govolsxtra.com Stories: GoVolsXtra blogs

"Intriguing Phone Calls"

Tue, 21 May 2013 13:01:00 -0000

There were a great many intriguing phone calls received in a past life with the UTAD.

One came several months after a Vanderbilt game at Neyland Stadium sometime in the 1990s.

The man on the other end of the line introduced himself as an attorney, not Ben Matlock, but close, and asked a few interesting questions.

What time did the game start?

When was it over?

What were the weather conditions? (Haywood Harris always called the National Weather Service in Morristown just before kickoff to establish the weather conditions, the direction of the wind, etc. Bill Petty set the exact time of kickoff and the end of the game.)

The trusty "game book," 15 or 20 pages in length, with every thing you'd want to know about what happened, answered all of them.

Hopefully to his satisfaction.

Never heard from him again, but a lawyer friend said somebody probably fell in the stadium area and was suing somebody, maybe the city, maybe the university, maybe anybody with deep pockets. It's easy to sue, someone once said, but harder to win.

When the phone rang in those days, you just never knew who was on the other line... and what they wanted. It wasn't always a plaintiff's attorney. It could have been gospel music promoter Rev. J. Bazzel Mull asking about kickoff times.

The reason he wanted to know?

Without fail, he always said, "I don't want my concerts to hurt the attendance at your football games."

It could have been Archie Manning ("You did a great job with Peyton's book. Bye.").

Or it could have been SEC official Jimmy Harper wanting a picture from a long-ago Tennessee-Auburn game from the cover of Volunteers Magazine.

Answering the phone was always an adventure, never a dull moment.

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Vol Stuff (5/21/13)

Tue, 21 May 2013 11:42:18 -0000

BuTch confident in Vols' strength & conditioning staffhttp://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2013/may/21/jones-confident-in-vols-strength-staff/?sports Best Vol team tourney final - 1997 versus 1998http://www.rockytoptalk.com/2013/5/20/4348102/best-vol-team-finals-1998-vs-1997 Big Orange Caravan rolls into Tri-Citieshttp://www.utsports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/052013aab.html Lady Vol Erica Popson ready for individual NCAA golf tourneyhttp://www.utsports.com/sports/w-golf/spec-rel/052013aaa.html VFL program in the communityhttp://www.utsports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/052013aac.html SEC stats...

"Chronicling the Game"

Mon, 20 May 2013 23:47:50 -0000

Could sportswriters write like this today or even want to?

See for yourself.

Fred Russell of the Nashville Banner penned these immortal words after the 1937 Tennessee-Vanderbilt game.

"KNOXVILLE, Tenn., Nov. 13, 1937--Vanderbilt whaled away at Tennessee with almost brutal fury for sixty thrill-packed minutes here today to win one of its grandest and most satisfying victories, 13 to 7.

"More than 23,000 spectators, overflowing sun-flooded Shields-Watkins Field, sat open-mouthed and spellbound through the brilliant offensive battle to see the Commodores come from behind to tie the score in the second quarter, then push over the triumphant touchdown early in the fourth period."

That's just the lead, but there was a great deal more to come.

There's not a quote, from either coach or player, to be found in the story, just a splendid recounting of the game.

You might wonder how a 13-7 game could be construed as a "brilliant offensive battle," but that's the way football was played in those days and the way sportswriters thought.

It's likewise hard to believe there was a time that 23,000 spectators would overflow what is now Neyland Stadium, but, that day, they did, stadium capacity being 19,360.

It would be 11 years before the Commodores would beat the Vols again, 22 years before they would win again in Knoxville.

The Vols did recover from the loss to end the season 6-3-1, defeating Kentucky 13-0 in Lexington and Ole Miss 32-0 in Memphis.

Things were getting ready to explode football-wise on the Hill. The Vols went on a tear the next three seasons, winning the SEC title three times and compiling a 31-2 record.

Just for the record, there was a fight over the goalposts at the north end of the field, indicating that the rivalry was pretty intense way back then.

Another thing for the record.

Fred Russell could chronicle the events on the gridiron.

Monday, May 20, 2013

Vol Stuff (5/20/13)

Mon, 20 May 2013 11:39:43 -0000

BuTch lands an in-state 2016 commitmenthttp://www.rockytoptalk.com/2013/5/19/4347098/tennessee-recruiting-16-prospect-middleton-gives-vols-some-big-early Vol football team tourney 1998 versus 1995http://www.rockytoptalk.com/2013/5/17/4337868/best-vol-team-semifinals-1998-vs-1995 1985 versus 1997http://www.rockytoptalk.com/2013/5/17/4340522/best-vol-team-semifinals-1985-vs-1997 VFL Chuck Smith working with Auburn defensive linemenhttp://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/article/20130519/SPORTS0402/305190025?nclick_check=1 Lady Vols head to super regionalshttp://tennessee.scout.com/2/1292917.html Celebration of life; Stokley Athletics Center (Marvin West)http://www.shoppernewsnow.com/columnTemplates/west.aspx Mizzou...

"Writing Something Memorable"

Sun, 19 May 2013 21:21:55 -0000

You never heard of Ron Zavala? Well, you have now.

There's a book on the shelf titled "The Best American Sports Writing." It's ©2008, William Nack, editor. There are similar volumes every year. Each volume is full to the brim with great sports writing.

In it are 31 or so stories that put the onus on each of us to write something memorable.

A journalist named T.J. Simers did just that in a story in the Los Angeles Times entitled, "Family Carries On After Long Day at Rose Bowl."

Zavala died of sudden cardiac arrest at the Rose Bowl, during a game between USC and Michigan. He was 53, a big USC fan, to the point the USC fight song played every time his cell phone rang.

There are moments of sheer brilliance as Simers tells the Zavala story, none more evident than in its conclusion, a shot across the bow to all of us who try to make sense of the human condition, to all of us who write daily about sports and life... and occasionally about death.

"If there's any way you could--could you set the record straight?" his wife, Sandy, asked. "The Pasadena newspaper said a sixty-year-old-man died at the Rose Bowl.

"He's not sixty, and he has a name. And Ron was a great father, a great husband, and a wonderful boss."

Here's a salient point: Everybody whose lives we chronicle has a name... and a story. There are stories out there, waiting to be found.

They deserve the best we can offer.

T.J. Simers did exactly that for Ron Zavala.

Saturday, May 19, 2013

Vol Stuff (5/19/13)

Sun, 19 May 2013 11:58:49 -0000

BuTch stays on constant go in rebuilding Volshttp://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2013/may/19/jones-stays-on-go-in-rebuilding-vols/?sports BuTch trying to restore the heartbeat to Tennessee footballhttp://www.nooga.com/161594/jones-working-hard-to-give-tennessee-football-back-its-heartbeat/ Vol golfers advance to NCAA golf championship tourneyhttp://www.utsports.com/sports/m-golf/recaps/051813aae.html Lady Vols win squeaker to advance in NCAA softball tourneyhttp://www.utsports.com/sports/w-softbl/recaps/051813aaa.html Vols stopped by Virginia in...

"The Good Old Days"

Sat, 18 May 2013 23:55:10 -0000

Found some helpful "suggestions" for Vol fans in a copy of an old game program, probably from the 1930s. Boy, these "good old days" sure were good, or so it seemed.

SOFT DRINK REGULATIONS: "The Athletic Council voted to continue the sale of soft drinks in the stands. If would be unfortunate if this service had to be denied the patrons on account of bottle throwing on the part of a few enthusiasts. Please do NOT throw empty bottles [didn't specify what might have been in those bottles] in the stands."

TO AVOID CONFUSION: "In order that spectators may be seated quickly and without confusion, each ticket holder is requested to hold his own ticket, and to buy his program as he enters rather than wait until he has been seated."

NOTICE: "No reservation for tickets can be made by telephone or by players. All reservations must be accompanied by cash."

How far have we come since the 1930s? Might things have been better way back then?

Saturdays, May 18, 2013

Vol Stuff (5/18/13)

Sat, 18 May 2013 15:28:28 -0000

Vol netters take on Virginia today in NCAA tennis tourney, first serve 1pmEThttp://www.utsports.com/sports/m-tennis/spec-rel/051513aad.html Lady Vols win round 1 NCAA tourney gamehttp://tennessee.scout.com/2/1292573.html Diamond Vols miss SEC tourneyhttp://tennessee.247sports.com/Article/Baseball-Tennessee-Vols-knocked-out-of-SEC-touranment-race-131221 Video of Big Orange Caravan stop in Chattanoogahttp://www.utsports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/051813aaa.html Oklahoma State blocks QB from transferring...

"Embellished by the Telling"

Fri, 17 May 2013 16:14:39 -0000

Sometimes the cheers are for someone else, even if there's a game going on.

The year was 1928. Tennessee was playing Alabama at Tuscaloosa, the famed 15-13 win that set the Vols on the path to gridiron glory.

Lost in the depths of history was a freshman game being played in Knoxville at about the same tine.

Herman Hickman, later to be a famous coach, writer, and man about town as well as a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, recalled the cheers of the crowd, however sparse it might have been. The youngsters on the field were impressed by level of "support" they received.

What Hickman didn't know was that Pat Roddy had been relaying wire reports from the game at Tuscaloosa, thus causing the "cheers" that came up every so often.

Ed Harris told this story in "Golden Memories of Ed Harris: 50 Years in Big Orange Country."

Like most of these type stories, the account might have been embellished through the years, but there's a good chance there's at least a grain of truth in it.

You be the judge.

Friday, May 17, 2013

Vol Stuff (5/17/13)

Fri, 17 May 2013 11:22:35 -0000

BuTch energizing Vol fan basehttp://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2013/may/17/jones-energizing-vols-big-fan-base/?sports BuTch has good track record in close gameshttp://www.rockytoptalk.com/2013/5/16/4335624/butch-jones-close-games-and-the-fourth-quarter-comeback Vols targeting Ohio for football recruitshttp://tennessee.247sports.com/Article/Noah-Furbush-Succeeds-On-Off-Football-Field-130894 Dave Hart a big fan of BuTch Joneshttp://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2013/may/17/tennessee-ad-already-big-jones-fan/?sportscollege Vols advance in NCAA tennis championshiphttp://www.utsports.com/sports/m-tennis/recaps/051613aaa.html Vols currently 4th in NCAA golf regionalhttp://www.utsports.com/sports/m-golf/recaps/051613aac.html ...

Tennessee's Haslam Field getting post-spring turf makeover

Thu, 09 May 2013 16:39:22 -0000

KNOXVILLE, Tennessee -- When I tweeted out photos of the new turf being installed at Haslam Field, the Vols' outdoor practice area, I received an almost universal response:What are they doing with the old turf and how do I...

With Daniel Gray gone, Eric Gordon's future in doubt, a look at UT's defensive backs

Thu, 09 May 2013 16:34:16 -0000

KNOXVILLE, Tennessee -- Sophomore cornerback Daniel Gray, who earned a start in Tennessee's beleaguered secondary as a true freshman in 2012, is no longer with the Vols.The departure alters Tennessee's roster outlook and also further depletes the shrinking 2012 signing...

Tennessee one of 23 profitable athletic departments in NCAA

Wed, 08 May 2013 14:16:42 -0000

According to a USA TODAY Sports financial analysis, just 23 of 228 athletics departments at NCAA Division I public schools -- including Tennessee and eight other programs from the SEC -- generated enough revenue to cover their expenses in 2011-12....

Vanderbilt assistant responds angrily after Butch Jones references stadium size in tweet

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 18:43:24 -0000

KNOXVILLE, Tennessee -- We've scrupulously documented the various Twitter tussles involving Vanderbilt head coach James Franklin (here and here, for example), but now Vandy assistants are getting into the act.This Vandy-UT game on Nov. 23 is going to be a...

With latest commitment, Vols continue to stock up on tight ends

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 13:25:35 -0000

KNOXVILLE, Tennessee -- Tennessee coach Butch Jones and his offensive coordinator Mike Bajakian made it clear from the moment they arrived here that they really like athletic, pass-catching tight ends.And they didn't think the Vols had enough on their...

Tennessee football Orange & White Game live blog

Sat, 20 Apr 2013 16:26:57 -0000

KNOXVILLE, Tennessee -- The crowds arrived early for the first spring game of the Butch Jones era. Read a preview here, and check out the spring rosters here.We might not be able to able to answer every question during the...

Darius Thompson, Rewane Ndiaye to make official visits to UT this weekend

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 21:32:41 -0000

Tennessee commit Darius Thompson, a 6-foot-4 point guard from Murfressboro's Blackman High School, will make an official visit to the UT campus this weekend. Thompson averaged 15 points and six assists per game this season, leading Blackman to a 30-1...

Cuonzo Martin's salary tied for 10th among SEC coaches

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 01:46:54 -0000

As a supplement to the story on Cuonzo Martin entering the second offseason of his five-year contract at Tennessee, here's a rundown of SEC men's basketball coaching salaries from top to bottom. These are the most up-to-date numbers I could...

Live Chat with UT MBB reporter Brendan F. Quinn at 2 p.m.

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 12:16:00 -0000

Join us here at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday to discuss Tennessee's NIT meeting with Mercer and the NCAA tournament bracket. Live Chat with UT MBB reporter Brendan F. Quinn at 2 p.m....

SEC scenarios, tournament tiebreakers, and the Tennessee Vols

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 23:44:19 -0000

EDITED 6:16 p.m. Thursday due to some oversights. Sorry, tried to do these scenarios on the drive from Auburn back to Knoxville. Lesson learned: never blog and drive. Thanks to those who took the time to add some layers to...