The ongoing quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic has caused many to get a little stir crazy across the country. Sports fans in particular are feeling the boredom as the sports world has come to a screeching halt amidst the outbreak.
There are, obviously, more important things to focus on than sports right now, but sports have often served as a great distraction for the world. Football especially is a big getaway for citizens in the United States, specifically those who live in the south. Vol fans crave football content year-round, and right now Tennessee’s football team should be going through spring practices.
That’s not happening, however, and it looks as though all of spring practices will eventually be canceled. The annual Orange & White Game already is.
Vol fans have a huge, football-shaped void they’re trying to fill, and in an effort to bring some levity to dark times and to placate that football itch, one of Tennessee’s more well-liked current coaches took to Twitter to interact with fans.
Inside linebackers coach Brian Niedermeyer conducted a Q&A with Vol fans on Thursday afternoon on Twitter to help pass the time and give Vol fans some entertainment. The young coach was asked hundreds of questions, and he gave answers to several dozen over the course of several hours.
We couldn’t include all of his answers in here, but here are some highlights from Niedermeyer’s Q&A with Vol fans. If you want to scroll through all of his answers, just follow this link to his Twitter profile and read them all at your leisure.
Niedermeyer shared his favorite moment of Tennessee’s 2019 season, and it was the Vols’ explosive 41-21 win over South Carolina to close out the month of October and kick off UT’s current six-game winning streak. Nieds was also a fan of the graphic design work Tennessee’s media department put in after the win.
Hound in the Hen house. https://t.co/wrghYy78Xo pic.twitter.com/yz8wjoRPrK
— Brian Niedermeyer (@NiedermeyerB) March 26, 2020
As for a specific play that stands out to Niedermeyer from this past season, that would be the fourth down goal line stop against the Kentucky Wildcats to seal UT’s narrow victory.
4th down goal line stop at Kentucky https://t.co/SBXIiOwSVD
— Brian Niedermeyer (@NiedermeyerB) March 26, 2020
Tennessee’s new inside linebackers coach joked with one of the newest members of Tennessee’s team, linebacker Martavius French. Though French isn’t on campus yet, he and Niedermeyer have clearly already built up a rapport. French will likely be coached by Niedermeyer at inside linebacker this fall.
Tonight once you get your hw done https://t.co/k3K3Wodp1s
— Brian Niedermeyer (@NiedermeyerB) March 26, 2020
Niedermeyer also answered the debate about who is better: Michael Jordan or LeBron James. He also ribbed the person who asked it, Tennessee freshman offensive lineman Cooper Mays.
Great question young Cooper. While both generational players one has to be the GOAT. MJ due to killer instinct Lebrons a nice guy and where do they finish Cooper? https://t.co/mSfDaSeoMK
— Brian Niedermeyer (@NiedermeyerB) March 26, 2020
The 247Sports 2019 Recruiter of the Year had a clap-back at a troll who tried to bring up Tennessee’s misses on the recruiting trail in the 2020 cycle.
You can’t get em all just gotta work even harder. Also your zero followers is deafening. https://t.co/DaBarsgzc2
— Brian Niedermeyer (@NiedermeyerB) March 26, 2020
He also answered a few questions about recruiting, revealing the top things he looks for in recruits, if recruiting or coaching is more of a thrill for him, and more.
On the field – Speed
Off the field – Character https://t.co/z2yiyMEuiR— Brian Niedermeyer (@NiedermeyerB) March 26, 2020
Too close to call this staff can recruit https://t.co/IXlwGYi1Ee
— Brian Niedermeyer (@NiedermeyerB) March 26, 2020
On the field coaching is always the preferred and most challenging. You’re always striving for perfection and nobody is perfect. https://t.co/c2jSFd6vi7
— Brian Niedermeyer (@NiedermeyerB) March 26, 2020
The young coach also made several jokes at the expense of offensive coordinator Jim Chaney, and those were some of his more well-received answers.
No just crushes monsters with no remorse. https://t.co/emJXH5Ootz
— Brian Niedermeyer (@NiedermeyerB) March 26, 2020
Gotta go with Pruitt here but Chaney might be a serious issue if he gets pruitt in the corner https://t.co/4bMJIdH6PH
— Brian Niedermeyer (@NiedermeyerB) March 26, 2020
Tee Martin and Jim Chaney. Tee can cook no doubt and Jim can tell stories. https://t.co/ykhBj6YcKo
— Brian Niedermeyer (@NiedermeyerB) March 26, 2020
No he doesn’t do twitter but I can’t wait to login into staff meetings with it on https://t.co/VKihjEhZKu
— Brian Niedermeyer (@NiedermeyerB) March 26, 2020
Niedermeyer also revealed that he’s not a huge fan of his nickname of “Moose.”
Zero but we don’t get to decide nick names you just own it https://t.co/emFmU84DUg
— Brian Niedermeyer (@NiedermeyerB) March 26, 2020
What’s the hardest part of his job that fans might not expect? Trying to find time for his family amidst all the pressure of being a coach.
Trying to block out time for family and friends. You’re constantly worrying about doing your job and your players whose parents entrusted you with them. https://t.co/1IxAt19gqB
— Brian Niedermeyer (@NiedermeyerB) March 26, 2020
Where’s the Beer Barrel that he showed off after Tennessee beat Kentucky in Lexington? Niedermeyer isn’t telling.
It’s in secret secure location somewhere in the Smoky Mountains https://t.co/yNRAadsMoM
— Brian Niedermeyer (@NiedermeyerB) March 26, 2020
Is Die Hard a Christmas movie? Niedermeyer thinks so.
Is it set in Christmas time during the movie? Then yes it’s a Christmas movie. https://t.co/C54AsSQEGE
— Brian Niedermeyer (@NiedermeyerB) March 26, 2020
He also shared his opinion on a few “controversial” food topics.
Bone in……Flats and don’t even think about coming at me https://t.co/elAhJ8Km6i
— Brian Niedermeyer (@NiedermeyerB) March 26, 2020
Ranch because blue cheese is disgusting https://t.co/EwkYPfzOfg
— Brian Niedermeyer (@NiedermeyerB) March 26, 2020
Hands down Chick-fil-a it’s the Lord’s chicken. https://t.co/FG2Tu7CvfF
— Brian Niedermeyer (@NiedermeyerB) March 26, 2020
Then there was this gem near the end of his Q&A with fans:
I’m saying this as a friend but bro I think you’ve been in isolation too long. https://t.co/dJO5rhDEk0
— Brian Niedermeyer (@NiedermeyerB) March 26, 2020
