For Tennessee offensive coordinator Larry Scott, it's easy call to be excited for players

When Larry Scott calls a play Monday night against Georgia Tech, Tennessee's first-year offensive coordinator will have a game plan as his guide and the players as his motivation.

The spread sheet of football options will reflect the work of Scott and UT's coaching staff for the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta (TV: ESPN, 8 p.m.)

The players will include some who are in new roles — starting quarterback for example — and others who have expanded responsibility. In that sense, they will reflect their coordinator, who hasn't called plays since he was the co-offensive coordinator at Sebring (Fla.) High in 2004.

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Scott's first call is being more eager for the players than anyone else.

"That's what drives you as a coach, that's what moves you, is the players," he said. "it's all about them. It's all about them having success, them achieving something they've worked very hard for as a team."

Eliminate the ego

Jim Donnan began calling plays in junior high. In particular, he recalled a hand-off — 32 right — that didn't get handed off, forcing the quarterback to improvise.

"I missed the handoff and (ran) 98 yards," he said. "Didn't score, but it looked like a set play. Had to be the longest non-scoring play in the history of the game."

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Donnan called plays throughout a 31-year coaching career that concluded with five years as Georgia's coach (1996-2000). He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2009.

Donnan doesn't consider play-calling to be a football version of a card trick.

"You have to eliminate the ego," he said, "and think you're going to outthink the other coach and call all these masterful plays."

Donnan valued expediency. The sooner the play was called, the better. The same was true for adjustments.

"You can't wait until halftime to figure out something is hurting you," he said.

  He also was big on communication. In that sense, he echoed Scott's deference to the players. Donnan realized that his play call was only as good as their belief.

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When he'd get on the headset with his quarterback, Donnan was inclined to ask: "What do you think?"

"It doesn't matter if I think the world of a play," he said, "if he doesn't think it's going to work."

 Know your play-caller                 

 In Scott-like fashion, Ethan Wolf is excited for his offensive coordinator and his new role.

"He's going to put every ounce of effort and time that he has into this," the Vols' senior tight end said. "We all see that."

And Wolf meant everyone, not just the offense.

"The defensive side of the ball, even the specialists," he said, "they know that Coach Scott is a very passionate guy and that he wants the best for all of us."

Wolf said a popular talking point has been "knowing the intentions of your play-caller." If Scott asked Wolf what he thinks, he would be inclined to say the conversation has been enlightening.

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"I think personally a lot of guys do understand what he wants to do," Wolf said. "I'm just not going to tell you guys that."

Wolf will say it's all about the players taking care of the play-caller.

"He can call whatever he wants, we have to go out there and execute it," he said. "It's on us. If we don't do that, it doesn't matter what play he calls. We're ready to do that."