Defining a Vol For Life is harder these days.
It was a catchy phrase coined more than 15 years ago, but does it still apply?
Dalton Knecht plays one terrific season at Tennessee, and he’s gone.
Freshman star Nate Ament leaves after one season for the NBA.
Jaylen Carey left Vanderbilt for Knoxville, then departed for Missouri after one year. Is he a VFL?
James Pearce’s behavior in the past year makes you not want to claim him.
Same for Janzen Jackson, who’s been convicted of two murders.
Yet, Zakai Ziegler played four seasons for Tennessee men’s basketball and is one of the most popular sports figures UT has had in the past decade.
He’s proud to be a VFL?
Jahmai Mashack didn’t have the same impact as Ziegler, but he played four seasons on Rocky Top.
He’s proud to be a VFL.
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There are some former UT athletes that don’t embrace the VFL moniker.
But one surely does: Heath Shuler.
Shuler embodies the phrase. He came across the Smokey Mountains to play three seasons at Tennessee, earning Heisman Trophy runner-up honors in 1993. He was the No. 3 pick of the NFL draft after turning pro following his junior season.
He has served in politics, run a real estate company, worked as an advisor to several businesses, and bleeds orange every time he cuts his finger on an orange paperclip.
“It’s an honor for him to be a VFL,’’ said Island Shuler, Heath’s daughter and a senior member of the UT dance team.
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Heath will tell you the same thing, from the first time he ran through the T at a Tennessee home game to watching both of his kids do the same more than two decades later.
Heath got chills running through the T for the first time as a player in 1991.
He got tears when his son Navy, a Tennessee quarterback, ran through the T before a Vols’ game in 2022.
He got downright emotional when Navy and Island ran through the T together at the end of the 2024 season.
“It was double the emotions,’’ said Nikol Shuler, Heath’s wife.
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It’s clear that being a Vol For Life means as much to Heath Shuler as anyone.
“Without hesitation, I don’t think I’d be where I am today if it weren’t for my time at Tennessee,’’ Shuler said recently. “I think it’s because of the life lessons I learned, the relationships I built and the education I received.’’
Shuler remembers his first run through the T.
“I don’t think words can describe the feelings,’’ Shuler said. “I ran slow because I didn’t want to trip.’’
Then he watched Navy run through the T some two decades later.
“Incredible,’’ Heath Shuler said, “to watch your son live his dream.’’
Then to see Navy and Island run through the band’s formation together.
“Even more incredible,’’ Heath said.
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In the late 1990s, Navy and Island had their picture taken on the UT sideline before a game. Then they had a photo taken of them running through the T together as UT students and gave both pictures to their parents as a Christmas present in 2024.
Heath’s love affair with Tennessee began when he signed with the Vols in 1991. He played through a concussion against Alabama in 1992. He realized the injury when he couldn’t find his car in the parking lot postgame and needed UT police to help find it.
He played through a separated shoulder against Alabama in 1993.
After the 1993 season, Shuler, the Heisman Trophy runner-up that year, turned pro as a junior.
“The single most difficult decision ever,’’ Heath said. “I had every reason to stay (at UT) but every reason to accomplish my dreams, too, and that was to play in the NFL.’’
Given a mulligan, Heath said he would have stayed another year at UT.
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Shuler retired from the NFL after only five seasons due to injury, but he said leaving UT was harder than leaving the NFL.
That’s because being a VFL is so meaningful.
“His blood still runs orange,’’ Nikol said. “He’ll always feel connected to Tennessee. And there’s a strong, rich tradition because of the blood, sweat and tears he left at Neyland (Stadium).’’
Island said her dad takes great pride in being a VFL.
“For him, it means a part of him will always have a home at Tennessee, no matter if he lives here or not,’’ Island said. “Tennessee will always be home for him. Being a VFL has shaped him in not just being an athlete, but it’s shaped him as the person he has become.
“It’s an honor for him to be a VFL.’’
(Join me and Heath Shuler for the Friday Walk Thru live at 3 pm on the Sports Source Digital Network… which is free on YouTube. We’ll be with you every Friday all Fall long. And we’ll be taking some viewer questions, too! Hope to see you then.)
