Open Letter to Chris Lofton, Jujuan Smith, and Jordan Howell (UT Basketball)

Chris Lofton, Jajuan Smith, and Jordan Howell-

It may be a given that none of you, nor anyone knowing you may ever hear of, or read this open letter. But it is my intent for you to one day get to read this, and many others like it. I am an avid Tennessee Men's basketball fan. I don't miss many games if I can help it. In fact, my wife would probably say I might be a bit over the top, scheduling most things around when you guys take the court; I just call it being a fan. However, I have to say it wasn't always this way. Since I was little I can remember being a football Vol fan. I would occassionally watch the ladies play and would just keep up with the men's program at a distance. I wasn't really into it. There wasn't that connection. Things changed some years ago and I started to pay more attention to UT Men's basketball. I was going to games, watching on TV (when you were on TV) and checking for score's or listening by radio. Enter the Bruce Pearl Era. My world flipped when it came to UT basketball. And it wasn't just Pearl. It was you Chris, you Jajuan, and you Jordan. You guys came on to the scene and blew this love of basketball wide open. I was always a fan because it was UT....now I'm a fan because of it's UT basketball. And even deeper than that, I'm a fan of Chris Lofton, Jajuan Smith and Jordan Howell. The three of you charged my passion for the game and UT basketball; took it to a level it may never come down from. When Chris steps back for a three, hit or miss I'm on my feet; when Jujuan gets a steal on a fast break and throws one down I'm screaming; when Jordan breaks the press and finds someone open for an easy basket, I'm basking in Tennessee Volunteer glory.
Now I know we lost last night. It was not the way anyone thought it would end. But here's what I have to say; THANK YOU. You put a great run in. It was a great season. It was a great last 3 years. I hope that your senior season's were everything you wanted them to be and I want the three of you to know on behalf of all TRUE VOLUNTEER FANS, you will be MISSED, and we enjoyed every moment of it.
As you finish up the year at school and head on to greater things, and there will be much GREATER things for all three of you, just know that you had a HUGE hand in bringing Tennessee basketball to a whole new generation of fans. Fans that will never forget all those BIG wins and great plays put together by the three of you and your teammates. Here me out guys, this is truth; you revived a love for Tennessee basketball for an entire state and ignited a whole new generation of fans desire and passion to see Tennessee Men's basketball be successful.
So from anyone who bleeds orange, to our three seniors, we THANK YOU for all the effort, hard work, wins, losses, tournament games (win or loose), community involvement, passion igniting, the coin phrase "money!" being used about 20 times a game, giving us a legitimate reason to stay up till midnight to watch a basketball game, and most of all, we THANK YOU for being a VOLUNTEER, which you will remain in our hearts forever.