Give Max Parrott a tip of the hat for his sense of humor.
When David Cutcliffe arrived at Neyland-Thompson Sports Center on Sunday after being introduced as Duke’s new head coach Saturday, Cutcliffe found the nameplate removed from his locker.
Whether Parrott, UT’s assistant equipment manager of 22 years, pulls any more names off lockers in the coming days remains to be seen.
UT assistants Matt Luke (tight ends/recruiting coordinator) and Kurt Roper (running backs) could wind up following Cutcliffe to Duke.
Both coached on Cutcliffe’s staff at Ole Miss, and both came to Tennessee when Cutcliffe returned as offensive coordinator following the 2005 season.
Those moves haven’t happened yet, though.
“We haven’t made any of those decisions,” Cutcliffe joked after Sunday night’s practice, “regardless of what Max Parrot may think. We’ll cross that here in a week or so, or a couple weeks.
“There’s a lot of speculation is all that is,” Cutcliffe said. “We haven’t offered anybody a job. I’ve got to find out a lot of information from the administrative people at Duke. We’ve got to follow the proper procedure. We haven’t made any of those decisions.”
Championship Chow: With campus all but shut down for the holidays, local architect George Ewart and surgeon Dr. Greg Midis provided dinner for the team Sunday.
The name of their group? Try the Dead End Society’s championship cooking team.
“Our kids are going to have championship barbecue,” head coach Phillip Fulmer said. “We appreciate those guys.”
Drew Edwards covers University of Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274.
© 2007, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Comments » 18
ThaiVolFan writes:
I am very confident that we will get an upgrade at the OC position. I don't think that we will take a step backwards in coaching ability or performance. Our offense will be better next year, not worse. I expect Phil to hire the right man for the job, a man that will take our offense to the next level. Now is Phil's perfect opportunity to make that happen.
Go Vols!
texan writes:
ThaiVolFan.
How long have you been having this nightmare?
texan writes:
“There’s a lot of speculation is all that is,” Cutcliffe said. “We haven’t offered anybody a job. I’ve got to find out a lot of information from the administrative people at Duke. We’ve got to follow the proper procedure. We haven’t made any of those decisions.”
Have you offered anyone a scholarship yet Cut? And if you did who's dime did you do it on? Just what is the proper procedure on that Coach?
invisiblekid writes:
Heck, why not make the decision on 2/5/08 and make it interesting.
Hixson_Vol writes:
Take Chavis...please
grvol writes:
Take Fulmer as your o-line coach.
Volker writes:
Is this a Duke web forum now? Duck Fuke, tell me what UT is doing to get back on top, land recruits, win the Outback Bowl and be dominant again!!!
DenmarkVol_aka_Mbumburu writes:
Close the deal with Kippy ASAP so we can get moving on recruiting!
Southland writes:
take Slade please
mparker writes:
something tha may happen is if a new oc is hired soon, cut may go ahead adn leave. this would depend on availability.
BTW, Peyton will be head coach someday. You can almsot bet on it. He loves UT and Phil. Peyton's work ethic is SO strong he'll be a great head coach, and I do believe he'll call his own plays.
A lot of times great players don't make great coaches, but I think Peyton will. Not like Spurrier, but clse.
Pullingguard writes:
All these critical people who were or are down on the entire coaching staff, "no one at UT ever gets offered advancement" "The is a need for change in the coaching staff" "We need new ideas and coach's"
well, all of those people now have their wishes come true.. Will probably be only one coach left on offensive side of the ball.. Some are losses, others will be easily replaced, but time goes on, and UT built their reputation for outstanding football prior to any of these arriving at UT. So have faith, everything will be good.
cwisenhower#637741 writes:
There's nothing wrong with the defense. This year, they were just young and inexperienced. If they give up alot of yards and points next year, then there's a problem with the coaching. These kids on defense will have alot of experience coming into next year, and they can go nowhere but forward.
orangesox writes:
cwisenhower,
I tend to aree with you about the defense next year. Glad to see a post on this board that is at least optimistic. I was beginning to think that sentiment had been banned from this website.
Volker writes:
Sox, as long as Eric Berry is lurking around in the secondary...I'm optimistic. I've never seen a freshman (defensive player) than can change the game like he can.
vscebail#247785 writes:
Please Lord, let us find the right person for the job. The Randy Sanders dabacle set our program way back from the pinnacle of 1998.
marc_ash#231781 writes:
thaivolfan,
"I am very confident that we will get an upgrade at the OC position"
As I respect your opinion, the Vols had one of the top O's in the SEC last season. I will not disagree that a change may be good, but this O went from 3rd to last in the NATION in 05 to one of the best in the country in 2 seasons.
I have seen a lot of negative comments about Cut, but the facts listed above say a lot.
marc_ash#231781 writes:
cwisenhower, good post. Starting all freshmen in the secondary in the SEC is tough enough, but to add in the inuuries UT had didn't help. I think the D will be much improved. Often times, programs are able to slowly transition young players into a system with some upper classmen. However, this season freshmen had to step in all at once in that secondary.
I feel the program is moving in the right direction and has a great corp of players coming back in 08. The O line is all but intact save one starter and the D will feature competition with the possibility of Morely and other JUCO players coming in.
I'm interested to see what Crompton does leading the Vols. Maybe he'll do what Tee did after Peyton left and win with a different style.
VOLstuckINky writes:
BBQ and krispy creme ... all is O-TAY in K-ville.
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