Posted by rabidvol1998 on January 20, 2008 at 11:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Good question. I'd rather you tell us than ask us.

Posted by scvols on January 20, 2008 at 11:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I think we will be lucky to be in the top 30.

Posted by rabidvol1998 on January 20, 2008 at 11:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)

A big final push and we squeak into the top 20 and no harm done. With last year we will be ok if we have a good season in 08 and match it with a recruiting class. Just find me an Al Wilson or a Dale Jones in this class.

Posted by chefjorge on January 20, 2008 at 11:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Signing day, while crucial is not as important as some make it out to be, I feel. I want a great class like everyone else, but for all the five star players how many are Eric Berry's? Ole Miss got Patrick Willis out of our back yard and now he's the NFL defensive player of the year. Let's sign guys that want to be here. Who wanted that Mallett kid? I don't want to be held hostage by anybody particularly some punk and his a$$hat of a father. Peace.

Posted by VOLinDAWGland on January 20, 2008 at 11:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Recruiting? There's recruiting going on? Who'd have guessed by this reporting...the lack of info is unbelievable. Either Fulmer has shut out the KNS staff for understandable reasons or KNS just doesn't do any primary news gathering on the program in the city that they cover...unbelievable.

So instead of doing some leg work and getting some recruiting info all we get is another lousy poll. Well, I'm not playing.

Posted by bricker865 on January 20, 2008 at 11:23 p.m.

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Posted by bricker865 on January 20, 2008 at 11:25 p.m.

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Posted by TurboFan on January 20, 2008 at 11:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I knew it! Fulmer IS VolforJesus! Dang! Thanks JW.

Posted by mbible1utk on January 20, 2008 at 11:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I think they'll do okay in the end, but it has bothered me to look at the list of the top 100 players on Scout.com and see how we didn't go after these guys.

Posted by vol1994 on January 20, 2008 at 11:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

On the way to church this morning I listened to the
Doug Matthews call in show.
He said that he does not think we will close with any huge recruits as in years past so this class will be average (may land a couple 4stars.

He also made an intersting point but I was not able to listen to the rest of the show stating that we had our coaching staff but possible changes could still occur.
Did anyone happen to listen to his show this morning? I don't know if he was talking about Slade leaving or... last i heard Chavis was going to spend more time than usual with the d-backs due to Slade's health but.....

Go vols

Posted by ggriggs939 on January 20, 2008 at 11:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Although some have made verbal committments, none have signed yet so how can anyone know how we are faring in recruiting???

Posted by mtnvol on January 20, 2008 at 11:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Rankings by a recruiting bureau mean less to me than rankings at the end of the season. I'm not sure anyone credible has established a correlation between the two.

Posted by Cherokee on January 20, 2008 at 11:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Could there possibly be a less relevant poll than this one? Ask a bunch of people who obviously could not have any clue how our recruiting is going to end up for their opinion.

Is there a point to this?

Posted by PLEASEGETRIDOFTHENOTSOSLIMONE on January 20, 2008 at 11:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I will let you all guess what my vote was. Talk about some wasted $ as the Vols have the highest recruiting budget in the SEC.

Posted by rabidvol1998 on January 20, 2008 at 11:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Brent Hubbs just made a good point. High ranked classes tend to have big name skill position players and we are after the big uglies and LB's.

Posted by DekanGator on January 21, 2008 at 12:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)

OK .. Lets have some fun ... Say IM a 5 star recruit... the advantages of going to UT .. First of all "The SEC", 2nd the big house. 3rd Good education... 3rd playing time (on Def) 4th on TV alot...
The reasons why I dont want to go. 1st,,, Is the same coach going to be there in 2 years? they have been talking about getting rid of him for 4 years.No other 5 star recruits are signing. Will we be any good in 4 years with a bunch of 3 star recurits?. Can the new O/Cord coach? Lots of changes in the coaching staff? Is that good?

Posted by newtonrail on January 21, 2008 at 12:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)

vol1994, I don't hear Doug's show anymore, so I don't know what he said. Everyone has picked on Slade for a couple of years, even though we keep sending them to the League. Primarily on his DB's not playing adequate "Bump" coverage at the line. I do know Chavis said two years ago that if Slade goes, he goes. Of course this rumor of Slades' health keeps popping up. We couldn't afford to lose Chief now. There is the High School Co-or. job that Gerald left still vacant.

Posted by dfreeman on January 21, 2008 at 12:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)

PLEASEGETRIDOFTHENOTSOSLIMONE - for someone to not support the football program like you state, you certainly waste a bunch of your time commenting on it!! Also, I believe you said you supported the other programs at UT right?? Why then do you never seem to find time (I think you have tons of it) to comment on any of the other stories?? Because you never have anything constructive to add to the conversation! I think you need to pick up a second hobby! Surely up there in good ole Kentucky you could find something to do right?? Go pull for Cincinnati Bearshats or Louisville Shartinals or the Kentucky Mildscats they could use your type of support!! Please though for the love of God tell me you have more to do with your time than get on a website and try to stir up crap!! I'll go ahead and save you the typing!! I have been married now for 10 years to a woman from Santa Maria, CA and have a 13 month old little boy, so yes I do have all kinds of time when I'm not working, what's your excuse?? Again, stick to soccer (your futbol) you were good at it!!

Posted by Hacksaw57 on January 21, 2008 at 3:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)

vol1994:
Your post is spot on concerning Coach Matthews' comments on his radio show and he's not just "whistling Dixie".
I have been saying for the past month in previous posts, as Paul Havey says -
"STAND BY FOR NEWS!"

Posted by pdhuff on January 21, 2008 at 6:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Tdtn-6:17 a.m. Are you sliding off the course? You may need reindoctrination. I'm checking the charts

Get your signed copy of Mattingly's Football Vault and any 8x10 glossys and be at the K Kreme at 5:00 a.m. sharp. I'll bring a picture of the ring. Very faded and hard to remember, but still the ring. Slight possibility of rehabbing you. Slight. Big boy has agreed to give you a hug.

Lose the DT and DE references -not needed any longer. We won 10 without them. We now let them ramble between the 10s. Now you see. Its easy. Concentrate on warm and fuzzy. Better now. I thought so. Clutch your little sweater.......

Posted by GreerVol22 on January 21, 2008 at 7:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)

On the surface it appears to be the old cliche "Can't chew chewing gum and walk at the same time" or something like that.

Was Fulmer so hung up on hiring the offensive staff that he took a nap on recruiting? Chavis can't and won't recruit so where were his remaining assistants? Signing a half dozen recruits that commited a couple of years ago doesn't sound to respectable to me.

But then again, were so loaded with talent we can afford to take a year off...right coach?

Posted by dwolfcreek on January 21, 2008 at 8:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)

what recruiting ????????????????????,

Posted by jimr07 on January 21, 2008 at 8:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)

all i can say about recruiting is this: Texas, and coach February almost always wind up in the top five. Except for the Vince Young years, look where the Longhorns wind up. What bowl was it they played in the past two years? It is not so much how many 4 and 5 stars they sign, but what they do after they tee it up and play some games. I would love to see the Vols # 1 or even #5, but i do have faith that this class will be all right. I certainly think that taking his time to hire the right staff was the right decision. I love all you nattering nabobs of negativity. If we were ranked number one right now, some of you would be complaining that we did not sign the premier quaterback.

Posted by VolsorCat on January 21, 2008 at 8:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)

To Early to Tell: I can confirm that Matt Luke probably picked a good time to depart. An offensive lineman from Ole Miss should probably not be your recruiting coordinator going after 5 star guys. I think the changes in staff will help turn some kids our way. We started from scratch 2 weeks ago, so give them some time. By the way, West Virginia built a pretty good team on 2 and 3 star players, so you don't always know. Heart doesn't always run the 40 the fastest or lift 225 pounds the most reps, I will take guys with heart any time.

Posted by GerryOP on January 21, 2008 at 8:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)

You're absolutely right Greer! Distractions, all them dang distractions.

First we had a SEC Championship game, then that durn'd bowl game. Next, all them coaches just walkin' off and had to be replaced! Ya'all made a big deal about a couple or three of our boys gettin' caught out carryin' whackyweed with one of our recruits in the Magnum. And now you boys are all worked up about recruitin'? Dang, what's next? Guess you'll want Ol' Phil to be distracted by Spring practice and that silly ol' O & W game? Next thing you know that dang'd ol' Pennington guy will be writin' some fool article saying that the program is out of control!

C'mon guys. Give ol' Phil a break. He only gets $2-point-something-million-a-year and you expect him to handle everthin'? Dang!

Posted by sjt18 on January 21, 2008 at 9:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I don't know how this will turn out. UT is still in on some guys that could make this class look pretty good as ranked by the recruiting services. OTOH, if they whiff on them too then on paper it will look like a bad year.

But again, Morley, Faison, and Warren won't count. No one in America is likely to land two more sure fire players than Warren and Morley. Both have started and performed well for BCS schools.

BTW, the kid from Pa, Alexander, de-committed from Pitt after a coaching change. He's a 4* athlete down to UT and FSU.

Hey guys, are you REALLY trying to suggest that having to hire a whole offensive staff within a month of NSD shouldn't be a distraction or hindrance to recruiting? Do you really think he is supposed find and hire the right staff while simultaneously scouring the country for top recruits that he then convinces to come to UT in spite of not knowing who their coaches will be?

I understand TDTN... he'll only grudgingly give CPF credit for anything good when he has absolutely no other choices... But Gerry, you seem to be more reasonable than that.

Posted by sjt18 on January 21, 2008 at 9:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Dekangator, Another factor is that kids might not want to fly over 3 or 4 other big name schools to get to UT when they can get PT earlier an hour from home.

Instate talent is down this year in Tn and they can't realistically say that a kid stands a great chance of coming in and getting significant playing time. There are only a few they can tell that. The RB Enrique Davis could compete for PT this year. A really good OL could become a 8th or 9th guy.

WR is a logjam. One of the bad things about Foster coming back is that a lesser RB than the 5* sure thing will be looking up at Foster, Creer, and Hardesty at a minimum. QB isn't a need this year. DL's should see opportunity but they seldom play at any school the first year. LB is a logjam. DB is probably the deepest position on the team.

Teams like UF and UGA are just as deep... but unlike UT they have a ton of instate kids that have wanted to go there their entire lives. Even the Arkansas kids committed and have remained faithful so far in spite of a very messy coaching situation. They want to be Hogs.

Posted by sjt18 on January 21, 2008 at 9:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)

So 3 NC's is the standard for you to say someone is an acceptable coach? How many active CFB coaches have 3 NC's to their credit?

Posted by h_charles on January 21, 2008 at 9:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)

It sure would be nice at least ONE day to open up this site and see an article that says "UT signs recruit so-and so."

Seems it has been while since the Football Recruiting section actually indicated we got one.

Posted by grvol on January 21, 2008 at 9:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)

How many times is Fulmer gonna recycle Gerald Williams' 4 stars into the rankings?

Posted by PLEASEGETRIDOFTHENOTSOSLIMONE on January 21, 2008 at 10 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Dfreeman- You are simply a clown and a typical UT sheep. Go back and check how many times I have commented on how great of a coach Bruce Pearl is and how his players play for him. You need to take down the Fat Head of Fulmer in your childs bedroom before he starts to underachieve like his dads icon. And aren't you just the little family man. All jokes asside-congrats. You were a little on the wild side in h.s. so I am glad to hear that you straightened out some. But you do need to seriously stop acting like everything is alright in Knoxville.

Posted by ctownvol on January 21, 2008 at 10 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Recruiting? Who says we're recruiting? Vicious lies I tell ya! And I, for one, will not put up with it. Off with their heads at once!

Posted by jdcvols on January 21, 2008 at 10:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)

h_charles, right on.

Posted by silvertr6 on January 21, 2008 at 10:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Fulmer has his extension and pay increase, so he can be like "Who, me worry?"

Posted by KingsportVol on January 21, 2008 at 10:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Not trying to be negative.But we are lucky to have some young talent on our roster.I don't see us burning it up on signing day.Hopefully we will have a strong 08 season and be right back in the hunt next recruiting year.Thank God for our freshman class this year.Go Big Orange!!!

Posted by ktucker on January 21, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)

First of all - I am a Fulmer supporter - consistent results in the SEC over these past years and the importance of stability in major college football programs these days makes Fulmer a made man - I work in Blacksburg Virginia - each year the Hokies get the lions share of talent in Virginia ( which has above average talent) most of these prospects are 3 Star - occasionally 4 Star - and this usually nets them a top 20 recruiting class, consistent top ten finishes, BSC appearances and consistent ten win seasons ( this would not be the case if they played in the SEC ) - what Beamer's coaching staff does with this talent is the difference - they coach them good fundamentals and the players improve - they have developed a knack for winning -with heavy emphasis on defense and special teams they beat the teams they are supposed to beat - they compete, I repeat compete in games that they may be overmatched ( except LSU this year) and they put some players in the NFL - With a solid coaching staff - we should not need a top five class every year - if we fall short in the recruiting rankings - let's rely on our coaches to overachieve rather than our talent to underachieve. I am optimistic that Chavis will get the D back to late 90's and early 2000's form - and am excited about Clawson - let's get after some recruits and coach them to get better.

Posted by Basketball_Jones on January 21, 2008 at 10:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I feel this was expected after the year we had. Now hear me out. Mid way through the year all the networks were talking about Fulmer being on the hot seat. Kids listen to this crap. Just like when ESPN told kids they would be crazy to sign with Arkansas after they hired Petrino (that person should be fired by the way). Think about how many times on an average Saturday during football season that the #1 sports network says USC and talks about how great they are. That crap gets embedded in these kids heads. During bowl season, thats all you heard was how great USC was, then they normally have a Top 5 class every year. Kids wanna play for the hot team.

Posted by givehim6 on January 21, 2008 at 11:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)

As I have said, we will get some good players in this year. Next year if the vols do good in 2008 will be the year.

Posted by 99gator on January 21, 2008 at 11:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)

who needs talent? you have outstanding new coaches and sjt18 has assured you all that tenn has figured out the spread. tenn has florida in knoxville and now owns georgia. you don't need talent.

Posted by harryjudyh on January 21, 2008 at 11:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)

This is a strange question. Very few vistors to this site have any inside knowledge of recruiting. There are two credable experts who have been proven accurate over the last few years. SCOUT.com has the VOLS ranked 53rd in the nation. RIVALS.com has UT rated 42. With so little talent left on the uncommitted board there doesn’t seem to be much of a chance to move up the list very far.

Posted by rab63 on January 21, 2008 at 11:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I'll just bet this was started by John Adams....anytime he can't come up with a column he has a poll.

Posted by murrayvol on January 21, 2008 at 11:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Thanks Touchdown: If only we could dispatch Urban and Nick as easily as Smokey did Bucky and Aubie.

Posted by romevol on January 21, 2008 at 11:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Ktucker - could'nt agree with you more. Let's sign what we can sign and then "work like heck" to develop what we have. Some times (2005) signing a great class does not always pay big dividends. It is how they react to challenges as a team and not as a bunch of disjointed 4 or 5 star athletes.

Posted by murrayvol on January 21, 2008 at 11:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)

At least read the damn link before you post sjt.

Posted by vol4jesus on January 21, 2008 at 12:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Wd40 stop sniffing your fumes it is affecting your ability to determine the true identity of poster children. Sorry, I'm not Coach Fulmer. If I was I could constantly feel the love from SEErUNvol and his cronies every day. Captainnnnnn Negativeeee has been sighted posting in a blogosphere near ewe! No bubbly for him cause it might make him get happy and we know that short of 'a miracle' that is not his state of mind. How can we not wonder about your life when all you spew is venom and spite. Go VOLS give us a good surprise on Feb signing day!

Posted by PLEASEGETRIDOFTHENOTSOSLIMONE on January 21, 2008 at 12:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The circus is in town and sjt18 is the ring leader. He is also starting a "Fulmer for President" campaign.

Posted by sjt18 on January 21, 2008 at 12:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"This is a strange question. Very few vistors to this site have any inside knowledge of recruiting. There are two credable experts who have been proven accurate over the last few years. SCOUT.com has the VOLS ranked 53rd in the nation. RIVALS.com has UT rated 42. With so little talent left on the uncommitted board there doesn’t seem to be much of a chance to move up the list very far."

Actually Scout does a relatively poor job of reporting the Vols especially compared to Rivals.

There is a very good chance UT will move up the only question is how far. Both of the scoring systems give points for each signee and then have some form of equalizer so that they don't just have the biggest class ranked #1 all the time.

UT currently has 10 commits and a 3.09 star average. There are more than 10 teams with lower star averages ranked above them. All of the teams above them have more commits. Most are probably full or close to full and in protect mode.

This isn't going to be a great class rankings wise but it should move up some from where it is.

Posted by sjt18 on January 21, 2008 at 12:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"At least read the damn link before you post sjt."

Do you have a point or just an issue?

Posted by sjt18 on January 21, 2008 at 12:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"The circus is in town and sjt18 is the ring leader. He is also starting a "Fulmer for President" campaign."

Why isn't it surprising that lying and distortion are the foundation of your attempts at cutting another person down?

Posted by sjt18 on January 21, 2008 at 12:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"who needs talent? you have outstanding new coaches and sjt18 has assured you all that tenn has figured out the spread. tenn has florida in knoxville and now owns georgia. you don't need talent."

Et tu Gator?

Alot of us are excited about the coaches but none of us knows what they'll do. They could flop and send CPF slinking off into retirement or raise the program to new heights allowing him to go out on top. No one knows.

You do need talent in the SEC regardless of what you've figured out... but if you think that SEC DC's are a bunch of morons or their teams are without talent and are just sitting around waiting for UM to run over them... you are sorely mistaken.

Tim Tebow is a very, very special player. He IS why your offense was as good as it was this past year. If UM keeps exposing him to the kind of abuse he took this year then UF will suffer for it. Mich devoted its D to hitting TT. Auburn schemed the UF O. LSU had good enough talent to stop it.

What fact in your next to last statement do you dispute? UF does play in K'ville next year and that should help UT. UT has owned UGA over the past 4 years... and more decisively than UF has.

I haven't made any kind of definitive statement about next year except that YOU are wrong to dismiss UT with a handwave. UT returns as much as UGA or UF and should be in the mix of it.

Posted by sjt18 on January 21, 2008 at 12:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)

VolCR, How exactly is CPF responsible for the talent drop off in Tn HS football this year? How is it his fault that other teams often instate can offer a kid a more immediate opportunity to play? How is it his fault that several SEC schools can make a top 10 class out of instate kids that grew up as fans of those schools?

If it is "unacceptable", exactly what is unacceptable and how would you propose to fix it (in realistic terms}?

Posted by nivatne on January 21, 2008 at 12:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)

For all of you Fulmer bashers and Urban Meyer wannabees, let me see you spin this one:
1) Meyer had a Heisman winning QB and 4 WR with at least 4 stars, plus a defense that was MUCH less maligned than UT's. Record 9-4
2) Fulmer has a 4 star QB and 3 WR, only one of which was a 4 star recruit, plus a defense that started 2 true freshman in the secondary and a LB core that really only played w/ 2 players a year (sorry, I love UT, but Ryan Karl just took up space). Record 10-4
So, for everyone who talks about Fulmer not coaching talent, it seems to me you could say the same for Meyer. Bottom line, if you can't cheer for UT, then go drink a tall glass of shut-the-he!!-up juice. GO VOLS!!!

Posted by mojojojo on January 21, 2008 at 12:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Zeke says, "It's not the fault of the local dry cleaners that this recruiting class is down. Support your local dry cleaners".

Posted by Basketball_Jones on January 21, 2008 at 12:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Slow day SJT?

Posted by sjt18 on January 21, 2008 at 12:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Slow hour. I've actually accomplished a good bit this morning. Thanks for asking.

Posted by bernardking on January 21, 2008 at 12:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Pleasegetridof....pleaseleaveus....you have a right to your opinion about Fulmmer. Even if it is uninformed MOST of the time. Please don't confuse supporters of the program as "sheep". Of course, you lose all credibility with your personal attacks on Fulmer. It is apparent jealousy and hatred rule your life. I don't care how much you praise Pearl. It would take one or two mediocre seasons and you would be attacking his character. It is the manner of true idiots like yourself.

With that being said, it is important for everyone to realize recruiting rankings are totally arbitrary anyway. How is it someone is a 5-star rather than a 4-star?...because some guy says so. Who did he play against??? Recruiting rankings are highly overrated. When Nebraska was a powerhouse they had very few players that were rated over 3 stars.....so lets not get carried away. To be honest....I could care less. I KNOW it isn't that big of a deal. And I am sure a few posters agree

Posted by dgb63 on January 21, 2008 at 1:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Lets face the truth guys Tenn High Schools do not produce a large number of D-I rated palyers at least the ones with the stars next to their name. This is not Fulmers fault. We have to get players from all over. The Alabama's of the world are lucky enough to have strong H.S. programs with a large number of kids growing up wanting to either play for the Tide or Auburn. Many states are like Bama. Tenn is not one of them. UT does not hold that special place in the instate players heart. Location has a lot to do with that. The kids in Memphis are a long way from UT.

Posted by rabidvol1998 on January 21, 2008 at 1:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Of ESPN top 150 prospects,

Florida has 33
Georgia has 14
Alabama has 9
Louisiana 3
Texas 24
California 12
Tennessee 1 and we got him - Wilks

Posted by rabidvol1998 on January 21, 2008 at 1:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)

To clarify, that is how many prospects are in the state, not that the school has committed.

Posted by pdhuff on January 21, 2008 at 1:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The biggest aspect of recruiting that troubles me was the agony of watching our d-line struggles this year. This was the result of our d-line recruiting the previous two years.

Now where are we going to get better? DE and DT are in a glaring deficiency standing. Have we already forgotten our praising the defensive effort against LSU when they had 464 yards? We're so obsessed with offensive hirings when we're facing the same thing on defence this fall on the d-line. And without Mayo. Star ratings, how about zero?

The best DBs in the world can't cover without QB pressure. Look at the # of sacks we had this year? D-line recuiting again appears (granted appears) to be near-nonexistent. It will take a great leap forward somehow, somewhere from the one lone comittement (Douglas) out of the Top One HUNDRED as noted by the AJC. Feel better now..... Somehow, go Vols!

Posted by hueypilot on January 21, 2008 at 1:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Well that does it. ESPN has weighed in. I guess we won't be any good ever again. I think I'll start rooting for the Tennessee AAFL.........wannabes? What is their name anyway?

Posted by 99gator on January 21, 2008 at 1:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)

sjt18

i have not dismissed tenn in 2008. i have said, and will stick with this, that i want to see crompton play before trying to make any prediction on tenn in 2008. i think that tenn will pretty much go as far as their qb takes them and since i know nothing about crompton, i will not make a prediction.

now as far as the comment, i wrote. i plead guilty. it was a cheap shot....i couldn't resist. i figured if other tenn fans are going to spit venom at you......it might as well come from someone from a rival school

Posted by dgb63 on January 21, 2008 at 1:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I tend to agree with pdhuff. I think the O side of the ball will be fine. I am worried about the D side. I know we all got caught up in the search for the new OC but my thinking is that the D still wins Champ's. All the time we spent on the new OC took most eyes off the D side. I just hope Chief wasn't just sitting around watching too..???

Posted by waterskier3 on January 21, 2008 at 1:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

we played so many freshman this year and if we don't sign a good class which we won't how can anyone say signing 2 and 3 stars are ok.... i'm sorry i would rather have top recruiting classes every year then up and down like we've done the last few years... which is reflected in our record over the same period.. same old crap "wait til next year crowd"

vol nation we are an average team and we're getting average recruits... that's the bottom line... but wait til next year!!!! i know we'll have the number 1 class.. hey in spring practice the old coach will say these guys look great they look good enough for us to be ranked 3rd in the country??? oh we heard that didn't we??

Posted by sjt18 on January 21, 2008 at 2:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Yeah but 99gator... I respect you and your opinions....

I honestly don't think the season comes down to Crompton unless he's just awful. In that case, I'd expect to see one of the other guys. It won't be a QB carried team this year which will probably be a good thing against UF.... maybe not so much UGA. UT will probably run alot more with Foster, Creer, Hardesty, and maybe a surprise contributor like Vereen, Poole, Hawkins, or Enrique Davis (if they were to get him).

I think for all three teams in the East it comes down to the DL's. UF probably has a tougher row on D than UGA or UT. UT is probably a little better off than UGA but not significantly.

Posted by sjt18 on January 21, 2008 at 2:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)

VolCR, you can look it up for yourself. Last year was a bumper crop instate. There were twice as many 4-5* (something like 10) recruits as this year. UT landed about half which is roughly what UGA and UF do: Hall, Sykes, Coleman, Donald, Walker.

Those types of players aren't only good to get for themselves... they go out and recruit for you. Donald and Berry may have tipped the scale at the Army AA game with Jones, Martin, and Paige.

UT didn't have a commit at the game this year thus no one working for them.

Posted by sjt18 on January 21, 2008 at 2:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)

BTW, I don't think there's a 5* recruit in Tn this year.

Posted by 99gator on January 21, 2008 at 2:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)

sjt18

one last thing....

i'm not trying to pour salt in the wound, but you can only beat a good team so many years in a row. i am as nervous about the tenn game as any, for among other reasons, you don't beat quality opponents several years in a row.

florida's gotten tenn 3 in a row. hard to beat a ranked opponent 4 years or more in a row.

if i were tenn, i would worry about georgia for the same reason. tenn has won 3 of 4 against georgia. sooner or later, georgia will get theirs.

Posted by sjt18 on January 21, 2008 at 2:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)

99gator, IMO UT IS behind the 8 ball in recruiting when compared to UGA and UF due to instate talent. If CPF is going to continue to compete, he'll have to continue to find 2* and 3* players that should have been 4* or 5*.

Tauren Poole is an interesting case. As a Jr, he seemed destined to be one of the top 5 RB's in the country. He had a lower leg injury and posted bad 40 times at some of the camps/combines. Fulmer never waivered or took him off the top of their RB recruiting list. If the guy gets his speed back then UT may have found a 5* RB with a 3* rating.

They are looking at or have commitments from several players that may be very underrated- Wilks, Johnson, Scruggs, Raines, etc.

IF CPF and staff don't find those guys in these "off" years then they'll struggle to have the depth needed to keep up.

Posted by sjt18 on January 21, 2008 at 2:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Don't disagree with that 99gator. Worse yet, it will be a pumped up as a big game by MR and will be in Athens. UT has broken the code with MR after several years of futility... but the guy is a pro and will figure it out how to get a leg up at some point.

I take a little solace in their losses on D and OL. They'll also have to replace the production of Bailey, Brown, and Henderson. That won't be as easy as many assume.

Posted by philfan on January 21, 2008 at 2:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I think the effort in recruiting so far is disconcerting, and I do not have a good feeling like a lot of other people. David Cutcliffe's departure will cost us dearly. Anyone who knows anything about pro or college football knows he is one of the best offensive minds in the country. He has coached Eli and Peyton Manning, and several other great NFL quarterbacks. If I had been Fulmer, I would have given him a huge salary to persuade him to stay. We are dealing with an unknown quantity in Clawson, and I think many players are reluctant to sign with a team whose OC looks like a Boy Scout. All the players know the name of Cutcliffe. Who has heard of Clawson?

Posted by philfan on January 21, 2008 at 2:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I think the effort in recruiting so far is disconcerting, and I do not have a good feeling like a lot of other people. David Cutcliffe's departure will cost us dearly. Anyone who knows anything about pro or college football knows he is one of the best offensive minds in the country. He has coached Eli and Peyton Manning, and several other great NFL quarterbacks. If I had been Fulmer, I would have given him a huge salary to persuade him to stay. We are dealing with an unknown quantity in Clawson, and I think many players are reluctant to sign with a team whose OC looks like a Boy Scout. All the players know the name of Cutcliffe. Who has heard of Clawson?

Posted by sjt18 on January 21, 2008 at 2:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)

VolCR, I think you and I discussed that before. I'd say there's alot of factors including fan negativity toward CPF during the season and open speculation about him being fired. A coach in a talent rich state can endure that better than in a talent poor state.

It is a down year for instate talent. UT replaced its entire O staff during recruiting season. They have alot of young talent on the depth chart to discourage out of state recruits. The pot incident didn't help. CPF probably has been taken off the recruiting trail to fill the staff... and there aren't any of those 4-5* recruits from other states like JC, Sawtelle, or Berry that were born to be Vols.

When you say 2005, you are probably talking 2006. The 2005 class was decent following 2004. I believe that was Crompton's class plus Mayo, Taylor, and several other highly rated players. I don't honestly remember who all they got out of Tn that year besides Coker.

JC was all Vol from the start being from western NC. He probably could have started right away for Spurrier and chose UT anyway with Ainge and Schaeffer in front of him.

That's one of the reasons I hope he does very well.

Posted by sjt18 on January 21, 2008 at 2:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)

philfan, I'm not sure they could have offered Cut enough money not to take an HC position. He wants that title... and probably has some extra motivation for proving he can do it and win.

Posted by 99gator on January 21, 2008 at 2:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

sjt18

i have never disagreed about your point concerning recruiting. i have had this belief myself for a long time. tenn is at a competitive disadvantage with other schools in the SEC due to the amount of homegrown talent in tenn as opposed to other places. in this respect, florida has a competitive advantage.

Posted by sjt18 on January 21, 2008 at 3:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)

That's one good reason to believe that in spite of other shortcomings, CPF is often undervalued by many fans. They think recruiting to UT is the automatic it is at UGA or UF... or even Ark, Bama, Aub, LSU, or USC.

SC often has twice as many highly rated players as Tn. Ga usually does. Fl has even more than double in any given year.

What Fulmer routinely accomplishes in recruiting is pretty remarkable. The surprise shouldn't be that they have down years... but that they don't have alot more... especially if he's as bad a coach as many here claim.

Posted by KAvolsfan on January 21, 2008 at 3:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)

well the lack of football talent in the state of Tennessee is accredited to the foolish new rules that were created by TSSAA concerning increased dead periods for all sports and hurts the strength and conditioning programs across the state. how can you expect players in tennessee to get better with these new rules.. all these rules are doing is decreasing the number of major college recruits in the state. TSSAA is getting ridiculous and will hurt UT in getting quality in-state talent

Posted by PLEASEGETRIDOFTHENOTSOSLIMONE on January 21, 2008 at 3:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)

sjt18 and bernardking must be relatives of Fulmer. What is it going to take before you realize that this program is in major trouble? Another 5-6 season with 4 and 5 star recruits? Blowouts by out two major rivals? A 30 point opening season loss to UCLA next year? No top 10 finishes in the past 6 years? Just as you have a dream (a ridiculous one under the current coach), I have one that we can get in a fresh young coach who doesn't put on a cheesy grin and clap his hands when his players make idiotic mistakes.

Posted by sjt18 on January 21, 2008 at 3:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Yeah... you have a moronic dream of having someone like Peterson who is unproven and is far more likely to run the program off into the abyss than improve on what CPF is doing come in to replace one of CFB's most winning coaches who also happens to be (according to Tom Lemming) a top 5 recruiter when compared to all college coaches.

The program IS NOT in "major trouble". They have very good talent, great facilities, are very competitive, etc. The question then is can they get to the next level. If CPF fails... then whoever takes over will not inherit a broken, talent bare team.

What will convince me that CPF needs to retire is if they stop improving year over year until they reach that highest level. IMO a plateau or backslide should be unacceptable and should result in CPF's retirement. Your predictions of doom aren't tangible reasons.

The better rhetorical question is what will it take for CPF to satisfy you short of being gone? The answer is probably that he can't do it by any means. He failed in 05 then followed that up with two improved seasons.

Apparently in your opinion, a program that failed in 05, made major changes, improved in 06, made the CG in 07 along with its best recruiting class in years.... is somehow not only in "major trouble" but absolutely doomed to failure.

Sorry but I simply don't respect that rants of irrational, emotion-driven people.

Posted by sjt18 on January 21, 2008 at 3:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The only truth embedded in that statement jwraymond is that the current recruiting class that everyone is so worked up about will have very little impact on who wins @UCLA.

Posted by dwyvols on January 21, 2008 at 4:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Watch out for Arkansas. This new coach will shake up the big boys. He knows how to recruit and he knows what he needs.
Your top programs now have head coaches who are strong recruiters.

Posted by sjt18 on January 21, 2008 at 4:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)

BTW, jwraymond... I honestly don't look for CPF to be saying anything like that with Berry, Morley, Vinson, Willingham, McKenzie, McCoy, Wilson, etc playing as veterans instead of newbies. Dan Williams was playing well at the end of the season. If Chavis can fill out the DL and get quality depth out of Donald, Frazier, Davis, et al at LB... UT should be a very good D next year.

If you see a guy in there that you are right now afraid won't be a good tackler... please name them.

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

jwraymond1.

I am stunned that the story didn't make GoVolsXtra. They lettin' up or what? In control baby!

Posted by sjt18 on January 21, 2008 at 4:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)

YOU are absolutely right jwraymond... shame on CPF for not being there at 3:00 am to ensure that none of his players were doing what about 90% of all college students under 21 do... Why surely he has time between recruiting stops to stand guard all night...

... You get more ridiculous with each post.

There is no coach I respect any more than Richt... and I don't think it was his fault that two of his players were busted for a similar offense. As with Jones and Paige, let Vereen pay the price according to the rules.

Posted by tngeoff on January 21, 2008 at 4:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Momma Mia. We've become a basketball and mascot school. Football is what I want to see winning accolades. The recruiting picture is a wee bit uncertain to say the least.

Posted by sjt18 on January 21, 2008 at 4:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)

FTR, no I don't drink or approve of it... and YES I think it is absolutely ridiculous that 18 year olds have died and been maimed in Iraq but couldn't buy alcohol at the local bar.

Posted by sjt18 on January 21, 2008 at 4:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)

geoff... Yes, uncertain. Could still go either way- probably as bad as mid 30's and as good as mid teens.

Posted by sjt18 on January 21, 2008 at 5 p.m. (Suggest removal)

jwraymond1, How do you figure? He and the AD enforced the policy last fall and booted the fastest player off the team. They put a probable DB starter off the team last year- Fellows. Morley was booted after the policy had been followed. Paige and Jones took the first step down the wrong path now Vereen has done the same.

Yeah... I drank some when I was younger... but I did alot of foolish things when I was young. It is a matter of choosing the best things over the immediately gratifying things.

Posted by Indianavol on January 21, 2008 at 5:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I read another site where some of the Bammer Morons are taking part in this poll.

HERE IS A MESSAGE THE BAMMER MORON NATION:

Who gives a rat's @ss about Slick Satan and the Cheating Turd from Tuscaloser. All I care about is seeing those dirty cheating bastards lose ever game. Bammer has the worst fans in college football and they deserve to lose every week!

We need to fill Neyland for the Spring game and take the crown back from the Bammer clowns. Everyone in attendance should hold a sign saying "Beat this, Bammer"!

GO VOLS!

Posted by tomamerjames on January 21, 2008 at 5:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)

How would I know?
I live in Middle Tn. You may have already provided the answers to the following questions

Are you asking us to answer based on the verbal commitments that we know about?

How many scholarships are available this year?

Who has any ranking average figures?

Are all rating service rankings averaged
together to produce a final figure?

Are the rating services subjective? They sure differ in their ratings.

What percent of Tennessee's recruits pan out compared to other big programs?

How effective is the rating system? Dennis Rogan is a good example of a guy who appears to be better than the rating systems thought.

How many recruits have actually signed or entered school at UT?

Of the 5 star rated guys, what percent will flunk out or be potheads?

Are the athletes that have decided to transfer to UT counted in the ratings? A scholarship will have to be used for them.

Where do we stand compared to the last 5 years?

Posted by sjt18 on January 21, 2008 at 5:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)

No... jwraymond1 he did NOT get 4 chances from FULMER. He got 4 chances per the policy of the UT Athletic Dept that is approved by a board of governors higher than Hamilton.

Are you really that dense or else inexperienced? Have you ever been responsible for disciplining another person? Firing someone? Have you ever been responsible for enforcing a personnel policy?

Judging from your comments you either haven't or are ignoring your own experience out of pure, irrational, immoral, hypocritical spite for Fulmer.

Posted by PLEASEGETRIDOFTHENOTSOSLIMONE on January 21, 2008 at 5:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I love the childish "Everyone else is doing it so it's no big deal " attitude that sjt18 shows. It's called holding your program to higher standards. Something that you have not showed in any of your posts. I expect more and continuously get less. You don't expect much and get exactly what you want. "It goes on at 90% of other universitys"......An answer you would expect from an 8 year old.

Posted by TommyJack on January 21, 2008 at 5:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)

We need big, ugly, mean, D-linemen with hemorrhoids.

Posted by vol1994 on January 21, 2008 at 5:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)

vol1994:
Your post is spot on concerning Coach Matthews' comments on his radio show and he's not just "whistling Dixie".
I have been saying for the past month in previous posts, as Paul Havey says -
"STAND BY FOR NEWS!"

=---------------------

Hacksaw- do you have any ideas the coaching changes Matthews is referring to? I can only think Slade but... does anyone have any ideas?

Posted by sjt18 on January 21, 2008 at 5:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Pleasegetridof..., Where did I say it wasn't a big deal? What do you want a public lynching?

I've looked back over my last few posts and can't find anything that comes close to justifying your accusation... what on earth did you make that up from?

I have said before and will repeat it here just for you... that if I were king the standard would be much stricter. I'm not... and neither are you. If you want the policy changed then petition the AD... Don't carp about CPF enforcing it.

Posted by TommyJack on January 21, 2008 at 6:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)

sjt18: I've found that there's little correlation between what one posts here, and what another "sees". Some see what they wanted you to have said in order to make their argument.
Clear? No. Good. lol

Posted by asleep on January 21, 2008 at 6:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Several reasons I don't worry about recruiting service rankings.

First, there is no correlation between recruiting and wins. True, Top 5 classes do tend to bring wins but how many NC's has USC won under Pete Carroll? Exactly one. They have yet to be out of the Top 5 in recruiting. On the other hand, who has won the most SEC games in the last 5 years? Auburn. They have yet to have a Top 10 class during that time. It is always about coaching and I think we've upgraded.

Second, how many 5 stars have we recruited that either didn't finish or never really contributed (you'll probably need a calculator)? Sure, the Eric Berrys are out there and they are great to have. But for every EB that we've signed, there are at least that many who bust. Funny think, it seems the 3- and 4-stars seem to bust less, hmmm. Could it be a matter of desire and dedication over talent? I say yes.

Third, the services assign the stars to a player BEFORE they play their senior year. Kids who bloom later or are on very talented teams and don't get as much PT until they are seniors, are left out of the star system. Further, they tend to give more stars to skill players, of which we are pretty full right now.

Lastly, to say these recruiting guys are professionals is laughable. The only thing a good coach uses them for is to alert him to possible targets for recruitment. From there, they ALL have their own people evaluating them in their own system and make their decisions based on that, plus need.

The only thing that matters is ranking at season's end and considering our last few classes (2005 being the exception) we should be finishing higher. That points to coaching, which we all generally agree has been upgraded. I think we're looking good and I hate Koolaid! Go Vols!!!

Posted by GerryOP on January 21, 2008 at 6:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Until a HS prospect has signed a National LOI, a prospect is still just a prospect and remains "recruitable." As we have learned, a verbal commitment carries only the weight of the air that the prospect breathed to voice it.

Also, it appears that the UTAD and Fulmer have imposed a total news blackout on all UTAD activity. Remember how hard it was to find out what was going on with the coaching changes a week or so ago? So, we may not know where we stand until Feb 6.

No news is no news. I have no reason to be either enthused or skeptical.

Posted by sjt18 on January 21, 2008 at 6:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

You may be right Gerry. The disconcerting thing is that UT has so few verbals now and especially highly rated ones. However, it can still go either way.

Just off the top of my head UT is in on these players:

5*- Davis
4*- Thompson, Witherspoon, Page, McClain, Alexander, Curtis, Abrams-Ward, Wells, etc

If they can get 4 of those guys plus some more 3* kids then UT will probably break the top 25 of Rivals.

Posted by PLEASEGETRIDOFTHENOTSOSLIMONE on January 21, 2008 at 6:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Posted by sjt18 on January 21, 2008 at 4:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)

YOU are absolutely right jwraymond... shame on CPF for not being there at 3:00 am to ensure that none of his players were doing what about 90% of all college students under 21 do... Why surely he has time between recruiting stops to stand guard all night...

______________________________________________

Are you serious that you do not see your justification in your cute little remark? Sounds to me like you believe that Fulmer can do no wrong? FYI- If you are the #1 man in charge of your program, you are accountable for EVERYTHING that happens. For 2.5 million a year you dang well should be.

Posted by pdhuff on January 21, 2008 at 6:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)

GerryOp 6:03 - true. Also, does anyone have the AD policy that explains clearly exactly what Phil IS responsible for?

Apparently not the 5-6 year, apparently not for any athletes, apparently not for SEC championships, apparently not for recruiting or lack thereof, surely not the 41-17 loss to Bama or 59 to Fla! What does Tenn pay the $38,461.54 per week for? Just wondering......

Hard to find an answer on gvxtra.

Posted by GerryOP on January 21, 2008 at 7:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)

VolNation lists the 2008 commitments so far:

http://www.volnation.com/

pdhuff 6:38: May I presume that is a rhetorical question? Rhetorical answer: Evidently not much ...

Contract extension and raise was for leading our Vols to the pinnacle - Highest Ranked Four Loss Team in 2007.

Posted by GerryOP on January 21, 2008 at 7:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

tngeoff -

Please exhibit appropriate awe - Smokey is The Universal Cheerleading Association National Champion! Rings are available through Cracker Jacks.

Posted by JETnTN on January 21, 2008 at 7:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

You know you need help when you have several former players that are in the NFL come in for a big recruiting weekend!! Hope it works!!!!!

Posted by bullfrog07 on January 21, 2008 at 7:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)

We need to close big. We needed to follow last year's class with another strong class. Florida, LSU, GA, Aub & now Ala seem to pull off top ten classes each year (like Vols used to do). Seems like lately we're on the every other year plan. Its like we bust our tails one year and pull off big class then following year we barely get anyone in.

2005 - great class according to Rivals (looks to be overrated though, only a handful have made an impact)
2006 - awful class (several aren't even on team any longer)
2007 - great class (several played as Frosh)
2008 - not looking good (hope it changes quick)

Posted by givim6 on January 21, 2008 at 8:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)

We have built a coaching staff, now the players will come. Just watch Orange brothers, we will get the players we need.

I have said it before and I truly believe that Recruiting class rankings by the so-called gurus don't necessarily mean anything.

The road to a utopian college team is littered with the failures of top ten rated recruiting classes and five star bloopers.

I trust the judgement of the coaches over that of the experts.

Remember Orange brothers, an "expert" is nothing more than a drip under pressure.

Posted by dfreeman on January 21, 2008 at 10:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Pleasegetridof - Thank you about the family stuff!! Yeah, I wasn't much tamer in college either!! Listen I don't think people on here would mind so much if you didn't have so much venom in your comments!! I have to agree with the other poster on here, in that you'd be trashing Summitt and Pearl if they had one bad year!! With all of that being said, it is pretty cool to see that you are doing well too!! I don't think I can bring myself to call you coach though!! LOL You need to tell me how your brother is doing! Something keeps telling me that I shouldn't ask that question, so if it's a bad one I truly am sorry!! I have been out of the loop as far as Morristown goes!! Try not to drive us so freaking crazy when you post on here and be civil when you criticize the football program!!

Posted by b_appleton on January 21, 2008 at 11:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)

uncle!!

Posted by PLEASEGETRIDOFTHENOTSOSLIMONE on January 21, 2008 at 11:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Dfreeman- Glad to hear that you starightened up. My brother did pretty well too. I did go on to coach the ole alma mater for 3 years from 2000-2003. It is amazing how many of the same teachers are there! Anyway, don't take anything personally. I just went to college out of state and took a lot of heat about the Vols and it all pointed at the coach. I was always the one who was having to work for everything I got and can't stand seeing these talented kids at UT not getting any better.

Posted by dfreeman on January 22, 2008 at 12:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Pleasegetridof - I read that in your bio for the job I think you are currently in!! Was Mr. Bryan still there?? He always cracked me up!! Do you still keep up with anyone?? I'd ask you specific questions, but you'd probably have to relocate with witness protection program!! LOL

Posted by tngeoff on January 22, 2008 at 6:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)

GerryOP.

Good point. I am in awe of Smoky! I am also in awe of our recruiting this year! How 'bout you Bro'! Shall we say, "awe-some"? Or would it be "awe-ful"? No worries though! Plenty of time for the "closer!" If not we can be like Kentucky,
"Just wait 'til next year!" Keep the Faith and pound the fritter!

Posted by pdhuff on January 22, 2008 at 7:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)

tngeoff, if we don't get some DEs and DTs, we can get a cat and pound the litter-as in box. All we hear is offense.

Scared of this BB game tonite. Trap game, big time if they don't play lights out.

Posted by tngeoff on January 22, 2008 at 7:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)

pdhuff.

You are spot on. Last years defensive line scores have fizzled for the most part. There seems to be little on the horizon this year. Out of sheer ignorance, I must ask. Where are our defensive coaches and what are they doing? The three bow out losses this year should have served to light a fire under their collective booty's. However, if there is a fire, I'm missing it. At this point, pounding the kitty litter is looking all too real!

Tonights game. It is a trap game but I really think we will win. IOt's memphis that I want to see our guys play like Champions!

Posted by nicksjuzunk on January 22, 2008 at 8:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)

The thing that really concerns me is that we usually are in the fight to get those cats that EVERYONE gets. We usually land a couple of them as well.

This year, it seems like our best prospects are not even considering the top notch programs (ie. FL, USC, OSU, OK, LSU, etc.) We are seeing stuff like Auburn, South Carolina, Notre Dame... that is respectable, but we need to be competing to get those 5 star studs!

Posted by vick3333 on January 22, 2008 at 9:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)

In the high school all star games televised nationally a couple of weeks ago there were about 150 of the top players in country participating....UT had ZERO commitments from this group while ALA GA LSU Fla and had from 6-10 commitments each, with LSU, Fla, and ALA with 10....last year UT had a minimum of 6. Not Good!

Posted by pdhuff on January 22, 2008 at 9:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)

vick2222 9:34 a.m. - You noticed too, many did not. I fear some are fooling themselves about this "late push". Maybe not, but it will take a "big surprising effort" to rectify our charts.

Posted by GerryOP on January 22, 2008 at 10:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)

tngeoff -

Didn't you hear? GOTP cancelled recruiting this year. We won the Outback Bowl even though we had to leave 6 guys home. We must have enough guys. Besides, just too many dang distractions to focus on recruiting. Gotta get all these new coaches indoctrinated into the "Tennessee/Fulmer Way!"

I really think that what is going on is that GOTP has locked down so tightly on news releases, gettin' even for that Pennington guy, that no news is getting out -- officially. I hope for the best but fear the worst.

Besides, when the headcount is finally released, GOTP will go to great lengths to tell us "how much he really enjoyed the recruiting and how well it REALLY worked out." Us mushrooms will never know the difference ... until we see it on national TV September 6th and at Neyland on September 20th.

Posted by waha on January 22, 2008 at 11:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)

has anyone heard what peyton's gonna do?

Posted by cltvol on January 23, 2008 at 9:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

maybe we should recruit girlfriends like our friends from gainesville....
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/co...

Posted by jcvet on January 26, 2008 at 1:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)

TN is headed toward Vanderbilt level talent except without the brains. Can you say "back to mid to late seventies TN football"?