Ten years later, in the tiny East Georgia town of Waynesboro, Ga., about 30 miles south of Augusta, Tennessee fans still recognize Mercedes Hamilton and approach the former lineman.

He was the starting left guard on Tennessee’s national championship team — a quiet captain, a nondescript lineman who never played in the NFL and spent one season in Berlin. In the popular picture of Tee Martin preparing to throw what would be a 76-yard pass to Peerless Price against Florida State, you can see, almost unnoticed, Hamilton making a key block.

But he remained a favorite among Tennessee fans, even 10 years later.

“I tried to stay out of trouble, lead by example and do the right thing, and I think the fans kind of appreciated how I handled myself,” Hamilton said Thursday. “I hear from fans in this area all of the time. You’d be surprised how many Tennessee fans are in Georgia. People come up and talk and ask me if I remember this or that. I hear from quite a few even in this little town.”

Hamilton now teaches technology at an alternative school in Burke County and also coaches track and the offensive line at Burke County High School. He was inspired to coach by Mike Barry, his offensive line coach at Tennessee.

Barry’s first season with the Volunteers was 1998, and he’s now an assistant offensive line coach for the Detroit Lions.

“He didn’t really have any favorites when he came in,” Hamilton said. “He was just down to earth, for one, and just let the best person play. He was a really good guy for me.

“I think I would like to move up to college one day and coach, but I enjoy high school right now. It’s fun. I like seeing them grow from 14-year-olds to 18-year-old grown men and just develop as players. It’s pretty rewarding.”

He still flashes the 1998 national championship ring to motivate Burke County before big games, a reminder of what a team can accomplish without many heralded players. Hamilton said he realized the 1998 Vols were great when Tennessee came from behind to beat Syracuse in the opener.

The Syracuse game confirmed Hamilton’s initial suspicions of the 1998 team — a relentless attitude, a togetherness aided by the lack of big stars and a will to win unseen in previous years.

“We had to go down the length of the field at the end of the game, and we didn’t have our passing game going yet,” Hamilton said. “It was a real hostile environment. But we still won. I knew then we could win anywhere. And we never really blew anybody out. We had to work to win every game. We just always figured out a way. The Syracuse game taught us a lot.”

Hamilton is doing the teaching now, but he still watches Tennessee and Phillip Fulmer. He talks on the phone with former Vol Jeff Coleman during every televised Tennessee game.

“I love Tennessee. It’s kind of painful now, but I think they’ll bounce back,” he said. “Coach Fulmer is a good coach, he’ll get them right. It looks like the players need to start making plays.”

Until then, Hamilton will always be a reminder of the better times at Tennessee. Just go up and ask him.

“It always feels good to get recognized, and it makes you think, ‘It’s been 10 years and they still remember me?’” he said. “But that’s a good thing. That’s exciting. I enjoy the Tennessee fans.”

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