Posted by rootin4volz on January 15, 2008 at 7:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Good luck up there...Big Blue had their shot this year...looks like another 20-30 years of misery for the Mildcats...Enjoy it.

Posted by pmidude56 on January 15, 2008 at 7:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Tough loss but he would be in a long line at UT if QB is what he truly wants to play. I wish him the best.

Posted by tngeoff on January 15, 2008 at 7:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Kentucky's gain is our loss. Good luck and have a great career. You certainly have great potential!

Posted by pdhuff on January 15, 2008 at 7:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

good luck, young man. You'll play sooner.

at Ky.

tngeoff- just reviewed Rivals FINAL TOP 100 LISTING - we have zero comittments. Final push will have to go like a fuel dragster.

Posted by ctownvol on January 15, 2008 at 7:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Good luck Randall. I hope you have a great career and much success, except against UT of course. Tell Randy we said hello.

Posted by dburgVol on January 15, 2008 at 7:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Come on guys, no way he would play qb @ UT. Way too small. He wont play qb @ UK either. Nice athleticism, but not a qb. He wont throw a pass in college. Maybe on the fake reverse pass play that Lucas Taylor does. Who knows, the shape that UK will be in next year, he might get a shot. Good luck in college young man.

Posted by ReallyAVolFan on January 15, 2008 at 7:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Good luck!!!! If things don't work out in Big Blue country (and I agree that they are "one and done" with Woodson gone) maybe you can lay out a year and come home. Too bad that you could not come on now and not lose the years in Lexington.

Posted by King53 on January 15, 2008 at 7:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Hate we missed on this guy...he can flat out play. Don't know if he would have been our QB but he was athletic enough to get on the field and contribute.

Posted by cjraney on January 15, 2008 at 7:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Hate to see guys not gather as much info as possible before making such a big decision. Good luck with KY, you'll need it.

Posted by wuwh_08 on January 15, 2008 at 7:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Owens and his buddy from Oklahoma are staying in state. They can stick that boomer sooner where the sun don't shine

Posted by rabidvol1998 on January 15, 2008 at 7:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Good luck except when we see you in November. Tell coach Sanders hi.

Posted by TnVolFaninSmyrna on January 15, 2008 at 7:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Son, if your playing quaterback, you WILL NOT be returning kicks and punts. That's a guarantee. Best of luck to you. Have fun getting your butt planted in the QB sack garden that is Neyland Stadium.

Posted by volunteer_cowboy on January 15, 2008 at 7:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)

mcgee and owens commited to the OU

Posted by tngeoff on January 15, 2008 at 7:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)

pdhuff.

Momma Mia. That's not good. You're right though, unless we are set up for and able to handle a nitro methane pass at 300 + mph, we're hurtin' in our recruiting finale. As my shirt says, "0 - 100 in one second...think about it!" By the way, who's driving this pass at more G force than the space shuttle?

Posted by dkerr on January 15, 2008 at 8:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Well, boy, are you sure? Kentucky? Blue Moon of Kentucky keep on Shine'n? Music City Bowl? Lexington? Wild-cats? Cats? Kentucky Fried Chicken?
Next to Ohio? Buckeye's? Are you sure?

Posted by knoxsingle on January 15, 2008 at 8:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)

i respect this young man for making a decision and following through with it. that seems to be more and more rare these days.

good luck at kentucky, mr. cobb.

Posted by HighlanderVol on January 15, 2008 at 8:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)

o well see you good luck in ky you going to need it

Posted by Vols1998 on January 15, 2008 at 8:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Being tackled by a UT players is worse than playing with them.....ouch!

Posted by PLEASEGETRIDOFTHENOTSOSLIMONE on January 15, 2008 at 8:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I hope he absolutely has his way with Tennessee's future 2 and 3 star recruits.

Posted by tngeoff on January 15, 2008 at 8:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)

What does 0 - 100 in one second look like? Or 0 - 300 + in just over four seconds?

http://youtube.com/watch?v=At9Po_6NU2...

It didn't help our recruiting obviously. Sorry pdhuff

Posted by wuwh_08 on January 15, 2008 at 8:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

You know, we all talk about the blue chip players in the country. How many 2-3 star players has Tennessee recruited and they turned out to be diamonds in the rough. Coaches don't just call plays, they develop and inspire young men to better . These young men represent something more than themselves when they play ball with UT they represent all of Tennessee and their fans. GO Vols!!!

Posted by PLEASEGETRIDOFTHENOTSOSLIMONE on January 15, 2008 at 8:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)

wuwh_08

To be honest with you, I can only think of one: Jason Witten. I can give you a a much larger list of the 5 star recruits that Tennessee has had that have not gotten any better during their stay in Knoxville.

Posted by creepykev on January 15, 2008 at 9:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)

We can always tell the recruits, "come to Tennessee we grow some of the best weed in the country." I'm sure that's going over real well with lots of these kids parents. I would be hesitant to send my kids here with the prevelant drug culture that permeates the program.

Posted by jsm67vol on January 15, 2008 at 9:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

creepykev---If you would hesitate to send your kids to a university where "drug culture permeates the program" then your kids will never attend college. Get real, drugs are on every college campus in the country. Hell there is even one college in CA that offers a class in how to manufacture and cultivate the stuff.

Posted by Pullingguard on January 15, 2008 at 10:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Who said that Randy Sanders could not recruit... Right out of UT's backyard... Almost in the shadow of Neyland Stadium... One has to wonder, why did UT get in so late, or did they figure he was not good enough until the recruiting at UT got in such a rut...

Posted by LargeOrange on January 15, 2008 at 11:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I wish him luck, but if he seriously picks KY over UT, he is not Tennessee material. I guess he would rather be 6-6 for 4 years but playing rather than being 4th string on a winning program. I can't fault him for that.

Posted by letshave1more on January 16, 2008 at 1:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)

KY will always be a second rate football program which will never beat UT!!

Posted by elsinoresam on January 16, 2008 at 6:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I think he see's opportunity in Woodson's departure. Good luck up there, great town.

Posted by Stumps on January 16, 2008 at 6:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)

hmmmmm. this kid will never take a snap at KY. you've been had, kid. enjoy playing in front on 20K fans.

Posted by TommyJack on January 16, 2008 at 8:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Touchdown: Exactly. Makes no sense.

Posted by GreerVol22 on January 16, 2008 at 8:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Touchdown...nice! its like you can afford to buy a Mustang but end up with a Civic because your afraid the Mustang will drive you!

Trust me kid, you'll have more fun watching basketball than playing football at old UK...

Posted by GoVol on January 16, 2008 at 8:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)

If he is going to KY for Sanders, he's not thinking too straight about the possibiity of Sanders not being there after next year. KY loses most of their offense...so he'll have a shot a playing early that's for certain.

Posted by Basketball_Jones on January 16, 2008 at 8:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Not to suprised here. Right now with the coaching changes and the fact je jas a good relationship with Sanders, plus his best friend is at Ky. Good luck Randall, make Alcoa proud

Posted by bigbluevol on January 16, 2008 at 8:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I think he is probably "miscomprehending" exactly what the future of Kentucky football is going to look like. I hope he has a lot of success except for one game every year.

Posted by sjt18 on January 16, 2008 at 9:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Wish him nothing but the best though this is probably a bad decision if he wants to win. If he wants less competition for playing time... good decision.

His size may or may not be a problem at QB. I read somewhere that his father is a big guy and his family may be prone to late growth. He's a guy that could still grow a few inches.

Posted by rebel84 on January 16, 2008 at 9:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Well Phil let another local player get away. Just like the Sullivan South QB Curt Phillips, This guy was an athlete. Vols loss Kentucky's and Wisconsin's gain.

Posted by gavol74 on January 16, 2008 at 11:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)

WE DONT NEED QB'S WE NEED SOME D LINE help ....this is not that big of a loss people!

Posted by pdhuff on January 16, 2008 at 1:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

gavol74 11:20.a.m. - Ding!!!! I'm sometimes amazed at the fans who didn't see our achilles heel was the d-line play or lack thereof. No push on QB stranded slow-afoot LBs and isolated DBs. Nearly last in the SEC.

Wish the lad well at KY.

No more of the death by 1000 cuts. How many 3rd and 6 play were converted? Even with the grit shown in the SEC CG, we gave up over 450 yds.

I'm sure they are addressing this, but boy howdy, another year of this will be hard to take.
That Bama WR looked like an All-American by giving John Fitzsimmons Lucasville Shannon Parker a week to throw. Enuf!

Good post.

Posted by filmjr on January 16, 2008 at 2:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Oh, man, "miscomprehended" is the most awesome word I've ever seen. I can't believe we missed this guy. Damnit.

Posted by jevolball7 on January 16, 2008 at 2:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Would have never seen the field here. Not UT material. KY was the best choice for him....and us.

Posted by Brama on January 16, 2008 at 3:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Kentucky stole an athlete in our back yard. To small for UT-QB but good enough althete to play other positions.

Posted by easton3 on January 16, 2008 at 3:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)

pdhuff....Ding!!! Everybody needs DTs. The truth is, yall let this kid slip away. I don't care how tall he is, he can play. Almost 800 yards rushing and 13 TDs and 1800 yards passing, 22 passing TDs and 2 Ints.(TWO...2...two ints). The kid has looked great in his all-star appearances. Was he the MVP in both games? Maybe, I'm not sure. I know that a lot of you TN fans was singing a different tune about a month back when you thought getting this kid from KY would be no problem. THE POINT: I don't care what Rivals and Scout has him rated at, you don't let a goodlooking prospect from your own backyard get away to your neighbors.(by the way, if a kid does not camp in the summer or play for a huge popular highschool, Scout and Rivals, a lot of the times, have very little info on these kids to give a proper evaluation) I got this from Andrew Bone, scout for Scout.com.

ROLL TIDE !!!!

Posted by easton3 on January 16, 2008 at 3:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Brama... No offense, but Boubacar Cissoko is one of the top DB prospects in the nation and he is 5ft 8 171 pounds. OK, that is a DB. Lets look at a spot that little guys are not supposed to play...RB. Noel Devine is 5ft 8 175 pounds and he looked like he is going to be a stud for West Virginia. He had a real nice freshman year behind a Heisman trophy candidate(Steve Slaton). The athletes today, that size stuff just doesn't matter as much as it used too.

ROLL TIDE !!!!

Posted by sjt18 on January 16, 2008 at 3:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)

easton3, he didn't slip away. UT offered him. UT pushed for him and he decided to go to UK. It happens. God bless him.

If Bama got all the good players from Alabama... Auburn would have to board the doors.

Posted by easton3 on January 16, 2008 at 4:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

UT offered way late in the process. About the time he committed to KY. On VolNation.com, a bunch of those guys were saying TN wasn't interested in Chris Jordan and Donta Hightower and that is how they ended up at Bama. Well, where was Coach Foolmer and staff the other day....Down at Donta's school trying to talk him in to going to UT instead of Bama. Donta told his coach that he wouln't meet with them and asked them to leave.
Question 1: what in the hell has this staff been doing for the last 4 months? Question 2: Whats up with UT? Foolmer goes after committed players, guys smoking dope on visits, and players getting in trouble all of the time. He has lost control at TN.
Yeah, a booster for the U of A cheated, we knew about it, and we have had 15 years of hell to pay and we payed it. I think the next time you all want to call us cheaters(Alabama), you need to take a long look at your program. Because something isn't right up there. You know it, and I know it.

ROLL TIDE !!!!

Posted by JWilly on January 16, 2008 at 4:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)

You know, after thinking about it, I think I would rather see my son play for Rich Brooks than Phil Fulmer. I think Brooks has a lot of class.

Posted by jevolball7 on January 16, 2008 at 4:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Around the bowl and down the hole. Roll tide roll.

Posted by easton3 on January 16, 2008 at 4:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Ooh, thats a clever one, jevolball7. Can you write me an essay on that one? Listen, I live in East TN, my family loves TN football and so do I....just not close to the love I have had for Bama football since I was a kid. I'm just speaking the truth. You may not like it, but that doesn't make it any less true. I wish both of my
football teams could go undefeated
every year. But since they can't......TN 1 loss in season, 1 loss in SEC championship. Alabama: undefeated. I'm happy; have a nice day.

ROLL TIDE !!!!

Posted by kjackson96 on January 16, 2008 at 8:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)

has anyone ever thought that something like players getting caught with weed while hosting recruits might have something to do with this kid not wanting to come UT. that little incident could have destroyed these guys career before they even got a chance to go to college.

Posted by Colliervol on January 16, 2008 at 9:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Note to pleasejumpoffabridge and our frequent visitor from Alabama: Why in the world would anybody on here possibly care what a non-UT fan thinks about this program? I certainly don't. Go to your KY or Bama boards and knock yourselves out but, on here, your comments are irrelevant and will always be. Surely you can find something more productive to do.

Personally, I've never commented on an opposing team's board and wouldn't consider it. Primarily because I'm not interested in anybody's opinion of the Vols except for members of the Vol family. Certainly, nobody on a Bama board is going to care what I think about the Tide and I wouldn't waste my time. Why would you? Unless you're a masochist and love to be insulted. And, if that's the case, hey, whatever gets you through the night.

Posted by kjackson96 on January 16, 2008 at 9:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)

actually i am a UT fan; sometimes you have to face the reality of things that you can't control; if the police wanted to be buttholes they could have busted the recruits also instead of letting them go;

Posted by kjackson96 on January 16, 2008 at 9:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)

sorry colliervol got caught up in your post moved right over pleasejumpoffabridge show how important he is right. can't stand bama!!!!!!!

Posted by murrayvol on January 16, 2008 at 9:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Collier: Actually they can't find anything more productive to do. They've tried. Real hard.

I can comprehend how he could "miscomprehend" what Sanders was saying. We've had a few players go down that road over the years.

TommyJack: Think about it! It makes a lot of sense. Stand on the sideline at Neyland, hat in hand, for 2, 3, maybe 4 years or have a chance to play for the Cats. Life's full of choices and he's made one. I hope it works out for the young man.

Posted by sjt18 on January 16, 2008 at 10:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)

UT did recruit Hightower and maybe should have pushed harder considering other things that have happened... but at the time he was nowhere near the top of their board. UT also recruited Jordan but not very hard and ONLY as a LB.

Posted by sjt18 on January 16, 2008 at 10:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Why are people this upset over this kid? He joins a class currently ranked 56th and is almost complete. It probably won't get any better.

Why isn't pleasegetridof... over on some UK board doing his Chicken Lil routine?

Posted by PLEASEGETRIDOFTHENOTSOSLIMONE on January 16, 2008 at 10:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Let's get one thing straight. I am a UT football fan in remission until Fulmer is gone. Grew up in East TN for 20+ years. I simply will not tolerate continuous underachieving with what all the university has going it's way and what they put into the program. If only Bruce Pearl knew anything about football. That man knows how to coach!

Posted by PLEASEGETRIDOFTHENOTSOSLIMONE on January 16, 2008 at 10:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

2006-07 SEC FOOTBALL RECRUITING BUDGETS

1. Tennessee: $900,000

2. Arkansas: $659,676

3. Auburn: $535,000

4. LSU: $510,000

5. Florida: $500,000

6. Georgia: $485,000

7. Ole Miss: $375,000

8. Kentucky: $350,000

9. South Carolina: $253,500

10. Mississippi State: $210,000

2005-06 SEC FOOTBALL RECRUITING BUDGETS

1. Tennessee: $1,071,263

2. Arkansas: $586,893

3. LSU: $510,000

4. Georgia: $48 5,000

5. Auburn: $455,000

6. Florida: $420,000

7. Kentucky: $350,000

8. Ole Miss: $340,000

9. South Carolina: $248,585

10. Mississippi State: $210,000

Posted by kjackson96 on January 16, 2008 at 10:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)

sjt18 not only is he a good athlete whose talent can be used at UT but sounds like he is a good stand up young man; I for one would like to have someone that could reprensent my program in a respectful and responsible manner. the things that happened this weekend with the weed and stuff, like it or not it sticks in the minds of parents and these young men that may not be into those types of activities. would have been a good recruit if you ask me; but who am I to say?

Posted by kjackson96 on January 16, 2008 at 10:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Pleasgetridof..... that's no chump change that's for sure. numbers tell it all, huh?

Posted by PLEASEGETRIDOFTHENOTSOSLIMONE on January 16, 2008 at 10:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)

And you wonder why Houston Nutt is no longer at Arkansas

Posted by sjt18 on January 17, 2008 at 10:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)

kjackson96, I guess my point is just that people are getting upset that this 3* locally recruited kid chose UK... then complaining out of the other side of their mouths that UT's recruiting class isn't ranked high enough.

UT pushed for him and he decided he wanted to play for UK. I would have loved to have seen him at UT. He's got great upside IMO. But that isn't the way it went so there's no reason to continue the handwringing.

Posted by sjt18 on January 17, 2008 at 11:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)

pleasegetridof... If you want to know part of the real reason Nutt is gone... it does relate to that recruiting budget... and the fact that they weren't flying alot of recruits in or taking alot of big trips. It was a fairly open accusation that Nutt was pocketing or funneling money out of his recruiting budget.

The one thing you cannot deny is that UT's recruiting budget no matter how much it really is... gets spent on flying kids in from all over the country in large numbers.

Posted by PLEASEGETRIDOFTHENOTSOSLIMONE on January 17, 2008 at 12:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Would it also be safe to say that Steve Spurior is not in a position to compete against UT with the $ alotted to him to bring in great players? And also that SC is not as much committed to win as UT is? If so, it looks like he is getting the most out of his kids because they only lost 1 game this year that they were favored to win. As did the Vols.

Posted by sjt18 on January 17, 2008 at 12:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)

First, I have no idea whether your numbers are right or not. Another poster said they came from a post on another board without reference.

Second, SC in most years including this one has more 4* and 5* players than Tn does. They play a higher quality of HS football. Spurrier STILL has favorable ties to Florida.

Third, I don't know specifically who is deciding what in Columbia but I do know from relatives there that they aren't satisfied with what SS is producing. As incredible as it may sound, there is some speculation that he can't coach or recruit without a favorable situation like UF enjoys.

Finally, since SS made a habit of beating CPF at UF but has only done it once in the disaster of 2005 since getting to USC... it is safe to say he IS NOT competing very well with CPF.

You and people like you love to point out that close isn't good enough when UT loses (I happen to agree but close is better than far)... however when USC plays UT close that to you is also an indication that UT and specifically CPF is failing.

Your arguments are riddled with inconsistencies and double standards.

Posted by pdhuff on January 17, 2008 at 12:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I'll go out on a limb and say that we'll field a team without this fine young man who chose to go somewhere else. While I'm not a huge Phil fan (book that), believe me they're not distraught.

Also, kudoes to Bama for this incoming class. Saban has done well. He's just not aware of our charts or our big surprise. I just hope the big surprises quit coming if they're involve toking rather than smokin' down the field. Ga's turning away 3* players because they're almost full. Ck AJC.com - sports. All are welcome.

Posted by PLEASEGETRIDOFTHENOTSOSLIMONE on January 17, 2008 at 1:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)

sjt18- I think that it is time to take down the Fat Head of coach Fulmer in your room. You sir are a clown and are a typical SEC Homer and someone who believes that there is not football outside of Knoxville. The bottom line is that programs are run by $ first. Tennessee has made the commitment to try to be a top notch football program. Places like SC, Rutgers, and Boise St have not and cannot financially. These programs have outstanding coaches but simply cannot compete because of $. Do you honestly think that Fulmer would be successful at either of these schools without the financial committments? If so, I have some ocean front property in Arizona for you.

Posted by sjt18 on January 17, 2008 at 1:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)

pleasegetridof... You calling someone else a clown is ridiculous. You post so many factual errors it isn't even funny... and do it with diehard conviction because you so badly want to believe anything negative or that might be spun into something negative.

You are a moron (and I am seldom that blunt) if you think that the schedule Boise St plays can identify anyone as a outstanding coach. They played only 3 teams with a winning record and lost to two of them... and we are talking about the worst of the mid-major conferences. These are irrefutable facts. Peterson may be the best coach since Rockne... but nothing he's personally done at BSU proves that much less suggests he'd do better at UT than CPF.

As far as football outside of the SEC... You haven't read my posts. For most of the last 20 years, the Big 10 has probably been the best conference top to bottom. The Pac10 plays a different style but is still a good conference. The Big12 has probably stepped up strongly into the number two position. The ACC has really faded over the last few years with the decline of FSU and Miami. The Big East started low but has made improvements. They STILL aren't on par with any of the other BCS confererences (consistently) except for the ACC.

I have family from USC... and you are ignorant. They are ready to pony up to have success. They have rich HS talent. They are closer to metro Charlotte which is probably the best HS area in NC than UNC or NC State. They are better off location wise than UT to draw in recruits and have an alumni willing to support success. Spurrior simply isn't having the success at getting the players he needs that he had at UF. If there has been any budget limitations... it has not been made public at all. Again, the will is there.

Posted by easton3 on January 17, 2008 at 1:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Ooh, thats a clever one, jevolball7. Can you write me an essay on that one? Listen, I live in East TN, my family loves TN football and so do I....just not close to the love I have had for Bama football since I was a kid. I'm just speaking the truth. You may not like it, but that doesn't make it any less true. I wish both of my
football teams could go undefeated
every year. But since they can't......TN 1 loss in season, 1 loss in SEC championship. Alabama: undefeated. I'm happy; have a nice day.

ROLL TIDE !!!!

Posted by PLEASEGETRIDOFTHENOTSOSLIMONE on January 17, 2008 at 2:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)

posted by sjt18
You are a moron (and I am seldom that blunt) if you think that the schedule Boise St plays can identify anyone as a outstanding coach. They played only 3 teams with a winning record and lost to two of them... and we are talking about the worst of the mid-major conferences. These are irrefutable facts. Peterson may be the best coach since Rockne... but nothing he's personally done at BSU proves that much less suggests he'd do better at UT than CPF.
_______________________________________________

More idiotic comments from you. Peterson has the same talent as the rest of the teams in the conference and wins. Tennessee has better talent than 3/4 of the SEC and does not. I am simply saying that for what Peterson has to work with, he does well. Hell after all the programs success, he has the #82 recruiting clss this year. I would love to see Fulmer coach with this type of talent.

Posted by OwensboroVol on January 17, 2008 at 3:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

This was for the best. This kid was way too short to play quarterback in Division I except in a Spread Offense. Fulmer has made it clear he plans to continue to run a 1990's offense as long as he can. I saw the same thing in the late 1950's and early 1960's. I can remember the crowd cheering at Neyland Stadium when we finally ran a few plays from the "T" Formation and then went immediately back to the single wing so we could continue to get out heads kicked in. If you don't believe me, check the history! The kid did himself a favor, just as Stevie Boy from Science Hill High School in Johnson City did back then.

Posted by sjt18 on January 17, 2008 at 3:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"More idiotic comments from you. Peterson has the same talent as the rest of the teams in the conference and wins."

Quite frankly. No. Hawkins was great at finding talent and left Peterson a full boat. Zabransky and Johnson were talented players. Johnson may have as much raw talent as Arian Foster. The notion that he has the same talent as the rest of the conference is completely disproven by the fact that only 3 teams in the WAC this year had winning records- THREE! That conference is absolutely awful. Not his fault mind you... but until he plays and beats good competition on a regular basis... he can't be called an outstanding coach. He couldn't even beat the Washington Huskies this year and they were a terrible Pac10 team.

For that matter, until he establishes his own record and gets off Hawkins' coat tails he can't be called outstanding.

"Tennessee has better talent than 3/4 of the SEC and does not."

CPF has a 76% winning percentage against the SEC over his career. BTW, aren't you one of the ones constantly harping on the idea that UT isn't getting the talent they used to?

"I am simply saying that for what Peterson has to work with, he does well."

And I am simply pointing out that he coaches a good team left to him two years ago by a very good coach in the probably the worst FBS confernence. Remember, he's been there two years. The program was turned around by Dan Hawkins before he moved to Colorado.

"Hell after all the programs success, he has the #82 recruiting clss this year. I would love to see Fulmer coach with this type of talent."

If he were coaching against San Jose St, Nevada, La Tech, Idaho, Utah St, and NM St... he'd do just fine. Those teams are homecoming fodder for SEC teams... and conference rivals for Boise St. Even Fresno St, one of the stronger WAC teams and the only one with a winning record this year besides Hawaii and BSU, was considered an "easy" game for UT just a few years ago.

Posted by Colliervol on January 17, 2008 at 4:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Pleasegetridof, you do realize that UT has the largest recruiting budget because they have to spend more time recruiting NATIONALLY than any of the other top tier schools in the conference do. Can't survive on TSSAA talent. With the exception of KY, I can't think of a state in the Southeast that produces less high school talent than Tennessee. Consequently, we have to range far and wide for players and that takes money for travel, visits by the prospects, etc. Pretty easy for me to understand.

Posted by PLEASEGETRIDOFTHENOTSOSLIMONE on January 18, 2008 at 7:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)

My point exactly Colliervol! UT has made the committment that most other schools have not. That is simply why everyone should expect more. Pretty much Hamilton has said "Do whatever it takes to bring in the best talent ". Generally they do. The fact that they are not now should also be disappointing to everyone. And sjt18 you still do not get it. You must be the Grand Sheep Herder or you own stock in KK.

Posted by sjt18 on January 18, 2008 at 10:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Pleasegetridof..., I probably follow recruiting more closely than you do. If this class doesn't finish strong it will be disappointing.

And yes I do "get it" it you are referring to Peterson again. You think he's an outstanding coach based on two years at a mid-major after taking over from t a guy that really is an outstanding coach. You think that going 10-3 against a WAC schedule that includes only three teams with a winning record means a guy is a better coach than one of the all time winningest coaches who just went 10-4 in the toughest division of the toughest BCS conference... Yeah... I get what you are saying... it just doesn't hold water.

And yes, I also get that you despise Fulmer and will see absolutely nothing good in him or the program until someone like Peterson is hired and drives the program into the ground.

I KNOW there are good coaches out there. I also know that there may come a time when CPF needs to be replaced. Peterson simply isn't one of the coaches who to date has earned that opportunity. I'm not that impressed with Schiano either. If he proves over 6-8 years that he can perform as well in the Big East as CPF has in the SEC then maybe... but not yet.

Dan Hawkins though is one guy I'd love to see in K'ville if CPF leaves anytime soon. He can coach. He is great at recognizing and developing talent... and he does have a resume that includes taking BSU from nothing to a BCS contender. He won 4 straight WAC titles and dropped another one in Peterson's lap.

You did know that this year was the first time in 5 years that BSU didn't win the WAC, right? Peterson's second year...

Posted by PLEASEGETRIDOFTHENOTSOSLIMONE on January 18, 2008 at 11 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Alright sjt18. Let's "pretend" that you are not a UT fan and you are casually watching college football. Which team would you rather watch Boise State or UT? 99% of America would say Boise St. because they are fun to watch and do not play things close to the vest. The other 1% are your neighbors.

Bottom line: Petterson brings flare and fun to the game. Fulmer is bland and predictable. I would love to see the Boise State style football in Knoxville. Heck, I would just love any style besides what is happening there now. BORING!

Posted by sjt18 on January 18, 2008 at 12:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)

If that were true then BSU would be playing on national tv anywhere from 5-9 times per year instead of being buried on ESPN2 after 10 pm eastern.

So what you are saying is that you'd risk a complete collapse of the program just to bring in what you deem a more "exciting" style?

Once again, BSU plays in the WAC. The WAC is known for playing porous defense... always has. His offensive schemes and play calling aren't radically different from what UT does... the defenses they play ARE RADICALLY DIFFERENT.

IOW's, just because he can paste 60 points on Utah St or someone like that... doesn't mean he can do it to Bama, UF, LSU, etc. In fact, it would be unrealistic to expect him to do so.

I don't always like CPF's conservatism and "prevent offense". I think even he's realized he can't be as conservative as they've been in the past considering who he's hired as OC. Nonetheless, it is a ridiculous to suggest that Peterson even gets credit for Boise's success much less to say he would do better at UT than CPF.

You are still ignoring the fact that the guy is riding a good coach's coat tails and really doesn't have a resume of his own yet. The only indicator is that in his second year, he lost the conference for the first time in 5 years.

Next year Hawaii will fade without Jones. The WAC will come down to Pat Hill and Fresno or Peterson and BSU. We'll see how he does.

FTR, I don't think losing is fun... and if CPF were fired today and Peterson replaced him... that's what they'd more than likely do. He would be so badly outclassed by the coaches in the SEC it wouldn't be funny. The guy IS NOT ready to face Richt, Spurrier, Saban, Petrino, Tuberville, Brooks, Meyer,...

Posted by sjt18 on January 18, 2008 at 12:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)

btw, Did you notice? Arkansas had an open job... They didn't give serious consideration to Peterson... neither did Texas A&M, Nebraska, Michigan, WVU, UCLA,...

What are they seeing that you are missing? No one has even pursued him to become an OC/HC in waiting a la Jimbo Fisher.