Posted by FlushTheJohn on April 13, 2008 at 9:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Come wear the BIG ORANGE!!!!

Go Vols!

Posted by agr_vol on April 13, 2008 at 9:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I thought we had him in the bag...this would be a big blow if we didn't get him

Posted by VolPride_13 on April 13, 2008 at 9:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Well, if he is in contact with Trooper, it might be all over with him!!

Posted by Pullingguard on April 13, 2008 at 10:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Believe Trooper will have harder time getting top recruits to OK. State than he did for the Vols. Oh, he will contact them, offer them, and it will be in the resume' of the players, but when signing time comes it will become more difficult.

Posted by miamiVOL on April 13, 2008 at 10:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)

if he is anything like his brother, no thanks

Posted by bigtimevol on April 13, 2008 at 10:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Trooper will be successful because he gets to know recruits personally. But, he'll have a hard time pulling anyone out of the southeast. Plenty of prospects he'll get out west. Austin has been a great role player. Yes, we need 4-5 stars out at receiver, but also, good to have guys like Austin.

Posted by vtvol on April 13, 2008 at 10:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)

If he consistently drops passes like Austin then let him join Troop in Stillwater.

Posted by WestTennVol on April 14, 2008 at 12:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Eaaaasy on Austin, yeah he dropped a few passes but u remember the one he held on to against Miss State? He got ROCKED and made a game changing catch (hes a tough sob). Austin will be a soild slot guy this year, just think though Zach would have his brother's matrutity rubb off on him, that combined with his talent could make for a very good receiver.

Posted by givim6 on April 14, 2008 at 12:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)

WestTennVol: You have spoken the sentiments of most of us. Those who are critical of Austin don't apprectiate the fact that this young man put his faith and hopes for his future in UT.

To those who don't like the team that's fielded, take it up with the coaches, but lay off the kids!

If you can't appreciate the efforts of Austin and others like him, take your football interest to the pro game, you won't be missed by UT.

Posted by newtonrail on April 14, 2008 at 12:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)

vtvol, I believe you'll find most Rogers routes are crossing the middle. Some of the hardest to catch, and not just because you are going to be hit. Let's see you do it before jumping on a young man.

Posted by sjt18 on April 14, 2008 at 12:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Yeah, miamiVol/vtvol. Lord forbid UT should get another kid that would catch 56 passes his soph year... that'd really stink, wouldn't it? You're unhappy he dropped maybe 3-5 balls that were often very tough catches?

He had one totally inexcusable drop that I can remember that would have been a TD... guess what... Taylor and Foster both dropped balls that would have iced the UK game.

Rogers does about as much with his ability as anyone on the team.

I actually think Zach will be a DB if he plays at UT. Supposedly he's a little faster than Austin.

VolPride13, Trooper was a good coach and great recruiter but most insiders think Scott and Drayton are as good or better at both.

Posted by TommyJack on April 14, 2008 at 12:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Don't underestimate the lure of the Sunsphere...

Posted by nicksjuzunk on April 14, 2008 at 1:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)

TommyJack,

Did you see the Simpsons episode where they chose the Sunsphere over Disney World?

10 bonus points if you remember what was in the sphere

Posted by burntorangeVOLffle on April 14, 2008 at 2:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I want to say shoes but for some reason I'm thinking it was wigs.

Posted by TommyJack on April 14, 2008 at 2:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)

nick: No clue

Posted by sjt18 on April 14, 2008 at 4:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Just a hunch... the same guys running Austin down will complain if Zach (one of the best rising Srs in Tn HSFB) signs elsewhere.

He'll probably be a high 3* or 4* recruit btw.

Posted by T0MMYJACK on April 14, 2008 at 5:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Ahhh ... this explains it.

The usual suspects stretching the limits of their collective intellect by discussing the cartoons.

D'oh. Or, in your case, is it duh?

Posted by nicksjuzunk on April 14, 2008 at 6:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Burntorange has it! Wigs it was!!

TommyJack, it appears your wanna be poser has entered the discussion disguised as an educated person. I am sure his next post will confirm that he is only a disguise.

Posted by T0MMYJACK on April 14, 2008 at 6:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Is this the part where the usual suspects circle the wagons and support each other? Hand him a hanky, wuss. Instead of referencing The Simpsons, you guys should be talking about your favorite Oprah episodes.

The only thing missing now is for one of you idiots to put a YouTube link on here and then congratulate each other on how funny it is.

Is it more than coincidence that "u suck" is contained in "nicksjuzunk"?

Don't have a cow, man. But do stay the course and have another fritter.

Posted by volroadwarrior on April 14, 2008 at 6:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Negative nellies are clucking again. Austin caught some tough passes. One game he split 2 DBs, caught the pass and got sandwiched by both as he scored a critical TD. He had a fine year even with what the negative nellies call a dink and dunk offense. I hope we get his brother. If he is not good enough, let the coaches decide, but they know more than you armchair critics.

Posted by T0MMYJACK on April 14, 2008 at 6:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)

And you messed up on your last sentence, idiot.

Posted by T0MMYJACK on April 14, 2008 at 6:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)

warrior - these guys complain like a bunch of rich b!tches doing lunch at the country club. They're girly girls.

Posted by VOLinDAWGland on April 14, 2008 at 7:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Given the abundance of WR riches we have recently amassed with more on the way with Stokes and possibly the Memphis kid, I would not blaim him if he considered alternatives that might give him a better chance to make the field. Hope he signs. I'm a fan of Austin and believe he'll improve his catching form.

Posted by sjt18 on April 14, 2008 at 7:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)

You are right about that VOLinDAWGland.

If UT has Stokes, Brown, and Abrams-Ward behind Jones, Paige, Moore, et al... Zach will struggle to find a niche.

I've read that he was a likely S in college.

Posted by LadyVolsEighTimes on April 14, 2008 at 8:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Maybe it is just me, or the way this was written, but he seems very arrogant, and awfully light to play at Tennessee. 6' 2" and 175 lbs, he needs to hit the weights and bulk up, or he is gonna get thumped coming across the middle.

Oh, and I send 20,000 good reasons to the UTAD each year, so I will say exactly what I feel about a player or coach. The players free ride thru Knoxville to the NFL is there for those that perform well, not those that have ongoing issues with fundamentals like holding onto the ball.

Posted by Ashley on April 14, 2008 at 8:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)

140 days till Football Time In Tennessee!!!!

Posted by utfpmd on April 14, 2008 at 8:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Read this:
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/...
Then compare that the UT administration is charging students for football tickets next year.

Posted by nicksjuzunk on April 14, 2008 at 8:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)

volroadwarrior,

Agreed. He has quite a few offers from some big schools so it is definitely not a brother-for-a-brother deal like we seem to have done before.

I say bring em' in and let the coaches sort em' out!

Posted by Ashley on April 14, 2008 at 8:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Rogers will more than likely go elsewhere because of DH POS "fans" that think they know more about the game of football than the players and coaches. Good luck where ever you go. Isn't it also sad that it has not been mentioned what a class act Austin has been while he's been at UT. LadyVol8, I don't care if you're 6'5 240, you will still get your teeth knocked in coming across the middle. Are you a fundamentalist when it comes to coming across the middle in the SEC?

Posted by Ashley on April 14, 2008 at 8:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I stop reading this when I got to the second sentence. "The football coach at one of the best programs in the nation" If Tennessee had just come off a 4 loss season, ESPN would croke over and die before they labled them best program in the nation.

Posted by volboy81 on April 14, 2008 at 9:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)

there needs to be more "this comment removed" notations on these pages!
Most of these posters wouldnt know a football from their hind end!

Posted by Ashley on April 14, 2008 at 10:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Oh man TOMMYJACK, that is some classic material.

"The only thing missing now is for one of you idiots to put a YouTube link on here and then congratulate each other on how funny it is."

"Don't have a cow, man. But do stay the course and have another fritter."

Fritter is code talk, TOMMYJACK.

Posted by 1974Vol on April 14, 2008 at 12:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I guess that's Mr. Rogers to you negative nellies. Have a wonderful day in the 'hood. You want cheese on your fritter?

Posted by bamacheats on April 14, 2008 at 12:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The second brother recruit is usually a wasted scholarship (ex. jermaine kent, or the ultimate, Benji). I havn't heard anything about this rogers kid but the real brother to watch for is the Bartholomew kid, he's already twice the player Will was. I just hope he finds a spot in this new offense, he is a punishing fullback.

Posted by TommyJack on April 14, 2008 at 12:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Nick/Ashly: Pretty pathetic, huh?

Posted by agr_vol on April 14, 2008 at 1:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Austin is plenty tough...just a couple weeks ago we played the football team in softball and while he was running a ground ball out our third baseman hit him directly in the head with the softball. Though it temporarily knocked him out when he regained consciousness he went back into the game. And this was only intramurals

Posted by marc_ash on April 14, 2008 at 1:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)

What Rogers says in this article is interesting. He has opened up his options much more than the article might reflect. It takes a lot for a person who has a close family member currently on the team to look elsewhere with more than just a glance....especially an in state guy.

Rogers will weigh his options this season. I think he will look at how the season goes as well as how well his brother feels Scott does with him. Be patient...a lot still needs to be played out. But, if Austin likes Scott after the season, it will be a huge factor in Zach's decision.

Posted by marc_ash on April 14, 2008 at 1:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Posted by TommyJack on April 14, 2008 at 12:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Don't underestimate the lure of the Sunsphere...

HAHAHAHA, that was funny. Don't know why, but funny. Good one TJ.

Posted by nicksjuzunk on April 14, 2008 at 1:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)

TommyJack,

Did you see the Simpsons episode where they chose the Sunsphere over Disney World?

10 bonus points if you remember what was in the sphere

WIGS! What a great episode by the way. They got to knoxville in a day...so Springfield must be at least in this half of the US.

Where are my bonus points Nick!?!?

Posted by pdhuff on April 14, 2008 at 1:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I rest my case. Doldrums are roiling. Spring has sprung.

agr vol1:20 -good info - the same thing may have happened to old Rock H in Hollywood. My bad. LOL.

Posted by invisiblekid on April 14, 2008 at 5:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Austin Rogers had a couple of tough games but did a fine job IMO over his first full season. There weren't that many alternatives to play regardless: Jones was injured, Spotted Ape can't find a hash mark, and Paige came in at a whopping 165 lbs if memory serves.

I think Vol_in_Dawg_Land hit on a key point though, with the number of WR and DB types the Vols have signed the past two years, there may be a long waiting list for playing time and he may decide to go elsewhere.

One of the most telling statements that I expect we'll hear in one variation or another from other recruits was :

"We'll see how they handle the big aspect at Tennessee, the big Division I level, the SEC. I think they can handle it. I really do."

If Clawson and company can't handle it(which I don't believe will be the case), then the program will be in some serious trouble.

Posted by jfg1980 on April 14, 2008 at 5:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)

who cares? they can have him.

Posted by IBleedOrange444 on April 14, 2008 at 5:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Well if Bama, Auburn, Texas Tech, etc... have all offered him as a junior, then he must have some talent. I wouldn't worry about the 175lbs thing as much as I would be impressed by the 6'-2" height. He'll put on some weight over his senior year most likely. It doesn't look like we'll have trouble getting good WRs any time soon. I wish we could recruit DEs that well, like that #8 kid for UF. Did anyone see him in their spring game? He looks like he's going to be a beast!

Invisible Kid-

Who is the spotted ape that you refered to? D. Moore?

Posted by pdhuff on April 14, 2008 at 5:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

invisablek 5:08 good points. Question - where is the cutoff point that we move from "trouble" to "serious trouble" since we haven't won the SEC in 9 years. Is it 12 -15 yrs etc. or is Phil and Chavis's free pass about to be pulled?

Just curious.

Posted by TommyJack on April 14, 2008 at 7:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)

PD: I think you hit on THE question. At what point would the faithful become severely disatisfied? 5 wins? 6 wins?
An SEC per decade? A BCS game per decade? Never? Just curious.

Posted by IBleedOrange444 on April 14, 2008 at 7:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Another bowl-less season and I'll join you guys in calling for Phil's head. I don't see it happening any time soon though.

Posted by miamiVOL on April 14, 2008 at 8:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)

sorry sjt18, we are loaded @ WR and i doubt he can live up to the "JUMP AWKWARDLY & DROP THE BALL WHEN IT COMES TO YOU" maneuver his brother has mastered

Posted by TommyJack on April 14, 2008 at 8:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I'm not quite ready to drop A. Rogers into the grease. Still think he will make some big snags before he's thru.

Posted by invisiblekid on April 14, 2008 at 10:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Ibleed, Kenny O'Neal. Taylor said something to the effect that he ran like a "spotted ape" last year.

PDHuff, interesting question, I'd speculate Fulmer has another 6 years to win that elusive SEC Championship. Both Fulmer and Chavis have made comments in recent months about wanting to coach that much longer. The 2 titles every 10 years that many allude to was merely Little Mike throwing some numbers out there, that particular guideline appears to be fluid in nature.

Now, if Clawson doesn't pan out and the offense tanks to 2005 levels, 5-6 would be a good year coupled with the performance of the defense in recent years. If that happens, all bets are off and Fulmer finds himself on the hot plate again. However, I think Clawson will prove to be a good hire and we'll see some improvement in the defense, although not to a championship level this year. Easy to talk about in April though.

Posted by VOLinDAWGland on April 14, 2008 at 10:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I will be greatly surprised if Clawson's offense matches 2005 given the difference in his resume compared to Randy Sanders. Clawson has actually demonstrated excellent success in difficult situations multiple times. Randy was a career position coach with potential but unproven who was expected to execute Cut's offense without Cut's ability. We've already seen that the model of success in lower tiers can translate to success at D1 level. From what I've seen, I fully EXPECT Clawson to be another successful example of that model.

Posted by TommyJack on April 14, 2008 at 10:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

VOLinDAWG: I do too.

Posted by movol77 on April 14, 2008 at 10:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"The second brother recruit is usually a wasted scholarship"

Yeah, that's why nobody wanted Eli to come to Knoxville. Right?

Posted by awhill00 on April 14, 2008 at 10:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I put one brief post on this board about Zach Rogers and they delete it. All I said was "Are you kidding me? He's a VOL!", and it got deleted. Whatever, if Z. Rogers is worth the scholly, the coaches will offer and sign him. I must say, he sounds a bit cocky and full of himself, and we can do without the funky 'TUDE'.

Posted by nicksjuzunk on April 15, 2008 at 12:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)

marc_ash,

You got your points! Next time you play monopoly, just ask for and extra $10 when you pass GO the 2nd time. If you hit the gravel road, you've gone too far. Tell em' Nick sent ya!

Posted by sjt18 on April 15, 2008 at 3:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)

miamivol, I never said UT wasn't loaded at WR. In fact, I specifically said I thought Z Rogers would be a S at UT... and I think he will.

Say whatever you want, A Rogers runs in the 4.4-4.5 range. He runs good patterns and blocks well. He's intelligent and tough.

He had some drops... so has every other WR UT has ever had. He also had 56 catches for over 600 yds. That's better than Meachem posted except for his Sr year. It is better than Swain or Smith ever posted.

I have no idea how he will or won't fit into the new scheme... but he doesn't deserve the abuse he gets from ignorant critics.

Posted by sjt18 on April 15, 2008 at 6:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Excuse me. Meachem's Jr year but he did redshirt as well.

Posted by zanebreeding on April 15, 2008 at 7:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Austin Rogers might have dropped a few last year but he made the big time catches when we needed them , he always came through , more than one big TD cathces comes to mind. Hes tough goes across the middle and works hard every day , blocks well too. Ill take 4 Austin's on the field all day long. Like it or lump it the guy is a solid football player.

Posted by pdhuff on April 15, 2008 at 11:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I guess the reason we shuddered at a drop by anyone, it usually meant the undermanned "D" was about to take the field.

Again.

InvisableK - 6 yrs, Lord how mercy, that would be 15 years without the Grail. Are Vandy caps cheaper? We could just motor into Nashberg on game day, buy a ducat for $5.00 and never plan on going to the SEC CG, much less winning it. Socialize.

I doubt if Mikey could save Phillip if we have another 5 or 6 win season. It will get no better without an anchored defense. You cannot run a 500 mile race with 200 mile parts. This is our TENTH next year.

TJ, Sunsphere was great. Man, Family Guy is over the top, kinda watching some of that. The dog is cool. Takes something to pry me away from Discovery-History-IFC-Sundance-48 Hours, etc. I digress...

Posted by murrayvol on April 15, 2008 at 1:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

pdhuff: Is going from "trouble to serious trouble" the same as going from tragedy to catastrophe, or from Nashville to Memphis? Just curious.

Posted by invisiblekid on April 15, 2008 at 1:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I agree Vol_in_Dawg_Land.

Bravo Murray on the 1:08 post. Sorry, I realized I shouldn't congratulate you, it might upset TommyJack's alter ego.

pdhuff, I threw 6 years out there because both Fulmer and Chavis has mentioned that number. Keep producing winning seasons with bowl appearances and Fulmer has nothing to worry about IMO. With winning seasons comes eternal hope for next year and any equity lost in 2005 was restored with a small donation of 1 million dollars.

Posted by pdhuff on April 15, 2008 at 4:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)

True, invisablek, he may need to pony up another mil if he trips up in Cal again. The water gets much deeper after that. A good walk-up fan should get a deal for N. Ill. Watch the 6 years guess, you sent many geezers looking for their heart medicine.

But if winning the SEC is truly not important and little things like a 100 laid on us by Bama and Fla doen't matter, Phil is our man.

As far as "serious trouble" a few of us think the cheerleaders should have those signs ready to hoist. Hope we don't look like Saturday morning in front of the Mayberry filling station.

Who knows, doldrums are here.

Posted by dford9 on April 16, 2008 at 10:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Wear the colors of dignity:

ORANGE and WHITE~!

Posted by hiresanders on April 18, 2008 at 12:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Orange and white of Okie State...that is. Trooper has this one in the bag. Nice job Foolmore.