- ABC News
- March 26, 2020
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Some University of Tennessee students, growing a little bored with online courses during the coronavirus outbreak and campus-wide shutdown, received a nice jolt Thursday morning from one of UT's most famous alums. Peyton Manning "crashed" his former professor's Communications 499 class, surprising the students and doing his part to try to lift their spirits. John Haas, one of Manning's favorite professors when the star quarterback was in school, was in on the surprise. "Vols help Vols," said Haas, who set up Manning's appearance perfectly. A few minutes into the class, there's a ding, and Haas says, "Mr. Thompson, I think you're late for class." Manning, wearing a visor with the Vols' trademark Power T, pops up on screen with the other students via Zoom video conferencing and says, "I'm sorry Dr. Haas. It's been a while. It's been at least since 1996 or 7 since I've been in a class." Haas, trying to keep a straight face, quips, "If you were here, I'd be making...