Hooker: Future of Vols can be damaged by booing

For those Tennessee football fans who wanted to have an impact on their program by booing the Vols in Neyland Stadium, congratulations on a job well done.

Josh Nunes, the 6-foot-3, 208-pound quarterback from Upland (Calif.) High School, proved such fan reaction has an effect on Wednesday when he all but said he'll be headed elsewhere to play his college football.

Despite public comments to the contrary, there's no question that Neyland Stadium boo-birds played a very significant role in Nunes' decision.

The Nunes family said travel was a concern. Partly, perhaps.

Sources close to UT's program said the Nunes family was concerned about boos they heard during a television broadcast of the UAB game on Sept. 13.

Reality check. The Vols won that game 35-3.

I don't blame fans for wanting to boo after what they've seen of UT's offense and special teams this season. The Vols (1-2, 0-1 SEC) have looked bad in losses to UCLA and Florida last week.

Just realize that booing has an effect, the extent of which we'll probably never fully know.

How about Memphis receiver Marlon Brown from Harding Academy? The state's top prospect was there to hear the boos against Florida.

Southern Cal should send UT fans a thank-you note.

Guess who was UT's ace in the hole for Brown before this latest event? You got it.

Nunes planned his visit for the Florida game to coincide with Brown's. The two were planning to take their official visits together in January.

Something tells me you won't see Nunes here this January.

Personally, I find booing college players distasteful.

Realistically, I find it hard to criticize fans for what they've seen so far this season, especially after having to accept a borderline ridiculous contract for UT coach Phillip Fulmer this offseason and endure the ever-rising cost of college athletics.

I'm also well aware of why fans are booing - and it's not just what has happened this season.

A very significant portion of UT's fan base is sick and tired of being sick and tired of Fulmer.

Such dissenters say UT is on the decline and has been so for years.

They want Fulmer gone yesterday.

They should take a moment to think.

Fulmer or not, the Vols would have been better off with Nunes in the fold for the next four or five years.

Now the Vols have little chance of landing a top-notch quarterback this late in the season.

It's hard to fault Nunes for taking a second look with all that's going on in Knoxville.

But if you're looking to blame Nunes for anything, it's his blind allegiance he offered up in June.

Nunes' commitment should have been taken with some reservations. He had never visited UT's campus and never seen new offensive coordinator Dave Clawson before committing.

I've been asked more than once on The News Sentinel's radio show, The Sports Page, if this season reminds me of 2005. Not really, although there are some obvious comparisons.

The beginning of this season is more reminiscent of UT's 2000-01 basketball season, the last under coach Jerry Green.

As that team stumbled down the stretch, coaches and players bristled at fan criticism, questioning their fans' loyalty and knowledge of the game.

(Did Green actually tell fans to go to Kmart? Not sure, but that's how I like to remember it.)

Like that team, there is a canyon-like divide between UT football fans and their team.

That threatens recruiting, whether it's message boards run amuck, negative recruiting by opposing coaches or the boos in Neyland Stadium.

With Nunes out of the fold, UT has 16 commitments.

The Vols have staked their 2009 class on early commitments, which is a lot like saying the Vols are cinch to score inside their opponent's 5-yard line.

Sure, you like their chances but we all know stuff happens.

UT's next big recruiting weekend will come against Alabama on Oct. 25.

If the Vols don't improve quickly, UT could be a sub-.500 football team when the Tide rolls in.

Boo if you will, but know it has an affect on UT's entire program - not just Fulmer.

Dave Hooker covers recruiting. He can be reached at hookerd@knoxnews.com.

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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