Coronavirus outbreak: Current and former Vols issue quarantine PSAs

Amidst the coronavirus outbreak, current and former Tennessee Volunteers have released videos advising people to stay safe to deal with COVID-19.

Peyton Manning made the most news among VFLs this past week when he crashed an online University of Tennessee class. However, he was just one of many current and former Vol administrators, coaches and athletes making headlines amidst the coronavirus outbreak.

Other people affiliated with Rocky Top also made news, often times issuing public service announcements via Twitter videos advising people to stay safe and to find ways to deal with being quarantined. Some of them were legends as well.

Lady Vols legend Candace Parker started things off, even before news broke of Manning crashing that online course. The Los Angeles Sparks star said in a Twitter video on Tuesday that she just wanted to check up on everybody and make sure everybody was doing okay, and she noted that social distancing could slow the spread of the virus.

Athletic director Phillip Fulmer, who checks all the UT boxes by being a former player and coach and current administrator, also released a video statement on Twitter with his wife Vicki asking people to stay home while the coronavirus outbreak continues to spread. He also praised state officials for how they are handling COVID-19.

Fulmer’s statement came as the state’s official policy drew controversy since it was to suggest but not enforce a quarantine, which prompted direct criticism from Andy Beshear, governor of the neighboring state of Kentucky. Beshear even advised his residents not to go to Tennessee. Of course, Vol Nation was never keen to please anybody from Kentucky.

In addition to Fulmer, current UT players released a video advising people to stay safe. Those players included offensive lineman Trey Smith, linebacker Henry To’o To’o and quarterback Jarrett Guarantano. They requested people obey their city and county guidelines, make sure they stay clean and practice social distancing.

Finally, the coronavirus outbreak prompted former Tennessee basketball star Grant Williams, who is a rookie with the Boston Celtics, to take a different approach. He decided to encourage people to look for ways to stay active while stuck inside.

All of these Vols did their part in a unique way to help encourage people to flatten the COVID-19 curve. Obviously, Kirk Herbstreit’s Friday comments suggesting postponement of this upcoming football season shocked everybody, so this was a good time for sports figures to issue PSAs. As usual, Rocky Top did not disappoint and had its fair share of Volunteers.