Comments by Lizardgrad89

Written on What does Vegas say about Vols in 2013? :

I don't agree with Vandy. They have a pulse. The other two went 0-16 in the SEC last year, I can see being favorites there.

UF and UGa games are undervalued. Look for heavy betting against UT and those lines to rise to about 16 points.

Oh, I saw where Western Kentucky was being estimated at 27 points. Remember that Bobby Petrino is coach there now. Assuming that game to be an easy win could be a tremendous mistake.

Written on Butch Jones' UT commitments high-ranked:

in response to VolGrad:

That pretty much nails it.

Just the fact we are anywhere near a Top 5 recruiting class right now for 2014 before CBJ has won a game is crazy good. I truly hope and believe that the same thing that makes him a good recruiter, leader and motivator will make him a successful coach for us. Heck, he already has the top recruits from in-state, a terrific start on the legacy class, and each of his commits on twitter urging other high caliber recruits to come and help build a championship team at Tennessee.

Recruits that have already committed to other schools have still voiced how impressed they are at #VolNation Fanatics who still follow them by the hundreds. Current targets saying things like "Vol fans are so love...S/O to you all," and "Tennessee fans a trip bruh." One recruit picked up 200 Vol fan followers today; a few days ago, another picked up more than 400 in just 30 minutes. Also, the Berry twins are following all our current 2014 commits; gotta be a good sign for the #LegacyClass. There are rumors of two more commits about to announce soon. This is not your typical Tennessee spring. I think we usually have maybe 4 or 5 commits by summer.

Yeah, FU is sweating. I mean they've got meltdown-muschump, and we have bUTch.

Go Vols! Kick butt!! #RiseToTheTop

Um...it's May.

I PROMISE nobody is sweating your recruiting, or anybody's recruiting at this point.

Anybody who thinks immediate playing time ISN'T a factor and ISN'T being used as a selling point really doesn't understand recruiting. Of course it's being used as a selling point. If Butch was golfing, would he leave his driver in the bag? Immediate playing time is a good club. Trust me, he's using it.

On another note, Florida has had 3 great recruiting classes the past 3 years, and this one is looking good as well (ask me about it again in August, when classes are actually shaping up). I seriously doubt your current 11(?) man recruiting class is causing any sleepless nights in Gainesville.

Written on Mike Strange: Tyler Bray can look to Warner, Moon, Romo for inspiration:

Rip Bray if you want, but Gator fans were nervous playing UT the last two years because we knew Bray could go nuts at any time and throw a bunch of TD passes and beat us, like he almost did against Georgia last year. Not worried at all this year.

Written on Butch Jones' UT commitments high-ranked:

Spring is the time for optimism, and I see it's running high in Knoxville. And that's a fine thing. You folks need something to bring you hope.

Just remember, though, a coach coming into a situation like this is just about always going to have a good to great 2nd recruiting class. Why? Because the depth chart is wide open. When you can show kids a depth chart that has them starting right away, or maybe backing up as a true freshman, and starting as a true sophomore, they are going to be very interested.

The trick is, when you have that class of starters in place, what do you use to recruit with in year 3? The real trick to recruiting is not bring in a 4/5 star, it's bringing in that 4/5 star when there is already a couple of those same type kids already at that position.

Not saying Jones can't be that kind of recruiter, just that the jury shouldn't come back with a verdict until probably the 4th class (or at least the third) is in the books.

Written on Order of protection was taken out against Yemi Makanjuola:

in response to txvolsfan:

I guess if Muschump was our coach we would look forward to gurly sports also!!!

Yeah, Muschamp wins more games in one year than UT wins in two, I'm sure you would just HATE to win twice as many games a year. And based on how our respective programs look, that fact is going to be true once again. Will UT beat anyone other than Austin Peay, South Alabama and Kentucky? ROFL.

Written on Mike Strange: For Vol fans, optimism rules in April:

"Kearney" says to ask him after the Florida game. I disagree. UT will be tested in Week 2 by Bobby Petrino's Hilltoppers and in Week 3 by Oregon.

We should know a lot about this team before they get to Gainesville.

Written on Mike Strange: For Vol fans, optimism rules in April:

Well, your defense almost HAS to dominate in the Spring, unless you had a successful offense and lots of returning starters and coaches. With new players and a new offensive scheme, if your defense hadn't dominated the spring, it would have meant BAD TIMES this fall. As it is, you still don't know, and not knowing allows hope to survive.

But hope or no hope, you aren't beating Florida this year. Set your sights on a winning record and a bowl game while building your roster for future years. Baby steps.

Written on Mike Strange: Reinforcements should bolster Vols' offense :

in response to DeltaCharlie3:

Will it be 9 or 10 in a row this year, I've lost count?

Nine.

But that doesn't matter anymore. UT fans realize they aren't going to beat Florida, Oregon, USC or Bama, but if they can sneak one out against Georgia, beat Mizzou, Kentucky, Auburn and Vandy, and win their 3 winnable OOC games, they are a bowl game away from a 9-4 season, and if that happens, they have evidence they can give to recruits that they are "back". And that's what they are hoping for.

(Personally, I don't think they win more than 1 SEC game this year, but then, I'm not a Vol fan.)

Written on John Adams: For Butch Jones, it's been access supplied during his time at Tennessee:

in response to Johnny_Aint_No_Del_Shofner:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Nothing to say, but this post hand't been copied three straight times, I figured it was due to be reposted again.

Written on Rawane Ndiaye commits to Tennessee basketball; Vols now two scholarships over limit:

in response to 10seVol85_Part_Deux:

I'm pretty sure players can get academic scholarships that don't count against the 13 limit. I could be wrong of course.

Depends.

A scholarship like Florida Bright Futures, which everybody gets if they meet certain requirements, yes they can. Scholarships where they are "chosen", no.

Nebraska got in trouble with the NCAA 20-30 years ago because every small town in Nebraska had "academic" scholarships for local kids. Only requirement was they had to be Nebraska football walk-ons. This was the reason Nebraska had a 120+ man roster for so many years when they could only give out 90 (later 85) scholarships.

Written on Florida hires Choate as special teams coordinator:

So now instead of having two Dline coaches and no ST coach, UF has one of each. Makes sense to me. I wondered why we hired another DLine coach when Durkin became DC. But now, since the incumbent DL coach resigned, and we hired a great ST coach who is also an excellent recruiter, it all looks like it was planned this way from the start.

Written on Vols' receiver issues limiting quarterbacks:

This is the time of the year for optimism, so I'm not going to burst anyone's bubble. Yet.

Written on Florida DL coach Bryant Young abruptly resigns:

We hired one of the best Dline coaches in the business (Lawing) away from South Carolina a couple of months ago. If Young was looking to leave, this may have been the reason he agreed to come to UF. Leaving right after Spring practice looks like something was in the works for a while.

You Vols can keep hoping and wishing, but you won't be beating UF this year, or next year, or frankly, not again for a long time.

Written on Report: Former Auburn players detail payments, academic fraud, drug culture, criminal cover-ups:

in response to suggest_removal_4_all_troll_posts:

", Will Muschamp, calling him into his office. “I had no clue what it was about because I’d never directly asked him for anything,” says McNeil. “He slid about $400 over to me. He went into a drawer and gave me money and said, ‘Is this enough? Is this good?’ And I said, ‘Yeah, I’m good.’” Muschamp, now the head football coach at the University of Florida, denied the payment through a spokesperson."

But all the Florida Trolls that spend their hours on this site because they have no life say Muschump is the greatest coach ever!

You know, Muschamp was at Auburn in 2006 and 2007, and this McNeil guy was a true freshman in 2007, who played some on special teams. Even if Auburn's coaches were directly paying players, I find it unlikely that this scrub would have gotten cash in hand like that. And only one time? Guys who are getting paid expect it to happen REGULARLY.

No, as much as you Vols want something on Florida, you aren't going to get it.

Written on Vols tackle major challenge in improving defense:

in response to VolGrad:

I'm expecting us to be much improved on defense. I don't think that will take a miracle.

You need to take a step forward on defense, if nothing else than to balance out the step back you are taking on offense.

Written on Vols tackle major challenge in improving defense:

in response to UTvols33:

I'm worried about the schedule for this defense. They may go into Eugene brimming with confidence after two games against APSU & WKU, only to get blasted by Oregon, then have to turn around and play UF. Could be disasterous for this team. Hope no one is expecting a miracle.

GO VOLS! BEAT FLORIDA!

Bobby Petrino is coaching Western Kentucky. I doubt you are going to have a whole lot of defensive confidence going into Eugene.

Oh, and you aren't beating Florida. Florida's defense is going to be ferocious this year. If you get even one touchdown, it will be a moral victory.

Written on Freshman Poythress staying with the Wildcats:

Cats are going to have 10 kids who think they should play 35 minutes a game and the offense should run through them.

Gonna be interesting.

Written on David Climer: Butch Jones shows moxie Tennessee Vols need:

in response to antonio14313:

so far, 2014 class is #6 nationally. i'll take it! take that, trolls!!! ;)

go vols.

t

When you have up to 22 open starting positions for in a single recruiting class, you are going to get some interest.

Written on Vols believe they can have elite offensive line:

in response to 6972:

If there are no holes for the backs to run thru and there is no protection for the QB this year, there never will be. The trenches are where the rubber meets the road. Will be interesting to see how the SEC defenses try to play us. Can't wait till Sept. Go Vols and kick some butties.

You have a brand new QB and brand new WR's. Teams will crowd the line to stop the run and bring pressure on the QB until you prove you can make them pay for it.

Now you know, and don't have to wait until Sept to find out.

Written on Vols believe they can have elite offensive line:

in response to HooRay_Vol:

This would have been the year! A senior line with Bray, Hunter, Patterson and D. Rogers. Would have been the best offense in the SEC and with an improved defense possibly SEC champs.

But this senior line will not disappoint and we will be much improved! Having an improved coach will also make a difference.

With SIGNIFICANT defensive improvement and all those players back, there are conferences that UT oould have won this year. Not the SEC, though. You have to be the best team in the nation to win the SEC.

Written on First Vols' situational football scrimmage has some real drama at the end:

in response to VolzsFan:

The NCAA Tournament TV deal is $775 million per year.

The BCS games TV deal is $125 million per year. Expected to grow to $250 million on the playoff.

The gate for the Final Four Championship game is about 75K.

The gate for the BCS championship game is about 72K.

The TV audience for the Final game for the Final Four is about 50 million.

The TV audience for the BCS football championship game is about 22 million.

However, the folks in the Southeast and just the Southeast, are the only region that is not sophisticated enough to know this.

Ok, that's a bunch of hooey.

NCAA tournament is 67 games and about 140 hours of TV for 5.3 million per hour. BCS is 5 games for about 20 hours or 6.25 million per hour.

Considering the basketball and football title games are held in different venues each year, saying one gets more attendance than the other is ridiculous. Both sell out, the issue is merely capacity.

Championship game ratings are about 18 million at their BEST. More watch the football title game. I looked it up.

Oh, and you also forgot one little thing. Football games bring in 4-5 million in gate proceeds per home game, and another 30 million per your in TV. Basketball brings in a tiny fraction of that. Kentucky is the only SEC team that brings in as much basketball revenue as football, and that's because their football STINKS.

Oh, and one last thing. Basketball tourney revenue is spread equally between the 300 or so Division 1 teams. Football is spread only among the 120 Div 1-A teams, and that, unequally.

You need to review your sources, I think.

Written on John Adams: 'Bracketology' not an exact science:

in response to 1vavolfan:

What is ridiculous is a team going 19-1 in its conference and not getting its automatic bid. For teams in small conferences the regular season is meaningless. Liberty is a perfect example. It doesn't matter if 75% of your reason was junk as long as you get hot a couple of weeks in march.

That doesn't bother me a bit. Conferences have the choice of the regular season winner or tourney winner getting the automatic bid, so it is what it is.

What I DON'T like is when a lower conference team has such a good year they would get an at large bid, then they lose in their tournament, turning a one bid league into a two bid league. You have to wonder if they threw the game in order to get a second conference team in.

Written on Rejection Sunday: Vols left out of NCAA tournament, receive No. 2 seed in NIT:

To all of those wanting a bigger tourney, why? Isn't the regular season useless enough already? Do you want to let every team with even a quarter pulse in? What would be the point of working hard and playing tough games during the season?

Written on Butch Jones says Vols are on run of 'momentum':

in response to NYCApple:

Weren't you the guy commenting on the last article about Peterman...really excited talking about big sweaty guys, jailbreaks, getting pounded, stuffed, being hung, etc. again, I think you are projecting. Try to keep your personal life out of this...

I said Jones needs to avoid writing checks with his mouth that his backside can't cash. Where you came up with that plethora of gay innuendo is, well, probably out of your own little brain.

Written on Butch Jones says Vols are on run of 'momentum':

in response to emailnodata:

@lizard
UT was up 20-13 into the 3rd quarter until Dooleyism took over.

And no, not "about 30", probably less than 10, with USc and Mizzou really hinging on one play each game.

Nice try at trolling, not mush interested.

However, since you bring up the Gators...what's you excuse?? Your team was an embarrassment in the bowl game, form the Coach on down. Next season looks to be the year a Gator pulls a gun and shoots Muschamp during a game.

And once you got that lead, UF pushed you all over the stadium. You were lucky the game ended when it did, 15 more minutes and UF would have been up 40.

Sugar Bowl vs no bowl, and you want to talk smack? ROFL.

The players LOVE Muschamp. Don't kid yourself.

When UT is 2-10 next year, you still going to pretend you were "this close" to winning 8 or 9? I love how fans act like all their good plays were inevitable, but bad plays (opponents good plays) were "bad luck".

I suppose if by "10 plays" you mean "10 scoring plays", yeah, you would have won a bunch more games. Of course, looking at it that way, you were also "10 plays" away from 1-11.

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

Kudos to Mississippi State for continuing to fight throughout the season. Faced some serious adversity but never packed it in.

Written on In full-pads practice, Vols crank up intensity:

in response to GreerVol22:

Did someone pee in your O's Vegas? some validity in what he is saying....one must admit....it definately couldn't hurt anything.

Right. What could it hurt? Only the long haired 5-star recruit who comes for a visit and finds out he has to get a crew cut. Also, what motivation are you giving the guys who prefer short hair?

"We're going to take away your individuality, and return it once you have been forced to conform to our ways".

No, I can't see a downside at all to this plan.

Written on UT freshmen early enrollees trying to juggle new responsibilities in whirlwind practices:

in response to VolinCalif:

Yea 72. We had our chance last year. Dooley shhowe how wet behind the earsw he was when he tr ied to change too many things at one time. But this team isn't short on anything as I can see. Ssure we could use a better runner but these would make any traveling squad. We need to stay Optomistic so here we go again Vols 8-
4
Go Vols

OK 9-5 I count the O/W

Optimism is great but lets not lose our heads.

Zero pass rushers, slow secondary, weak linebackers, brand new passing game and an Oline that can't run block to save their lives doesn't add up to 8-4 in the SEC. Maybe 4-8, if you scheduled some weak OOC teams.

Written on Butch Jones says Vols are on run of 'momentum':

Coach should consider the size check his backside can cash before opening his yap like that.

UT's passing game was the only thing that kept them from a 2-10 season last year. It's ALL gone now. Everything else is going to have to get a LOT better just to make up for the passing game dropoff. UT could have a better running game and better defense and still only win 4 games.

I'm sorry, but your recruiting has been poor for years. Your squad is lacking in playmakers, and the SEC is going to be tough again. Another 1-7 SEC season is VERY possible, and while UT fans might have accepted that at one point, all this big talk is going to cause some upset boosters and fans if it gets hopes up for no reason. Plus, if he starts talking big next spring, people won't believe him because of his lack of credibility from being so wrong from the prior year.

I'm not calling him out on this necessarily. It's possible that UT has a squad nearly as good as what he had at Cincy and he doesn't realize how big a step up in competition he is facing. Look and see if he is dumbfounded after this squad he is talking about so highly takes a couple 30-40 point beatings next year. If he is totally at a loss, it means he didn't realize what real college football looks like.

Written on Butch Jones says Vols are on run of 'momentum':

in response to emailnodata:

For those trashing Dooley on last year..

Get ####-ing real.

Last year's team was one of the great offenses we've ever had, and was within a few plays of a 9-10 win season.

I cannot fault Dooley for being optimistic pre-season. They pushed around every team EXCEPT Bama, and that included a very good UGA team that was within a play of being NC's themselves. Yes, UT gave up by vandy....yet another season a team gave up on Dooley.

Yes, Dooley turned out to be an unlucky "woulda coulda shoulda" guy....but this constant belittling sniping is pretty stupid. WE'll be damned fortunate to see ANY entertainment value for the next 2-3 seasons from Jone's bunch, is my estimation.

By a few plays you mean, what, 30?

Oh, and Florida pushed UT around, not vice versa.

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

in response to jt45:

Deep in the tourney? LOL! Not likely based on his road record. Thanks for the humor though, your always good for one chuckle.

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.

Written on Tennessee QB Nathan Peterman looking forward to 'open competition' for starting job:

in response to pingkr62:

Who ever wins the job should do well this season due to having a solid, experienced offensive line. That, along with depth and experience at running back will allow the quarterbacks time to learn the new system and gain confidence. I'm not too concerned about the receiving corps. With the receivers we have returning from last year, and the incoming freshmen, I'm confident some will rise to the top and become very productive. One thing that can work in our favor is the fact other coaches will have a difficult time preparing for our passing game, since they don't know what to expect. Just a thought. G.B.O.!!!

Wow.

Um, your O-line could barely run block when you had a prolific passing attack. With a new QB and new WR's, DC's are going to crowd the line, stuff the run, and jailhouse blitz when you are in passing situations.

You aren't worried about your WR's? Your top 8 pass catchers all left. Your recruiting has been awful. You will have WR's who can't catch trying to get the ball from QB's who can't throw in an offense nobody on your team understands yet. If you score double digits in any SEC game other than Kentucky, I will be shocked.

You need to set proper expectations for this year. Things like "good effort", "improvement from game to game" and "hung tough for the first 20 minutes". If you expect actual wins, you are only going to be disappointed.

Written on Alabama plays like No. 1 to avoid softball sweep from Lady Vols:

in response to volboy81:

ABSOLUTELY!!! Wish we could have swept, but 2 out of 3 ain't bad! Way to go Lady Vols!! Now SWEEP FLORIDA this weekend!!!

Well, as I always say, if you are going to dream, dream big. And dreaming of taking even ONE game from Florida, that's dreaming REALLY BIG.

You seem awful proud of your pair of one-run wins at home against Bama, but Florida went TO Bama and beat them by FOUR.

Florida is going to roll through the SEC and take the National title as well. And since their entire team is sophomores and freshmen, I'm thinking we are starting a dynasty.

Written on John Adams: Vols should be California dreaming in football:

It's a long way to travel to play for a team you barely heard of growing up.

I'm sure you Vols will look at that as a shot, but really, how much do you hear about the University of Washington here in SEC country? I mean, other than they got crushed by LSU recently. You see any elite Southern kids heading that far from home to play for a 2nd tier PAC-12 team? Nope. Similarly, you aren't going to get any elite Cali kids out here to a team that all they know about it is that Oregon beats the crud out of them.

And before you say that it's different because UT won a title in 1998, I would remind you about the dominant Washington teams of the early 90's. I think Washington and Tennessee are a great comparison.

Be honest, wouldn't you think it very odd if elite Florida, Georgia, Louisiana boys started heading to Washington? Same for elite Cali boys heading to Tennessee.

Written on Cauley-Stein, Kentucky survive Vanderbilt 74-70:

UK, at home, barely beat a Vandy team that packed it in for the season a month ago. Quite the cause for celebration.

Written on No. 5 Florida falters against Missouri:

Rare, though. Very rare.

Written on Two-out rally in ninth falls short for Vols in baseball opener, 10-9 :

Sentinel needs to highlight when they change sports. Maybe I wasn't reading as closely as I could have been, but it's confusing to be reading about a baseball game with UNLV and see Melissa Brown had 2 RBI. All they need to do is highlight the word "softball" and it will be a lot less confusing.

Written on Memphis gives Butch Jones a standing ovation:

in response to BIVOLAR_BEARE:

I think UT may have found a FB coach after 2 disasterous hires.

Might want to at least wait until after Spring Ball to make that decision. Being good at schmoozing the alumni wouldn't seem to be enough, to me, to prove he can coach in the SEC.

Written on John Adams: No Michael Dyer, even if UT in dire need:

in response to CoverOrange:

Why was having a gun in the trunk necessarily wrong?

Probably enjoined from carrying a gun while on probation.

Written on Mike Strange: Vols' path to tournament is one step at a time:

Win the SEC tournament and go to the Dance. I don't think anything else will be enough. The SEC is just awful this year, beating SEC teams isn't going to impress the selection committee.

Written on Katherine Webb, girlfriend of Alabama's A.J. McCarron, thanks Brent Musberger for fame:

in response to grimpmeister:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Truth!

Written on Vols find recipe for victory on the road, 58-46 :

in response to VOLSnTITANS:

The Vols looked like a tourny team tonight. Stokes is now playing like the beast he is. I was really impressed with his passing out of the double team. Golden seems to be getting his game back. Really nice team effort. Always a pleasure sweeping the Dores. Now lets find a way to sneak into the tourny. GO VOLS.

I think the SEC is only going to be a 3 bid conference this year. So I say, beat Kentucky and take their slot and send them to the NIT. Who's with me on this?

Written on Alabama student details alleged beating at hands of football players:

in response to snowpeapod#263184:

Maybe Nick should contact Urban about how to dole out punishment. Maybe 10 lashes across the forehead with a wet noodle. No college team needs this kind of embarrasment.

Urban never used a wet noodle. He would suspend the players for an indeterminate amount of time, which usually lasted until the Friday before the first game.

Written on Dave Serrano: 'This team will get better as we go along' :

in response to claiborneh:

These straight rimmed baseball caps make people look like Goober.
They are stupid looking

You're kidding, right? Nothing says "NASCAR redneck" better than a baseball cap where the bill looks like an upside down U.

Written on Vols' going small (no Hall) might not work against Kentucky :

in response to CactusJack:

Close game, will see how UK freshman respond to losing Noel. Cauley-Stein nowhere near the shot blocker Noel was. He has a way to go. Wiltjer is the key for UK, if he has a good day, Cats should win, Stokes should have a big game, with no Noel there. Better get UK this year, they will be better next year and the year after, less one and dones, more stayig..UTs National Championship and if they win, 5 year contract extension for Coach Martin!!! (Who by the way is a good coach).

Kentucky will never have kids stay under Cal. Since he likes Freshman starters, kids know if you stay, you will ride the pine every year until you graduate. Nobody makes it to the NBA from UK except as a one and done. Those who don't pan out as one and dones will transfer rather than stay.

Don't believe me? Ask Stacey Poole Jr. A legacy from UF, where his dad was a legend, he was close to signing with UF when he was swayed by Cal's promises of one and done glory. Well, he turned out to not be good enough for the NBA right away. Did he stay at UK? Nope, he transferred. Just like every other kid who doesn't become a one-and-done will do. As long as Cal is there, UK is going to be 5 stud freshmen and 8 walk-ons on scholarship.

Written on UT self-reports 10 violations in athletics since August:

Secondary violations are the NCAA equivalent of parking tickets. No worries.

Written on David Climer: Tennessee Vols learn SEC also wins titles on signing day:

I expect UT to have a very good class next year. Excitement of a new coach, lots of openings for immediate playing time if not starting from day 1, this is a good combination for a good to great class.

The question on Jones' recruiting skill won't be answered until year 3. Year 2 should be a big class and fill up almost all the gaps on the depth chart. The Year 3 kids won't have the same level of opportunity for early playing time. That's when you will see if he can sell the program, the facilities, the campus, the education, because he won't be able to sell a lot of early playing time.

Written on Texas A&M gets 70-68 win over No. 21 Missouri:

This might be a three bid league this year.

Written on Butch Jones says Vols were 'selective' :

in response to Vol1968:

I'd rather have hard working 3 star rated guys then prima donna's who think there is an "I" in TEAM. Go VOls.

It's a great concept, and one I agree with, but the reality is, these days half of the 3 stars have a sense of entitlement.

Written on Updated odds for all of Tennessee's football targets:

in response to BIVOLAR_BEARE:

Oh, so you admit FU is wining and dining recruits..Excuse me, but I believe that's a violation of NCAA rules..Care to rephrase that remark??

Nope. Neither of these kids is coming to UF. This would be Auburn and Alabama. You trying to tell me those schools DON'T wine and dine recruits?

If you want to change the phrase to "building a relationship based on trust" that works too.

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