Posted by bornavol on June 3, 2008 at 9:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Do the right thing Mr. Bullard. TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT

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

UT promised him he could play DT.

Posted by yemmusdarb on June 3, 2008 at 9:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Yeah, just like they promised you that you could play QB jasvol.....

He's an OL.

Posted by smashmouth98 on June 3, 2008 at 10:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Come on up to Big Orange Country, You know all about it & LOVE IT!!! WE NEED YOU TOO.

Posted by miamiVOL on June 3, 2008 at 11:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)

rivals says Bama

Posted by WorkinLikeHeck on June 3, 2008 at 11:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

what is this? is he an instate kid? how could this be, we have no instate talent in Tennessee?

Posted by WorkinLikeHeck on June 3, 2008 at 11:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Bullard to the Golden Domers. I guess he'll join the other instate kids from the state with no talent, Golden Tate and Harrison Smith.

Posted by richvol on June 4, 2008 at 7:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)

There's nothing worse than Notre Dame, Southern Cal and Alabama cherry picking the top recruits out of our state. We did that to them for years and now the shoe is on the other foot. We don't have that many to begin with so it's really important to lock down our borders. Look at what Saban is doing in Bama.

Let's hope he picks UT.

Posted by dgarland1 on June 4, 2008 at 11:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)

To say that Harrison Smith has "no Talent" reveals how little you know about football. Smith was POG for the ND spring game and is having the defense built around his "talents" as a hybrid SS and small LBer who can run a 4.4. I love the Vols but that does not blind me to the truth of what is happening with other schools and other players.

Posted by WorkinLikeHeck on June 4, 2008 at 11:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)

dgarland1, I was being sarcastic. Obviously, Golden Tate, Harrison Smith and the state of Tennessee has talent. It's just a common excuse thrown around here for bad recruiting years or why we haven't won an SEC title in 9 years.

Posted by 47volfan on June 4, 2008 at 11:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I hope Mr.Bullard picks the vols, but it will shock me if he does. To be honest, our recruiting of the top players in our own state has come up short the last few years, and coach PF is going to need every one of them to reach 174 wins which is his real goal.(Neyland has 173)

Posted by Vol13 on June 4, 2008 at 12:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Don't worry guys. Fulmer is a GREAT recruiter and we'll have a Top 3 class. Screw these instate kids. We recruit nationally. We'll get 4 better than he is before signing day.

Posted by volchiq on June 4, 2008 at 12:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Guys if he does choose a school other than UT, I don't think you have to go any farther than this article or site message boards.

"I'm a big Phillip Fulmer fan. He's a great guy. I really like him."

If he gets the impression that ole Phil is going to be gone next year, why come here? Stability and reputation at head coach have their benefits.

There are more Phil supporters than not. Come run through the T! You won't experience anything else like it!! GO VOLS!!

Posted by Vol13 on June 4, 2008 at 1 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Ask Penn State and Florida State fans how highly they would rate stability right now.

Kids may choose a school for a no other reason than they liked the feel of the toilet paper in the athletic dorm public restroom.

To test your theory for validity, let's look at the 2008 rivals.com rankings.

1) Alabama - How many rival fans and coaches do you think either told recruits directly or posted on message boards that "Saban will never stay at Alabama for long"

2) Notre Dame - Per everybody and their momma, Charile Weiss is on the proverbial hotseat to be fired.

9) Florida State - FSU fans wanted Bowden gone 2 years ago.

11) LSU - Les Miles was going to Michigan all during recruiting last year. No he wasn't. Yes he was. No he wasn't. Yes he was.

12) Clemson - Tommy Bowden has a hotseat in his office for regular sitting.

13) UCLA - Dorrell was fired. Looks like most of their commits stayed on board.

You get the drift. Ron Zook landed Top 5 classes every year at UF and was never embraced by the fanbase. Bill Callahan had the #1 class in America and was racking up commitments to have another Top 10 class when he was fired from NU.

Why don't you guys start laying the blame at the feet of those responsible instead of trying to muzzle the ones pointing fingers????

Posted by volchiq on June 4, 2008 at 1:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I am not saying that it is the only reason or every kid's reason, but if you read and don't jump to write a thesis on college coaching changes, you will see I said if HE, as in Bullard.

Get a grip! I think some of you guys have your arguments written up in Word and just copy and paste whenever anyone dares to oppose your view. Actually, I hope that is the case, b/c otherwise you take matters that are beyond your control way too seriously.

Relax, it is a Wednesday.

Posted by robvols on June 4, 2008 at 1:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I'm surprised that Auburn is not on the list of consideration since BA is a pipeline for them. Just ask King Dunlap, Jake Slaughter and Kody Bliss.

Posted by WorkinLikeHeck on June 4, 2008 at 1:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)

robvols, add John Vaughan, AJ Greene, and Mike Berry to the BA list.

Posted by Brama on June 4, 2008 at 1:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)

We have had our share of Brentwood Academy Players! A few have panned out, alot more have not.

Posted by WorkinLikeHeck on June 4, 2008 at 1:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)

David Holbert and Steven Jones. Who? Everyone that Auburn has gotten from BA (except AJ Greene who is a true frosh this year) has gotten significant playing time if not started.

Posted by pong982 on June 4, 2008 at 1:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)

From what I've heard, it's ND all the way. Whoever said Harrison Smith has no talent needs a labotomy. He will be a player for the Irish.

Posted by TommyJack on June 4, 2008 at 2:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)

vol13: Facts not allowed. Only emotion.

47volfan: Say it ain't so.

Posted by thesavageorange on June 4, 2008 at 2:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Guys ,calm down.He may well end up at ND, but the rumors being spread around are from ND boards.Every time a recruit has ND in the top 5 they start this crap.

By the way miamiVOL , he has told Bama they are dropped.After that Bamaonline reported it was Michigan or Tennessee and ND was a real long shot.

Posted by thesavageorange on June 4, 2008 at 2:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)

By the way Michigan fans think they have him locked too.

Posted by volchiq on June 4, 2008 at 3:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)

TJ - believe it or not, sometimes emotions do get involved when these boys make decisions, as much as you would like to make everyone lives on facts alone

I'm curious, if you are married, did you do I nice pro/con list before you committed with an "I do"? It must be exciting living in an only fact world.

:)

Posted by TommyJack on June 4, 2008 at 4:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

volchiq: Excuse me?

Posted by invisiblekid on June 4, 2008 at 5:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Get back with me tommorow afternoon and I'll weigh in on who I think Bullard will sign with. Seriously, I think the early announcement looks good for the Vols, I'll be suprised if he goes to ND.

Posted by murrayvol on June 4, 2008 at 6:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)

invisible: Go ahead and weigh in. It's tomorrow somewhere.

Posted by pdhuff on June 4, 2008 at 8:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I've given this some serious thought and belive he'll become our 128th straight offensive signee.

Posted by vol4jesus on June 4, 2008 at 9:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)

And I'll huff n puff and blow your house down! If he commits when is signing day? How long will he have to change his mind regardless of what school he states on Friday?

Posted by hglover40 on June 4, 2008 at 11:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Since 2003 the state of tennessee has produced 96 3 * or better football recruits. 32 of them went to UT. I'm not sure how that 33% number compares to other schools. Compare the 96 3 stars we've had since 2003 to this number - 100..... The state of Florida had over 100 3 * or better recruits in 2008!!! Some people on this site can't get it that the # of highly rated players coming out of the state of Tennessee pales in comparison to our biggest rivals. FL,GA,LSU.

Since 2001 we average the 10th best class in the nation.... not bad, but only 4th best in the SEC.
GA averages around 6
FL averages 7.
LSU averages around 8.6

Here's some numbers that explain how hard it is to win the SEC -
2002 GA wins SEC #2 in nation
2003 LSU wins the SEC #1 in the BCS
2004 Auburn wins SEC finishes 2nd in the nation
2005 GA wins SEC finishes #10 in the nation
2006 FL wins SEC #1 in the nation
2007 LSU wins SEC #1 in the nation

Just numbers draw yur own conclusions.

Posted by sjt18 on June 5, 2008 at 1:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)

"Ask Penn State and Florida State fans how highly they would rate stability right now."

Stability? Sure. Either of those guys could be gone before August and recruits know it. They either buy into the annointed replacements or go somewhere else.

Posted by sjt18 on June 5, 2008 at 1:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)

hglover40: Facts not allowed. Only emotion.

Posted by Vol13 on June 5, 2008 at 9:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)

hg:

Your list only further validates the need to hold on to most of our homegrown talent. I actually don't think a 33% success rate is all that good. It should be in the 60's and pushing or above 70%. We are State U and don't really have any competition from Vandy, MTSU, or Memphis. What smells is that Auburn and Alabama are coming right into our backyard in broad daylight and stealing these kids with little to no resistance. And for the most part they are effective players at these other schools. But one big unknown from above is how many of those 96 did Tennessee actually offer? I'd say they probably got most of the kids offered, but I don't know that for sure. The two-edged sword in this discussion is the kids they didn't offer who went onto success elsewhere. That number alone is probably worth 15-20%.

Posted by pdhuff on June 5, 2008 at 9:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Resident holy man, could to hear from you again.

You surely don't think a teenager would change his mind!

Say it ain't so....

Posted by TommyJack on June 5, 2008 at 6:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Kid: The skinny. Bring it.

Posted by awhill00 on June 5, 2008 at 7:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Bullard is a Vol or I'll eat my UT mini-helmet.

Posted by wtnvol on June 5, 2008 at 9:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)

You're on the right track, Vol13. I know a kid in West TN who is being recruited by Alabama and Auburn, among others. Solid player at a much-needed position for the Vols. No discipline issues, 4.0+ GPA, 30 ACT, yet TN hasn't so much as sneezed at him. He'll end up out of state or at Vandy, and do well wherever he goes.

Posted by invisiblekid on June 5, 2008 at 10:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Sorry TJ, I am a bit late. Prior comment was made as a joke. It looks like ND according to Vol Nation and Vol Quest. I am an idiot when it comes to recruiting so never listen to anything I have to say. Go with whatever Savage O reports because recruiting isn't my gig.

Posted by pdhuff on June 6, 2008 at 4:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)

ikid 10:58, true post I can indentify with. Most of my recruiting smarts come from watching the snapping turtle at the creek.

He has clear and definable goals. Get something to eat!

My take is that Chief has the same goal and wish that he had the same D that snapper is capable of.

Oh well, on to the Bruins.

Adder the doldrums....

Posted by pdhuff on June 6, 2008 at 5:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Gulp, Bullard to the Irish per Tennessean.com this AM.

Posted by hiresanders on June 6, 2008 at 7:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)

He'll pick ND with Michigan his second choice. Charlie Weis owns this state. First Tate, Smith (who was their spring game MVP), and now Alex. Fulmer couldn't beat Charlie on the field, and now he can't beat him off it either.

Posted by WorkinLikeHeck on June 6, 2008 at 8:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)

http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.d...

I thought Foolmore could recruit?

Posted by GoIrish on June 6, 2008 at 8:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Thanks Vols...you guys keep growing them down there in Trailerpark Land and Charlie will keep coming in year after year and getting the best players in your state. Bullard sure will look good in that shiny gold helmet!

Posted by chrslyp on June 6, 2008 at 9:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)

GoIrish:

We only allow visitors to post on this site who's school won more than three games last year. thanks though.

Posted by chrslyp on June 6, 2008 at 9:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)

whose school..

Posted by hiresanders on June 6, 2008 at 9:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)

chrslyp,

I don't allow anyone to respond to me who is a fan of a school that has NEVER won a Heisman Trophy and hasn't even been in a BCS bowl THIS CENTURY when we've been to 3!

Posted by TommyJack on June 6, 2008 at 10:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)

awhill00: Would you like fries with that helmet?

Posted by awhill00 on June 6, 2008 at 11:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)

GULP!!

Posted by invisiblekid on June 6, 2008 at 3:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"Clear and definable goals" I like that PD. Weiss could be added to the list of those looking for something to eat. His other goal appears to be cherry-picking the Volunteer state.

On the recruiting subject for a second, it's great for many that it's become a year round event. I just can't get into it until January though, too many opportunities for young men to change their minds.