Putting with Peyton

BY SPENCER CAMPBELL
BRISTOL HERALD COURIER

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – In late April, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning played golf with Tiger Woods before the Quail Hollow Championship in Charlotte, N.C. On Monday, the three-time MVP hit the links in the Tri-Cities – albeit with three, slightly less-acclaimed hackers.

Manning was one of four football celebrities who participated in the 2009 Niswonger Children’s Hospital Golf Classic held at the Ridges Golf and Country Club in Johnson City on Monday. Initiated by philanthropist Scott Niswonger, this year’s event featured the most star-studded cast in the tournament’s history, all in an effort to raise money for the Niswonger Children’s Hospital.

“Well, certainly it was a great thrill to have a chance to play with [Woods], but this is a great day today,” Manning said on Monday. “Any time you’re raising money to help out kids, that’s kind of been the passion I’ve had in my charity foundation and my work with the children’s hospital there in Indianapolis. ... It’s a scramble, which I think is a pretty good format, and we’ll have a lot of fun and help raise some money for the kids.”

Also playing in this year’s tournament were former University of Tennessee coach Phil Fulmer, Colts backup quarterback Jim Sorgi and former Tennessee and New Orleans Saints signal caller Bobby Scott.

One of the spots in Manning’s foursome was manned by Niswonger, but the other two were auctioned off with the help of a local radio station. Both of the final winners, Todd Carter and Rob Clemons, paid more than $2,000 for the chance to play with the NFL’s active leader in passer rating.

Clemons is a lifelong Tennessee fan and even named his dog after Manning. But the Johnson City dermatologist, who is not a regular golfer, didn’t even know he was in the running until his wife surprised him with the gift.

“I’m really, really excited. Somewhat intimidated, somewhat nervous and I’m terrified I’m going to kill someone in the gallery. I hope everybody is wearing helmets,” Clemons said. “We are huge, huge Peyton Manning fans – ever since he signed with Tennessee and even a little bit before that.”

But Clemons is far from the lone Manning fan in the Tri-Cities.

Manning arrived in Johnson City on Sunday night and was taken on a tour of the Niswonger Children’s Hospital. Among the many children Manning met was a days-old infant. Her name? Peyton.

“I know there’s a lot of great places to play college football, but I honestly believe that there’s no greater place to play college football than here,” Manning said. “And you’re not just playing there in Knoxville, you’re playing for the whole state, from Johnson City all the way down to Memphis. The passion people have for Tennessee football doesn’t go away when you graduate.”

Manning also spoke about the recent coaching changes at Tennessee, where his former coach, Fulmer, was replaced by Lane Kiffin, and at Indianapolis, where Jim Caldwell stepped in after the retirement of Tony Dungy.

“I think like everybody it’s kind of a wait-and-see approach,” Manning said. “Like we’re dealing with the Colts, it’s a transition. Kind of what I’ve learned is that during this time in June all you can do is work. I think the real talking starts in September and, hopefully for [Indianapolis], through the end of January.”

Fulmer, forgoing his typical orange shirt in favor of Colts’ blue, talked about his recent abundance of free time. The national championship-winning coach says that he’s still interested in coaching, whether in the NFL or college, should the right position present itself. But Fulmer is staying busy, fishing and teeing up an occasional golf ball.

On Monday, however, the coach was just happy helping out with Niswonger’s cause and visiting with his former quarterback.

“It’s unbelievable what Scott Niswonger has done for the community, period,” Fulmer said. “It’s even better to be up here with Peyton. We had breakfast this morning and a chance to catch up ... but really it’s just a great cause and we’re glad to be back in the upper-east Tennessee area.”

Manning’s and Fulmer’s efforts helped the tournament raise more than $160,000 this year – the highest gross in the event’s history.

Still, Manning couldn’t help but think that maybe his most charitable effort came back in April, during his round with the world’s No. 1 golfer.

“I felt like I got him geared in yesterday to shoot that 65 at the Memorial,” Manning said. “Certainly that was a fun thing for me to do and I enjoyed it, but I certainly know what my day job is.”

scampbell@bristolnews.com|(276) 645-2543