Bishop ‘made something out of nothing’
Karns product leading rusher in O&W game
By Steve Williams
Pat Ryan has always been a straight shooter as the color analyst on UT football radio broadcasts. And Bob Kesling, who will be in his 25th season as the Vols’ play-by-play broadcaster this coming fall, doesn’t get carried away in his role as some do. Instead, he pretty much tells it like it is, too.
So, you can take their on-air comments to the bank on how Karns High product De’Sean Bishop did in this spring’s Orange and White game.
“Bishop’s first carry picks up two yards,” said Kesling on the Vol Network broadcast early in the contest on April 15, adding that De’Sean had totaled 8,300 yards rushing and 102 touchdowns in his prep career.
After a 32-yard pass by quarterback Gaston Moore, Kesling told the listeners: “Bishop gains seven yards around right end on first down (and then on the following play) Bishop gains four yards for a first down.”
Ryan: “Bishop hits the hole quick.”
Kesling: “Sure does.”
Moore went on to throw a 6-yard slant pass for a touchdown.
On the next possession Bishop was in the game and carried the ball, Ryan said: “It didn’t look like there was much room, but he hid behind the guard, slid to his right side and caught that little crease and got the first down.”
Kesling: “He runs with patience. He did that at Karns and turned out a bunch of big runs.”
Late in the first half, Kesling announced: “Second down and 15, Bishop makes the first man miss and gets up to the 42-yard line before he’s tackled. That’s a pickup of eight. There was nothing on that play Pat and he made something out of nothing.”
Ryan: “Yeah, he put a nice move on the first defender and went right around him.”
The second half moved by quickly, but De’Sean had one run that was impressive.
Kesling: “Bishop makes the cut and picks up five. You know Pat, he just stays behind the offensive linemen and waits for his cut, either left or right.”
Ryan: “Yes he does. That’s what they call ‘pressing the hole.’ And he presses the hole very well.”
This reporter contacted Bishop last week to ask him how he felt about his performance in the game, which the White won 17-14.
“I think I did pretty solid,” said De’Sean, who rushed for 90 yards on 24 carries and was one of 18 freshmen in the game. “I had a lot of yards after contact, running downhill. I made a few good cuts, but there’s always room for improvement. I just take it day by day.”
De’Sean didn’t miss attending a UT home game last season, so he was already aware of what a great fan base the Vols have at Neyland Stadium.
“They support the program very well, watching us play,” said Bishop. “They’re rowdy and stuff like that, so it’s a good feeling when you’re playing in that environment and hearing them cheer you. You want to play in that kind of atmosphere.
“Just imagine a real game,” he added. “The spring game (attended by over 58,000) is just a little taste of how loud they are going to be.”
Before preseason camp starts in August, Bishop, who is listed as 5-10, 195 on the UT roster, said he “wants to try to get faster and a little bigger. I want to try and get in some route running, too.
“Just mainly getting faster and stronger and staying on top of that. Try to stay healthy and just work.”
