Ricardo Kemp has left Tennessee’s football program and plans to pursue a career elsewhere in hopes of securing more playing time.
Kemp, who would have been a junior this season, had 24 tackles, 2½ sacks and an interception during his UT career. This year, the defensive back from Warren, Ark. found himself in the middle of a deep UT secondary despite being largely unproven just a year ago.
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Comments » 36
DenmarkVol_aka_Mbumburu writes:
If you can't hack it, adios...
bustervols writes:
A quitter never wins!
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
Let's see...he was Coker's room mate and was from Warren, AR. He didn't have much of a chance considering Coker has drug issues, and Fellows was dismissed, and Cedric Houston and Bret Smith were both weird and both went AWOL soon after leaving Tennessee.
givehim6 writes:
If his heart was more on himself then " the team " maybe were better off without him.
Silent_Fulmer writes:
who
JohnyLobo34 writes:
Didn't he have some disciplinary problems that forced this move?
MrBamSeydu writes:
When you assume things, you make an a$$ out of yourself.
Don't assume he was a trouble maker when there has never been anything to point to that. I'm 100% positive that playing time was a key factor in his decision, but I can't say whether any of the other possibilities are true or not. I've never heard his name come up in negative press, and although I don't think he was very physically gifted for a D-1 SEC football player, he did seem to play hard when he got on the football field.
Good luck to him and I hope he does well wherever he goes.
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
Might be nice if some of you would ease up on the kid's back. Contrary to what you might think, life isn't supposed to be a spectator sport.
The kid has ONE chance to play college ball, and he read the situtation as a losing porposition for him at UT. What the hell, do you expect him to just stay and sit and watch?? some people are content to sit and watch, others want to play the game.
I'd actually like to see the transfer rules changed to where kids don't have to sit out a year. yearh, yeah, there'd be mass confustion, and all that bull. So what? A damn coach can mvoe at his hearts content. A coach doesn't have 4-5 years of eligibility. These games are still supposed to be about and for the kids, not all us fat-a%% hyporctical sports fans.
The upshot is this; run a good program, kids will come and compete for a spot. The ones who lose out go elsewhere, or they stay and back up. That is their choice. With a good program, you will gain just as many kids as you loee to transfer.
TommyJack writes:
mparker: Your plan would create anarchy on teams. Every time a coach reams a player in practice, he would be risking making that player defect. Has to be some order in things. The Kemp deal is not that unusual. These things happen.
missrvrvol writes:
OTOH, maybe he decided to go to a program with discipline and a chance to win.
BOASoldier writes:
are they really bflynn2? I was there when they did away with it... It was a horrible program but I didn't think they needed to discontinue it.
stroker writes:
bflynn2 pleawe reveal your source. The last I heard the students voted the re-start down.
missrvrvol writes:
Ash,
Another person proud of the constant law breakers in this program. Bet you are a bail bondsman with a contract at the Athletic Dept.
PharmDVol writes:
I did my undergraduate studies at ETSU and am pretty confident that the administration at ETSU was willing to start the program back up. As a matter of fact, they had plans in place to develop a new stadium for the team to play in, rather than the mini-dome. However, a vote came before the students that would require an increase in the student activity fee in order to bring the program back. The students voted against the increased fee and the issue was closed. Please reveal a legitimate source that says that the program is coming back.
TommyJack writes:
missrvrvol: Accusing someone of being a bail-bondsman is a serious charge! lol
GreerVol22 writes:
Kingsport, thats a shame. By the way, it sounds like missrvrvol needs someone to shag her rotten. Oh behave...
DennisVols writes:
Its just like when Sims bailed out. If you are not competitive enough to fight for your opportunity to play then I would not want you on the team.
No one has a right to play, you have to earn that opportunity.
I would have perferred that Kemp have that kind of motivation but if he does not it makes room for someone who will have that desire, and hunger. Quitting is not a quality you want in a olayer on any team.
madisonvillevol writes:
we got what, 90 db's anyhow?
GoVol writes:
Kemp - what a wuss. I can't play so I'm leaving..I quit. Someone forgot to tell him its a TEAM sport and his contribution did matter.
If his heart's not in it, we don't need him. Go home to mommy Kemp!
drum56 writes:
you guys are real classy!! getting on a kid! hope none of you have a kid playing at UT or he will get blasted by the fans for not being good enough!!
BOASoldier writes:
Who hear completed their undergrad at ETSU and what year? Just wandering. Mine was 2004.
CWil writes:
Guys, I think that bflynn2 was just taking a little shot at Kemp saying that ETSU was the caliber of program that Kemp should go to...I don't think he meant to stir up a rumor. Just a thought...
By the way, I'm a 2002 Grad BOA.
Bigger_Al writes:
Kemp had big plays in the UK game this past year which were critical to UT winning that game, ergo, winning the SEC East.
Good luck, Ricardo. This UT grad appreciates your efforts.
OrangePride writes:
It's always disappointing when someone who obviously has skills decides to leave for what they see as a better opportunity. But, in honesty, there are times when that might make the most sense for a young man. The secondary might well have worked out for him had he stayed, but I think he would have had to plan on that being either as a backup or filling in for an injury. As that was not the role he wanted, he felt obligated to go elsewhere. All I can say is thank you for the contributions you made and good luck. Now GO VOLS.
volsfaninkpt writes:
i am still in school at etsu. majoring in sport management and probably will never be finished. naa i should graduate next spring.
hmhawk writes:
ETSU is studying bringing back the football program.Caught a LOT of flack from alumni when it was ended.Haven't heard anything solid in a few months but it is definitely being researched.
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
tommyjack:
you know, that is always used as a reason, but so what???
It will stabilize, like any ohter process. Lots of kids won't EVER change, becasue they make friends and want to stay in one place.
I guess, to be fair, there could be financial considerations (a kid would have to refund a year's scholarship money, for example).
Do you remember when college football coaches used to whine and moan, and all the pundits saisd that college football was dead when scholarship limits where put in plac??
EVen further back, I'd swear there was a Bama footblal game where they LITERALLY ran SEVEN complete offensive teams on the field against some pushover team.
WEll, college football is thriving. So is college basketball.
My thing is this: we are working to make athletes more accountable, let's also work to give them a bit more 'rational' treatment.
Helluva can of worms, eh Tommy?? LOL
TommyJack writes:
mparker: A can of worms indeed. Not saying things can't be improved upon, but I don't think just allowing kids to be "free agents" is the way to go. Who knows?
BillVol writes:
ETSU was smart to vote football down. It is a drain for most of the FCS school that carry it. Why would students want to pay money for a team that they would never go watch? Hello! They should concentrate on basketball. ETSU has a future in basketball.
JohnyLobo34 writes:
Hey yemmusdarb do your homework! Kemp was one of 6-players ineligible for the Outback because of grades. Hence the "disciplinary" issues. And with all the talent in the D-backfield I suspect the coaches told him he would be relegated to special teams. He saw the writing on the wall and bailed.
murrayvol writes:
mparker & TJ: Hope you gentlemen can resolve this for the good of football players everywhere.
Good luck Ricardo. Here's hoping you have a great life.
ghc_16 writes:
u can't blame him look who's gonna all be starting in front of him
doctorvol#211700 writes:
good luck. You only have two years, and it takes some guts to make a move and not just coast along.
schymtz writes:
ETSU Football: At least One great shinning moment! 1969 Grantland Rice Bowl: OVC Champion East Tennessee St. vs. Terry Bradshaw's Louisiana Tech in Baton Rouge, LA. Coach Bell's ETSU was not given a chance by the commentators. The defense threw Bradshaw for consecutive -10 yard+ losses and dominated the game. At one point an announcer commented something likr "Somebody needs to tell him he needs to stop running backwards!" I was told it was the one game Bradshaw omitted from his biography.
wjackson#226202 writes:
Holy Cow. Who has the gun to yemmusdarbs head. He said something positive. I think I am going to have a heart a t t a ...
Tenn_Dawg writes:
I don't blame the kid for leaving if the reasons are that he wants to play more. Some kids are content and just want to be a part of something big like UT, Bama, LSU and UGA. It does not matter if they see the field or not. Others know they are not going to play beyond college and just want to play as much as possible because they love the game. Especially with football when you are done your done. As a 36 yr old I would love to be able to play again. I don't think I ever really got it out of my system. Not because those were the best days of my life but because it was so much FUN!! Seems like this kid heard his clock a tick'n. Anyway your secondary is STACKED!!!
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