

time in the swimming pool. Whether it was splashing water or floating

around, everyone enjoyed cooling off.

Especially Georgia native Jason Respert, who was thrown into the pool as

soon as he arrived at the camp.

“I’ve had a great time just to see smiles on the kids’ faces,” Respert said

with a smile of his own.

Volunteering is nothing new to the offensive lineman. While in high school,

Respert was involved in several volunteer activities while working with

children.

“I’m kinda used to it back home because I did a little bit of everything,”

Respert said. “It’s kinda different for me because I didn’t work with

disabled kids so that’s just something you learn.”

Apparently others could see the volunteering experience in Respert.

“He’s a natural,” one onlooker said as he passed by Respert.

While all the volunteers enjoyed working with the children, athletes like

wide receiver Rashad Baker pointed out that the experience can help the

players learn valuable lessons in life.

“They can’t be as fortunate as we are and that has opened my eyes to a

different aspect in the way people can be born and disabilities that people

can have in their life,” Baker said. “This has taught me to respect life as

it is. I always praise God and thank Him for letting me come out here and

help the kids out.”

Wide receiver Tony Brown pointed out that volunteering shows that the

players haven’t forgotten about the community. He was quick to point out

the determination and love that the children showed.

“They live life to the fullest each day but we take things for granted,”

Brown said. “We have a couple of bad days at practice and we think the

world’s going to end. I just wish I had the heart and courage that they

have right now.”

The volunteer work wasn’t something that the football players felt they had

to do. Each of the players were excited and glad to give back to the

community, especially the children of the East Tennessee Children’s

Rehabilitation Center. Many of the players felt that it was a chance to

show that they are more than just athletes.

“I’ve had a lot of fun,” said Kevin Burnett, a back from Compton, Calif. “I

feel that this opened a lot of people’s eyes and to let people know that

we’re not just a bunch of dumb football jocks.”

Although volunteering has been a long tradition of Tennessee athletes,

Burnett felt like this will set a standard for all incoming freshmen to

uphold.

“This is setting a path for all freshmen,” Burnett said. “It will let

people know that you’re not just here to play football, that you’re here to

be involved in the whole state of Tennessee.”

What a great way to learn the meaning of volunteer.