Peyton Manning on Tennessee's College World Series win: 'It's awesome'

Several notable Tennessee alumni, coaches, and fans were in attendance on Monday when the Volunteers won the College World Series. That includes former UT QB Peyton Manning who got to witness the latest Rocky Top title under the leadership of a man who has since become a close friend of his.

Manning spoke with WBIR Sports following Tennessee’s 6-5 win over Texas A&M to secure their first baseball championship and the 24th title all-time for the athletic department. Simply put, it was an incredible moment that required few other words from him.

“It’s awesome,” said Manning. “It’s awesome. I don’t know any other word to describe it, right.”

A lot of that joy comes from the school’s recent run in athletics with the diamond included in that. Tennessee hadn’t won a team title of any kind since 2009. That’s certainly been rough on baseball after failing to win it all in their last two World Series appearances in 2021 and 2023.

Now, in 2024, the Vols finally got it done.

“We’ve been knocking on the door these past several years. We’ve been close, kind of had our heart ripped out but you keep fighting, right,” said Manning. “You don’t say, ‘Hey, that was our shot, you know. Now we’ll never get another shot’. You just keep fighting, right. I kind of lived that as a player.”

Manning also had plenty of pride with how his relationship has developed with Tony Vitello. It’s a connection that has grown over his seven seasons in Knoxville, especially with how each of them are as sons with ties to baseball.

“I’ve really enjoyed the friendship. We’ve really gotten to know each other. He has supported several charity events of mine. It has been a special friendship,” Manning said. “It corresponds with my dad. My dad played college baseball, played in the College World Series believe it or not. Tony corresponds with him, which says a lot about him. Tony is obviously close with his dad, knows the relationship that I have with my dad. I certainly appreciate that.”

“Yeah, I’m proud to be his friend and proud that he’s the Tennessee Volunteers’ head baseball coach,” Manning said.

For the first time in a decade and a half, Tennessee has a national champion to celebrate. It’s that much sweeter for Manning and the Volunteers, though, considering all it took for all their teams, including their baseball program, to reach this height again.

“I have a real appreciation for Tony and these players for just continuing to fight and saying, ‘Hey, we’re doing something right. Let’s just keep knocking on the door, let’s keep sawing wood and good things are going to happen,'” Manning said. “They sure did happen tonight in Omaha.”