We are just minutes away from what could be the last game in Peyton Manning's career. There is no doubt that Manning has been an incredible representative of the University of Tennessee and of Knoxville. This post deals with the time Peyton almost visited Fulton. Manning has been a long time spokesman for the St. Mary's/Mercy/Tennova hospitals and usually comes to Knoxville to film TV commercials in conjunction with his summer charity golf tournament.
In the summer of 2008, St. Mary's hospital was transitioning to be a part of Mercy Health Partners. Producers wanted to film a commercial with Manning watching a game where the would be an injury. The tag line was "Mercy," a reference to the renamed hospital. The commercial would be filmed at Fulton, with actual players performing the football scenes. Players from William Blount would make up the opposition. Someone from the hospital had a connection to William Blount. There had to be special permission from the TSSAA to film the commercial, since football activities would be taking place during June. The TSSAA decreed that no visible marks of either team could be shown in the commercial. It wasn't hard to get plenty of willing players to be in the commercial, along with parents and cheerleaders to be extras. Everyone came to Fulton in the hopes of becoming a TV celebrity and to possibly see Peyton Manning.
As is the case with most TV productions, filming was slow. It took several takes to get a crowd reaction shot in the stands. The football action in the commercial would be centered around a QB asking a devastating hit. Fulton QB Josh Compton was recruited to be sacked. Josh was driven to the ground at least ten times as the hit was filmed from every possible angle. Compton took a pretty good beating that night.
The last scene to be filmed was the Peyton Manning scene, except Peyton was no where to be seen. Producers finally admitted that other commitments would keep Manning from attending the shoot, his part could be edited in post production. To film the scene, they needed a stand in for Manning. The only person at the stadium who was comparable in size to Peyton was Coach Rob Black. Coach Black got to be Peyton for a few minutes as the last scene was filmed. Coach Pete Stout also was used as an extra in that scene. Their job was to act as they had just witnessed the savage hit on Josh Compton.
Peyton never made it to Fulton, but the magic of editing made it seem as if he was at Bob Black Field. It took an eternity for the commercial to finally hit the air, and when it did, there was another disappointment. The football action that took a whole night to film comprised only four seconds of the commercial. MERCY!
Watch the night Peyton almost came to Fulton here...
Mercy Health combined St. Mary's and Baptist Hospitals. Now, in 2016, there is no more St. Mary's, no more Baptist Hospital, no more Mercy, Tennova is moving west, and Peyton is nearing retirement. Times do change.
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