How a sled named 'Big Mama' helped shape Tennessee Football's elite defensive line

Watching over Tennessee football practice each day is a big, menacing figure. The defensive line is always looking over its shoulder knowing this presence could mean a long day on the practice field. It’s not legendary line coach Rodney Garner, though. It’s someone that Garner and his group know as ‘Big Mama,’ because that term means so much to Coach G.

“I think Big Mama is who you grew up with and motivated you,” Garner said. “What sort of molded you into who you are and what you are. We have a sled out there nicknamed Big Mama. She can be very challenging and she can humble you. She can start to put you in your place when you start to think you are bigger than what you are and you start feeling yourself a little bit.

“Every now and then we have to visit Big Mama and go to her house and see if she can get us back in check.”

Big Mama isn’t your normal one-man sled. She packs a punch back at players who strike her, trying to improve their explosiveness and power.

“It’s the weight of three people on a one man sled,” Omari Thomas said. “You just push it after practice until (Garner) gets tired. You just keep going over and over again. Being older now, everybody goes through it. That’s what Coach G does. It’s just to build your character to see what you going to do when stuff gets hard.

“All your teammates and peers around you, everything going bad for you in that moment, how are you going to respond and everyone going through it and having your teammates encourage you is real. Then you get to now and Coach G still coaches us up hard, but you can be way more chill. He is still on our tail every day, hard.”

Just the mention of her will get a face and vocal sounds of worry and disgust from the defensive line room.

“Big Mama, oh my God,” Daevin Hobbs said with a groan. “I remember the first time they were talking about Big Mama when I first got here and I was like is this a person? I was confused. After that practice and everybody was doing Big Mama and it was my first time and Coach G made me keep going like ten in a row until I couldn’t feel my legs no more. Big Mama is not something you want to do.

“Every time I hear Big Mama I get that ick (groaning sounds). That’s the real thing right there. That’s Coach G’s thing.”

Garner is all about teaching his group lessons. He teaches them football lessons and is all too proud to teach them life lessons as well. That’s where Big Mama comes in to help them understand that both football and life aren’t easy.

“Adversity,” Thomas said, “and when adversity hits you have to keep pushing. You have to keep moving your feet.”

They all go through it. They all have to spend time with Big Mama. But both Bryson Eason and Thomas said one encounter stands out as the most grueling they have seen.

“I think the worse guy that ever had it was my guy Jenk (Jayson Jenkins),” Eason said. “He did Jenk so bad. Shout out to Jenk. Jenk is a hard worker but he did Jenk so bad. Like I still remember it. I think Jenk did it 15 times, bro.”

“And after he finished, his legs were dead,” Thomas said. “He got through though and look at him now. Shining. Big Mama got a role.”

And that role has helped bring out the best in Jenkins, Thomas, Eason and so many others. This Tennessee defensive line is the clearcut catalyst for a defense that has been phenomenal so far this season.

Eason is quick to point out her impact on their success. He believes she plays a role in their grit and toughness. That all stems from playing for Garner, who taught them from day one that it won’t be a walk in the park.

“One of my memories was before we had construction the other side of the field,” Eason said laughing as he recalled the situation. “It was when we introduced (Big Mama) and bro had us running gassers on the side after practice. I couldn’t tell you how many gassers we ran but we made it through. It builds character but we was like who is this Coach G? (Laughs) Who is this guy? But Coach G comes with a lot of wisdom for sure. He teaches us a lot of stuff on and off the field. A wise guy overall. He coaches us hard and we need that. …

“We appreciate his hard coaching. Even though we may not like it with the emphasis on we might not like it. But we appreciate it for sure.”

And when recruits come on campus and ask about playing for this defensive line, there is only one answer. 

“We tell them what’s up,” Thomas said. “He is going to coach you hard. He is going to love you though. He is going to love you for sure. He is going to be on your tail. You let them know. We got to and we wouldn’t tell them no lie.”

He doesn’t call on her every day. That would defeat the purpose. But you better believe that this group knows she is always around.

“She be out there somewhere,” Thomas said.

“Waiting,” Eason added.

“And best believe a snap of a finger,” Thomas said, “and Coach G can have her out there where he is at.”

(Groans)