The Legend of Raynoch Thompson

When Raynoch Thompson donned the orange in the late 90's, I was young lad who only knew one thing about Ray "Knock Your Head Off" Thompson, that he was a known bad ass. But after reading a message board post today, I learned just how bad ass Raynoch was and the injuries and adversity he overcome while at UT.

Most of this is known truth. Some of it is hearsay that only a bad ass like Raynoch Thompson could claim.

Did you know that Raynoch Thompson...

* Played the 1998 National Championship season with a lacerated kidney. One of the other players noticed Raynoch was urinating blood and told the coaches.

They asked Raynoch why he hadn't said anything. He said, "Last time I told them I was hurt (the broken nose) they didn't let me play."

He had surgery during an open date and never missed a game.

* Grew up in a crackhouse in New Orleans....that alone makes him tough as nails....but he also had been shot while in high school...survived that and started on our National Title team.....Raynoch was also really quiet....all the other players on the team wouldn't mess him just for these reasons. Legend is Raynoch showed up his freshman year in Knoxville with the shirt on his back and nothing else.

* Once tore a muscle next to the groin that would prevent most people from walking, but Raynoch played 4 games with the injury.

* Played in the Georgia game during his grandmothers funeral. He had a career best three sacks in that game.

* Once against Arkansas in 1999, the Razorbacks were at the point of kneeling, but Raynoch refused to say die and tried to jump the snap and catapult over the line. He was ejected from the game.

No doubt Raynoch Thompson was one of if not the toughest Vols to ever wear the orange. This is the kind of stuff that legends are made of.