Pete Rose Says He Almost Accepted a Football Scholarship to Tennessee Instead of Playing Baseball

Pete Rose spoke to the baseball players at Hardin Valley Academy in Knoxville, Tenn. this past weekend at the team's banquet. And when discussing his previous experiences in Knoxville, Rose revealed a little-known fact that had the potential to drastically change his athletic career.

Cincinnati Enquirer — “I’ve been in Knoxville before,” Rose said. “I played here and we beat their team to win the South Atlantic League championship.

“I also came to Tennessee in 1960 when I was offered a football scholarship. Thank God I didn’t take that, because if I had, I wouldn’t be sitting here talking to you tonight.”

We almost got Pete Rose?!

Man, what a sight that would have been. I don't know if he'd have ended up in the Pro Football Hall of Fame — or at least had a career worthy of being inducted and then been barred from the game entirely — but I'd be willing to bet he'd have been a hell of an SEC tailback. Just give Charlie Hustle the football and let him run to daylight.

As cool as it would have been for Rose to have worn the orange and white on the football field, I feel confident in saying he made the correct decision in signing a professional baseball contract instead. He ended up being alright.