Posted by sethmcnamee1 on January 9, 2008 at 2:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

How about spelling the guy's name right in the opening headline. Drayton, not Dayton.

Posted by sjt18 on January 9, 2008 at 2:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Welcome sir.... Please bring your colleague Coach Clawson with you.

Posted by sjt18 on January 9, 2008 at 2:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)

That is kind of embarrassing for KNS isn't it?

Posted by volntx on January 9, 2008 at 2:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)

ONE PIECE OF THE PUZZLE DOWN, CAN'T WAIT TO SEE HOW THE OTHERS FIT. MAYBE PHIL HAS A PLAN AFTER ALL? JUST A THOUGHT.GO VOLS!

Posted by juicetke on January 9, 2008 at 2:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Wow! Journalism 101, Spelling names right! Seems kind of basic to me but who am I to judge.

Posted by volntx on January 9, 2008 at 2:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)

ALSO GOOD TO BEAT FLORIDA AT ANYTHING! ALTHOUGH THEY WILL SPIN IT DIFFERENT.

NO PROOF READERS AVAILABLE?

Posted by TommyJack on January 9, 2008 at 2:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)

You guys musta missed the "notre daem" a couple days ago...lol...they repaired it later

Posted by pdhuff on January 9, 2008 at 2:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)

man, I'm never going to diss anyone about spelling, but welcome Bro Drayton. My unworthy opinion and hope would be that you become the R. Garner of the Vol staff.

I always liked the title of Garner as line coach.

Posted by ksteelescvol on January 9, 2008 at 2:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Don't know much about the guy but he sounds like a family man, and the kind of guy parents want to send their kids to school to play for. Welcome coach Drayton, gald to have you in the family.

Posted by ellisonfamily on January 9, 2008 at 2:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Wow..now we've hired Dayton and Drayton. Wonder if they are brothers? Of course, with some of the pitiful grammar on these forums, who are we to judge? Anyway, it will be very interesting to see how the pieces begin to fall. I believe PF has a plan, and we might wish he had the opportunity to hire this many brand new coaches in years past -- way before now. We shall see.

Posted by redneckerson on January 9, 2008 at 2:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Will all you grammaticians just wait for either the print edition or the evening news shows. We don't need your carping and are tired of wading through your posts. My apologies to everybody else for taking up space but I've had it with these whiners.

Posted by DennisVols on January 9, 2008 at 2:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)

This is looking like a good hire. I stated a couple weeks ago that a total overhaul to the spread would not be a good thing. Lookat what happened to both Florida and Oregon when their QB's got injured. They lost and lost big. The same thing happened at Cal.
A combination of UT's pro-style and some aspects of the spread will make UT unpredictable and a lot less conservative.
Several times in recent years I have heard announcers say what UT was about to do even before the ball was hiked. Man if they know how could a defense that studied us not know what was coming.
Excution, excution excution is the difference maker in all schemes.
Let make UT football something to be excited about this fall instead of predicting the downfall of another season without a title.

Posted by VolnDothan on January 9, 2008 at 2:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Good hire. I bet he, and the other hires, overshadow the previous trio of assistant coaches. We had two guys without any significant experience and one who utilized the chest bump as a substitue for coaching...
:-)

Posted by TommyJack on January 9, 2008 at 2:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Maybe KNS sees all the mispelin on this board and figgers it don't matter. :)

Posted by murrayvol on January 9, 2008 at 2:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I didn't miss it TJ. It's comforting to see people who do this for a living screw up occasiongnarly.:)

Posted by DennisVols on January 9, 2008 at 2:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Miss spellin by a pro. More proof I ain't the most stupided person in the wurld. LOL

Posted by TommyJack on January 9, 2008 at 2:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)

funy

Posted by TommyJack on January 9, 2008 at 2:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)

So what's the word? Are we expecting a big announcement today?

Posted by vol52 on January 9, 2008 at 2:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The fla rushing per game stat is a little skewed. Will he bring tebow with him. I dare say he acounted for a fair amount of the gators O

Posted by martinvolfan on January 9, 2008 at 2:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Note to Coach Drayton: If Arian Foster stays, get him to toughen up,work harder and PLEASE learn to secure the football!

Posted by FWBVol on January 9, 2008 at 2:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

All the interest in this hire, and the hires to come, prove that Tennessee is still, first and foremost a football school.

I hope we run the table in basketball in the SEC, but the conference schedule starts tonight with UT ranked in the Top 10 playing an undefeated Ole Miss squad, and look at what most of us are interested in.

It seems the four favorite sport seasons in Vol Land this year are football, spring football, football recruiting and assistant coach hiring season.

Posted by utchris2003 on January 9, 2008 at 2:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I like how now that Drayton has left UF, the Florida news paper whip out a story with the spin that he was going to get canned from there anyway. Too bad for them it looks like Doc Holiday is leaving too.

One note of concern if there is any at all. I have seen some stuff that said Miss St basically blamed Drayton for the recruiting violations that led to their probation several years back. No real proof I have seen, but that seems to be their scapegoat.

Glad to have you clad in Orange Coach D.

Posted by vol_in_lsu_land on January 9, 2008 at 2:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)

You know I would have thought by now that the big news would have broke. Who is the new OC? Is it Clawson? (the obvious probability) Whay did Fulmer go with this guy? What does Fulmer feel he brings to the table? Let's here Phil tell us about the future he expects at UT.

I'm excited like heck. This is JUST how I envisioned the future of UT Football being conducted. I have stated before that my hope has been to see a new coaching regime transition at UT the LEGITIMATE way, by Fulmer beginning to tutor an "heir" to the job. I for one am GLAD to see the turmoil of a firing and HC upheaval was spared us.

Go Vols! Let's welcome the new era with open arms.

Posted by vol_in_lsu_land on January 9, 2008 at 2:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)

That should have read "Why did Fulmer go with this guy"

Posted by volchamp on January 9, 2008 at 2:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)

From ESPN.com

Mallett leaving Michigan, considering the Vols...

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/st...

whats going to happen to crompton if all of this actually happens? Back burner again. Hate it for the kid.

Posted by gravegr on January 9, 2008 at 2:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)

good start phil.

Posted by vol_in_lsu_land on January 9, 2008 at 2:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)

And it should have been "Let's HEAR Phil" LMAO I'm horrific today. Just so excited LOL.

Posted by utchris2003 on January 9, 2008 at 2:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Mallet would still have to sit out for a year. That gives Crompton and Coleman another leg up on him.

Posted by TommyJack on January 9, 2008 at 2:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)

MartinVol: Exactly how many times did Foster fumble the past season? # of carries? Not sure that fumble in the FL game was all on him.

Posted by cjraney on January 9, 2008 at 2:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)

VolnDothan-
Do you really think Trooper chest-bumped Meachem to the NFL and this years group to their achievements? Coach Taylor has definitely got some coaching ability.

Posted by vol88 on January 9, 2008 at 2:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"It gives me an opportunity to bring some things to the table from different styles of offense -- from the spread offense and a pro-style offense. It gives me a chance to scheme and dream a little bit putting some good athletes to work."

Bring it on, Coach Drayton

Posted by volchamp on January 9, 2008 at 2:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)

dont know if I see Coleman as another Jim Bob Cooter type, a guy who has coaching on his mind. We also got a kid named Nick Stephens last year who has a hell of an arm. Crompton has the edge, would love to see mallett in orange

Posted by ATLVOL1 on January 9, 2008 at 2:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Does anyone know how management feels about Crompton? I know he had shoulder surgery as a frosh, does he have the same arm strength?

Posted by Phowell23 on January 9, 2008 at 2:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Word from members at Volquest is no announcements today but big ones tomorrow. So relax and enjoy the basketball game tonight and let's see what tomorrow brings. I think we'll all be pleased with the outcome.

As far as Crompton if Mallett comes...he was a 5 star QB (#2 in his class) so let's put them both on the field and see who's the better QB. He'll most likely be the starter next year since Mallett has to sit out.

Posted by Brama on January 9, 2008 at 2:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Looks Like a good hire, only time will tell. Maybe he will have some recuiting contacts in the florida area. By the way this class is shaping up we will need them

Posted by FWBVol on January 9, 2008 at 2:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)

utchris2003, I don't know where you heard the rumor about Drayton being the cause of Miss. State's recruiting problems that led to probation, but I assure you, that's not true.

Drayton's only year at State was 2004, Croom's first year, and the problems there were during the Jackie Sherrill era.

I think this is a very good hire. It's funny that Florida suddenly was going to fire him after he accepted the UT job. Sort of like slamming the barn door after the animals got out.

Posted by bigbluevol on January 9, 2008 at 2:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)

vol in lsu land, maybe this will help:
From the Chattanooga TimesFreePress about Clawson. Will Healy, who played at a high school here in Chattanooga is a rising senior backup QB at Richmond. "Healy said Clawson likes balanced offenses with running backs 'he could depend on so he could run play-action.' He said Clawson's offenses are multiple, with I-formation and four-wide-receiver spread capabilities...Clawson often sends quarterbacks to the line of scrimmage with as many as six possible play calls. 'He depends on you as his quarterback to check into the right play on any play,' Healy said. 'He would also make sure you understood why you ran every play. He didn't just want you calling a play. He expected you to know what would be effective in any situation.'"

Volchamp- BJ Coleman is the real deal. I think he will really impress some people and will give Crompton a run for his $

Posted by ellisonfamily on January 9, 2008 at 3:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Though I am a Vol in Middle Georgia, I have A LOT of family in Knoxville and East Tenn. When we get together at Christmas, my uncle (who is a former college QB little all-american), my cousin and I talk UT football (or any kind of football). His perspective is that Phil Fulmer is about as good as anything we would get out "on the market" as head coach, but that we really needed help at a number of asst. and position coaches. I've never thought PF was a good game coach, but I think we may learn that he is a good administrator (finding and hiring talent), along with his recruiting. This whole process seems to lend itself to that.

Posted by martinvolfan on January 9, 2008 at 3:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Tommyjack: It's true that Foster has improved greatly at ball security. He does get a bum rap as a fumbler. I believe he's carried the ball over 500 times in 3 years and lost the ball 4 times. That's a good thing. My point is Arian regularly carries the ball like a loaf of bread. He's improved, but needs to be more aware, especially on critical drives.

Posted by TurboFan on January 9, 2008 at 3:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Dennis, I would like to know how specific were the announcers when they said they could call UT's plays? Run v pass, left or right, off tackle, etc.??? At a basic level you don't have that many options really. Plus, the way Cut had the offense set up with the no huddle, defense would be in position A, offense would read and set play B, which the defense would expect and change to defense C. Cat and mouse or game of chess?

Posted by TommyJack on January 9, 2008 at 3:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)

martinvol: Fair enuf. Just think he gets blasted too much re fumbles.

Posted by diehardvol on January 9, 2008 at 3:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Volchamp,
Crompton was rated as high or higher in his class as Mallet so Mallet transferring shouldn't affect Crompton automatically. Be nice to have multiple top-notch QBs pushing each other. Mallet has to sit a year anyway so Crompton can gain edge this year if he plays like he did in the LSU game last year.

Posted by kdt0725 on January 9, 2008 at 3:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Volchamp,

Sorry man, but you're a little off with your facts. Mallett already has big time playing experience not to mention possibly the best armn in the country and was the #5 overall player in the nation. 5-star. Crompton was a 4 star.

Posted by 99gator on January 9, 2008 at 3:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)

all

it appears rodriguez is putting all his eggs in the terrell pryor basket

the more news that comes out about drayton...it is being reported in gator circles that drayton leaving was a mutual thing. he was florida's lowest paid assistant who never was going to be promoted within the staff. in addition, they after three years they did not feel they were getting the production from the running back position they wanted. drayton is a good man and a good recruiter. he will have a chance to be on a staff where he may be able to advance and work with running backs in a traditional system. with a new starting qb, tenn might pound the rock more and his job at tenn may be more fun.

do not agree with rockymountaingator....i don't think meyer is looking to make several changes to the staff. drayton is the only one. doc holliday may leave to west virginia, but meyer was not looking to replace him. i doubt there will be other staff changes.

Posted by bowerst on January 9, 2008 at 3:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Foster only fumbled 4 times in his whole career. Too bad for him that nearly every one of them came at the worst possible moment. He is one tough player and I watched how teams tried to pry the ball loose from him every game we were on TV this year. He worked really hard to overcome that.

As for Florida, sure Tebow (and Harvin) helped their rush stats, but they had no true tailbacks. Maybe let the guy actually coach one game before you decide his entire UT career will be a total failure?

Posted by 99gator on January 9, 2008 at 3:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)

jeffrey demps is making his announcement on espnu @ 4:15

Posted by bigbluevol on January 9, 2008 at 3:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)

99gator...you're well-informed, well-spoken, and rational. Can't you make the best move of your life and become a Tennessee fan? Leave the evil ways of the reptiles and join the good guys.

Posted by TommyJack on January 9, 2008 at 3:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)

99gator: It's never too late for redemption, son. :)

Posted by 99gator on January 9, 2008 at 3:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)

bigbluevol

i will never turn to the darkside.

i don't mean to lead you guys on...but there is a quote from the orlando sentinel that has gator folks thinking he may spurn the orange and blue after all.

from everything i have heard....from people who are very reliable....i believe he will choose florida. but, stranger things have happened.

Posted by 99gator on January 9, 2008 at 3:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Banks said Tuesday afternoon that Demps still had not been made a final decision, and he would not speak to the media until after the announcement.

"You would not believe what the last 24 hours have been like," Banks said.

banks is demps' high school coach

Posted by sjt18 on January 9, 2008 at 3:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Mallett probably won't effect Crompton at all if he comes. If JC is the established starter after this year then he'll be hard to unseat. Different story for BJ.

Posted by TommyJack on January 9, 2008 at 4 p.m. (Suggest removal)

What is espn-u?

Posted by 99gator on January 9, 2008 at 4:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)

tommy jack

espn U is an espn cable network devoted entirely to college sports. espn's version of cstv. i do not actually have espnu in my cable system. so, i will have to receive word through the gator message boards

Posted by bigbluevol on January 9, 2008 at 4:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)

99gator - that's the thing, you're on the darkside now. Walk toward the light...follow the sound of Rocky Top!

Posted by 99gator on January 9, 2008 at 4:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)

big blue vol

i have to admit, i have always liked rocky top.

any school song devoted to moonshine is pretty cool.

Posted by bigbluevol on January 9, 2008 at 4:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)

see...that's the first sign that you're not beyond hope.

Posted by hueypilot on January 9, 2008 at 4:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Hey 99, for Drayton to have gotten something out of the RB position, wouldn't Florida have to, you know, put a running back in the game and give him the ball more than twice a game?

Not busting KNS chops on the spelling ,but is it possible that the Allegheny College nickname was Gators? Says here in the last paragraph that Drayton led the Gators to the Division III championship in 1990.

Posted by 99gator on January 9, 2008 at 4:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)

sorry, now the word is that the orlando sentinel was wrong. the announcement should be at 6:30 on espnu.

Posted by ATLVOL1 on January 9, 2008 at 4:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Wonder if he is waiting on Tenn to announce more Coaches.

Posted by tngeoff on January 9, 2008 at 4:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Coach Drayton...welcome! Now let's kick some football butt! Go Vols!

Posted by invisiblekid on January 9, 2008 at 4:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Tooshay TommyJack on the spelling comment in the 2:23 post.

Posted by 99gator on January 9, 2008 at 4:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)

hueypilot

i am just reporting what is being reported (if that makes sense). i don't have anything but nice things to say about drayton and wish him well.

Posted by ATLVOL1 on January 9, 2008 at 4:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Coach Drayton: stay the course, run off tackle, try your rear off, and work like heck.

Posted by DennisVols on January 9, 2008 at 4:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)

WD40plusVol
I don't remember the specific game this year, one of the few televised games. The announcer said as UT came to line that it looked like UT was going to throw the ball and from that formation they probably will throw to Rogers. Sure enough they did. It may have been a lucky guess or the fact they we seem to have certain tendencies with our offensive system.

Posted by 99gator on January 9, 2008 at 4:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)

as an aside, how impressive is it for the SEC that florida wins the national title in 06, lsu in '07, and the media is hyping georgia as the preseason #1 in 2008. only the sec could do that.

i can't imagine usc a national champ, the next year oregon wins the title, and the year after arizona state is preseason #1

Posted by invisiblekid on January 9, 2008 at 4:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Time to issue Drayton his backwards cap, chest protector and itinerary for recruiting. Basically, said itinerary states "everyone the Gators wanted".

Seriously, the guy appears to be an excellent recruiter and I believe he will be an upgrade from Roper. For all the improvement the Vols made the past two years, the running game was fairly anemic. I'd like to see the Vols develop the RB's to catch more than a 2 yard swing pass as well. We saw flashes of it this year but not enough for other teams to game plan around it.

Posted by 99gator on January 9, 2008 at 4:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)

demps chose florida. announcement is taped and will air on espnu at 6:30. not that any of you will want to see it now.

Posted by invisiblekid on January 9, 2008 at 4:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Very impressive about the SEC 99Gator. No other conference can legitimately lay claim to being the best after the past couple of years. Of course, we will still get to listen about the underwhelming triumverate of OK, OSU, and USC all next year and watch an SEC school come out on top. It'd be nice if the UT offensive engine is firing on all cylinders after the overhaul and the UT-FL game next year had national title implications like the 90's.

Posted by Vol_Fan_4_Life_615 on January 9, 2008 at 5:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)

A great recruiter, high energy guy who is gonna coach the RB's. Sounds like we replaced Troop with another Troop. If we can pull the coach from Richmond and get the 2 from Michagan we should have a very fromatable coaching staff. We should get a boost in both Fla and Mich in recruiting, both states produce tons of players so it cant hurt.

Go Vols
14-0 in 08

Posted by pdhuff on January 9, 2008 at 5:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)

TJ, did we miss the big surprise, doggone it! I hate not to be there for the surprise. Where is it?

Posted by sjt18 on January 9, 2008 at 5:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Every game UF plays next year will have NC implications unless/until they lose 3.

If you question what I'm saying consider that UF finished with a bad loss and 4 total. They still finished ahead of two teams that beat them that also had 4 losses.

UF is LOVED by the media. They were ranked higher than they deserved for most of the season... usually ahead of several good teams with less losses.

It will take at least 3 magic bullets to kill that swamp thing next year... in fact, I wouldn't be surprised if it came to it if a 2 loss UF team got to the BCS CG over good 1 loss teams.

Posted by KingsportVol on January 9, 2008 at 5:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)

99gator maybe you guy's can use him against Michigan in the bowl game.Go Big Orange!!!

Posted by sjt18 on January 9, 2008 at 5:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)

99gator, if Drayton really is bringing a UF recruit with him... it may not be a good thing for you all that it wasn't Demps.

Posted by TommyJack on January 9, 2008 at 5:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)

PaulD. Still waiting myself.

Posted by Phowell23 on January 9, 2008 at 5:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Why does Florida need another RB they have Tebow and his backup.

Posted by 99gator on January 9, 2008 at 5:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)

sjt18

your tenn credentials are safe...

you really, really, REALLY hate florida.

i have not even bothered to look at the final rankings. i don't care. i saw someone on another thread that tenn was ranked one spot ahead of florida. i don't care. what difference does it make?

by the logic you are using, you have to rank michigan ahead of florida. since florida beat tenn, michigan should be ahead of tenn. oregon beat michigan. put oregon ahead of all of them, etc. you can keep doing this until your head spins. who cares who finishes ranked 16th and who finishes ranked 13th.

Posted by 99gator on January 9, 2008 at 5:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)

sjt18

i will wait and see who the florida recruit is that drayton brings with him.

other than demps, i don't even know what recruiting battles are taking place between florida and tenn.

i saw someone else mention matt patchan. he's already enrolled at florida as he is an early enrollee.

Posted by DennisVols on January 9, 2008 at 5:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)

If this happens it could really shake up the college football picture, big time in the Pac-10
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/st...

Posted by 99gator on January 9, 2008 at 5:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Phowell23

is i have written a few times in posts under various articles....

demps will be a wr at florida, not a running back. he will be used like percy harvin. (no, i did not say he is as good as percy harvin. i don't know. please, don't anybody try to claim i said that)

Posted by CoastGuardVol on January 9, 2008 at 5:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)

This guy sounds great. I believe that coach Clawson will be the next hire. I for one love the run game and think that with the types of guys both of these coaches have dealt with and no doubt influenced (Brian Westbrook) the VOLS are starting to shape up. Lets go Coach Fulmer, and lets go Big Orange!!!!

Posted by pdhuff on January 9, 2008 at 5:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Tj, how long do we have to wait? Have you set a timeline for yourself waiting? If so, please share and I'll know how to proceed. I'm a little nervous with only 3 fritters left. I pounded two.

Anyone remember what we're waiting for?

Posted by tngeoff on January 9, 2008 at 5:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)

No.

Posted by tngeoff on January 9, 2008 at 6:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)

It's after business hours, so if it was a "big surprise announcement" we were waiting for (It's been so long I don't remember specifically if that was what it was)...it won't happen today.

Posted by texvol on January 9, 2008 at 6:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)

All of this self serving stat twisting is really sad. Obviously most of you guys have nothing better to do until the next announcement is made. When I went to work this morning many of you guys were already posting and have not quit since. Must be nice to sit around all day and 'coach' the Vols.

Posted by ncvol17 on January 9, 2008 at 6:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Question: Why is he leaving Florida?

Posted by texvol on January 9, 2008 at 6:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)

He's leaving UF for the same reasons all AC's leave when they have a choice..upward mobility. Same as Roper and TT.

Posted by budrhon on January 9, 2008 at 7:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Good question ncvol, it may be our gain and the Gators loss. At least that's the way I'm approaching it. Perhaps Urban's desire to highlight the QB position may have put Coach Drayton in a position of being on the outs. Either way he knows he'll have to come in with the mind set to make and impact.

Posted by utchris2003 on January 9, 2008 at 7:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Wonder if Drayton was in on the Pryor kid at all. Could this hire put Tennessee back on his map at all? Doubt it, especially if Mallet decides to transfer to the Land of Orange, but stranger things have happened (i.e. 2007 College Football Season)

Posted by utkjoe29 on January 9, 2008 at 7:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Im enjoying the spin down here in Fla.(Jville) about Drayton. Even the talk shows down here said they were surprised that UF wasn't planning on retaining Drayton for his recruiting ability. Plus one would believe that a firing would come before one takes a new position, not putting it in the papers once he receives a new job. Seems like a cheap parting shot by UF to make recruits think this fella can't get it done. I think he'll do fantastic and nab some top recruits from this part of the country. Go Vols!

Posted by sjt18 on January 9, 2008 at 7:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Internet rumor floating around that Chavis may leave and be replaced by Steele.

Posted by sjt18 on January 9, 2008 at 7:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Come on 99gator... be fair to me. My hatred of UF goes well beyond my affection for the Vols. If UT stops fielding a team, I'll still pull against UF most every time they play.

"i have not even bothered to look at the final rankings. i don't care. i saw someone on another thread that tenn was ranked one spot ahead of florida. i don't care. what difference does it make?"

Usually with two teams returning as much as these two teams do... it would mean alot. But since we are dealing with UF... It means UF will be ranked top 5 going into next year while UT will be around 15th or so with some polls dissing them completely.

"by the logic you are using, you have to rank michigan ahead of florida. since florida beat tenn, michigan should be ahead of tenn. oregon beat michigan. put oregon ahead of all of them, etc. you can keep doing this until your head spins. who cares who finishes ranked 16th and who finishes ranked 13th."

No. My logic is that UF has been overrated since the very beginning of the season. As much as I dislike them, I agree they have an opportunity to be great next year... but they weren't great this year but were consistently ranked ahead of teams that had played good schedules with better records.

There is a definite media bias towards Meyer and UF right now. If I were you I'd relish in it... to me, it is pretty frustrating.

Posted by 99gator on January 9, 2008 at 8:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)

sjt18

i don't accept your premise....but i'll play along.

the problem is believe it or not, most voters don't care about their votes. they pay attention to the top of their ballot and that's it. and in the coaches poll, the waterboy might fill out the ballot until the final poll.

a classic example was what happened with lsu and georgia at the end of the season. georgia was ranked ahead of lsu and would have stayed that way until voters realized it would have put a team that did not win it's division over the champion of the conference into the national title game. if i remember right, lsu was also ranked behind virginia tech in the poll before the final poll. lsu annihilated va tech.

every year, you see things like... kentucky beating louisville, but louisville still being ranked ahead of kentucky the following week.

that's why there should be no poll until mid october.

Posted by texvol on January 9, 2008 at 8:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)

sjt18, have you got a source on this Chavis rumor besides your post?

Posted by southernACmavs on January 9, 2008 at 9:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Heard Chavis rumor allso.

Posted by IPOrange on January 9, 2008 at 9:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Glad to have Coach Dayton/Drayton. I also agree with you, invisiblekid - our running game needs work. I'd like to see us get back to the power running game as a compliment to a great passing threat that we have seen in the past.

The article states that "Florida ranked third in the SEC and 23rd nationally in rushing this season with an average of 200.2 yards." This is kind of misleading, though, considering that Tebow did much of that.

One area that Drayton can definitely help us is to better understand how to defend the spread offense, since he worked with FL for 3 years. As a running backs coach of that offense, surely he knows how a defense can most effectively stop it.

Posted by bedmagic_23 on January 9, 2008 at 9:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Let me say this again and it will be my mantra to Fulmer haters until it changes. UT won a championship when Al Wilson came back as a senior and lead that team. These guys coming back and hopefully staying healthy is what wins National Championships. Does anyone even think LSU plays for the National Championship without Glenn Dorsey? How good would UT have been this year if Robert Meachem would have come back? Could we have been at least the SEC Champion if Robert Meachem is running that route that got picked instead of Quintin Hancock? I'll say it again. If we want to win National Championships we need our best junior players to come back and lead our teams. I don't knock Jerod at all, but Fulmer haters need to understand that Senior Leadership can not be understated at all. Usually these guys have limited classes left to take and can fully commit themselves to the task at hand. They are of course more physically and mentally prepared to dominate on the field. We need these guys to stay in order to win. The first year I believed this was when Stallworth left early and we desperately needed a deep threat that year. I definitely think we would have been in the two loss National Championship contender picture if Meachem would have come back as an even better player than his junior year. How close was that Florida game at the outset? They had a young safety that Michigan's deep threats exposed in their bowl game. Nick Saban's man coverage defense's weakest point is a deep threat. Stop hating on Fulmer and let's work as fans to make our juniors love UT like Dorsey love LSU that they would turn down being a top 10 pick to stay in school.

Posted by sjt18 on January 9, 2008 at 9:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)

texvol, There is a thread on volnation that references a call in show somewhere in Tn.

Posted by volunteer_cowboy on January 9, 2008 at 9:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)

and we need a mobile qb not mallet

Posted by sjt18 on January 9, 2008 at 9:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

bed_magic, You aren't entirely wrong... but you are also not dealing with the new reality of college football.

I think Mayo is making a huge mistake... if he could have played another year without getting injured. He probably goes no higher than 3rd round this year without an incredible combine. Next year after leading the SEC in tackles again and playing on a D that doesn't rank at the bottom... he'd have been a first rounder.

The decision to come out early will probably cost him several million dollars.

Meachem and Shuler OTOH really couldn't have risen much more. In retrospect, their decisions didn't/haven't worked out well... but both were first rounders as Jrs.

Posted by sjt18 on January 9, 2008 at 9:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)

volunteer_cowboy... I know what you are saying but you miss in two respects.

Mallett runs about a 4.8 40. Not a speed demon but fast enough to escape a little. On the other side of that coin, he may have the strongest arm in all of college football and still throws accurately and with good touch.

Posted by volunteer_cowboy on January 9, 2008 at 9:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)

look guys im not new i just changed my user name, we just had ainge then clausen both pro style passers and where is that national championship ring or flag, didnt think so we won N/C with MR.TEE MARTIN a mobile QB and as a matter of fact we had a manning dude that was a pro style passerand still no N/C

Posted by volunteer_cowboy on January 9, 2008 at 9:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)

im not saying try to find the next tebow but every QB we have had before and after tee has been taught to throw the ball away with no one open rather than run it. if tee had no one open he could fall down and gain 5 yards

Posted by volunteer_cowboy on January 9, 2008 at 10 p.m. (Suggest removal)

crompton is closest thing to a tee martin since tee, he can run boy can he run and hes got a cannon for a arm every bit as strong as mallets

Posted by yeavols on January 9, 2008 at 10:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)

UM...OK....I am not saying a word

Posted by InBruceWeTrust on January 9, 2008 at 10:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)

He's a great recruiter, look at his class last year.
He personally brought in-
Two 5 Star prospects ( QB, DT)
Five 4 Star prospects ( OL, DB, RB, DT)

He recruits the guys we could certainly use. He alone had a better class last year then our coaches have put together collectively this year.

I'm glad to have him

Posted by slovog on January 10, 2008 at 5:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Misspelling Drayton's name is still not as embarrassing as having John Pennington's nonsense published in your paper.

Posted by sjt18 on January 10, 2008 at 11:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)

cowboy, I like JC alot and think he'll be a great QB. I don't think Mallett will beat him out after sitting out.

But don't be ridiculous. Mallett has an incredible arm.

BTW, USC plays with a pro-style QB. Flynn was mobile but again not a speed demon.

The comparison of Mallett to Clausen or even Ainge isn't a good one. Clausen had poor arm strength. Ainge played all this year with a bum shoulder and broken pinky... and still wouldn't have an arm like Mallett.

Mallett even at his size is more mobile than both of those guys... and what DB wants to tackle a guy that's 6'6" 250+?