NFL Combine Losers
It makes all the sense in the world, right? Wait. Let’s back up a few months.
By the end of the 2021 baseball season, Tennessee baseball coach Tony Vitello had led the Vols to the College World Series and was one of the most highly-touted names on campus. Vitello’s energy and passion were reciprocated by the Tennessee fanbase as the Vols continued to win more and more games.
Jump forward a bit.
By the middle of the 2022 Tennessee basketball season, a 5-foot-9, deep-voiced kid from Long Island, N.Y., had captured Tennessee’s attention on his way to becoming a star in the SEC. Tennessee freshman Zakai Zeigler’s heart and toughness have made a significant impact both on the court for the Vols and in the hearts of the fans.
So it makes all the sense in the world that Tony Vitello and Zakai Zeigler would be Tennessee’s biggest dynamic duo, right?
Of course, it does. This is the money-making tag-team that we all should have all seen coming from a mile away.
It began in February when Vitello was courtside at the Tennessee basketball game wearing a Zakai Zeigler shirt jersey. Then, earlier today on Monday, Zeigler was able to return the favor by donning a Tony Vitello Tennessee Baseball shirt jersey.
Vol Hoops: Zakai Zeigler Closes Fundraiser, Thanks Tennessee Fans in Statement
Tennessee HC Tony Vitello with the Zakai Zeigler jersey on during the game. pic.twitter.com/qt7i05oimB
— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) February 26, 2022
“I had to shout my guy out,” Zeigler said while unveiling the t-shirt during his press conference on Monday. “It’s only right!”
Tennessee PG Zakai Zeigler showing off the Tony Vitello shirt-jersey before his interview today. #Vols pic.twitter.com/3J422kQOhW
— Ric Butler (@Ric_Butler) March 7, 2022
Little did anyone know, though, Vitello wearing Zeigler’s shirt was just the tip of the iceberg. As he spoke about last week, Vitello has been a big fan of Zeigler and the Vols this entire season.
“He’s not in it to make friends man,” Vitello said about Zeigler after the Auburn game. “He’s out there to win. I’m a fan of the whole group to be honest with you. You probably saw some of that (at the game) yesterday. But [Zeigler] is one of many that coach Barnes gets to play the right way. I think that guy, obviously, the fans draw to him because he’s not huge in stature but he’s got the ole big heart going on on that court. Something that every college athlete, in my opinion, should emulate. Other than the basketball players in our conference I don’t think like him. And that’s kind of the way it should be.”
Tony Vitello: Big Zakai Zeigler fan. pic.twitter.com/CHgvu6HyKK
— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) February 27, 2022
Watching the Tennessee fanbase for so many years in so many sports has shown me just how much Vol fans appreciate passion. Whether it was Grant Williams leading the gator chomp on Florida’s court, Josh Heupel calling Tennessee the best football atmosphere in the country, Tony Vitello arguing with former mentor Dave Van Horn after a game in Knoxville, or Zakai Zeigler going toe-to-toe with any player on the court despite the inevitable size difference… Tennessee fans will recognize and support athletes and coaches that have a passion for the Vols and the city of Knoxville.
Tragically, on the day that Vitello made that quote, Zeigler learned some life-altering news. Zeigler’s family residence in New York, where he grew up and his family still lived, had burned down in the late-night/early-morning beforehand.
As soon as Zeigler and Tennessee learned the news, the Vols’ athletics department sprung into action. Later that week Zeigler announced a GoFundMe with the support of Tennessee and within minutes the fundraiser’s trajectory was out of this world. The Tennessee fanbase, combined with the support of the college basketball world, was able to raise more than 360,000 dollars for the Zeigler family’s relief and recovery funds.
It’s hard not to like Zakai Zeigler with the infectious positive outlook he has on life and the way he competes every day. And as we know now, Tony Vitello sure agrees.
