I took some heat when I advised Tennessee not to get too caught up in junior college or transfer quarterbacks.
While I can easily withstand such criticism, let's just say that I am a proponent of more stringent filters on e-mails and message boards.
Nevertheless, I expect my message to be better accepted by fans that are defensive of their mighty Tennessee Volunteers.
Those fans who were so hungry to land former Miami quarterback Robert Marve probably no longer deem him worthy of being a Vol since he declared Thursday on national television he'd transfer to Purdu.
Remember, the term "fans" is a derivative of "fanatics".
I, however, am sticking to my guns. Marve may have won UT a game or two more in 2010 or 2011 but if the Vols don't recruit better than the quarterback I saw last season, there are bigger problems afoot.
The tendency to panic is understandable. UT has one quarterback, junior Nick Stephens, slated to be on the roster in 2010.
Had Marve enrolled at UT, I'm not so sure that Stephens would still be around. Perhaps he would have jumped ship, thinking that an early exit this summer with two years of eligibility would have been better than leaving next year with only one season left to play.
There are some within UT's football office that believe Marve is only slightly better than B.J. Coleman, who transferred to Chattanooga last month and never made a serious move on the starting job during his three seasons at UT.
I tend to agree. Marve would have been little more than a stopgap had he come to UT. Surely a highly touted, pro-style high school prospect handpicked by coach Lane Kiffin would have unseated Marve at some point. After all, Marve is a spread quarterback and UT is running a pro-style offense.
During the News Sentinel's radio show, The Sports Page, co-worker Dan Fleser questioned just how much of a leader Marve would be considering he was so wishy-washy with his transfer.
I understand high school prospects wanting the publicity they so rightfully deserve when they select a school.
But a transfer? They should just want the whole thing over with. Yet Marve seemed to draw it out in a way that would make notorious sports agent Scott Boras blush.
I feel quite certain that Marve knew where he was headed when I spoke to him on Monday night. And I have no idea why he thought it best to announce his decision on ESPN, which then asked him about his two suspensions during the 2008 season.
Marve may turn out to win a citizenship award, be a Rhodes Scholar and hoist the Heisman Trophy one day. Until then, I say UT is better off going the high school route.
Classic Ed: I can vividly recall a former UT coach complaining about Ed Orgeron when he was the coach at Ole Miss. Orgeron had drawn the ire of countless coaches who despised his early recruiting tactics.
Before the spring evaluation period had even begun, Ole Miss had offered dozens of prospects. By the end of the spring period, the number of prospects offered by Orgeron was surely more than 100 - despite being in talent-rich Mississippi.
Orgeron, as he told me last month, wants to be first - in visits, in offers and, subsequently, in recruiting rankings.
Orgeron was first again this week when he offered junior college linebacker Bruce Irvin a scholarship. Irvin said he was waiting for that first offer and quickly committed.
Don't think for a second that other schools weren't going to offer as well. Irvin is 6-foot-3, 235 pounds and recently posted a 4.35-second time in the 40-yard dash.
Orgeron, who also values size/speed ratio, saw those numbers and didn't hesitate. Orgeron offered; Irvin committed.
Expect more of the same from Orgeron. He'll offer faster than any coach in the nation.
The next challenge is keeping those early commitments infatuated with UT until National Signing Day in February.
Hey, It's Harris: Patrick Harris committed to UT again - sort of.
Actually, the defensive lineman from Chabot College in Hayward, Calif., always was committed to UT since he made his first commitment announcement in April.
Harris and UT hoped to avoid some of the attention both parties knew he would receive if he committed early so Harris publicly backed off his commitment. Nevertheless, he's "officially" a Vol once again.
Commitment Count: UT has seven commitments for the 2010 class. Five could play on the defensive line. Did I mention that Orgeron coaches the defensive line?
Dave Hooker covers recruiting. He may be reached at hookerd@knoxnews.com.
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Comments » 70
AllVol2008#1353998 writes:
First to say, "Go Vols!"
dvhill100 writes:
Good article updating the recruiting. Agree with Hooker, I want an HS quarterback that fits our system LK wants.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
After 2007 I am "impulsive-reactive" to our QB play.
Bounce passes will do that to one.
golfballs03 writes:
The defense better be able to score us some points. Thankfully they've realized that we need some offensive players so O is recruiting Kyle Prater. That would be a snag
golfballs03 writes:
All these DT's. Will it scare away Evan Hailes?
ANGRYWOLF writes:
They won't get either Heaps or Scroggins...
JBVols1698 writes:
when is UT evaluating Cam Newton?
andy112382#209793 writes:
Wow, those gator fans sure are funny when they post after some heavy drinking.
Our defense is a little better then you think, but you'll find that out come September, write it down loser.
FWBVol writes:
Flor-Idiot, off topic. Write it down. And we don't need to wait until September.
Good column. I agree Marve would have only made the QB situation worse. I think we have a better chance with a 3 star guy that is a pro style QB than a 5-star spread QB.
It would be nice to sign a couple of 4 or 5 star QBs, but if we can only get one and a 3 star guy to go with him we should be OK.
With Big Ed recruiting the defenders and Monte coaching them up the Big Orange defense should continue to prosper for years to come.
FWBVol writes:
Little Rogers won the Tennessee state championship in the 100 and 200 last year and the long jump this year so he must have some speed. If he can't catch a pass they can always do with Majors did with Terry McDaniel, move him to CB where you don't need great hands to go with great speed.
sameolvolalum writes:
Congratulations for being the first troll bait of the evening. FW is a close second. You've let the flies back in. Is this all you use this site for? DON'T RESPOND TO TROLLS!
VOLorado writes:
"...since he declared Thursday on national television he'd transfer to Purdu."
Purdu?
Is that anywhere close to Purdue?
...in South America, maybe?
andy112382#209793 writes:
Sorry, I just back home from spending time with my brother and father-in laws, they are Georgia fans and there is always some trash talking, so I was kind of wound tight tonight for some trash talking.
Swamp Trolls....man, they must smell like burnt hair and sewage mixed with a soiled diaper....
coach75 writes:
it amuses me that you morons think you could actually beat us by that score. after meyer leaves you for notre dame that will be the score i will use to predict our win next year. yes, he is going he just doesn't want to let you white trash people in gainseville know that
old_number1 writes:
Same, at least you tried. But they are not Elite Vol Posters yet. I think you did get them to think about it though! If you guys want to terminate the trolls, click on my username and read some of my posts.
Stark_Vol writes:
Heaps is a stormin mormon and probably BYU bound but why not scroggins?
and JT Mapu came over so i wouldnt completely rule out heaps
VOLinDAWGland writes:
I still think we take a JC QB if there's one out there that fits. It's either that or everyone goes into 2010 understanding that season will be a tough rebuilding one...perhaps another 5-7 type of year. If people can handle that without freaking out and we have a couple of outstanding recruiting classes, 2011 and beyond should be fun.
txvolsfan writes:
Great article Dave, I agree. I also think that great coaches that evaluate films most of their life are far better than us evaluating talent and picking the right QB!!!!
pete_hastings#206889 writes:
Still willing to take UT +57 pts for $1,000 from any Florida interloper.
No guts. Unwilling to put their money with their mouths are. Write it down.
dw0731 writes:
Did you mean 2008? 07 season ainge played well and we won the sec east. Last season was horrible and qb play was much (not all) to blame. My hope is that with warren, nuke and hancock can help the passing game. If accuracy is a problem again for jc I'd then I say a permanent switch to ns. Let's all hope that Jc really is a 5 star who struggled with a new offense and had temporarily lost his confidence.
QB_10 (Inactive) writes:
I agree Stephens is the right QB for the next 2 years..heck Eddie O had Nick picked as #1 at Ole Miss and Loeffler had picked #1 at Michigan...maybe Kiffin will realize in the right system Stephens can lead this team
panties4tebow writes:
Don't pay any attention to the pantie wearing lil-fl girls!!
TommyJack writes:
trolls = noxious effluvium.
boro_vol writes:
Did Urban Meyer commit an NCAA violation this week by contacting and offering Jesse Scroggins during the evaluation period?
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/i...
belayvol writes:
It is. You are being lied to by a loper. Consider the source.
the10sevol writes:
or lied to by an espn blogger? go read the link...
belayvol writes:
Scroggins has only made one comment concerning florida. When asked about them, he replied, "I don't do panties".
gwbask writes:
Truthis, can he believe Meyers. He told Snead that Tebow was being recruited to play TE. Another thing is that there is a very good chance that Meyers will go to norte Dame. Scroggins might be up a creek cause the new coach will put in his system. Florida might be offering to keep him away from UT also, but I find that kinda iffy. Finally why would Meyers back off the offense that has been very successful for his whole college career and produced 2 NC's. That does't make sense. Scroggins better look hard before he considers florida.
gwbask writes:
same here and I'll give 2 to 1 odds
johnlg00 writes:
Well, he did say "AFTER 2007" which, by my reckoning, would include 2008. I share your hopes expressed in the rest of your post.
johnlg00 writes:
Probably would have been more accurate to say something like "UT's QB play SINCE the 2007 season...." but as we all know, precision in use of the language is not a point of emphasis on this board.
99PairsOfJortsOnTheWall writes:
We have 3 qbs and just dumped 3. I think CLK is looking for the 1 guy that can take this program back to the BCS!
OrangePride writes:
You made this same dumb prediction before moron. There's plenty of takers if you want to bet chunk of change on Florida and give Tennessee +57. Get a life.
dvols writes:
block well, have a runnin game, throw and catch...
simple
probably need just a game 2 star
im just sayin
TommyJack writes:
Clearly, a world class list.
Be the first one on your block to join.
hotrodvol writes:
Could this be another QB prospect?
http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sha...
londonvol writes:
Do you ever tire of this routine? At least chabge the score or come up with something new?
1974Vol writes:
You're on Rich. Give a grand on the Vols +50.
boro_vol writes:
Not sure why I'm on the list. Go back through my posts and you'll see that I've never, ever responded to a troll!
sameolvolalum writes:
Since I graduated from UT in '73 we've no doubt seen each other on campus at some point. Strange...You didn't appear to be TROLL BAIT. I guess some of us digress.
hotrodvol writes:
"I'm definitely in! I'm really, really tired of the lopers taking over this site."
Boro, here is your quote. You are on the list because you asked to be on the list, try to keep up brother. lol
douglasawilliams#582863 writes:
Yesterday I told my wife that I would deal with the photographers hard sell, because women are easy targets for emotional items. She pointed out to me that men on govols.com react to posts or stories with emotion instead of using logic. She said the UT football has never been off the map. The fact they had 2 losing seasons in 4 years and Coach Fulmer was frequently mentioned on ESPN as being on the hot seat is evidence of that. If UT was off the map a losing season would never have been a story like Vanderbilt, Kentucky or Miss State are not a story if they have a losing season. She read a post of mine when I reacted with emotion when someone questioned my loyalty to UT football. Basically I said that I stayed after every game until the band plays the Alma mater song and she said don't you mean the Tennessee Waltz?. But, I reacted with emotion and yes I meant the Tennessee Waltz.
1974Vol writes:
Sorry,I'm back on the wagon
Colliervol writes:
"Remember, the term "fans" is a derivative of "fanatics".
I'm sure Hooker had to search long and hard for that tidbit of information and I'm sure nobody was aware of that fact. Talk about laziness in article composition.
hotrodvol writes:
How about a DT that loves a former VOL...RIP.
http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/TheR...
boro_vol writes:
My bad, I thought it was taking names on those who responded to the interloping trolls!
tebowownsya writes:
Jesse Scoggins said he is hyped about Florida. Here it is. this is the BIG statement. They[FLORIDA) WIN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS. Go get'um Urbie!
Pacemaker writes:
keep writing the numbers down. makes you feel more secure doesn't it. Your probably right about the loss this year. but you will serve your time with the bottom dwellers also.
dw0731 writes:
Discipline and the gestation will go away.
dw0731 writes:
Darn auto correction on cell I meant to post infestation
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