Story and photos by Nathan Morgan
More than 20 years before Peyton Manning would don the unmistakable Tennessee “Power T” on his helmet at UT Knoxville, his father, Archie Manning, would wear the mark for a couple days in the summer of 1971.
Fresh off an illustrious college career at the University of Mississippi and just months away from embarking on his NFL journey with the New Orleans Saints, Manning came to Martin to lead a special sports camp at the university. The camp for junior high and high school boys was reported to be “the first of its kind to be offered in West Tennessee,” according to an article that ran in the UT Martin student newspaper, The Pacer.
Then-head football coach and camp director Bob Carroll (‘54) said the university-sponsored program offered activities in swimming, golf, tennis, weight-lifting, softball, basketball, volleyball and handball, with an emphasis on individualized instruction in the “fundamentals and techniques used in football,” the article read.
In addition to Manning, Julian Nunamaker (‘69), former defensive tackle for the Buffalo Bills, helped lead the camp. The pair were also joined by then-Pacers coaching staff members Carroll, Ross Elder, Grover Page, Jack Beeler and Vernon Prather (‘63, ‘72), who offered “70 years of combined experience in teaching.”
After the camp was over Manning departed UT Martin, destined for a 14-year career in the NFL. He would also become the father of Cooper, Peyton and Eli, as well as the grandfather of Arch Manning, all of whom are continuing to make their mark in the world of football.
Though his stay at UT Martin was short, his visit left a lasting impact and remains a treasured memory for the university.
A small manilla envelope with the words “Sports Camp” and “June 20-26, 1971” printed across the top holds nine 5×7-inch glossy black and white photo prints, the only images known to exist of the visit. The photos, which show area junior high and high school boys with Manning and Nunamaker, are now held in the UT Martin special collections and archives.
“From the Archives” is a feature highlighting unique and interesting items from the Alliene and Jimmie S. Corbitt Special Collections. For more information or to make a donation, contact UT Martin Special Collections and Archives at 731-881-7094 or speccoll@utm.edu.
