Dewey Warren, the “Swamp Rat” from Savannah, was UT’s first pure passing quarterback. He played linebacker as a freshman in 1963, was redshirted in 1964, and took over as quarterback when Charley Fulton was injured in the game against the University of Mississippi. The Tennessee offense was aligned to the running game, so Warren was sacked and hit a number of times in his first game. Following the game, when he was asked whether he would be fully recovered for the next game, he replied, “As long as I can stand on one leg and raise my right arm, Old Dewey will be humming that tater.” The linemen set the “hum that tater” to music, and a huddle song was born.
By the time Warren completed his eligibility in 1967, he had set school records for passing yards, completions, attempts, and touchdowns.
Warren was drafted in the 6th round of the 1968 NFL/AFL draft and played one season for the Cincinnati Bengals. He coached at Brigham Young, Kansas State, Tennessee, and the University of the South, and then became a radio talk-show host.