Posted by TommyJack on January 27, 2008 at 1:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Odd. No mention of naysaying posters affecting recruiting.

Posted by pdhuff on January 27, 2008 at 1:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)

TJ, 1:08. I'm going to get sjt18 to explain this to you in depth? Now, pay attention!

You are much more influential than you think.

Beat Bama.

Posted by budd on January 27, 2008 at 1:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Odd they don't say anything worthwhile

Posted by AllVol on January 27, 2008 at 1:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I just refuse to believe that there won't be a few surprises come signing day. Like someond said, Tennessee football is just too big and Neyland too big of a stage for anyone not to come. If, however, this turns into a really down year for recruiting, let's hope Phil and the new staff put together the pices we've got (and there are plenty), stay under the radar, and start kicking some ass come August 30.

Posted by chrisw2967 on January 27, 2008 at 1:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)

yea TJ sjt will pick this apart for you and give you first hand explanation.

Posted by TommyJack on January 27, 2008 at 1:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Please guys..don't stir up ole SJT. Anyways, he won't let his flock out of church til at least 3:30. lol

Posted by Vols1998 on January 27, 2008 at 1:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I do not think the posters of this website have any bearing on the recuits. I think Cutcliff really hurt UT this year. Why he wanted to go to Duke and not stay at UT has been a question of mine, but that is water under the bridge.
The new DC is our man and he will have to prove to next year's recuits that he can develop and succeed on the SEC field.
It does issue another question, why CPF does not bring the creditabilty to the team? Also, why doesn't the Chief bring in the 4 and 5 Star players, he has proven to put many players on the Sunday Football field.

I love my Vols, but sometimes I believe Knoxville does not have the attraction or the allure that Atlanta, and Florida schools offer to a young man....just some thoughts.

Go Vols!!

Posted by Vols1998 on January 27, 2008 at 1:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Top 30, 20 or 15, do we feel the needs of the team? What about DT and DE? also, I feel the need, the need for speed in the WR positions.

Does anyone have info on Nick Stevens? Is he good? can he run?

Go Vols!

Posted by TommyJack on January 27, 2008 at 1:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)

TD: Do you think Cut was "down" on Crompton, or just blindly loyal to Ainge?

Posted by dburgVol on January 27, 2008 at 2:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)

sphs_vol, I hope your right man, I've heard that story before on these posts, but I am an optimist and I find some in your post. Fulmer has always pulled a few rabbits out of the hat and I know that we are still in the running for some of these top-notch guys, but he better pull an elephant out if we are gonna have a top 15 class. Thanks for the sunshine on an otherwise gloomy recruiting season.

Posted by hglover40 on January 27, 2008 at 2:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Do you think 3 more 4 stars and 7 more 3 stars will get us in the top 20?

Posted by hglover40 on January 27, 2008 at 2:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Here we are on the rivals.com rankings -

39 Tennessee 13 0 3 8 2.92 668

Here's what it takes to get to #20 on the list -

20 Arizona State 27 0 6 17 3.07 1,265

So maybe 3 more 4 stars and 9 more 3 stars gets us even with Arizona State?

Posted by bullfrog07 on January 27, 2008 at 2:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I love it he said Tennessee has plenty talent needs to do better job coaching and development. I think most of UT fans agree with that statement.

Posted by rootin4volz on January 27, 2008 at 2:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Isn't it more important to take what we get in recruiting this, DEVELOP them into championship caliber players (which we certainly have the staff to do), and keep working the talented young studs we currently have? After all, a good season next year, and this recruiting season is nothing but a hazy memory. I'd much rather win an SEC or National Championship than some idiotic "recruiting" championship.

Posted by hglover40 on January 27, 2008 at 2:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The statement below is insane - 2 of coach Fulmers last 3 classes were top 5 in the country.

"The biggest problem is that there’s not a high-level recruit out there who would rather play for Phil Fulmer than Nick Saban, Urban Meyer, Les Miles, Mark Richt, or even Tommy Tuberville. These young men don’t see Fulmer as a coach who can develop their talents as well as the hot coaches in the SEC can."

Posted by AllVol on January 27, 2008 at 2:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I don't know, hglover40, I'm no expert on anything, but I have heard the pervasive suggestions over the last several years that Coach Fulmer just doesn't get the most out of his players--and I am a solid Coach Fulmer supporter. I am very much hoping that the new members of the staff will obliterate that suggestion's truth for recruits for many years to come.

Andm TouchDown, I belive that there will be some surprises because Tennessee finishing 53rd in the nation in recruiting would be tantamount to Appalachian State beating Michigan in Ann Arbor--it just couldn't happen!!

Posted by VolsorCat on January 27, 2008 at 2:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)

WTF! I am sick of blaming things on the coaches leaving, which is a BS excuse!!! I blame those coaches that were at UT for not having the recruiting on more solid footing before they left. Hell, they have been recruiting these guys since early last year. The former staff didn't get it done and have left it for the new staff to save the day. I have faith that they will bring in a solid class.

Posted by nikesportsfan on January 27, 2008 at 2:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Recruiting overall can be overrated. Many of your 5 and 4 star players turn out to be busts. Your basis of recruiting honestly has a lot to do with your 3 star players. Sometimes they have bad luck or haven't developed enough to become a 4 or 5 star player. They might turn into the 4 or 5 star player before its all over with. If not then they will likely fill their 3 star spot. Many of the 5 star players have huge egos that are easily destroyed. I think you can fall harder from a 5 star player to a 3 or 2 star player easier than you can go from a 3 star talent to a 4 or 5 star level of playing. I think its better to over-achieve than under-achieve when it comes to these players. UT has been in the top 10 the past few years and I do not see a national or even SEC championship here. Development and how the kids turn out is a bigger factor than any "ranking" is. Many of the kids will not step foot on campus this year or make it past their freshman year. I think everyone is putting too much stock into recruiting class rank. If they were struggling to pull in 1 star players and basically asking anyone playing high school football to come play here I would be concerned. 4 and 3 star players are not that bad and will turn out surprise many of you. Right now if they get a few more 4 star players and more 3 star players I could be happy.

Posted by mike_nolan66 on January 27, 2008 at 2:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Vols1998, I didn't realize the University of Georgia was in Atlanta? Also, have you ever been to Gainseville... Not quite South Beach is it?

Posted by pdhuff on January 27, 2008 at 2:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)

TDTN-Good thing ol' Kennedy doesn't live around sjt18. "Level of coaching needs to get better".
Think he get a 413 page tome on, well everything..........

Posted by vol1994 on January 27, 2008 at 3:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Just a few points:

1. Yes we are missing out on a lot of good recruits this year. Fulmer agrees we need offensive lineman and defensive tackles. We did NOT land the ones we wanted- period.

2. skill positions- Fulmer feels we have all the wide receivers we need for the next two seaasons so we really just recruited one guy- wilks.

3. def backs- recruited couple of 4*s but nothing materialized unfortunately but fulmer feels we are okay for two years minimum. we did recruit wilks who supposedly will get a larger look at defensive back (safety) than wide receiver

4. quarterback- FUlmer and staff feel we are okay there and did not really go after anyone. CUT recruited Pryor and yes Pryor likes Cut's style but Pryors wants to play no later than sophomore year. I serioulsy doubt we will land the other kid,baseball player, the one who will commit to UT or Arizona state

5. My feeling is that we would not have been in the top 10 recruting anyways as FUlmer feels we have depth in skilled positions.
*what does concerne me is that doug matthews stated this morning that we invited a kid or two this past weekend that has been off the radar screen. I.E.- since we have lack of scholarships we must fill the void with someone. A kid from Murfressboro, TN was mentioned and will be offered a scholarship. He will visit next weekend. I was on my way to church so I missed the kid's name.

As a fan I do understand we were trying to recruit the big uglies up front but it does concern me we are not landing most of them. And to hear the kids say they chose KY, etc over UT due to discipline issues concerns me!

Posted by hglover40 on January 27, 2008 at 3:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Predictions -

Top 20 recruiting class THIS year!!

13-1 record next year, losing in the NC game, USC 20- UT 16.

After the NC game Fulmer receives another 5 year extension; hours after the announcement several "fans" who post here whine themselves to death.

Posted by CoastGuardVol on January 27, 2008 at 3:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Well I do wish that the recruiting ranking was closer to the top ten myself, but I tell ya. I would rather have one guy with three stars by his name than a team of five stars that dont give a rats tail about wearing the orange and white. Tennessee football has always survived. We are not all gloom and doom. I mean take a three star recruit with a five star heart and that my friends is contagious. Furthermore a five star guy with a bad attitude can spoil even the most promising of seasons. Last years class was top five, let them blossom and teach this class, and we will win championships!!

Posted by nikesportsfan on January 27, 2008 at 3:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I would take a 5 star player over a 3 star anyday too, but getting a 3 star player isn't so bad is my point. You do not have to have a high ranking and have all 5 stars to have a good team. If you can get the 5 star players great, if not then go for the 4 or 3 star players. In the end you will likely have a similar caliber team as many of the 5 star players will not turn out to be what they were projected to be. Just pointing out the failure rate is much higher for the 5 star players than for a 3 star player.

Posted by DennisVols on January 27, 2008 at 3:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)

From ESPN:
"Despite a strong finish and 10-win season, speculation surrounding Phillip Fulmer's future (he was recently awarded just a one-year contract extension) and the departure of offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe, who was instrumental in attracting interest from some prize recruits like Terrelle Pryor, could be hurting on the recruiting end."
Yes the negitive talk hurts. How much we may never know. Thunder sent a letter to MH earler in the season critizing him for not publicly backing Fulmer that it might hurt the recruiting process.
Lack of stability is always hurtful when recruiting talent. Player want to play for those who recruited them.
Lets hope that a strong season in '08, with the new offensive staff, will reverse the negitive feelings and strengthen the next recruiting class.

Posted by AllVol on January 27, 2008 at 3:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)

sphs_vol, I don't know who you are, (maybe the devil, himself), but I sure as he!! hope you know something no one else does. I cannot figure out exactly what is happening with the recruiting, but I do know that Coach Fulmer is eerily quiet, and I also cannot believe that one of the very top recruiters (staff changes aside) is suddenly unable to close the deals that have landed so many top ten classes (and we have to remember that last year's class had a great number od skilled positions available). It just doesn't make sense. Can't wait for signing day. Make 'em eat crow again, Phil. I believe in The Great Pumpkin!

Posted by stroker on January 27, 2008 at 3:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)

sphs_vol I hope you have inside info and that you are correct: I am going to save copies of your posts here , get up early and re-post them the morning after signing day.

nikesportsfan there is truth in what you say,if memory serves those great Nebraska teams were not the result of top 10 or even top 20 recruiting,rather the result of recruiting to fill needs.

Posted by 99gator on January 27, 2008 at 3:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)

part of the reason why not to take the experts too seriously....

florida has averaged more rushing yards per carry, had more rushing td's and more rushing yards in a season than tenn in 2005, 2006, and 2007 (the meyer years)

tim tebow was only the starting qb in 2007.

i think florida can run the football....just because they don't do it conventionally does not mean it is a problem.

Posted by DennisVols on January 27, 2008 at 3:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)

TDTN
What makes you think UT has any more off field problems than anyone else? GA has had at least 10 drinking issues in the past 12 months, far more than UT. Utah had 2 players stabbed just two weeks ago following a house party, 3 PSU player just kicked off the team for fights and on and on.
This is not an isolated issue involving UT or Fulmer.
Kids today don't know the meaning of responsibility or accountability because our goverment decided in the late '70's to take that away and now you see it everyday in the news and not just with college athletes.
If you are foolish enough to believe that all the negitive talk concerning Fulmer did not hurt then you truly live with your head in the sand.
No it was not the only reason this recruiting season is huting but when you add ALL the factors together they begin to take their toil.
Don't kid yourself into believing that you have enough control that just your whining could destroy this recruiting class but with enough negitive feedback from a large number of people can and will have some weight on how UT is looked upon and you can bet your house that other coaches used it when recruiting those talented players.

Posted by jcvet on January 27, 2008 at 3:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

It's simple. Years of bad coaching has finally caught up with TN. These kids grew up watching a team that was frankly painful to watch. Maybe if TV coverage under Phat Phil decreases, recruiting will pick up before he is finally gone.

Posted by dvolsdacious on January 27, 2008 at 3:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)

If Tennessee has a bad recruiting year next year, we will be another Nebraska. Hopefully, the powers to be will react fast.

Posted by DennisVols on January 27, 2008 at 3:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I am talking here and now.The last 2 years have shown a steady drop in off field problems involving this program while GA has had a steady increase. Yet they have a top 10 ecruitng class. So explain how the off field problem only destroyed our recruiting calss.

Posted by 55Vol on January 27, 2008 at 3:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)

TDTN.... Dennisvols has a point...the day is long past when you could line up the 5-6 natural leaders behind the fieldhouse and physically whip their arse to show them who is really in charge. In your and my day, that was common place. Some of these bozos have to learn what responsibility is the hard way, whether at Tenn., PSU, Utah or Georgia. That appraoch is not Fulmer's style, but it used to be 100% effective in the USMC.

Posted by stroker on January 27, 2008 at 3:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)

UT Vols are right at the top if not the top with former players in the pros. So why would recruits with a vision for the next level overlook the Vols?
The above post:
"These past top ten classes have amounted to nothing" is not lucent.

Posted by hglover40 on January 27, 2008 at 3:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)

jcvet -
Maybe bad coaching from 2000 - 2005 has made UT look less attractive to recruits, but the that problem went to Kentucky.

I say this bad year of recruiting is the WHINERS,HATERS, and NAYSAYERS fault. oh... don't forget ESPN.

Don't worry coach Fulmer will save us.

DennisVols - No College students got into any kind of trouble until after the goverment did something in the late 70's. WHAT??? I remember from history class that some college students were a bit wild in the 60's.

Posted by volunteer_cowboy on January 27, 2008 at 3:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)

we finally have gotten with new ideas and teaching tech. as for cutt leaving if any of you guys would of been offered a 900,000 dollar raise you would be gone too. i would work just for the raise he got. And touchdown TN you mean hardasty.

Posted by VolsorCat on January 27, 2008 at 3:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)

TDTN: You broke the rules. 4 posts in less than 10 minutes. Go take a break and email back and forth with 99Gator for a while.

PS: I trust that lifelong coaches and successful recruiters know more than we do about recruiting and even more than the experts running Rivals and Scout.

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

also the reason were not getting the recruits is because the recruits are looking at the roster of 4 and 5 star guys that redshirted this past year and thats it, these guys know who these new coaches are we didnt hire them off the street, the casey kelly(qb) said he camped at richmond this past summer so he knows clawson

Posted by DennisVols on January 27, 2008 at 4:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)

hglover40
I nver said "no college student got into any kind of rouble until after the goverment did something in the late 70's.
What I stated was that we are seeing the increase in problems involving our youth because of what happened then.
And that is an undisputible fact. We had no Columbine's, year after year more stories of kids commiting crimes at a higher rate. Just last night a story here in Atlanta of a middle school girl attacking her teacher.
There is a growing problem in our countru as a whole involving teens that grow up with a complete lack of responsibility. It is showing up more frequently in sports and in everyday life.
We should all be concerned, not just because our college football or athletes in general are making more stupid decisions than before but that our youth as a whole are now responsible for a higher % of the crimes in this coutry than ever in our history.

Posted by dvolsdacious on January 27, 2008 at 4:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

With new coaches in South Carolina, Alabama and Arkansas, we can forget about the cream of crop in those states. Kids in those states dream of playing in-state. I do not feel that kids in Memphis and Nashville dream about going to Knoxville.

Posted by GerryOP on January 27, 2008 at 4:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I think the loss of Trooper was more significant than anyone realizes -- in terms of recruiting AND discipline. Also, from the outside looking in, it appears that Fulmer diss'd Taylor and the players saw that. Not a good thing.

Posted by pms151 on January 27, 2008 at 4:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)

DennisVols,
Are you advocating any solution you might want to share?

Posted by pms151 on January 27, 2008 at 4:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)

By the way since I do not get the local news here, has anyone heard when CPF going to make a statement about the latest incident?

Posted by dburgVol on January 27, 2008 at 4:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

sphs_vols, can you give me a guarantee? I really do believe that Fulmer will pull some out of the hat, but regardless, I AM STILL AN ORANGE BLOODED VOLUNTEER! Im no Fulmerite of Foolmerite. Yes I believe Fulmer is a great coach, but above all else, I believe in these guys that have sacrificed so much for UT football. If they dont make it to the top 20, I will still love UT, and not criticize every dadgum coach, play, or player. I hope that they do, and I would love for them to be no.1 every year, but even if they go 5-6 again, they will still be my team. Thanks sphs_vol, I will take your word, and support my team and these coaches regardless.

Posted by pms151 on January 27, 2008 at 4:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)

VCR
The programs you mentioned had recruits that were not going to go there if the old staffs stayed. Now that they are gone it became attractive for them to reconsider. The opposite is true with us.

Posted by GreerVol22 on January 27, 2008 at 5:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)

To reiterate my second point on why we are not getting recruits from my post on another story. Check out the ESPN video about quarterback play at the senior bowl.

Henne, Brennan, Woodson, even some nobody from Delaware were named.......not one word about EA despite him being named the offensive MVP for the South...

Also, from ESPN SportCenter this am on UT/UGA basketball...nice comment about Lofton and his 3's, but made fun of him on the bad miss and degraded Pearl for wearing orange and a snide comment about intelligence at Tennessee...

Posted by DennisVols on January 27, 2008 at 5:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)

My solutions would seem a lot more simplier in words than what actions will need to take place.
Accountability & Responsibility. Sound simple but after 4 decades of not requiring it, it won't be easy to reinstall. Coach Bryant's style would not work for these kids today due to his strong stance on accountability and responsibility. One of his players once said that after running the tire course that Bryant approached him and asked "Was that as fast as you can do this?" It was a lose, lose question he stated because if he said it was then he was chewed out for being slow, if he claimed he could do better then he got chewed out because he did not give 100%. Can you even imagine a coach having that kind of demand on these kids today. Any of you ever get a whipping at home because you got one at school? Man I knew if I made stupid decisions I was going to pay for my mistakes. Now I made my fair share and I learned to not repeat them because I knew what the accountability would be. Old school some people call it.
Some will argue that we just hear about it more these days because of advances in media coverage but I remember how we were taught to respect others and ourselves and were made to pay if we did not.
There are H.S. players every year that have 4 & 5 * attached to their names that wind up failing to get admitted to the university they picked because they really did not have the education they needed. GA just 2 years ago lost 7 of their 25 scholarship offers due to this. It was considered one of GA all time best recruiting years prior to that point. "No child left behind" Yes lets pass a kid to keep him or her from feeling stupid. We learned if you were not good enough you did not make the team or the grades so we tried harder. Why should they now?
This years recruiting class could in fact become one of UT's best if they have the charcter to try harder, accept responsibility both on and off the field and hold themselve accountable. But recent history shows that more than one will come from a home where their athletic ability got them by more so than their common sense.

Posted by Hunter on January 27, 2008 at 5:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

sphs and hglover are on some SERIOUS drugs......one has illusions of grandeur and the other is delusional. No, we will not have a mass exodus from other Southern schools to Tennessee on Signing Day. No, we will not run the table and lose in the NC game. Guys, you aren't drinking the orange Kool-Aid - you're snorting it through a straw! Sorry guys, but you are just out of touch.

I am a dyed-in-the-wool Vol fan, but even I can be realistic enough to acknowledge we are having a down recruiting year. Will Phil and Co. pick it up next time? I think so. Will we go from #53 to #15 overnight? Um, no.....

Posted by AllVol on January 27, 2008 at 5:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)

#53 or #15 ESPN can itself.

Posted by avolzfan4u on January 27, 2008 at 5:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)

can you say Peyton?

Posted by AllVol on January 27, 2008 at 5:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I believe you, sphs, I believe you. Praise be to Heaven, I BELIEVE! Glory, Hallelujah. Let it be. Let it be. Let it be. There will be an answer. Let it beeeEEE . . . .

Posted by pms151 on January 27, 2008 at 5:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

DennisVols,
Good. Sounds like you put the ole thinking cap on. I would suggest to you that most of these kids did not grow up in the environment we did. Many are from poverty stricken one parent families and this is their first taste of being independent from that environment. Heroes in HS to a freshman on a large team of the same. So when they get here out of their sheltered HS past they haven't been disciplined before. Accountability and discipline is what they will either learn or not learn here. We have to deal with that reality as fans.

Posted by pms151 on January 27, 2008 at 5:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)

VCR
You are right. I was speaking about the undecided in theory.

Posted by pms151 on January 27, 2008 at 5:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

GreerVol22.
Could ya post some links please?

Posted by straightshooter on January 27, 2008 at 6 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I doubt even with a few last minute surprises, (which I suspect there will be at least a few), this class can be a top 20 ranked class. But last year was a very good year, a very big year in numbers and if the coaching staff is improved it should show on the field in the coming years whether this recruiting year is good or poor. Does anyone know how many scholarships are even available? Anyway, I am not sweating it if this recruiting class on paper looks subpar. Now if the same thing happens next year, that's a whole different story!
But as far as the difficulty of recruiting goes, its not like the 80's and 90's from a recruiting standpoint in the south for UT. Now you have Myers recruiting out of Florida pushing the recruiting rules to the limit,(likely past the legal limit) and Saban a coach with big draw capability now in a state not so full of talent as he had in Lousiana. And the entire country knows how Saban can double talk. Also at Georgia, Mark Richt a solid coach and staff in a state with far superior talent then Tenn.. Things aren't getting easier, that's for sure!

Posted by philfan on January 27, 2008 at 6 p.m. (Suggest removal)

sphs-vol:

God, you are really being mysterious about this. If what you say indeed comes to pass, then I will hang on your every word from now on. I believe the new coaches were hired by Fulmer, not only because of their coaching skills but also because of their dynamic personalities which can be used in recruiting. Fulmer has nine lives as we know from some of his close calls in games this year and he did win the SEC East this year against all odds. A major coup of players, moving to Tennessee from other schools, would not surprise me at all.

Posted by movol77 on January 27, 2008 at 6:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)

FOOLdownTN is interesting to read. Midway through last season Cutcliffe was an idiot by his accounts. Now apparently Cutcliffe is a genius. I guess you can FOOL yourself if you concentrate on it enough.

Posted by AllVol on January 27, 2008 at 6:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)

sphs_vol, if you are right, I will follow you like all those people followed Forrest Gump across the United States. I don't know if you're nuts or not, man, but I sure as hell hope you are right. Now, pass that jug back over here, my good man.

Posted by AllVol on January 27, 2008 at 6:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)

sphs_vol, I'd feel better about you if you had said that we had gotten Walls away from Ole Miss. Wilks is what you said and he's from Smyrna . . . . I'm sure you just misspoke in your excitement. Please say yes . . .

Posted by volunteer_cowboy on January 27, 2008 at 6:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)

sphs_vol: what about the top 10 qb you talked about on another forum

Posted by jeremyholloway82 on January 27, 2008 at 6:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)

1. Our recruiting was in the toilet way before Cut left for Duke so don't use that as an excuse.
2. We have had top notch recruiting classes and can only muster SEC East Crowns to show for it, which is a joke.
3. I want to see what the new staff can do with the talent we have, which is enough to win more than the East.
4. If the new staff can break out of the mediocrity that has plagued us for the past 7 yrs 1 bad year of recruiting wont hurt us.
5. No way we land top 15 class.

Posted by jeremyholloway82 on January 27, 2008 at 6:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)

1. Our recruiting was in the toilet way before Cut left for Duke so don't use that as an excuse.
2. We have had top notch recruiting classes and can only muster SEC East Crowns to show for it, which is a joke.
3. I want to see what the new staff can do with the talent we have, which is enough to win more than the East.
4. If the new staff can break out of the mediocrity that has plagued us for the past 7 yrs 1 bad year of recruiting wont hurt us.
5. No way we land top 15 class.

Posted by volunteer_cowboy on January 27, 2008 at 6:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)

this is what YOU sphs_vol said: I TOLD YALL IN DECEMBER THAT PHIL HAD AT LEAST 5 4* PLAYERS AND 2 5*'S THAT WOULD COMMIT IN LATE JANUARY. PHIL IS JUST WAITING ON THE FUTURE ALL AMERICAN TENNESSEE Q.B. TO ROUND OUT A TOP 20 CLASS. So who is the highly rated qb?

Posted by IPOrange on January 27, 2008 at 6:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I remember a few months ago that an e-mail was going around about how the planet Mars would be nearer to the earth than it has been in hundreds of years. Supposedly, Mars would be as large as the moon in the night sky, and if you went outside at about 1:00 or 2:00 a.m., you would be able to see it. It was laughable, but apparently lots of people bought it, getting out of bed in the middle of the night to watch this "spectacular event".

I remember thinking that some people will start these wild rumors just to get folks excited, and then have a good laugh at their expense when the naive discovered it to be a prank.

I'm getting that same bad feeling right now, as I read sphs_vol's posts.

Posted by pms151 on January 27, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)

sphs_vol,
You are not what your ego tells you you are. Better yet ..YOU ARE NOT WHAT YOUR EGO TELLS YOU YOU ARE. You are free to post here though just like the rest of us idiot amateurs.

Posted by 99gator on January 27, 2008 at 6:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)

you know.....the sad part is i don't have the heart to be as cruel to y'all as you are to each other....

the posts that are being put out say absolutely nothing, yet there is nervousness that too much has been said.

after signing day, maybe some of you all will boldly go where ponce de leon failed and search for the fountain of youth down in florida.

Posted by Vols1998 on January 27, 2008 at 6:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Nolan66.....UGA is just due east of Atlanta no more than a 30-45 minute drive. Gainville Fla, might not be in the heart of Jacksonville, but everything is closer in Florida. To add, East Tennessee has the mountains, and I love Knoxville, but I am from the area and appreciate the surroundings, but when UT is recuiting to the area, sorry, but Fla has more of an allure, true or not, the beaches trump the mountains in a young man's mind.

UT track record with those Gaytors is not what I call "steller"........we just have to work harder for the good players. I also, believe STARS do not always work out, but the more you get the better the odds that a few end up being the play makers.

Go Vols!!

Posted by IPOrange on January 27, 2008 at 6:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Not me, 99gator. I was not one of the gullible people that got up at 1:00 in the morning to see the giant Mars in the sky.....

Posted by marc_ash on January 27, 2008 at 6:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)

ALLVOL,

"sphs_vol, if you are right, I will follow you like all those people followed Forrest Gump across the United States."

HAHAHAHAHA!!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! Now that is funny stuff.

I can almost picture it too...all of these posters following him with Fleetwood Mac's "You can go your own way" playing in the background. hahaha.

Posted by redneckerson on January 27, 2008 at 6:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)

You gotta believe sphs, the guy's not only a big contributor, he posts in all caps.

Posted by marc_ash on January 27, 2008 at 6:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I would like to think that sphs_vol has some sense of what he is talking about. I just can't imagine that anyone would risk being so bold with the his predictions if he didn't have something.

sphs_vol, if you are wrong, you will never be able to post on here again. But then again, I'm sure you already know that.

Also, for future posts, it's called a Caps Lock key. Please turn it off.

Posted by Vols1998 on January 27, 2008 at 6:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Ok....Montori Hughes of Murfeesboro has committed to play football for UT..........who is he and what is his status?

Posted by movol77 on January 27, 2008 at 6:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Can someone explain how players from weak universities and conferences can become stars in NFL? And some of them are HOF bound. I thought you had to have 4 or more stars to advance to the next round in "Star Search."

And how many current NFL players had collegiate recruit ratings of 3 stars or less?

Posted by 99gator on January 27, 2008 at 7:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)

movol77

sure. i can explain....because there are more guys who went to big universities and were prized recruits than went to small schools and weren't.

peyton manning is more the rule than the exception. jerry rice and walter peyton are more the exception than the rule.

and some guys like randy moss, went to small schools becuase the big schools kicked them out or they did not qualify academically at the bigger schools (brett favre).

Posted by hglover40 on January 27, 2008 at 7:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

AM I DELUSIONAL ?
Not delusional - just Fanatical!!
Every year I believe we will win it all.
Dreaming of 13-1 may be delusional, but it is more fun than crying about how bad everything is and how it is all "FOOLmers" fault.

NOTHING TO SHOW FOR TOP 10 RECRUITING CLASSES -
We've averaged a 10th best recruiting class since about 2001; however, Georgia(6.3), LSU(8.something), and FL(also 8.something) have averaged better(and sadly the results on the field show it). Those schools have more local talent to pull from; however, Coach Fulmer has kept us close to them in recruiting. I suppose that only in the SEC can you average a top 10 recruiting class and still play 3 conference teams with a better average.
We have some 10 win seasons and 3 SECCG appreances to show for our (4th best average in the SEC) recruiting classes since 2001.
Should it have been more?
Everyone has their own anwser to that.

Posted by Madkels on January 27, 2008 at 7:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Everyone be patient. I feel good about what this new offensive staff will do. Give them time to put it all together. Plus, this fall, defenses will be guessing and off balance. One year of missing the top ten in recruiting is NOT the end of Tennessee football. GO BIG ORANGE!!

Posted by sjt18 on January 27, 2008 at 7:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Keep on complaining and carping guys. Keep on publicizing how bad you think the coaches are and guys like these will continue to parrot it back to you until the whole image of CPF and the program is reformed into a neat little depressed package.

I never said it was the only factor or even the main one... but to deny it has no influence is to deny the power that perception has over reality in the business of marketing.

FTR, things may not turn out as dark as some now think.

Posted by vol1994 on January 27, 2008 at 7:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

As I posted earlier today, Fulmer invited some "no name kid" from murfreesboro to visit and offerred scholorship.

Montori Hughes has committed to play football for Tennessee.

The 6-foot-4, 270-pound defensive lineman from Siegel High School in Murfreesboro informed UT’s coaches of his decision during his official visit this weekend.

Posted by rbull23 on January 27, 2008 at 7:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Bill King has been down on Tennessee football for several years now and if you don't believe tune in and listen to his afternoon show in Nashville. He has been pissed since Fulmer and company cut him off and don't share crap with him. McCorvey was his pipeline and thank the Lord he is gone too. Bill even gets down on the basketball team when they lose and he thinks he knows the program inside out and doesn't know squat. He is pretty knowledgeable about recruiting and where players are visiting and interested but he does not know as much about the inside and out of Tennessee football and basketball programs as he would leave you to believe. He has turned on UT and when Sanders was there he really had a hard on for the guy and would not call him by name and would address his as RS. He just has had his information pipeline cut off and he really gives Fulmer down the pike and Fulmer does not give him the time of day which is good. Bill King is an Alabama football fan and a Kentucky basketball fan and don't let anybody tell you different and he could care less about UT. He had two idiots on everyday, Cosby and GatorJay and both hate UT. GatorJay has since passed on but Cosby wants Fulmer gone in the worse way. He tries to be funny on King's program but just makes an ass out of himself. Plenty of people in Nashville have turned off to Bill King on 560 AM from 3:00-6:00 PM.

Posted by hglover40 on January 27, 2008 at 7:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)

If we don't get to the top 20 in recruiting, it's because of the fools who post here.
Spinning the negative image of the program. Just like sjt18 said.

Posted by movol77 on January 27, 2008 at 7:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)

99gator, that is too anecdotal. For instance, here is the list of colleges represented on the current NY Giants team. It doesn't look like very many 4 and 5 star kids. Where are all the other superstars from the years listed by Scout, Rivals, etc.? There are at least 100 every year. The following list only has 6 teams represented as having ever played in the BCS game yet the Giants are playing in the Superbowl.

North Texas
Boston College
Texas Southern
NW Missouri State
Notre Dame
Troy
Penn State
Memphis
Northwestern
NC
Miami (FL)
Wake Forest
USC
Akron
Harding
Brown
S. FL
Arizona
Auburn
Georgia Tech
UCLA
N. Dakota State
Miss. State
Louisville
Oklahoma State
Howard
Texas
LSU
Tennessee
Kentucky
Mississippi
SC
Oregon
S. Illinois
Ottawa
Marshall
Pennsylvania
Michigan State
Western Oregon
UCF
Virginia
Rutgers
Cornell
Illinois
Arizona State
BC
East Carolina

Posted by DennisVols on January 27, 2008 at 7:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)

sjt18
Some don't think the other coaches in the SEC or other conferences are smart enough to come to a UT board and pull down just the negitive posts and use them in trying to persuade a recruit from commiting here.
I sure Meyers who is under investagation right now, would never stoop to using those kind of tatics.
I know all the other coaches would really hate to paint a picture that there is unrest here at UT in their recruiting efforts to get a 5* athlete.
Lets quit fooling ourselves all the other coaches want Fulmer to win in the recruiting battle there is no way any of those coaches would want to use any kind of tainted method to get the upper hand in getting quality commitments. How could they sleep at night knowing they over looked any support Fulmer may have and only pushed the negitive when trying to convience someone to go to UF, UGA, UA, AU or any other school?

Posted by DennisVols on January 27, 2008 at 7:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

ESPN has had it in for UT ever since the cheating schandel turn out to be false and UT made them look bad for reporting on something they did not investage before reporting it.

Posted by AllVol on January 27, 2008 at 7:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Funny post, 99Gator. You deserve to be a Vol, man. Come on over. We could use you. This is more fun than the damned season. And you're funny, too, sphs_vol. I believe in you, man. I BELIEVE (all caps). Our first zero star recruit . . . . You guys are killin' me!

Posted by movol77 on January 27, 2008 at 7:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Agreed. ESPN lost all objectivity years ago. They're driven greatly by money and politics...not as pure sports news as before.

Posted by AllVol on January 27, 2008 at 7:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Other than when they show the Vols, ESPN can ---- itself.

Posted by waterskier3 on January 27, 2008 at 7:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)

i still ask why everyone that doesn't believe that everything is ok in vol land is the cause of the problem???

i'm very positive in life but i'm also very relistic and look at everything objectively... including my life, my work, the school that has given me the opportunity for a wonderful life but guess what not every stinking day and not every stinking year is ok... sometimes things are wrong and you have to open your eyes and make changes..... change is a fact of life and UT has been average for years and that is a fact of life....

if we expect more than we will have to change the HC.... its what life is about UT will have to move forward...

GO VOLS!!!

Posted by hooverd283 on January 27, 2008 at 7:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)

sphs,,,, got any inside scoop on the presidential election? your on track concerning fulmer and staff closing fast on signing day... our new oc will soon look like the next great coach and if we don't take care of him $$$... he will be gone...in two years...

Posted by movol77 on January 27, 2008 at 8 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"...everything objectively..." :0) Really? Define "objectivity" please. Is it one's opinion about head coaches?

Posted by AllVol on January 27, 2008 at 8:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Valid point, VolCR (and funny), but one year ain't going to kill us. This just ain't lookin' good, though. I think the perfect storm of killing our recruiting has hit us. It's just one year.

Posted by stroker on January 27, 2008 at 8:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)

waterskier3 Your are right "change is a fact of life " CF just made some dramatic changes and I am excited to see them succed. Why would you say "if we expect more than we will have to change the HC"?
Just who would you hire to recruit in this arena vs talent rich surrondings that would do better?
Don't worry be happy.

Posted by waterskier3 on January 27, 2008 at 8:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)

stroker i by no means know who would be the best fit at UT but do believe that everyone and everything runs a certain course over time and the way those things are done changes.. i.e. wishbone, pro style to the spread off in the last few years....

I mean look at fla state and penn state... they have kept those guys around way to long and they have not been able to get them back to the glory days regardless of staff changes.... why??? because they are still their!!!! I just don't want us to keep phil because of 98.. he should have to earn his paycheck just like the rest of us..

Posted by dallasdog1 on January 27, 2008 at 8:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)

You know most of these forcasting services are not the leading experts in the world. Where do you think they get the info that recruit x is a total stud? From OKlahoma or notre dame etc etc.............do you really think lugenbill is sitting there with a draft board "rating guys" and that Meyer, Saban, Richt and other lesser gods are using the ratings. If you think the vols dont have/will not have the talent to win you are crazy. They may lack the focus....but not the ability. I live in GA and get the AJC didnt hear a word about Knowshon Moreno until game five. Not saying #24 was not known but what was known was undescernable from what was known about 200 other running backs. Recruiting services know what they are told.....nothing more. They are data collectors.....of course if Mark Richt was here this would have never happened to UT.

Posted by dallasdog1 on January 27, 2008 at 8:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)

if you were watching these cats play on the field there is not a frogs pubic hair difference betweeen the top 20 in any position....with the rare exception of the cant miss, sure hit, biggest guy on campus, instant success like Jimmy Clausen.....

Posted by dallasdog1 on January 27, 2008 at 8:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Relax....get ready to watch the chinese olympics, change the light bulbs, mow your grass....do something....relax.

Posted by pdhuff on January 27, 2008 at 8:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)

dallasdog- what do you do if you're already relaxed? And I changed three bulbs today.

Posted by Rok_Etop on January 27, 2008 at 8:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)

There are so many diamonds in the rough that are not found. Realistically if we can get a few bigs (6'5 290) that are not 5 star, they can be trained to be 5 star. I live in Pa and ive seen TP play. He doesnt play in Quad A. Very small schools he goes against. H'es a great talent, no doubt, but he doesnt have BIGS chasing him around. Schools miss more talent than they find. Lets take HOOPS for instance. Scottie Pippen was discovered because he was a towel boy for his college. No stars = 6 rings in the NBA!! I played college hoops at D2 Lincoln Memorial University. The greatest talent ever was on that team. Nick Sanford averaged 31.4 PPG for 4 years and almost had 4000 points. He was from Harlan Kentucky, was 2nd to King Rex as Mr. Basketball, and got zero D1 offers because he struggled with his academics. A little attention and he would have been all SEC for 4 years. My point is, sometimes people never meet their expectations and sometimes people far exceed their expectations. Believe that UT will do what is best. A bad year recruiting will not end it for UT. The gameplans on saturdays this fall will generate the recruits from here on out. GO VOLS!!

Posted by stroker on January 27, 2008 at 8:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)

waterskier3 " fla state and penn state? they are like 80 plus and I ain't saying they are done but that is not an equitable comparison. How long did the Bear go, age and longevity are not the decisive criteria. CF ain't been the best lately, I agree but with these changes folks should be at least postive to see.His blood does run orange. Again I say in his arena who would you hire to coach and recruit better against the talent rich schools of Fla Ga and LA

Posted by invisiblekid on January 27, 2008 at 9:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The way I see things, we can argue all day for the reasons behind it, but recruiting looks to be a washout this year at this point. One of the key comments of the article IMO was: "The commitments Tennessee has doesn't resemble the level of talent that Alabama, LSU, Florida, Georgia and even Auburn is amassing." The program can survive for a year or two with this happening, but 2006 was a down year and this year looks to be the same. Next season will be crucial to either changing that trend and the perception of the program or staying the course to becoming a second or third tier program. An SEC championship and BCS bowl win could have changed things and had us as a program to look out for next year, but that opportunity was squandered.

Sure, all the criticism and negativity surrounding the program has an impact on recruiting. But the root cause of that negativity from most fans comes from the program falling short of it's own expectations on a yearly basis, being completely embarrassed on national television, and seeing the players embarrass themselves and the program off the field.

Posted by pdhuff on January 27, 2008 at 9:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)

invisiblekid- 9:04- Totally agree except that criticism has much of an effect on recruiting. Any school used to winning has back and forths, dreamers and glass half fulls, some happy just to go to the games and some who never sit down at the games. For example, this is a tame posting board compared to forums.kentucky.com . I'm sure there are many others. But good post.

Posted by GreerVol22 on January 27, 2008 at 9:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)

pms, here is the Senior bowl link

http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/v...

Posted by Hunter on January 27, 2008 at 10:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I CAN DO ALL CAPS, TOO, TO PRETEND I HAVE INSIDE INFO!!!

I'm guessing "SPHS" stands for S___ P____ High School? Where I come from, we don't try to establish street cred on hearsay - we use names, dates, and places. Being as vague as you have been made Nostradamus pretty famous......

I'm not hatin' on you - just expecting you to back up these wild claims with some FACT. I can't abide gossip and speculation.

Anybody else get a laugh that National Signing Day is the day after Mardi Gras? Do you think LSU wants players to commit in person? Be suspicious of ay recruit that faxes his letter with Mardi Gras beads on.......

Posted by volunteer_cowboy on January 27, 2008 at 10:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)

did we lose fowlkes to arkansas????????

Posted by volunteer_cowboy on January 27, 2008 at 10:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)

the kid banneker the team mate of fowlkes commited to arkansas and arkansas is reporting they are in contention for fowlkes

Posted by volunteer_cowboy on January 27, 2008 at 10:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)

the kid from banneker, al davis

Posted by murrayvol on January 27, 2008 at 11:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)

invisible: Nice post.

Hunter: If you can't abide gossip and speculation, you need to find another way to spend your time.

And as for recruiting, all those clouds will roll away on the first Wednesday in February. And then, for better or for worse, it will be what it is. Goodnight and good luck!

Posted by nicksjuzunk on January 28, 2008 at 8:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I have no idea who sphs_vol is.

But it makes me think I would love to go to the AL website and post like he does ;)

He is either extremely cruel (and creative) or he has some incredible news that makes me want to kick down a tree!!

Whatever it is, all will be known on Signing Day

Posted by pdhuff on January 28, 2008 at 9:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Come feb 6th, we'll all have new Vols to peruse over. We'll roil for a while, then thankfully realize we're in the doldrums.

We'll follow BBall kinda interested but only till March. Slack sails and drifting. Quiet will rule.

Posted by sjt18 on January 28, 2008 at 10:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)

You know... if sphs is lying or just playing... He'd still be far more entertaining than VolCR's "yawn" or TDTN's constant cynicism.

I hope he's not being deceptive... OTOH, I've read a few things elsewhere that make me think there are at least a couple more really good players that will be Vols.

Posted by TommyJack on January 28, 2008 at 11:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)

sphs_vol: Pretty sure you be full of hooie. If wrong, I'll be the first to congratulate you.
Time will tell.

Posted by sjt18 on January 28, 2008 at 2:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"ALLVOL, I JUST WISH I COULD TELL YALL WHAT'S UP.
YOU HAVE NOTICED COACH IS VERY QUIET, AND THAT SHOULD TELL YOU SOMETHING. I CAN TELL YOU THAT A COUPLE OF THE RECRUITS WILL BE SWITCHING FROM FELLOW SEC SCHOOLS, AND AT LEAST 3 FROM THE ACC."

This statement and the one about signing a top 10 QB seem... to be honest... ridiculous. So either CPF and UT are about to pull a coup like never seen before or else sphs (who has been on the dark side at times) is jacking people up just for the fun of it.

TJ, I'm less concerned about whether he's wrong than whether he's being candid.

If he's being honest then it could explain some of the really, really weird inactivity over the past few weeks.

OTOH, 5 flips would be incredible unless Coples and Abrams-Ward were being counted as UNC commits. The bad thing about it is even if he isn't making it up these guys could change their minds and no one would be the wiser.

Posted by sjt18 on January 28, 2008 at 4:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)

If you are truthful and right, you'll be my hero... in fact, if you are half right and UT lands 3-4 more 4* players I'll sing your praises.

Posted by invisiblekid on January 28, 2008 at 5 p.m. (Suggest removal)

PDHuff and Murray, thanks fellas, just call it like I see it. One thing though PD, notice I didn't say how much of an effect the negative carping has on recruiting. There is no way to really quantify that short of providing a questionnaire to all recruits and asking them how they enjoyed the experience. My guess is it doesn't have near the impact as those things I mentioned as the root causes behind the negativity. To paraphrase the old saying, winning cures all ills.

Posted by vol_in_lsu_land on January 28, 2008 at 7:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)

LOL I;m watching this thread with interest.

I have no reason to doubt sphs_vol. What does he stand to gain by making outlandish claims that have not an ounce of truth? Lost credibility on a site that he frequents is the first reprocution. I noticed several predicition posts about big surprises and Fulmer going outside the family when the coach search was going on. Seems the predicitions came true. There ARE some people in East Tennessee, who by the nature of their donationss/contribution and corporate ties, do have insider info. My step-dad works for a guy who had dinner with the Fulmer's fairly often as an example. This isn't like getting a visit at the Oval Office or anything LOL!!!

OK sphs....signing day is looming. I hope you are really "da man"!!

Posted by elsinoresam on January 28, 2008 at 9:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Recruiting is not a wash out this year! These are the times when you get the players with heart, ones that bleed orange. We have a TON of talent already there and some good coaches that can bring out the best in what we have. So we don't have a franchise player sign this year, we have kids that really want to be here and will give there all. If these new coaches are as good as I think they can be, they'll take what we have and win with it, then next year we'll be back in the hunt for a top 5 class.

Posted by sjt18 on January 29, 2008 at 9:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)

vol_in_lsu_land, the one thing I can think of is that he might be playing a game that he thinks will refute the notion that negative postings hurt recruiting by being delusionally positive. sphs has been fairly negative in previous posts.

He's made some pretty unlikely statements. I hope he's completely truthful and accurate... but one claim was that he'd gotten part of his info directly from the AD. I don't doubt that AD (whether Hamilton or credible sources within the Ath Dept) share info with insiders... I would question whether those types of folks would come onto a public forum and betray the trust of whoever gave them the info.