Thanksgiving is the day to recognize big blessings. Family. Friends. Health. Your job — if you’re lucky enough to still have one. Our good fortune to live in this great nation, whatever its struggles at the moment.
So however much we may love our sports, especially here in the South, the success of our favorite athletic teams — assuming your team’s winning more than it’s losing this year — should never be confused with more important blessings.
That said, is there a University of Tennessee basketball fan anywhere on this planet today who isn’t thanking former athletic director Mike Hamilton for replacing Bruce Pearl with Cuonzo Martin last spring? And if some Volniac isn’t, shouldn’t he be?
Continue reading at the Chattanooga Times Free Press.
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Comments » 51
jjsteel writes:
i like. GBO
iowavol writes:
The usual BS from this reporter. I am a big Bruce Pearl supporter who admits he made a big mistake and paid a big price for it. If Hamilton was capable of doing at least half of his job, Pearl and Tennessee would never have been in that mess. Having said that, from day one, any Vol fan with half their faculties recognized that Coach Martin was and is the real deal. Tennessee is in good shape bb wise. Love Coach's attitude and presence. He's good in front of microphone and represents well.
This team with Harris still on board would be a force. I excited to see what the guys are doing on their own.
ROCKYTOP10ECVOL writes:
This guy is spot on, UT made the right decision w/ its head coach & it becomes more obvious everyday.
Maymon: “My goal is to be the dirtiest player on the floor. Not the dirtiest in terms of getting technicals or playing outside the rules. But the dirtiest in terms of being the meanest, the toughest, the hardest worker.”
You have got to love Jeronne "Nature Boy" Maymon, that's the attitude & effort that makes a great big man. If B. Williams had it he would've been an All-American, doesn't really matter now. Just sayin...
LJS1984 writes:
Just imagine what Coach Martin would have been able to do with Scotty's game. Sad that we nor Scotty will ever know. It's obvious Martin knows how to teach the game. The free throw and three point shooting has improved ten fold. Trae Golden and Jeronne Maymon look like totally different players and McBee has found his touch under Cuonzo.
Bubba_Knows writes:
I watched Martin at Purdue. I knew he had game, but I had no idea he could coach this well. He has taken a team that was voted only the 11th best team in the SEC and played toe to toe with two top 10 teams. He has my attention and my respect! Go Vols!
TommyJack writes:
Not gettin the flame on the writer.
LJS1984 writes:
Some people just have an agenda. See all the haters spewing nonsense at the end of an Adams article. Adams happens to win journalism award after award and a majority of people on here show their intelligence or lack there of by doing nothing but bash him.
Colliervol writes:
Mostly good points. It is a bit early but I like what I see out of Coach Martin. Only a few disagreements with Wiedmer:
1) Despite his shortcomings in the end, I will NEVER denigrate Bruce Pearl and what he did for this program. Best 6 years we've ever seen in men's basketball and he worked his tail off for the university, the fan base and for numerous charities in the area. But nothing is forever and he had to be replaced. A lapse in the end doesn't replace the six years of enjoyment for me.
2) Duke is certainly a top 10 team but Memphis isn't even close. Might be a top 25 team on talent but that's all. Million dollar talent and ten cent basketball IQ.
BolivrBob writes:
I've been in Zo's camp since the jump and think we will be very competitive but let's don't hatchet our counts before they chicken
VolsFanInAfghanistan writes:
Like I posted earlier, starting Jan 4th will be the day of reckoning for our guys. We'll truly start to show the BB scene that Tennessee deserves to be recognized in the SEC for its basketball program again. Coach Martin has a fire in those guys that will transfer over into recruiting. Let's give positive support to our coach and players. By the end of it all Tennessee basketball players will be the talk of the SEC.
BolivrBob writes:
"What was I thinking?" - Scotty Hopson
dgcarter43 writes:
I was pleasantly surprised at the Vols performance at the Mauie Classic. I expected to see them blown out by Duke and Memphis. If coach Martin can recruit good talent, then UT will compete with anyone.
fearthehound writes:
Ditto about Pearl. Very happy with our guys, but I suspect Memphis is a little overated. Pearl was the man we needed to resurrect the program from the ashes, but if Hamilton had hired the wrong guy after Bruce had to go, it would have been back to square one. I think Coach Zo can just pick up where Bruce left off.
CoverOrange writes:
So you agree with the part where Collier says "I like what I see out of Coach Martin"???
ProwlinAndGrowlinSmokeyDog writes:
Everyone needs to forget their troubles and enjoy this beautiful Thanksgiving Day with their family and count their blessings..On topic, Coach Martin is one of them!
Smokey says HAPPY THANKGIVING and EAT LOTS OF TURKEY!!!
FanNotSheep writes:
For some reason (maybe Pearl didn't give him the access he thought was his birthright or something?) this writer called for Pearl to be fired before almost anyone else.
Like several posters said, Pearl built UT from nothing to a team capable of beating ANYBODY on a given night in a very short amount of time.
I think Martin is a great guy and at the least a very good coach, but so far the handful of players he has signed do not make any SEC opponent shake in their sneakers. He says he knows talent and doesn't pay attention to recruiting rankings. We will find out in the next couple of years.
Didn't agree with everything Pearl did, on or off the court. But no coach could game-plan better. Love the way Martin has the team not afraid to play and not afraid of the big boys.
We're seeing guys Pearl recruited play very well, as they get more playing time and freedom than they'd ever had. The team sure doesn't look like an SEC bottom feeder, so great job so far.
Will we see Martin's recruits take the program up – or down – from here? That's the question. Our Pearl-hating columnist from Upper Georgia needs to give it a couple years before he makes these kinds of statements.
VolunteerLifer writes:
I hate to agree with any of these know-it-all sports writers, but Weidmer is right - a shout out is due to Hammy. Martin has me dreaming great dreams about the future.
underthehill writes:
Excellent article..If Mike Hamilton had the authority and made the decision to hire Martin he deserves the credit for a brilliant hire..
What a beautiful Thanksgiving sunshiney day..Let us enjoy it and be thankful for our blessings..mine are far more than I deserve..
hueypilot writes:
Good post Collier. My sentiments exactly
VOL1972 writes:
I hope UT's performance against Duke and Memphis is indicative of what we can expect in the future. Still, Golden going 3 for 19 has got to be a concern. If you are not hitting (particuarly because you are being doubled), find the open man and dish the ball. That is what PG's are supposed to do. Until he learns to do that, our offense is going to be very limited.
mdvol writes:
Had to work during the Maui tourney so didn't get to watch the games. Curious what the new faces looked like.....
Dwight Miller -
Yemi Makanjuola -
Wes Washpun -
Josh Richardson -
Are these guys contributors or projects???
BolivrBob writes:
???? What you talkin' 'bout Willis??? Golden, through 5 games, is avg. 7.2 assists per game, which is great. I haven't seen any NCAA or SEC rankings on assists, but I would guess he is near the top in both.
CollegeParkVol writes:
I must say that in the few games that have been played this year, Cuonzo's team is much more enjoyable to watch than last year's. The Vols work, they hustle and they seem extremely disciplined. I know it's only a few games, but I really like what I've seen so far. Looking forward to the rest of the season.
writer#358485 writes:
I think we now have very good coaches in all three of our major sports, football, men's basketball and, of course, women's basketball. It's great to be a Vol for life, even if I am one who spent most of his life wandering the world and now lives in Georgia. The Vols, everything orange, and Tennessee in general always will be home! Everyone have a blessed Thanksgiving.
Slystone writes:
Collie as you know I follow the tigers & Vols in Bball. Your assessment of the tigers I cannot argue with. Imagine if Coach Martin had Adonis Thomas. I do believe UT will get some talent out of Memphis under Martin.
Orangeblood13 writes:
That baskeball good! Lol
TNVOLNTX writes:
Your post is confusing. You rip the writer who wrote a very pro-Martin article while on your way to making a very pro-Martin post. Huh?
VolfanClinton writes:
Love what I'm seeing out of Coach Martin and the BB team...Wish our Football coach was half as good !!
TNVOLNTX writes:
Do you watch much basketball? Our "very limited" offense has scored 92, 85, 77, 99, & 86 so far this year. If our offense continues to be that "limited" for the the rest of the season, we make the NCAA tournament. Just sayin'..
springtx_vol writes:
Tobias Harris - "I was ready for the NBA, but they weren't ready for me. If I had gotten better advice about the CBA, I could be leading this team to the final four."
calvolfromkingsport writes:
Thanks to CCM for a true team to cheer for this year. Win or lose these guys are not going to give up or go away.
TommyJack writes:
Should be several in your office, Adams.
BolivrBob writes:
bwahahahahahahahahahaha
DarkGable writes:
It never ceases to amaze me how some people praise ZO in one breath, and question his recruiting in the next. Some of you so called experts need to understand that there are tons of talent outside of Memphis and Atlanta. ZO is no fool and knows what he wants and what what type of player it will take to win in his system. After all he has played at the highest level. Seriously if some of you guys are such recruiting experts than why arent you recruiting? Experts. Because its easier to comment on something you think you know about then to actually do it. Experts. I know go ask ZO for a job. Experts.
DarkGable writes:
He's one of those so called Experts.
AtopTheHill06 writes:
Dwight Miller, Yemi Makanjuola, are talented big men and each have the ability to score around the basket. Makanjuola has good defensive presence and can block shots.
Wes Washpun is an undersized guard with unbelievable jumping ability and good defensive skills, plays with alot of emotion.
Josh Richardson has the highest ceiling of all the freshman. He will be a talented scorer, along with J. McRae. Has received significant minutes this year, especially in the Maui.
NorthwestVol writes:
Wiedmer is often tough on the Vols, but he's also often correct.
mdvol writes:
Excellent. Thank you. Hope we can survive what must be the toughest schedule in the country. Next week is brutal and the party beginning on Jan 4 could not be tougher. Sounds like the Maui tourney was a good barometer and there is hope.
STLVOLS writes:
Again, I am glad you folks now see what a good hire CCM is. There was so much whinin' and outrage when he was hired, I knew you guys would come around.
Have been following him for years at Mo State. MO state gave Vols fits in Knoxville last year.
skyhawk836 writes:
It's got a gator on it.
BolivrBob writes:
Contributing fairly well now, and with more playing time should get much better, IMO
DarkGable writes:
It looks exactly like your 7th place O-pinion trophy on your computer desk.
volmot writes:
This guy always tries to work in a shot at Bruce. I will always love Bruce for what he did for the program and I hope that Coach Martin cain at least maintain the program while taking it to the next level. This weeks results are very incouraging.
1vavolfan writes:
Pearl built the program from nothing? He inherited CJ Watson, Chris Lofton, Dane Bradshaw, and Major Wingate.
chuckfromwoodbury writes:
+1. Too damn funny.
jhayes0926#638474 writes:
You have several times posted glowing comments on Coach Martin. They have all been spot on so far. Thanks for your contributions! Just hope he recruits as well as he coaches.
Witch_Doctors writes:
Witch Doctor say we hope Bruce was Aaron (kinda fitting too)and CCM is Joshua. Bruce took us to it and Martin leads us in(possessed it).
Bones never lie.
AtopTheHill06 writes:
I live in Memphis and will be at the game on Jan. 4. I know ill hear it from the tiger faithful if we lose but if we win i know Vols fans will take over Beale like in '08. I shouldnt be hard to spot. Just look for an orange speck in all that blue.
I hoping for a Tenn Liberty Bowl trip. That could be a fun week for the Vols in M-town.
hardtimecountyvol writes:
http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasket...
jhayes0926#638474 writes:
I think it is time for coach to reduce his rotation. I just don't think Tyler and Woolridge will have much of a role. I am really impressed with Richardson and Miller. I agree with the previous poster though about Golden. If coach had benched him for a while in the second half, we would probably have beaten Memphis IMO.
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