I'm a big fan of the sniff test.
Although it's not 100 percent accurate, it's pretty close. When something stinks, it's generally bad.
My nose began tingling earlier this week when Don'ta Hightower suddenly committed to Alabama.
It's not that the 6-foot-3, 245-pound defensive end/linebacker from Marshall County High School in Lewisburg was determined to be a member of the Crimson Tide. It's the way it all happened that didn't smell right.
Hightower said he picked 'Bama because the coaches there showed him so much "love."
"I got attention from Tennessee," Hightower told rivals.com. "They recruited me pretty hard but I feel like they didn't want me as bad as Alabama or Vanderbilt."
So the Vols dropped the ball, right?
Not so fast.
Despite telling GoVolsXtra.com this summer that UT was being considered, Hightower never stepped foot on Tennessee's campus and only took one phone call from a UT representative, a brief conversation in which he said he was planning a trip to Knoxville. That never happened.
And the Vols used one of their best, most seasoned recruiters on Hightower. Coach Steve Caldwell has pulled prospects from areas many deemed unapproachable. There's no reason to think Caldwell dropped the ball.
The calls were made. But they went unanswered.
So back to 'Bama. I know that anytime you bring up Alabama and strange recruiting practices, some will automatically think of Albert Means and a football coach lining the pockets of his sweat pants.
But that's not what I'm suggesting. Alabama's coaches aren't to blame.
There is, however, evidence to suggest that someone pulled a Jeff Gordon-like steering job on Hightower's recruitment. Why else wouldn't he listen to other offers?
(And I'm not counting Vanderbilt, which seemed to be token interest at best.)
Imagine having a job offer, yet several other companies still wanted to hire you. They kept calling and calling.
Wouldn't you pick up the phone?
Wouldn't you listen?
Wouldn't you explore every possible option before you made the final decision?
Not if the decision had already been made for you.
And if it was already decided, that could serve to undermine Hightower's future.
When times get hard (and they do for every student-athlete), that's when questions arise. Then, comes resentment if a young man thinks he's been misled.
For an example of how to better handle the recruiting process, just look west to Barrett Jones. Sure, UT hated losing out on the 6-5, 270-pound offensive lineman from Evangelical Christian in Cordova.
But Jones kept his options open and explored every opportunity before committing to Alabama.
Now, do I think Jones was always leaning toward Alabama? Absolutely. But at least he played out all of his options.
If Jones ends up miserable at Alabama, he can look himself in the mirror and take responsibility. That being said, I bet that day never comes.
Something tells me Jones will have a standout career for the Crimson Tide. Something tells me he'll never look back.
I only wish I could say the same for Hightower.
Simply Sterling: I rarely champion the collegiate cause of local players. (Try justifying a column for one high school player and not another.)
I let PrepXtra editor Jesse Smithey tiptoe through that minefield of parental passion.
But I think someone is going to get a steal with Farragut tailback Andre Sterling, who is receiving little interest, mostly from Middle Tennessee State.
I'm not sure what's working against Sterling. Perhaps it was the incredible athletic jump he took from his junior and senior season. Sterling was good in 2006. He's been unstoppable this season, with 2,125 regular season rushing yards in the state's top classification.
Most talent judgments are based on a prospect's junior season.
UT is one of many schools that doesn't seem to agree with me. The Vols have shown little, if any, interest.
It would be a shame if the Vols were backing off local players a year after creating so much goodwill by signing so many local athletes, such as Loudon's Josh Hawkins, Maryville's Tyler Maples and Austin East's Anthony Anderson.
In UT's defense, it had to redshirt all of those local players, except for Fulton's Dennis Rogan, who would be the freshman everyone was talking about if not for Eric Berry.
Speaking of Rogan, more than one coach has told me that Sterling is better than the former Falcon. As much respect as I have for Rogan's ability, that's enough of an endorsement for me.
Baseball Vols: Swinging for the fences is fun.
But in trying to hit recruiting home runs, the Vols have to be careful. By holding out for the top tier players, thereby, putting second-tier players on hold, UT can find itself scrambling in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Jones committing to Alabama was a huge, albeit not unforeseen, blow.
The Vols have approximately 10 scholarships to offer and they're goal is clear - to secure elite players.
Just remember that swinging hard can make striking out look really bad, especially if those you put on hold grow tired of waiting.
Visitors: The Vols hope to make a huge impression on a huge prospect, both in size and stature. Kenneth Page, a 6-foot-4, 300-pound offensive guard, from A.C. Flora in Columbia, S.C. is considering several schools and is one of the top offensive line prospects in the Southeast.
UT commitment Austin Johnson will also be in attendance for the Vanderbilt game. Johnson, a 6-2, 235-pound linebacker from Hickory (N.C.) High School, committed to UT in September.
Memorable moments in Pat Summitt's…
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Phillip Fulmer through the years
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 30
volgrog#210164 writes:
Interesting insight on Hightower. Someone is trying to stir passions. Wonder if the words were his, or someone was pushing him on what to say?
jodygirard#397687 writes:
I don't recall Arron Sears, Jayson Swain, Jason Allen and Tee Martin taking visits to Alabama (they are all from the state of Alabama). Now that Kramer is gone maybe that can of worms should be reopened.
FYI - Hightower got no attention from a team with a winning record early on except for Alabama. Don't misconstrue good scouting with "showing love" that is in any way illegal.
Does anyone seriously want to play for Fulmer instead of Saban? So far in this recruiting cycle, the answer is no.
Nice try.
utalum04 writes:
cheaters, cheaters, cheaters....yeah, I would want to play for Saban until he takes off for another job in 2 years. What a dirty school.
utalum04 writes:
cheaters, cheaters, cheaters....yeah, I would want to play for Saban until he takes off for another job in 2 years. What a dirty school.
Oenoboy writes:
Awe shucks guys. Bama doesn't mean to cheat. It's just taking them a little longer to adapt to the modern NCAA rules.
vol4jesus writes:
tdtn did alawho play sat? La MONROE? Who won 21-14? Bayou boys did! Saban peeps gotta b happy....YAWN...oops borrowed material men.
DCVol writes:
did you see the score today, hightower? You sure you don't wanna take another look at your options? Haha, you can keep em, bin Saban. Chumps...
utmdm writes:
Saban wouldn't say if Hall's suspension had initially been for a half or the game.
"It was what it was," he said.
Hmm I bet! Wonder what all those Buma commits so many have fretted over think of being Sabanites now?
BigUn writes:
According to some people closer to the situation, apparently Hightower's coach is a big Bama fan and acts like a road whore groupie whenever he came to visit Hightower at school.
Also Nick got in big with Hightowers mom, which pretty much meant it was all over. When your High School coach and mother are googly eyed over Saban, it's over.
JohnyLobo34 writes:
As I recall "Hightowers Mother" didn't like Tennessee & didn't want him going there. We'll survive. Go VOls.
stevefrommemphis writes:
This time the NCAA will get so mad at Alabama that they will put Troy State on five years probation. I say - GIVE BIG AL THE CHAIR.
waterskier3#226480 writes:
CHEATING OR NOT THIS IS BAD NEWS FOR TN BECASUE WHEN BAMA DOMINATED US FOR SO LONG THEY CLEANED HOUSE IN TN AND IT LOOKS LIKE THAT TREND IS STARTING AGAIN...... DO WE HAVE ANY GOOD RECRUITS THIS YEAR...... I SAY GET THE LOCAL KIDS THAT LOVE THE BIG ORANGE AND WE'LL DO BETTER
budrhon writes:
Saban won't be around long enough for this kid to get to know him well.
asleep#212036 writes:
I agree with several that it is doubtful Saban will finish his 8 year contract so "playing" for him is specious if a recruit is looking 4 or 5 years down the road. Agree though, that by reputation, Saban in a genius and will have Alabama football back on top in no time. I, however, see no signs of that from this year's squad, who, desptie a coaching "upgrade", will do no better than last year's team. And this year's team embarrassed the entire conference on Saturday, something even the devil Shula never did.
Disagree that Alabama drained the checkbook on Saban. Probably only Notre Dame is willing to spend more money to win football games than the Tide. And Paul Jr., and company have got it to spend, believe me. Also, Hightower's recruitment is typical of many others. He could just be going with the first school to show real interest - tons of kids do just that because that school has the most time and effort invested. Could be nothing more than a childhood dream. Wes Brown, UT's defensive end, played HS ball here in Athens, Alabama, where I live. Recruited heavily by Alabama and Auburn, never took an official visit to either. He grew up a UT fan with the banners and logos all over his room, cheering for Schuler, Manning, and Martin and Co. to win. He waited for the UT offer and took it, never even seriously considering anyone else. There was nothing nefarious or illegal about it. If you were an Alabama or Auburn fan, you could wonder why he didn't even visit your school. Hightower could be the same way. Just a thought. Go Vols!!!
stevefrommemphis writes:
I want to make clear that I did not intend to suggest in my earlier comment that anything sordid occurred here. I very much doubt that anything against NCAA rules has happened. My only comment is that if Alabama ever does get caught breaking the rules again, given all the garbage that went on down there a few years ago, they should get the death penalty - period.
RockyTopRooks writes:
Man theres nothing like seeing BAMA go down. Maybe they should go try and dig up Bear Bryant. I think thats there only chance
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Dave, you should not suggest that because a middle-of -the pack prospect wants to go to Bama that they cheat. Nosirree, without facts, what's that you say! They've been caught every way known to man and a few that aren't!! Well, maybe I was hasty, Satan needs some players. Only Tenn can make John Fitzgerald Kennedy Persimmon Theodore Wilson look like a All-Sec player! Also Andrew Jackson Cannonball Vanderbilt Cassen did OK too! Well, you'll see, we'll hold them under 41 next year (hope)!
jweaver3#395614 writes:
Yea Jody, I would love to play for (Satan)Saban for two years till he finds his next gig and lose to UL Monroe in those two years. Sounds Great to me also!!!
By the way your on knoxnews.com not tidesports.com maybe you should look at your site before you post.
It could stop the embarassment!!!JUST A SUGGESTIONS
THIS SITE IS FOR TRUE VOL FANS
GO VOLS
LET'S BEAT THE KITTYS AND THEN ON TO ATLANTA
TXVOLSFAN
JSMITH2432 writes:
Geez Hooker, could you sound like a bigger Tennessee message board fan with this article??? Where did the journalism go?? Stick to Rivals or Scout where the usual UT fans post.
Translation of Hooker's article..."Why would Hightower not want to be a Volunteer? He said we didn't show him love. Love must mean money. Money equals Bammers. Down with the Bammers. Go Vols."
Basketball_Jones writes:
I JUST READ WHERE TENNESSEE OFFERED A SCHOLARSHIP TO ALCOA QB RANDALL COBB. HE'S SUPPOSED TO BE HEADING TO KENTUCKY
asleep#212036 writes:
i doubt if Saban is dumb enough to get sideways with the NCAA, especially at Bama. However, nobody (outside of the hermetically sealed egomaniacs in Tuscaloosa) thinks Saban will finish that contract. And he made it where he can leave whenever he wants with no penalties. What idiot signed off on that deal? So when he recruits a kid graduating in 2008, I would say there is a zero percent chance that kid will graduate with Saban as the head coach. But true to form, Bama supporters and obviously, Bama recruits, think that nobody would ever quit that job because it's just the greatest job on earth! LMAO. Can't wait 'til Saban gives them the finger and moves on. Go Vols!!!
Hunter writes:
Buck Fama.
easton3 writes:
I have never seen more irresponsible journalism. Are you kidding me? Because the kid liked Bama and not UT, Bama must of cheated. You people are a joke. Thier are dozens of kids each year who know exactly where they want to go to school and don't care to go through the " recruiting process ". Have those schools cheated too ? This article and this thread are nonsense. Get your program together, then you can go badmouth someone elses.
P.S. You who have responded to this nonsense should be aware of how silly you look.
ROLL TIDE !!!!
chefjorge writes:
So Easton3, let's have a look at "together." 8-3 and 5-2, losing to three ranked teams or 6-5 and 4-3 losing to three unranked teams. Hey glasshouse go home. Your team's still no good. You beat us, but still look at the records.
tigervol9802 writes:
Hey easton....
It's called an op-ed article, where the predominant message is an opinion.
And this looks no more foolish than Bama right now for:
1) Saban losing to ULM,
2) Saban suspending DJ Hall then reinstating him at halftime when the game was closer than he thought it would be,
3) Saban comparing a 6-5 Bama team to Pearl Harbor or 9/11, and
4) for paying Saban 4 million when items 1-3 happen.
easton3 writes:
You should be more worried about our 3rd ranked recruiting class for 2008. We also have a 4**** DT commited for 2009 and the state of Alabama will be loaded again with highschool talent. You should also worry about the same ole TN team. I love TN football believe it or not. And you know as well as I do, the direction of this team has to change. It's the same underachieving team every year with the same attitude. TN may have more wins, but these programs are going in different directions right now.
My point was about this article though. It's low class. TN and Dave Hooker are better than this.
Aaron Douglas is a 4**** recruit who has been commited to TN for 2 years; how many schools did he visit? how many coaches phone calls did he return? how much money did TN pay him. Better yet, tell me how are the grades of the TN football players. They are cheaters, right. Once a cheater, always a cheater, right. Thats Dave Hooker's logic.
This article is phooey. Football is a game of men. Football is not lies and false rhetoric. Do your job, Dave Hooker.
ROLL TIDE !!!!
bloodrunsorange writes:
Fulmer wasn’t the first to be questioned about Bama. Ask the “X” man from Florida and the “X” man from Miss State just to name two and there were others who suggested Alabama was appropriating players in NCAA undesirable ways. I’m a little tired of Tennessee and Fulmer taking the full rock to the bottom. As it looks Tennessee has 10 to 12 scholarships left this year. I remember when we picked like USC and they’re having their troubles now like we’ve had. There are Rogans and Colemans out there that will be real assets to programs that were not 5 star recruits. Granted with the percentage of 5 stars that fail, if you get 25/year 5 stars you would definitely have some players, but would you have a team? NO COACH CAN WIN WITHOUT THE HORSES. Maybe the numbers are changing and the real difference in 5s and 4s and even 3s are coming closer together. I do believe, times they are a changing! Oh by the way, I can't put on paper where I'd really like the Tide to really roll.
chefjorge writes:
I can put where I'd like the Tide to roll. The same place I put the other thing that comes in a roll. The freaking toilet. We don't want you Easton. Your program is clearly not going in an appreciably more positive direction than they were last year. What sort of recruiting class did UT have last year? They'll have another fine one this year.
easton3 writes:
"Another fine one this year".....Not so far.
anyway, I love TN football but my heart lies with the Crimson Tide.
My point with my original post was, this article is a travesty. He set journalism back 20 years with this phooey. Also, what about this 18 year old kid? You may be mad that he chose Bama, but this is very unfair to his reputation. Hooker has implied that this kid may have acted with impropriety. SHAMEFUL!!! Hooker deserves some sort of punishment. Not firing, but something. some things go beyond football. This aint an Alabama/Tennessee thing. If you can't see it, somethings wrong with you. And Dave Hooker, If you want to talk yo me, I'll tell it to your face. E-mail me.
easton3 writes:
Hey Dave Hooker.
" They were showing me the most love the whole time". That is a quote From Herman Lathers on his commitment to Tennessee. "most love", I'm smelling an odor and I think it is foul. TN must have payed this kid some money, right?
(quote from Scout.com)
ROLL TIDE !!!!
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