Comments by FanNotSheep

Written on David Climer: Titles can't erase SEC football's weaknesses:

ALABAMA -- probably nation's top football program all time
LSU -- would play for more titles if in any another division
TEX A&M -- good enough to beat BAMA
ARKANSAS -- solid program for a long time
AUBURN -- down now but will bounce back
MISS STATE -- can win when they cheat
OLE MISS -- ranges from competitive to bad

FLORIDA -- Perennial top 10 program for 3 decades
S. CAROLINA -- Spurrier woke sleeping giant
GEORGIA -- One of nation's most talented programs
TENNESSEE -- Top tier resources, inept administration
MISSOURI -- Solid in mediocre conference, struggling in SEC
VANDY -- On the rise with good coach, if he stays
KENTUCKY -- Basketball killed the football program

That's 10 or 11 programs that have been good in the past, and Vandy is showing potential to have a Stanford-like upside with right coach. Ole Miss lacks resources and KY fans don't care unless there's a hoop involved.

Let the lower half (or the upper half for that matter) of any conference play BAMA, LSU, FLORIDA, GEORGIA, etc. every year and see how they fare. Vandy, Ky, Ole Miss, MSU and UT play ridiculously hard conference schedules. For every winner there must be a loser, even if you play 6 overtimes. As Vols are learning, it's much easier to fall behind these programs than to catch up.

Written on Father of Trae Golden says reports of academic problems are 'totally inaccurate':

Just want to say this: The problems at UT did not begin with Dooley. And as much as I hope Jones is a great coach who will lead us back to the top, I recall posts that said Dooley did a great job salvaging the class he inherited when Kiffin ran off in the middle of the night.

Time will tell I reckon, just like this story. No sense getting pants in a wad until the truth is revealed -- if it ever is. One good thing is that when you haven't been in a meaningful postseason contest in any of the big three sports in a while, up is the only direction remaining.

Written on Source: Trae Golden's departure 'based on academics' and 'repeated plagiarism':

in response to 8inarow:

I guess the question is, how long has this been going on, and was he ineligible during the season?

Sounds like this has been going on for some time.

And if it was, the Vols would have to give up … ???

Unlike when Kentucky's coach was helping star players become eligible to get into school, Tennessee has accomplished nothing in basketball lately, other than beating Kentucky by 100 points or whatever it was.

Go ahead strip us of our back-to-back NIT appearances if you must. Vol fans have been through far worse. We can take it.

Written on Source: Trae Golden's departure 'based on academics' and 'repeated plagiarism':

It is sad but true that many athletes have no business in an academic setting. I have no idea what Trae Golden was capable of in the classroom, but I'm not shocked that some players resort to cheating to stay eligible for a sport in which they're truly talented. Not everyone is cut out to be a scholar. Some people try and fail, others fail without ever trying. Big schools like UT have resources to help athletes be successful but the tutors can't think for them.

I wish Golden the best. Maybe he can earn a living in Europe, and while this is an embarrassing time for him, true UT fans won't turn their back on him. He gave us many good moments on the court. Hopefully he will finish school somewhere. But whether he ever graduates from college or not, we should all wish him success off the court.

Written on Butch Jones' UT commitments high-ranked:

First thing you have to have is excitement. Jones seems to have the Bruce Pearl charisma that generates excitement in the fan base and with the recruits.

Next you need players as good as Bama's, Florida's and Georgia's. Looks like Jones can get those type of guys, and hopefully within the rules.

Then you have to be able to coach. We will see, but the track record is there and the guy just looks and acts like a football guy, not a lawyer.
Thank goodness!

Finally and maybe most importantly, you got to have patience. The upcoming season is going to be brutal. No one is going to come in and wave a magic wand that produces instant wins. The team has only one area of strength and it is the O-line. Problem is, no experience at QB or receiver and no Herschel Walkers in the backfield. Worse news is that by the time those positions start to improve the O-line will be decimated by graduation. So be patient fans. Four coaches in 5 years can't become 5 coaches in 7 or 8 years. Got to give this guy 4 years to build it the right way.

Written on Mike Strange: Bray became the NFL draft's real "Mr. Irrelevant":

If anyone thinks the 11 (or however many) quarterbacks taken in the draft are better pro prospects than Bray, please tell me why. Bray played against the best college teams and if his team had a coach and a defense he would have won many more of those games. He may not be football-smart like Manning or Brady but it blows my mind that no team thought he was worth a late round pick. From what I have read I think Dooley is the culprit, blaming all his shortcomings on Bray. If true, Dooley is not just a horrible coach but a horrible person. Another sad day for UT football.

And to all you fans who raked Bray over the coals for not being good enough to carry his worthless head coach and defensive coordinator, welcome to some really boring offensive football in 2013. At least with Bray, Patterson and Hunter there was entertainment and excitement when the Vols had the ball. Who do you think is going to lead this offense now?

It is time to prove the so-called experts wrong and I hope Tyler can do just that.

Written on Mike Strange: Bray became the NFL draft's real "Mr. Irrelevant":

in response to RealisticVol:

I said all last year that he did not have the head to be taken in the pros and that he needed to grow up or his chance at millions would go down the drain. There have been dozens, at least, that had mega tallent coming out of college who flamed out because they were head trips. I guess they have wised up about giving out huge signing bonus for those. He should have hung around another year and tried to rebuild his reputation.

Two problems with that: 1) he had no one left to throw to, and 2) he doesn't really fit Jones' offense. For better or worse, the days of the pro style offense at UT are over for now. A mobile QB is needed to run things, and with no returning receivers it's hard to see how another year at UT would have helped Bray.

Written on Mike Strange: Bray became the NFL draft's real "Mr. Irrelevant":

in response to rbwtn:

Maybe there is something we don't know about with Bray. He definitely has the arm let's hope, for his sake he can use it. Wish he had stayed.

From what I have read, Derek Dooley poisoned the NFL waters for Bray, blaming Tyler for his inability to coach. That's sad. I made excuses for Dooley, thinking the program needed continuity after so much turmoil in such a short time. But from talking with a couple of players who were there I learned that Dooley was the problem, certainly not the solution. The sad thing is UT had the chance to hire Kevin Sumlin and instead chose Dooley, one more thing to thank Mr. Hamilton for.

What a mess.

Here's hoping Jones can keep the momentum he is building brick by brick.

Written on Mike Strange: Bray became the NFL draft's real "Mr. Irrelevant":

in response to EastTnVols962:

I have never watched the Draft longer than the third round before, when Witten got drafted (same high school as me), but I will say I spent the entire day Saturday with my laptop open waiting to see Bray's name come across the screen. I know they guy has had a lot of maturity issues, but as a guy myself fresh out of college who had some maturity issues, I can somewhat relate. I think that's why I've always followed Bray so closely. He has a cannon for an arm, and I truly believe when it's all said and done, we will be seeing this kid on Sundays. I felt bad for him when he didn't get drafted, but for some reason felt even worse when Z. Rogers almost immediately signed with the Jets. Granted, Zach deserved that. He was in my opinion, our most consistent receiver last year. But just imagine how hard it would be seeing four and five of your closest friends, who you've been throwing to for the past three years, all find a home in the NFL, and you still be left with nothing. I think this will end up being a HUGE eye-opener for Bray. Now he needs not get down on himself, and not get angry with teams for not drafting him. He knows what he has to do. I for one am excited to see what he does from here on out. Either way, regardless how he may have acted, he was still a Vol. And I don't know about you other nemrods on this site, but that actually means something to me. So good luck Tyler, and Go Vols!

Super post!

I hope Bray makes them all pay.

Written on Mike Strange: Bray became the NFL draft's real "Mr. Irrelevant":

Maybe Bray ain't the brightest bulb in the candelabra, but Vince Young scored the lowest score on the NFL tests ever and was a first rounder.

Maybe Bray ain't mature but I was at the Montana game when everyone thought Peyton Manning had snuck into the stadium wearing Bray's jersey.

Maybe all the Jimmy Hyams types out there will say Bray wasn't this and Bray wasn't that, but before the 2013 season is over they will wish they had an offense to watch. Here is my prediction: It will be ugly.

If an NFL coach can't coach up a young man and help him see that he has the rough skills to make him a starter, maybe even a star, in the league, then what good is he?

If Cutcliffe had coached Bray, the young man would have been a first round draft pick. So if an NFL team needs a franchise QB, maybe they should hire Cut as their QB coach and sign Tyler Bray.

And note to several idiots on this site: Tyler Bray did not lose one football game in his UT career. The responsibility for those losses goes to Coaches Dooley and Sorry Sunseri, who put the worst UT defense on the field I've seen in 45 years of watching the Vols. With the 2011 defense the team goes 8-4 last year.

Written on Jarnell Stokes has a change of heart, will play junior season at UT:

Sad that a basketball story gets more football comments than the sport it was written about. Makes the job Pearl did at UT all the more amazing when you see just what a football fan base it is, even after nearly a decade of disappointment on the gridiron.

I'm pulling for the Vol Basketball program to rise again, and we will see what Cuonzo can do this season. If Maymon is 100 percent and Hubbs is a true 5-star recruit, there's no reason Vols shouldn't make Sweet 16 or Elite 8. Time to show what you got, Coach, because this team should be loaded.

Written on UPDATED: Martin grants Yemi Makanjuola release from Tennessee to transfer:

Everything I've read says it's 50/50 Stokes leaves. I could not care less which 2 point 2 rebound guy we have on the bench 30 minutes a game next year. What bothers me is you have a guy in Stokes who every scout and every mock draft says has no shot of being picked in the first round, and most things I've seen don't show him in the 2nd round. So if that's true why would he leave a program that has a big time recruit coming in to fill its biggest weakness? Stokes seems to be saying he would just as soon play in obscurity in Europe than have a good shot at a deep run it the tournament next year, with a national TV audience and a shot of getting a guaranteed contract if he proves he can improve his game.

So does he think he won't improve at UT? Does he desperately need the money he will make in Europe? Does he not give a $&!+ about his school or his teammates? Is there no one at KNS or GVX who can get an interview with him? I doubt I'm the only one who would like to have those questions answered.

Written on Sports Illustrated: Bray has physical ability to play in NFL, but mental questions remain:

in response to golfman1975:

I believe Gruden knows what Bray has to offer. The failure of the Vols last year could not be laid at the feet of Bray. Remember our defense was somewhat lacking. We scored enough points to have won at least 7 games.

The most interesting thing in the whole article was about Dooley piling blame on Bray to NFL coaches to make himself look better. If that's true, nothing Dooley did in his miserable stay at UT could possibly make him look worse.

I tried to give Dooley the benefit of the doubt, knowing he inherited a gutted roster. But if that really happened, he got what he deserved -- minus the buyout.

Written on Sports Illustrated: Bray has physical ability to play in NFL, but mental questions remain:

in response to REVOLUTION:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Good point. I just wonder if any of these people are UT fans? Tyler Bray was one of the very few things that made UT football watchable the past few years. Can you imagine where they'd have been with a so-so QB? And this is all he has ever gotten from so-called Vol fans.

Pathetic!

Written on Sports Illustrated: Bray has physical ability to play in NFL, but mental questions remain:

Nothing like Shuler -- at all. Not his fault that UT had a horrible football team. As he said, he needed to grow up but my gosh, did any of you perfect people here ever have any fun in your life? Even at age 19 or 20?

SEC players, especially QBs are expected to breathe football 24/7 and you know what? There are other things in life. The idiots on here who question his "eggs" have probably never stood in the pocket with 300 pound defenders from Alabama bearing down on them either.

I hope Bray becomes the best NFL QB ever -- just to p!$$ you ignorant people off.

Written on Jordan McRae announces he won't enter NBA draft:

If Stokes declares for the NBA he will be spending time in D-League. The reports I've read don't even have him showing up in the mock drafts -- not even 2nd round. And half the time late first rounders end up in Europe. I sure hope he isn't listening to the wrong people. It could cost him his future.

Written on Jordan McRae, Jarnell Stokes apply for evaluation from NBA Undergraduate Advisory Committee :

You will see both back in the fall, unless they just can't wait to visit Europe. In the NBA, the bottom half of the first round is like the lower rounds of the NFL draft. Not only are there no guarantees outside of lottery picks, the opportunities are just not there. Like an earlier post said, a rookie who can't get off the bench may never get a real shot. CJ Watson showed what he could do when finally called upon in Chicago and his future is still in doubt. Tobias Harris is proving he has special offensive talents now that he gets to play in Orlando, but he was a first rounder and if not traded might have been flushed out in a few years.

Develop your skills and pay your dues in college. If that means you're a 1st round pick in 2014 great. If not at least you gave yourself a chance. Go this year and you might as well stop at the gas station for some PowerBall tickets -- you'll have about the same odds.

Written on John Adams: UT quarterback race might not end in September:

in response to DC82_Vol:

I like to read the post to see what other fans think of our team. Unfortunately, more posters spend more time dogging JA than talking about the topic of the article.

I would have liked to have read more of people's opinions of our current QBs, including the ones coming in this summer. Oh well.

I think the guy who left is a great QB, maybe the second-best pure passer in UT history. If he wasn't there last year I believe Worley was good enough to start and be effective. Peterman has plenty of potential and I'm not sure which of the two will fit Jones' system better.

I truly don't think the QB position is that big of a problem, but somebody has to really step it up at wide receiver and running back if the offense is going to compete in the SEC games.

I don't have time to watch high school film so I'm not your guy on recruits. I work too many hours a week to scout them and long ago decided it's better to wait and see how they play in the SEC anyway. That's a really, really big test -- as you know.

Written on John Adams: UT quarterback race might not end in September:

We will miss Tyler Bray. Worley will win the starting job, but not sure with a new hurry-up offense who will be running it by the end of the season. I don't see a huge problem with the article but do agree that it would be nice if it contained insight into the situation instead of just describing the situation.

Not sure Adams will ever bring that to the table and it's not because he has no writing talent. He is by far the most talented sportswriter on the staff. But first, John is a columnist and not a reporter and second, his constant sarcasm prevents any coach from giving him any inside info. As for the other KNS sports writers? Strange is a good guy but a rather bland read, and the newbies are second-tier. I do rate Quinn way way below the others. He apparently thinks he is creative but he mixes metaphors and lacks an understanding of the meaning of many of the analogies he attempts to use. Sad really.

Written on ESPN levels new set of allegations against already-embattled Auburn:

Safe to say the boys from up north at ESPN have a grudge against the SEC. If you can't compete on the field you do this. Not saying Auburn hasn't broken rules, just definitely that ESPN hates the south.

Written on Phillip Fulmer helps restart football at East Tennessee State:

in response to keepitreal4vols:

Package deal with Todd Raleigh going to coach the baseball team?

That's just stupid. Fulmer won 150 games and a national title.

But since you bring it up, Raleigh was another example of the UT brass doing away with a good coach without having a better plan. Raleigh, Kiffin, Dooley … and while I think Martin is way better than any of those guys, he ain't in Bruce's Zip Code as far as coaching ability.

Fulmer had let things slide. But the program has gotten worse since he left. Baseball is worse than when Delmonico was here and basketball is worse than it was under Pearl. Great job Hamilton, wherever you are.

Written on Phillip Fulmer helps restart football at East Tennessee State:

If you only had a brain you'd understand the Wyoming loss is forever at the feet of one Mike Hamilton and his biggest booster at the time. When Fulmer was forced to hold the press conference announcing the end of his UT career before the 2008 season ended, the team came completely apart. Anyone who has ever been a part of any kind of team knows the players play for their coaches. Even players who may not have been close to Fulmer knew the whole staff was about to be obliterated. The Wyoming game was a direct result of the press conference, just like the basketball team's loss in the first round of the NCAA Tournament after Hamilton knifed Pearl in the back.

I hope UT will get its act together and regain its status in both big time sports, but the way it treated two great coaches was unbelievably shabby. Even though Hamilton is long gone, Karma has been killing us ever since.

Written on Like Bruce Pearl, most coaches survive NCAA show-cause orders :

in response to halloffamebowler:

Bruce Pearl loves only himself and money. He would be glad to Coach at the school that offers him the best contract. He is not in love with UT.

Don't know how well you know Bruce, but this is America and I think it's accepted pretty well here for folks to earn as much as the market will bear.

I personally believe Bruce loved his time at UT before Hamilton and the administration played their game. Just in case you don't remember how it went down, Mike Hamilton, the UT braintrust (sarcasm intended) went on sports radio the day before the Vols were playing the NCAA opener and basically said Pearl was gone. With that show of support the team played its worst basketball, just like the football team did against Wyoming. The players don't play for the AD or the school prez, they play for the coach. And the players loved Pearl and Jones and Shay, etc., just like the football players loved Fulmer. Of course Hammy played that card so the team would lose and make it easier to pull that one on the fan base. Happily that move backfired and Hammy doesn't have to worry about a show cause, because there's not a school in the country that would hire him as AD.

So next time you and Bruce get together and talk about all this inside knowledge you have, please tell him lots of true UT basketball fans did not turn their backs on him. We are still here and we would love to see him courtside again.

Written on Like Bruce Pearl, most coaches survive NCAA show-cause orders :

in response to PW403:

Bruce Pearl back to the BIG 10 @ Minnesota!!

Never happen. If Bruce goes anywhere it won't be a Big 10 school.

But he is the best coach not coaching and should be coaching again somewhere soon if that's what he wants to do. What he did immediately at Tennessee is unheard of -- made a football school basketball crazy again with the same players the previous coach had looking like a middle school team.

Written on Like Bruce Pearl, most coaches survive NCAA show-cause orders :

in response to FWBVol:

If Bruce Pearl had done the same things at Kentucky or Florida he did at UT and either of those schools brought him back the fans crying for his return here would be mocking the Gators and the Wildcats for bringing back a cheat.

The fact is Pearl cheated and lied about a BBQ and for some reason that seems a little questionable unless he was trying to cover up something much bigger. If he had come clean about the photo at the kids being at the BBQ the NCAA would have slapped him on the wrist with a secondary violation and the whole thing would be over with and he would still be the UT coach.

Once more for those not paying attention: The rule against having a high school junior at Pearl's house was a minor infraction. In fact, having daylight shine on it resulted in the NCAA rightfully admitting it was a stupid rule and -- guess what -- it no longer is one.

Pearl lied because he has been blackballed his whole career for turning in Illinois for some actual real rules they broke a long time ago. Just like Fulmer turned in Alabama. But Pearl wasn't a national championship winning head football coach, he was a Jewish assistant basketball coach who committed the unpardonable sin against the holy Big 10.

That's why he lied. It was not a big cover-up or believe me, the press would have found it. In fact it proved UT was almost squeaky clean or the charges would still be piling up. Your reference to Kentucky is so funny! They've been laughing at us not because we hired a cheater but because we got scared and fired the only coach they'd been scared of in 25 years.

Written on Like Bruce Pearl, most coaches survive NCAA show-cause orders :

The NCAA is a crooked organization, top to bottom. Just think, what would a player do if given the choice of incriminating his coach or losing his scholarship? And look at the fiasco with the Miami investigation.

I just love it when idiots first rake Pearl over the coals for turning in cheaters, then for breaking an obscure rule! Which is it? Don't cheat or protect cheaters? Oh that's right, you hate Pearl no matter what. The only thing that he did wrong was lying, which I believe was because he knew that breaking a rule -- even one so stupid it's no longer a rule -- would give the press all the ammo they have looked for his whole career.

But you know you can't fix stupid, either stupid posters or stupid NCAA bureaucrats so I won't try. What I will do is repeat what I've said all along: Pearl is the best coach we EVER had, bar none. I don't care if Martin had the Vols in the Sweet 16 today and they'd upset a number 1 seed by 20 points to get there -- if Bruce Pearl would come back to coach Tennessee it would be the best thing that's happened to the university since … the first time he came here to coach.

Written on Offseason could be time to evaluate Cuonzo Martin's contract:

This is the kind of thing that has resulted in the UTAD being up the creek financially. The contract he has is just fine. Reading the article I can't tell if Martin's agent is floating a balloon or if the KNS is making a story out of nothing. Of course "when or if UT reaches out in the offseason," his agent will pursue an extension or renegotiation. That's his job. But who called whom? I kind of think someone in the media is stirring a pot to keep readers in an uproar.

Anyway, Martin has done a solid job so far. Not great. Not terrible. He has some really nice recruits coming in and next year is the year that potentially makes or breaks him. If he wins the SEC and takes the Vols deep in the NCAA Tournament then we'll talk contract extension. If he bombs with the talent that should be on the court next season (assuming Maymon returns healthy and no underclassman pulls an idiot move to professional ball) then we may be talking buyout and another coaching search. I hope he does well, builds momentum and the program really takes off. But so far it's B- or C+, if you ask me.

Written on Former UT running backs coach Jay Graham will make $275,000 at Florida State:

So it wasn't about money was it? Maybe it was about the lone holdover from the previous staff trying to fit in on a new staff entirely composed of a close-knit group of coaches who had moved from Central Michigan to Cincinnati and now to Tennessee after all.

But no, Jay is a traitor who wasn't loyal. B.S! By the way, Randy didn't leave UT -- he was fired.

All the best to Graham. Hope Jones and his staff are the right guys to finally turn things around for Tennessee.

Written on Could Tyler Bray be the steal of the 2013 NFL draft?:

The expectations of making those around you better do not apply when your teammates are not anywhere near as talented as you are, or especially as your opponents are. The receivers Bray had were gifted just as he was. His OL was good at pass protection. His OL was not good at opening big holes in the run game. His RBs were not able to create openings for themselves. His team was not well coached. Penalties and missed assignments hurt the offense.

Tyler Bray was not perfect, but he was not the problem with the Tennessee football program. The problem with the football program was that Dooley was not ready to be an SEC head coach, he did not delegate responsibility. He did not cover his assistants' backs, or his players'. His style and the ensuing lack of success cost him his assistant coaches.

UT then hired Sunseri, which cost the program the one chance it had in Bray's time of being decent. Up until then, only Bray, Hunter and Rodgers were top-tier SEC talent. In 2012 the OL was better, a special talent (Patterson) came along and with just a defense slightly better than 2011 the Vols go 8-4 or 9-3 and make a nice bowl game. Sunseri was Dooley's Clawson, but unlike Fulmer, the hire was not made by Dooley. It was made by Hart, and it proved once again that the leaders in the UTAD are not competent when it comes to evaluating coaches.

I fully expect to see Bray excel in the NFL. Given the right circumstances he will be an elite QB. I saw him and Manning play in person as Vols. If either had the other's teammates, they'd have achieved the other's results. A big difference: Manning had Cutcliffe and if Bray gets that type of QB coach in the NFL the sky is the limit.

Written on Robert Morris stuns Kentucky in NIT, 59-57:

Great job Kentucky!

Couple of things: The NIT gets as much respect as golfers not named Tiger. ESPN hasn't shown the results of any other NIT game except Kentucky, even telling us the DiaperCats are saying they'll come back to lose more games next year. But good luck trying to find out if Alabama won (they did, but it was even hard to find online) and who Vols will play if they win tonight (BYU).

Did not realize there is a women's NIT. Can't imagine any reason to have that tournament unless it's Title IX. I mean, they have to have higher seeds host early round games in the Women's NCAA Tourney to have anyone in the stands. The Lady Vols are blessed in terms of fan support, but really, please tell me who is going to be watching women's NIT?

Written on Riyahd Jones' long journey to SEC has unlikely ending at Tennessee:

JUCOs for quick fix, 4- and 5-star high school athletes for long haul. I love it, please continue!

Written on Tennessee football bounces back with best effort of spring, Butch Jones says:

Beginning to think Jones has a plan here. Like the competitive atmosphere, sense of urgency. Don't want our QBs getting hurt but keep them on their toes!

Good news on the football recruiting trail is softening the sting of yet another disappointing SEC tournament for the basketball Vols. Hope they represent us well in the NIT, but 2013-14 is the make or break year for Martin. If he can keep the team intact, get Maymon healthy and if Hubbs is as good as advertised … Sky's the limit next year!

Back to football: One thing I really don't understand is why UT doesn't do more to protect players from too-close brick wall in the end zone. I've been on the field a few times and don't know why they have it so close to the playing area. If they can't move anything, more padding seems like the least they could do. Hate to see a tragedy result from negligence there.

Written on Mike Strange: An immodest proposal to promote NIT's battle for relevance:

Forget the NIT postseason tournament and have it preseason. Then expand the NCAA to 80 teams. The only way 96 works is for the bottom 64 to play while the top 32 get a first round bye. Not in favor of that because I think that gives big advantage to the higher seeded first round winners who get their first game jitters out of the way against bottom seeds.

Do it with 80 teams and the top 48 rest while the bottom 32 play. That still may result in a few more upsets but not like the 96-team format would. I like a Cinderella story now and then but don't think you should penalize the higher seeds.

Written on Evan's Eleven: 5-star RB Jalen Hurd's commitment to Tennessee is biggest catch of Butch Jones' tenure:

It's almost Biblical, the way the Tennessee program, Vol nation or whatever you want to call it, has split since … well, really ever since Fulmer replaced Majors. Then of course it splintered tremendously in 2008, with fragments still flying around today.

Doesn't matter if it's good news or bad, the so-called fan base (at least the lunatic fringe represented on this site) hates it, and hates each other. Sign a great in-state player who professes love for the school and the new coaching staff, whose family loves the Vols, and people argue whether he runs a 4.37 or a 4.4, complain that he hasn't grown up playing against Florida or Texas high school talent. When's the last time a 5-star back was even interested in coming here? Makes you wonder if the good ship Vol will ever sail smoothly again.

Written on Evan's Eleven: 5-star RB Jalen Hurd's commitment to Tennessee is biggest catch of Butch Jones' tenure:

It don't mean nothing -- til you sign it on the dotted line.

I think this kid has his heart in the right place, just hope he keeps his head on straight when the big programs make a run. Hate to see him get lost in the Alabama shuffle (wasting a year or two on the bench).

Written on Tennessee beats Mississippi State, advances in SEC tournament:

Sometimes you can't help playing to the level of the opponent. Miss. State is a grinding team with so many players injured, just like UT was early when they were trying to find a post-Maymon identity. In their case they lost too much to really do much more than what you saw today.

Hopefully Vols come out fast tomorrow and build a big lead. You see it every year -- the team with a game under its belt in the unfamiliar gym comes out more comfortable than the team playing its first game. But the second half is often the test, when fresher legs will give Alabama an advantage.

I do think this could be a play-in game. Vols are last team in and Bama is listed as next-four-out on ESPN, and if that's fairly accurate you could see how a loss to Bama could result in them being picked over us, especially if they were to win another game. And if a dark horse SEC team wins it all things could really get jumbled, because you know the Big East and Big Ten won't allow SEC to have too many teams in.

Written on Jordan McRae passed over for SEC Player of the Year:

in response to Lizardgrad89:

Florida lost 3 of their final 5 regular season games during both their national championship years, and lost three straight before going to the elite 8 last year as a #7 seed.

Evidence suggests that once UF gets away from SEC refs, they start playing a lot better.

Not sure about SEC refs but definitely away from Thompson-Boling Arena. And/or Bruce Pearl.

I'll bet Billy D still wakes up in a urine-soaked bed from nightmares about Pearl's defense.

Chomp chomp, little Bill.

Written on Jordan McRae passed over for SEC Player of the Year:

in response to CroKev:

What's the approximate difference in average pay between a 1st-rounder and a 2nd-rounder in the NBA? If it's huge, I hope our guys are listening...

The money drops off after the lottery picks and again at about the #20 pick. If a player doesn't make first round chances are he will be learning his way around Europe or toiling away in D-League. Another year of college is best for anyone not projected top 15, based on many years of paying attention.

Written on Jordan McRae passed over for SEC Player of the Year:

in response to brokendownoldvol:

Stokes plays basketball and doesn't know the value of rebounding? Unbelievable.

As a freshman Stokes played beside one of the league's most consistent and under-appreciated players in Maymon. The transition from high school to college must have been overwhelming for a high school senior suddenly competing in the SEC. Now he is having to un-learn some of what he took for granted last year. No reason trying to make more of it than that.

Written on Jordan McRae passed over for SEC Player of the Year:

If Vols had been able to beat Georgia in Knoxville they are locks for NCAA right now. That's more important than any individual honors. But if Stokes feels like he has something to prove in the upcoming days that's a plus.

Time to erase some bad memories and start a new era of SEC Tournament success if you ask me.

Written on A look at Tennessee's 2014 class after 3 new additions, including 4-star Todd Kelly Jr.:

If you got 15 more 4- and 5-star recruits you'd have the top class in the nation. That's not reasonable to expect, but we won't get back in the thick of the SEC until we return to top-10 national and top-5 SEC in recruiting -- year after year.

Written on Vols concentrating on wins, not NCAA tournament:

Don't see anything mediocre about regrouping from the loss of your most consistent player to win 8 out of 9 SEC games. Agree that Vols haven't had a great year and probably aren't a Sweet 16 team or anything. But they don't quit, they have talent and they've learned to win close ballgames away from home. Should be a good tournament team. Unfortunately they may have to, since experts think strong finish and good strength of schedule don't mean anything to the selection committee. Think the success of the conference's football teams is causing a backlash against basketball?

Written on Mike Strange: Win over Missouri brings Vols all the way back:

Tennessee is a hot team. Nobody really wants to play us right now. Ask KY, UF or MO. I'd love to see the Vols take the whole thing this year and put all the SEC jinx stuff behind them for good.

Written on Poll: How far does UT need to go in the SEC tournament to earn a spot in the NCAA tournament?:

Don't lose the first game. Then you've got 20 wins against a good schedule. Should be enough in an expanded field.

Written on Vols celebrate 64-62 victory against Missouri on Senior Day:

Being a Pearl fan doesn't make you a troll. Being skeptical of new coaches until they prove their ability is natural if you ask me. I was skeptical of Pearl until he took the Vols to Texas. Jimmy Hyams was saying if they could keep it respectable, say lose by 15 or 20, it would be a good showing. Pearl's Vols won by 17 if I remember correctly. So that made a believer out of me and lots of other fans.

Martin has done well so far, but there was a time early in both of his seasons as UT head coach that the team looked clueless. What impresses me most is how they get better as the season wears on, and if they can avoid a one-and-done SEC Tournament I think we should get back in the NCAA field. I hope they do, and I hope next year's team is a Final Four squad, with Maymon healthy again, Stokes, Golden and McRae better than ever, and the new kid playing up to everyone's big expectations.

But if you ask me my favorite time in my personal UT basketball history (I saw Bill Justus and Tom Boerwinkle in the mid-late 60s) I'd tell you Bruce Pearl's first couple of years, the win over Memphis that made us Number 1 for a day, and the Elite 8 that almost became a Final 4. After that would come Bernie and Ernie (Mears), the Dale Ellis years (DeVoe), and the Justus, Jimmy England era (Mears).

Maybe Martin will crack that next season. But would I take Pearl back if given a choice? Heck yes, because I would have had the guts to tell the NCAA they weren't going to decide who my coach was in the first place -- and I'd have taken my lumps and kept my coach.

Written on Vols celebrate 64-62 victory against Missouri on Senior Day:

Belmont won and that helps Tennessee. If favorites win most of the small conference tournaments it helps bubble teams. I think Tennessee is in if they beat Miss. St./S.C. winner because it's an expanded field. Sure I would feel better if they win two or three SEC tourney games but the difference between Tennessee and other bubble teams is our strength of non-conference schedule and our success late in the season, especially on the road. We didn't control the SEC being a little down, but we scheduled Georgetown and other tough games while other schools played a bunch of directional schools. If the NCAA doesn't put their dance selections where their mouth is, then more teams will load up on cream puff sure victories.

Written on Vols celebrate 64-62 victory against Missouri on Senior Day:

Vols can't afford a 1-and-done SEC trip, but I don't think they have to win two games after this one. Great win today! Love to see them continue to play well and that probably results in two wins anyhow. Then we might see a 10-seed. I'd be happy with an 11 or 12, because any of those gets a 2 or 3-seed if you win the first one. I think this year's field is a relatively weak one after the top seeds. Not saying Vols are great team but when the big 3 are hitting on all cylinders they can pull an upset.

Written on Tennessee spring football position-by-position previews: Looking at the offense:

Who in the world knows what the Vols will do in 2013? New QB, new receivers, new schemes on both sides, not to mention entirely new staff. I don't expect miracles. I don't see how they could be as good on offense or as bad on defense as last year's team.

Best hope is to get started with great effort and solid fundamentals, then hope like heck this staff can recruit and coach. Hope nobody expects an improved record in the first year. Regardless what anyone thinks or who you wished they'd hired, it's just not fair to do that to the new coaching staff.

Written on Mark Wiedmer: Big Dance could be even better:

Wow. For the first time I can remember, I agree with everything Wiedmer wrote.

Written on For Vols, Auburn game one of two 'we've got to win':

in response to johnlg00:

I wouldn't go quite as far as your first sentence. Every game is unique. We all know that the Vols have to play their best or close to it to beat almost ANYBODY, including Auburn at their place. It may well be true that if they DON'T beat Auburn, they may not have a CHANCE to beat anybody in the NCAAs, but how they play in those circumstances at Auburn isn't much of an indicator of how they might play against somebody else in another time and place.

I agree with your point about the guys being better off playing loose, but I don't think Martin tries to clamp down on them as much as the guys sometimes tightening up themselves. If they defend and rebound with energy, I think they will be fine even if they aren't shooting the lights out, though the latter would certainly help!

Well I do think Martin has reined in McRae quite a bit early this season and last year too -- at least until Mc's recent offensive explosion. Not saying I favor launching quick 3s and wasting possessions, mind you. But Pearl and Martin both showed a tendency to tighten up in pressure situations. And I truly believe basketball players need to be loose to excel.

If you think you better not miss the next shot, you probably will, whereas if you learn to trust in your abilities you welcome the pressure. The coach has to trust his players before they can ever get to that point.

In Pearl's first two seasons they played like they had nothing to lose, but when they started getting highly rated players and became favored to win I felt like Pearl tightened up too much, for instance, dictating that Tyler had to touch the ball on every single possession, etc.

This team has come a long, long way this season. They were so hard to watch on offense I was at the point of giving up. They kept fighting though, and this is the time for coaches and fans to have faith in the guys who brought us this far, so let's have some fun and win some more ballgames!

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