It’s where his father influenced his career path and where he met his wife. It’s where he’d learn from legendary coaches.
When the Florida Gators head to Knoxville for Saturday’s contest against Tennessee, it will mark the return to a city that has important meaning to offensive coordinator Kurt Roper.
In 1977, Roper’s family moved to the city when Kurt was four. His father Bobby was linebackers coach at Tennessee for three seasons. Roper would return to the university as a graduate assistant for the defense and special teams from 1996-98.
During that time, Roper helped coach All-SEC defensive backs Terry Fair and Dwayne Goodrich, as well as assisted in coaching two-time All-SEC kicker Jeff Hall. The Volunteers also reached the Citrus Bowl in 1997 and the Orange Bowl in 1998.
As a graduate school student Roper didn’t go out much, focused on getting a job as a coach. Dedicated to the game, the coach worked during a holiday in preparation for a game against Syracuse.
“I didn’t have anywhere to go on the Fourth of July, so I went into the office,” he said. “I was doing some work and my phone rang. I’m like, ‘Who is calling me?’ I got up and answered the phone and Coach [Phillip] Fulmer was calling my number to leave a message to tell me to do something.”
During his years as a graduate assistant, Roper learned much from Fulmer. Now known for a high-speed offense, Florida’s coordinator said he learned his sense of urgency from the former Volunteer coach.
“I was a young GA running the offensive scout team, And we ran cards and I’d get the group together and I’d show them a card and we’d run a play,” Roper said. “I was early in my career doing that and coach Fulmer ran over and snatched those cards from me and showed me how it needed to be done.”
After stints at Ole Miss and Kentucky as a quarterbacks coach, Roper returned to Knoxville as a running backs coach from 2006-07. During the coach’s second term with the Volunteers, the team won 19 games. Tennessee also made it to the Outback Bowl in consecutive years and won the SEC East in 2007.
Roper also coached current Houston Texans running back Adrian Foster. In 2007 Foster gained 1,193 yards on 245 carries, scoring 12 touchdowns, the most in two years.
Aside from the football knowledge gained and bonds formed with players and coaches, Roper experienced plenty renditions of Tennessee’s fight song, Rocky Top. Throughout this week Florida has played the song during practice to prepare for what they’ll hear on the road. While the song may annoy Gator fans, Roper said the Volunteers would play the it during certain practices to inspire the team.
When Florida takes the field amid an orange and white checkerboard pattern of 102,000-plus, the scene will bring back memories for Kurt Roper. However, come kickoff the focus on improving offensively will take priority over the coach’s homecoming.
“Really we go with a week-to-week mentality and who we’re playing next just happens to be Tennessee and hopefully we play better,” he said.