govolsxtra.com Accounts

Problems continue. Just saw McRae, Maymon, and Golden at the orange and white game (basketball article, but football offense looked terrible), and all seemed ok.
If it is grades, I think he could make it through summer school and fall semester getting his grades up, then able to play in January.
Between baseball stinking,disappointing football and basketball teams, this is just getting worse. There are problems on the hill that change of coaching just does not seem to help.

Oh yes, coaching and a defense had things to do with it, but being a QB is more than just stats. Being a leader on the team.
Since you want some games where could have "came up" in the clutch:
SC last year. Make the read. Make the play in that drive. Not fumble.
FL last year. Numerous drives in 2nd half 3 and out. Bray was so anxious to get rid of the ball on two drives and not get hit, that if he would have been patient, had receivers getting open. He had time to throw, but was receiving pressure.
GA--last year. Did not finish the drive. Neal did have a drop, but Bray did not finish.

Do you need more?

I hope he does stay as well. Good player but not great. I am no NBA scout, but right now his game just does not look like NBA material.
Cannot shoot consistently.
Free throws--50%
Rebounds good, but really only because of his big body and strong hands. Not technique. In the NBA, there are many big bodies with quicker feet.
Then, more important--he is still learning the game.

Agree. Also, different players respond to coaches differently.
Like Coach K. He shows his emotion and works the officials constantly. Also, he has a "good" reputation so he gets the calls more times than not. In our own world, take Pat Summitt. She knew how to show her displeasure with her own players and officials and usually got positive results
Next year is a big year for CM, just like year 3 was for Dooley.

Seems to be going the same road as Dooley. Lot of talk, but not any progress. First year no big wins and lost 2nd round of the little tournament. Dooley had no big wins and lost in a little bowl. Second year, had 1 big win, or maybe two (MO,FL both at home), and lost in FIRST round of little tournament. Dooley had no big wins and did not make a bowl.
Now, the third year we expect to make the big tournament and would to contend for SEC championship. No reason not to. Return experienced players and now two years of his recruits.
Watching these games last two days. You definitely see the Vols did not belong in the big dance. Free throw shooting to turnovers and we probably would have been blown out.
Would love to see Martin more intense in the games. Show some emotion and fire. Work the officials. It is part of the game.

Bottom line--same as last year. Almost like the Dooley years. Hope and plan of getting better, but in the end--not better.
We lost 1 player from last year, and did lose Maymon for the year, but we returned a lot of players with good experience.
They under achieve. Did make a run in Feb., but the losses to Ole Miss and Ga hurt us. The last AL loss, we scored 48 points in a 40 minute game, and shot 50% at the free throw line.

Had a good run. We need to finish with 3 wins. AU/Missouri, and at least one in the SEC tournament.
Mcrae was great. Hall played good.
Now, for the other guards. Richardson/Mcbrick/Golden combined for 5 for 29. Golden hit 1-2 at the end to give him those buckets.

It is a W and a W on the road. Difficult to watch the turnover game, but take the win.
Golden helped a lot today. Like I have said for 2 years though, McBrick is the key. When he hits the 3's, it opens up the lane more. Usually when he gets double figures we win. I think he was close yesterday with 8 pts. If he hits against Vandy we will win.

Just not good defensively. Lot of talk, but that is about it.
Remember football. It seemed someone always had their career day against us. I guess same for basketball now

Watching the KY game yesterday against Auburn. Announcers addressing upcoming KY games on their schedule. Stated KY has a fairly easy road ahead except for FL. We are not even looked as potential trouble for any teams--basketball or football.

Problem is the teams ranked ahead of TN is the teams we play.

Recruiting is not a exact science, but definitely better to have more 4 and 5 stars than 2 and 3 stars. Always will be the exception and the busts, but recruiting has to get in the top 10 for the next few years.

School is just losers. Just so poorly coached. They think they play defense. They put no pressure on. Martin just looks lost.
Just like the Dooley teams. As the season goes on and more coaching he does, the team just looks worse.

Turnovers--just like the men.
Not unexpected anymore. This university just does not win. Even in our most winning program, now is just so-so. Winning more than losing, but not the once power team year in and year out. Of course, lost the legend coach, but still losing more than I thought they would, especially to teams we should not lose to (Missouri, UTC, etc.)

Same ole story. Turnovers. Not only from the fact of no point guard, but just overall fundamentals in ball handling.
Not sure where they think they are tough on defense. We made the Henderson from Ole Miss all world, and Vandy had a kid that had a career night, now this kid from Ark had one of his best games. Ark. had 7 turnovers for the game--so we are not that great defensively.
McRae 2-11, McBrick 1-6 and Moore 1-4. McRae looked terrible handling the ball. Missed shots all night.
Need to keep Stokes on the box and not out on the free throw lane. Hall and Stokes had a good game. I think both were 6-7 in FG.
Martin just reminds me of Dooley. Good guy. Running a clean program. Just cannot win. Team looks worse in year two than year one. Should be better in year 3, but that was what I thought about Dooley and the football team.

Good for you. It was good to see them smiling. Had half the turnovers as previous game, so that helped.
Need the Vandy win as they are not very good.

As another posted, just like Dooley's team. Faltered down the stretch. So much for payback.
They just are not winners. Almost every sport is just a huge disappoitment.
Key points I thought in the game.
Not going to win many games doubling your opponent in turnovers. 21 turnovers!!
These are not freshman playing their first game. This is coaching. Fundamentals in practice.
Down the stretch. One 3 pt shot by McRae in last 5 minutes of the game. FOUR missed free throws. Again, not going to win many games when you only score 3 points in last 5 minutes of a game. Good time out plays GM.
Overall just hard to watch. They have talent, but just cannot win.

I agree the loss is not on the refs, but KY sure gets many calls. Vols had their chances. Free throws still a issue and look to be all year. Only 1 TN in double figures. Golden had 5 turnovers and 7 pts. Richardsons two free throws near end of game were just embarrassing.

Now, on the refs. Again, Vols did enough to lose game, but KY really got some help. Both teams play aggressive defense. Hard to see how one team has 25 fouls to another 17. Not saying TN did not commit the 25 fouls, just saying one could call the same foul on the other end.
Difference is Cal works the officals constantly. Every call against KY he goes crazy. Wants a explanation. Martin just stands there with a smirk on his face.

Not going to win many games with a more than double turnover ratio. TN 16 TO to AL 7.
Free throws again hurt. 50% from the free throw line just don't cut it. Stokes cannot even play in a close game due to his free throw issue. Maybe he should spend more time practicing FT's as opposed to the tatoo parlor.
Team just seems to be getting worse. Just like the Dooley teams.
Would like to see Martin lose his coat and work the officials more. That is part of the game. Coach K works them constantly. So does Cal at KY. Martin just seems to try to be cool and drinks a lot of water.

Embarrassing!!
It just seems the basketball team is taking the same Dooley road. First year you like the effort, and everything about the coach. Year two, same good guy, but results seem to be worse. Just makes you wonder what year 3 will be like.
Martin's recruits just provide little contribution, and the experience players like Golden and McBrick seem to be worse.
McBrick 's shooting just keeps getting worse.
Mcrae has had two good scoring games in defeat, but he is just so streaky.
Game thoughts--Ole Miss 44 free throws to TN 26?
Also, they shot almost 87% from the line. 87%!!
One last football comparison. Every football game, our opponent seem to have a "career high", well same from that kid from Ole Miss--a career high.

Hard to watch. We use to always take it to Memphis, now we have lost what 3 in a row. Thank goodness Mcrae hit a streak or we would have lost by 30 at home.
Team just seems worse this year. Kind of like Dooley's tenure. Little fight 1st year but with some close losses, then got worse with each year.
We are only missing Tatum from last year. Granted Maymon has not played and something surely does not seem right there. He jumps up and down on the bench. Could he not do that on the floor?
Mcbrick just cannot hit consistently. He is a 4 year player.
Golden looks worse.
Mcrae is so streaky. Who knows when he will hit another outside shot.
Stokes is not that good. Also, a liability at the line.
This team needs to step up in a weak SEC this year. Right now, almost every player looks no better, or worse from last year (except Richardson). Although Richardson's miss dunk was inexcusable. New players to team cannot score in a empty gym.

Time to start making some headway in recruiting.

Just terrible.
Year 2 is starting like Dooley's year 2. Martin has to get the going. To many returning starters and players to be looking worse in year 2. (Even with Maymon out)

Gundy was never was going to leave OK ST. He played high school in OK, college at OK ST, and just finished a big "dream home". Duh, why even interview him. Anybody could have seen the ploy to get a bigger contract at OK ST.
Concern for Strong is that if he does not leave Louisville, then one would have to wonder about him. Not leaving a basketball school to coach in the best football conference says you are not a competitor. If he is happy at Louisville (not a place he was from orginally from), then I would not want him anyway. He is afraid of real competition.

If Gruden wants NFL, there are a lot better options than Philly. I would not count out TN. If wife wants back to TN, this is her chance. Gruden gets paid big regardless where he goes. He gets paid big if he stays at ESPN.
It will be where they want to live and raise their boys.

Gruden should be the #1 choice. He has the charisma to recruit and has good coaching past experience. Mostly pro, but some college. Recruiting is the priority in college. You can only coach so many less skilled players versus a team with far superior skilled players. There are the 3 stars that are better than their rating, but year in and year out a team stands a better chance of winning with top 10 recruiting.
We have a advantage with Gruden's wife being from East TN. If she has that in her blood, she we want to return to this great place. To raise their 3 boys here will be far better than NFL cities.
I would throw the pocket book at him. It would be well worth the dollars I believe. Gruden has to be able to recruit better than Dooley. I think his brother is the o-coordinator for the Bengals. The Gruden hire would definitely set the college world on edge.

Is there a worse halftime coach than Dooley. Three years ago, it was--we did not have the depth, we are young we we stunk up 2nd halves. Now, we just stink.
Wish him well, as I think he is a honarable guy. He should resign and agree on a buyout. I am sure the lawyer in him will come out though.