Comments by kevininaugustageorgia

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

Good for them and Coach Fulmer!

Some of my greatest memories as a Vols fan came from watching teams Fulmer coached.

If you can't be happy for him now that he has moved on, you could at least be respectful and hold your tongue.

I guess some folks wont be happy till they can literally pee on his grave.

It is this poison mouthed portion of the fan-base that sometimes makes me wonder if UT deserves to be amongst the best again...

Written on With spring break looming, UT coaches say much work still to be done:

in response to jimvolfan:

For his part, Jancek bemoaned the team’s poor tackling.

“Obviously we’ve got a lot of work to do with our tackling,” he said. “That’s pretty obvious for anybody that was out here. We’re missing a lot of tackles.”

That’s why Jancek said he was more concerned about the basics right now than the installation of his system.

Tackling has been a problem at UT for years. Too many attempts at arm tackling and not wrapping up the opponent. I hope that Jancek can get the guys to go back to basics and learn how to tackle properly.

Nail on the head. Doesn't matter what the system or if a guy is in place or not if he doesn't know how to tackle.

As a group, UT hasn't tackled well the past couple of years.

At least this defensive staff seems to recognize the importance of wraping up and making the tackle.

Written on Robert Gillespie hired as Tennessee's new running backs coach:

Thank goodness Coach Jones hired a quality black man for this opening. Reading and hearing about how few African American coaches the UT staff has compared to others had already gotten old.

Maybe now we can all get back to talking about football instead of color of skins...

Written on With first class, Butch Jones and staff worked overtime to build relationships :

in response to volthrunthru#658770:

Okay...let's look at your goof-ball reasoning.

Cutting to the chase...if we who want better coaches and programs than currently are in place really are like those Bama fans...

then you are saying, implicitly, that this bunch of coaches in place now is as good as Sabin and crew, that everybody wil be pleased with their on-field product---that it will be as productive as Saban's...and that nobody needs to say a word.

Horse Manure. Your reasoning stinks. No wonder you could compliment the guy; both of you are devoid of understanding about football, coaches and organizational development in sports organizations.

Congratulations. One of you can take the day off and the other write posts for both of you. No differenct. Both posts are full of stuff...

I've been coaching and teaching football for over 25 years now. Got a wall full of plaques and trophys to prove I understand that, organizational development and sports organizations, too.

You, on the other hand, appear very quilified in name calling and not knowing what you are talking about. If those were Olympic events, you could win a medal every 4 years...

Written on With first class, Butch Jones and staff worked overtime to build relationships :

in response to sameolvolalum:

Whoa, Kev! Who got YOUR panties in such a wad? You two need to get a room, or at least find a spot underneath some bleachers to either duke it out or make out. At any rate.........keep it off here.

Hey, I thought I was very restrained there.

If someone doesn't like the new staff or the administration, I'm fine with that. But, when you compare playing to an audience (as all coaches do on occasion) to having morals of a Petrino, I think someone needs to point it out as a poor comparison. So, using my God given East Tennessee wit, I pointed it out. The humor was unappreciated, though.

Still, If our new coach ever gets caught playing dirty with a lil co-ed, then he's fair game. But, theres a big line between playing to a crowd and ruining lives. And making that jump is inappropriate at best and idiot at worst, thats all.

Written on With first class, Butch Jones and staff worked overtime to build relationships :

in response to volthrunthru#658770:

You-hoooo! Pssssst! Kevinnn!!!!Over-Here! Hey, uh, it's safe to take your meds. The asteroid will NOT hit you if you take 'em. Promise.

Listen...nobody said the guy is Petrino, or like Petrino, except both tend to have reporters and fans wondering about some of the stuff they say. But Petrino takes that to a whole other level...or maybe two levels.

And just to help you out... programs that win 11 or 12 games in regular season are national leaders...in one year...or year after year...

Uh...pssssttt! Uh, Kevin...just to help you out...

when was the last time that happened? And...pssst...uh...Kevin...who was head coach then at UT? And, uh...pssstt...Kevin...how many times did that Head Coach do that???

And...psst...uh...Kevin...what did the national leader level leaders of the Athletics Department and University do with that guy, when he was about to turn the corner in a bad year and win eight games????

Here's a clue: they fired him on Homecoming Monday! Guaranteed to make the players do well!

HamilHart type ethics---you know, like either pushing out Pat Summitt or making it look like that was being done. Class leadership all the way. And most fans do not say a word, because it goes right over their head.

That level of fan ignorance would be confused enough to think that the messenger is responsible for the message---

confused enough

to believe that somebody who says the Orange Emperors have not had clothes for several years on Mount Knoxville...

was going to cause irrepairable harm to the naked emperors, who are making Mount Knoxville the laughinstock of the Football Kingdom.

Some fans, thank The Almighty, are smart enough to tell hens from their cackles, cars from the honk of their horns and football performance at UT from fan comments about the lack of that performance.

Just so you can now say you have been told...but that probably was too deep for you...

Please allow me to help you a little further, so you do not shame your homehtown...

it is okay for Secretary Rice to be on the course @ The Masters. You do not have to do anything about it.

It's okay to take down the 1958 calendar...

Promise...

Gee, you wrote a whole book just for me. What can I say except, I'm flattered.

I wont attempt to argue with you on all that, because I frankly don't wont to invest the time.

I will say you absolutely did compare the current coach to Petrino. Even an East Tennessee education (Sweetwater is the hometown, not Augusta) could figure out your comment was meant to compare the two.

"B.S. artists are easy to find. Arkansas had one who got caught". Your quote, not mine.

If those words were not intended to attempt to convey Jones' character is comparable to Petrino, then you need to learn how to write, instead of me to read.

Sorry you didn't like my sarcasim. It is simply my way of making a point about idiotic comments without actually calling the author an idiot.

I judged your comments, not you. You, in turn, write a book to call me a homophobe and / or a racist. Nice.

I'm guessing by your responding by name calling that you are not voting the straight Republican ticket lately. It's ok, nobody is perfect. Have a great day!

Written on With first class, Butch Jones and staff worked overtime to build relationships :

in response to volthrunthru#658770:

"Some of the stories may have been embellished, some of the one-liners polished a bit to get maximum laughs from the crowd. And some of the assertions — like the one that quarterback signee Riley Ferguson has lost only two games in his life dating to Pop Warner ball — are difficult to verify."

I see that Mr. Woodberry is beginning to get wise to Jone's tendency to exaggerate.

"Best coaching staff in the USA." "UT was always my dream job." "saw UT play growing up."
"We don't go by stars." "We have our own evaluation system." etc, etc.

B.S. artists are easy to find. Arkansas had one who got caught---but he could recruit and compete with coaches at the highest levels.

At UT maybe it would be a good thing to cut the B.S., stop the exaggerations and just perform.

Next year, if Jones recruits players with lots of stars, or if the class's ranking is high, he'd better not mention it.

He has already painted himself into a corner.
But you can bet that he has always wanted to be in that corner, and it's the best corner in the USA.

Yeah, you stay after him, bud! Don't let this guy get away with any junk...

The nerve! Actually playing up to the crowd! No other coach or staff in the country would dare do such a thing.

Stay after 'em. Let us know all about these important issues your investigations uncover.

Also, thanks for the comparison to Petrino. Bet the average UT fan has not seen evidence that leads to that conclusion!

UT fans who step up and continually point these things out, help keep our proud program a national leader in college football year after year...

Written on Butch Jones says Vols were 'selective' :

in response to claiborneh:

Are Saban and Urban Meyer actually the best coaches or best recruiters. How good a coach is any coach if they play with the best recruits in the country. Isn't Saban supposed to win? Would he not be a poor coach if he can't win with the players he has?

I grew up in Sweetwater and am a UT fan for as long as I can remember. And at 53, that's a pretty long time. But, I give those 2 coaches all the credit they deserve for the teams they have had.

Meyer coached teams that were top notch when he was at Utah--and he didn't have top 10 recruiting classes there. Same with Saban at Michigan State.

I'm a Vol all my life but even the best UT teams of the early 2000's couldn't beat Meyer's boys. And if Jones gets UT back in anywhere near as good a shape as Bama is within the next 4 years, I'll be a his fan for life.

You gotta give the devil his due when it comes to good coaching results. These guys have been there but continue to produce teams that get them back.

If Fulmer had done that--with similar rated talent--he would still be at UT. In hindsight, he probably still should be anyway.

Written on Vols flip Brown from Syracuse:

in response to Witch_Doctors:

Witch Doctor say as you can read we only have Vandy and UK football trolls and they are like arguing with boy cheerleaders! lol.
Witch Doctor ask did you hear? UK is bringing back the Air Raid sirens..last time no touchdowns but 100s in the state was killed by Tornadoes because everyone come to think it was another false alarm!! HAHA
Bones never lie.

Saw that UK ad, Witchy. Evidently, those sirens scared off most top notch recruits, too.

Kentucky may have a better known coaching name now but this guy's first name isn't Bob. Heck, Rich Brooks is a better coach by far. He was the best football coach they had up there since Claiborne in the 80's.

Stick to basketball, Bluegrass boys. Y'all know what your doing there...

Written on Vols flip Brown from Syracuse:

Way to go Ole Miss!

That pat on the butt Coach Freeze got from Sandra Bullock musta been good luck.

Heck, maybe some of our beloved trolls will take their talents to the Ole Miss website after today...

Written on Govols247: Remaining Tennessee targets: Where they stand :

in response to jomo11:

why recruiting rankings mean more than you think : http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/coll...

Oh yeah, if its in an article on Sports Illustrated its got to be right! Gimme a break!

Anybody who recruits top 25 or so talent can win big. Sure, ability is important but there is a huge amount of ability out there. Its developing what you have that seperates the big winners from the also-rans.

When I see a high school kid on national TV saying "i'm taking my talents to...next year", I want to throw up!

God bless 'em all and good luck to them but its more about development than raw talent. If not, USC would have won about 10 of the past 20 national titles.

When they had the coaching and the talent, they were there every year. Since they have had just the talent, not so much...

UT has had decent classes for 4 years now. They can compete. And they will have to do that first, before the national bandwagon starts playing Rocky Top again.

Written on Bell, Lawson head big prospects Vols still wooing:

in response to CheekMustGo:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Blahh, blahh, blahh....

Signed,
A supporter sick of supporters who are sick of the University leadership.

Written on Fulmer says he'd be 'willing to help' ETSU:

in response to JWilly:

Reading the comments here it is obvious that CPF is a very polarizing figure. I think all would be better off if he left K-ville and found another coaching job. I think ETSU would work very well. Hope it works out for him. It's a dead cinch that no major program is going to hire him.

I think you may be a little off base on the no major program will hire Fulmer comment. Unless you are privy to info no one else gets.

Whats obvious is that he hasn't been offered by a big time program that he wants. Otherwise, it becomes a definition thing. As in what is your definition of a big time program?

I define big time as a D-1 (or FBS, or whatever they call D-1 nowadays). Anyway, there are about 120 of those schools. Fulmer himself has said the situtation had to be just right or he wasn't interested--that likely eliminates about 3 of every 4.

IMO, there are D-1 schools out there who would hire Fulmer in a minute. But, something in the top 30 or so are what he wants. And, you are correct in that respect.

The upper-tier guys wont hire a Fulmer for the same reason they would not hire a Bobby Bowden (if he were looking) or some other big names.

Its a safer hire as an AD to get someone coming up or to hire someone away than it is to hire someone who was fired, period. Fans look at a hire like that as taking another school's reject. That is something that many fans think a top 30 or so school shouldn't do.

Fulmer isn't the end-all greatest ever college coach. But, he's a heck of a lot better than a lot of people give him credit for now-a-days.

This comment is coming from a person who thinks that Fulmer stabbed John Majors in the back, back in the day. Still, that doesn't mean he can't coach college football--and coach it well.

Written on Dallas Cowboys hire Derek Dooley as wide receivers coach :

in response to BIVOLAR_BEARE:

The NFL has plenty of coach's Phil's age, so really that's a flawed argument.

Fulmer's a better football head coach than Watson Brown. But, I get what you are saying.

Written on Should the Vols recruit more junior college football players?:

No. We should recruit more pro players.

Just have them wear masks like 'rasslers and nobody will ever know...

Written on Fulmer says he'd be 'willing to help' ETSU:

Fulmer was a great coach at UT.

Like anybody else, he has some flaws. And yeah, things slipped a bit in the end. But, his worst four years in a row would be Heavenly compared to how UT football has been the past 4 years in a row.

It takes more than a head coach to have a championship college football program. As for me, it is plain 4 years later that there were more issues BEHIND the curtains than in front when Fulmer was fired.

But its done now. Throwing stones at the last guy to lead UT when they were on top for where they are now, is irrational.

Give the guy his due respect and wish him well. He has only good things to say about Tennessee, he deserves the same in return.

Also, before blaming Fulmer now, think back to when UT was playing for a SEC title about every 3rd or 4th year. Then, spoiled Vols fans (not all, but enough!) thought that was poor coaching.

Written on Vonn Bell enjoys his visit to UT:

in response to rtrchatt:

Someone...too funny. The better thought is can we find 25 that want to play at UT?

You are just, just....mean! And, we are not your friend anymore.

If we were not smart enough to know better, we may think you are just trying to stir up trouble here.

So, until you can play nice and frame your comments in a more positive way, we will not play with you anymore....Meanie!

Written on John Adams: Tough times ahead for UT football :

in response to volthrunthru#658770:

I wish this Fall was going to be different. Jones will do no better than Dooley on-field: beat Austin Peays & get racked up by Oregons, Floridas, Bamas & SC's. I am ill at ease from what I have seen. Here's why:

a. A widely respected friend-a friend among Cincinnati powerful says people there were stunned when Jones left. Jones had assured townies, school & players how much he wanted stay, a few weeks before bolting.

b. Here, Jones proclaims he will have the best coaching staff in the USA. He hires his from Cincinnati, without talking to several available widely respected, nationally known coaches/coordinators.

c. He claims he has wanted to coach here all his life. Strange for a Michigan guy---especially one who wanted to stay in Cincinnati.

d. He says UT can win the SEC with Tennessee H.S. players, which East, West, &---to a lesser degree--- Middle Tennessee fans, want to hear. Within two days Phillip Fulmer, who could have said nothing, says Jones has never recruited nationally, but must, he is to succeed here.
When he left, Jones made sure to take one of UC's committed recruits---a 2-star lineman. Maybe from UC or Central Mich., a 2-stars is national recruiting. Not in the SEC. SEC Coaches doing that when leaving, are not very well thought of.
e. Trust is apparently not bedrock in cultures that he comes from.

1) This week we learned that his mentor, Kelly, at N.D. , whom Jones followed at Central Mich., then Cincinnati---as Kelly got better jobs---does the same kind of you-gotta-cut-the-cards when he talks.

Having proclaimed love for N.D., Kelly then interviews at Philly. Then we learn Notre Dame football under Kelly has covered up lies by his premier player---lies designed to get support from those who bestow post-season honors.

2) Also Jones told John Adams, for this article, a story which embarrasses the President of the University of Cincinnati, but makes Jones look prescient.
My take-away:
a. Jones tells everybody what they want to hear.
b. Jones tells things to make himself look good that make others look bad.
c. Phillip Fulmer, in the meeting w/Jones, could not have missed discussing how mentally NOT tough & undisciplined Vols were w/Kiffen or Dooley.

Jones needs backing of Fulmer and former Vol players; so he hires a popular explayer...plus says what Fulmer wants to hear...says everywhere in Tennessee what they want to hear...tells recruits and parents what THEY want to hear. Jones does so to position himself. Jones is no reincarnation of The General; he is a masterful politician.

This guy gets multiple million$, plus his mid-major staff raises of 50%, his own contract makes him richer than the town he came from, regardless.

No wonder he tells everybody what they want to hear; Cheek, the Pres & Hart certainly told him what HE wanted to hear.

That will work until Oregon takes the field. Maybe Jones will have figured out by then what Oregon wants to hear.

Everything you say here has happened a thousand other times, with a thousand other coaches coming into a new school.

You may be a Vol through and through and would coach the team for free. But unfortunately, these guys who do it for a living, want to get paid.

No different than a first rate upper executive changing employers. Your new company is the biggest and best. Also, if you have any class, you don't trash where you came from.

While I applaud your seemingly heart felt emotion, your message isn't exactly breaking any new ground.

Also, if you expected UT to be a giant killer (Oregon, these days) in the guys' first year, you may have been setting the bar too high for year one.

I expect UT to be among the very best in the college game. But, I'll give the guy a couple of years to get them there before I start throwing stones at his character.

Written on USC fires basketball coach Kevin O'Neill:

in response to BrassMonkey:

TN needs to follow suit.

Silly monkey! Tennesse can't fire Kevin O'Neil, he no longer works here.

Written on Running back Watson no longer on Vols' roster:

in response to pcorange:

Okay. Why is Quenshaun Watson no longer with the team? Some insight into why we are losing players would be nice.

There's some insight in this article:

http://www.govolsxtra.com/news/2013/j...

Read it, then do a little math. My math says he either has some real big personal / family issues which are not our business. Or, he's a drama queen.

Either way, if he divorced UT or the new coach divorced him, doesn't matter. He probably was an issue for the team just waiting to happen if he stayed...

Written on John Adams: Vols chasing Vanderbilt in recruiting :

in response to TimOliver:

Kevin

I hope to God you are not saying Vanderbilt is the standard! I want to be on a level playing field with the powers that be in the SEC. If not, let's get out of the SEC and play somrwhere else.
But since you brought it up, I understand that Vandy is making exceptions that UT will not!
It's ridiculous!

Nah, not at all. I was just making a point using this year's 'Dores and Notre Dame. They were both winners and they both have high academic standards.

Not saying that UT has to have the same standards as an Ivy League school. But, expecting your athletes to attend class and make decent grades--especially with the amount of free tutors available to help--isn't too much to ask.

The bottom line is UT's football problems are not the result of academic standards being too high at UT. Using that is just making excuses for the real issues they have had.

Also, Vandy was better than us this year. But I certainly don't expect that trend to continue or for it to even become 2 in a row.

My whole point is the answer is not always firing people, as the guy I was replying to seems to think. Wonder if he is judged as harshly by others as he judges?

Written on John Adams: Vols chasing Vanderbilt in recruiting :

in response to DwayneElizondoMountainDewHerbertCamacho:

Because, what if he said no? What if he exposed the real problem with UT football which is the administration? What if he exposed that the real reason we can't hire a great coach is that, no matter the money, no great coach is willing to work under Cheek's ridiculous academic standards and Hart's inept leadership?

Are the standards set by Cheek more ridiculous than those set at say, Notre Dame or Vanderbilt?

They have high academic standards and they won last season.

I'd say that Cheek wouldn't be doing his job correctly if he didn't insist on high academic standards.

You don't have to have a team full of ignorant morons to win football games. You can have good academics and good football. Matter of fact, you should have good academics and good football.

If Vandy can so can UT.

Your answer on here to every issue UT has is "fire somebody!" Yeah, now there's a plan everybody can get behind...

Written on Tyler Bray, Justin Hunter, Cordarrelle Patterson, Darrington Sentimore to NFL draft:

in response to iowavol:

First and foremost, I'd like to thank these guys for being Volunteers and secondly, best of luck on draft day and even more luck in practice. No doubt all four will at least end up in summer camp. I don't know about most underclassmen going pro early, but it seems like they typically either issue a press release or have an interview thanking the fans they are leaving. Have we heard a peep out of Bray?

I read where he told someone he loved playing college ball for UT and may have stayed for his senior season if his OC had not changed.

He also said that he loved Tennessee and their fans.

Obviously, he didn't read this site too much, not that I blame him.

Written on Derek Dooley finds words for Twitter :

in response to ashvol7:

You must not have seen the ending in the LSU and Clemson game last night? Same old chief and his crazy prevent defense, he can always find a way to lose a game. He did it at UT and still is doing it at LSU. Miles is just as bad, three passing plays when they had the chance to end the game. If I remember they had second and three and passed the ball twice, who called those plays? Remember the Alabama game, they both found a way to lose.

John Chavis is an excellent D-coordinator. Even great football coaches lose a ballgame every now and then. No such thing as a coach who wins them all.

Nothing but top 10 national finishes and double digit winning seasons at LSU since Chavis got there. His defenses there average giving up less than 18 points a game playing SEC schedules. That's why he will make over a million a year as an assistant next year. LSU is going to try and keep him there-and happy.

I wonder if you are as critical about your own performance as you are some of the best coaches in football. If so, you would have to be the most miserable person ever. Or, the only guy since Jesus who never makes mistakes.

Written on Tennessee Vols await Bray, Patterson plans:

in response to claiborneh:

Text from Patterson to Butch Jones:
Mr. Jones, I forgot to tell you I'm going to the NFL. Do you have any last minute persuasion that I might consider worth risking ripping out my knee before I sign a multi million dollar contract?

Txt reply to Mr. Patterson,

No, not me personally. But, a few boosters got together and purchased a $15,000,000 Lloyds of London disability policy in your mom's name, just in case.

What's her favorite color Mercedes, by the way?

Written on Are you satisfied with the coaching staff Butch Jones has put together?:

in response to jollofran:

My problem is not with the staff he put together. My issue is his comments at the press conference where he promised the best coaching staff in the country. I believe this Coach is going to be prone to over promise and under deliver. Our recruiting class is second to last in the SEC, so January will tell whether or not he can recruit. Dave Hart claimed he was a fantastic recruiter. We'll see. I don't mean to pessimistic, I'm just tired of losing. And it makes me absolutely sick to see Vanderbilt with the #12 recruiting class and growing. If this doesn't work out after the money Tennessee has shelled out... Butch Jones won't be the only person to lose their job. I just want to be an 8 win team again. Not asking for the world... yet. Maybe next season I'll ask for that.

Did you watch any of the other new coaches first pressers? I watched clips of two others besides Jones. Both of the other coaches said they were going to put "the best staff in the nation together."

That stuff is just coach speak 101. Every new coach thinks he has the best staff. It's like saying "we're only focusing on the next game" or "Our next opponent is really much better than their 1-10 record indicates.

You don't expect them to say I'm gonna put together a fairly good staff and hope we can come together. That's not going to instill much confidence or generate much money.

You just can't put any weight into those type comments, it's all coach speak.

Written on John Adams: Cordarrelle Patterson will leave highlights, regrets behind :

in response to lomas98:

If Patterson was on teams in the 90's he would have played db or would have sat due to not knowing blocking schemes or not being a great route runner.

Maybe, but he would definitely have returned kicks. After a few of those, they would have figured out ways to get him involved more.

When you have a game changer, you work a bit harder to help him figure it all out or to work him in anyway. That's coaching 101, regardless of who is coach.

Written on John Adams: Vols might have found a 'yes' man :

in response to eduardo:

FIRE DAVE HART AND JIMMY THE FREAKIN CHEEK NOW!!!!!!!!!!!! Hiring a guy who lost to the worst coach in UT History!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Upgrade this site!

Fire eduardo!

Written on Polls: Are you confident in Dave Hart? Should UT re-hire Phillip Fulmer?:

UT has some of the greatest fans in the college world. But, it also has a certain vocal minority of some of the most idiotic people who call themselves fans as well.

Every single time something goes the other way with UT football, the message boards light up with:

Fire Foolmer!
Fire Doolittle!
Fire Hartless!

What the Vols need is to fire about 5,000 or so of that particular brand of fan...

Written on Report: Tennessee offers Jon Gruden contract:

Gruden says kick in free yearly admission to the public to watch John Adams dance buck nekked on the 50 yard line and its a done deal.

Written on Gruden, Haslam, Browns shoot down Memphis report over UT deal:

in response to TKO:

I still think Petrino would be the best college coach to take. How does Gruden do with recruiting?

Petrino, great football coach. But, UT will not even seriously consider him for the following reasons:

1) He should be in jail right now.

Not for dating the lil honey on the side who was engaged to someone else. Not for running away from the Falcons like a coward. Not for all the other bull he has done and lied about. But, for using U of Arkansas funds to give a salaried job to his mistress.

There actually are laws against that. UT will not hire an admitted theif to coach the football team, no matter how good he can coach.

2) UT at least wants to hire a coach they THINK may be in it with the school for the long term. Clearly, that has never been the case with this guy in the past.

It would be nice to think they will hire a very capable coach. But, they are not this desperate, yet.

--Not even Auburn is this desperate and they are in worse shape than UT right now.

Petrino will get back in, but I doubt it will start with an SEC team this year.

Written on An early look at candidates to replace Derek Dooley as Vols' coach:

in response to DavidB:

That list will get longer. I think there are more candidates out there. We really need an sec coach. Wouldn't hurt to offer Myers or Steve spurrier. Sure they may turn us down but never hurts to ask.

I asked Steve Spurrier myself if he would consider an offer from UT just before he went to Carolina and Fulmer was under the gun. His exact answer to me was "they don't want me up in Knoxville."

When I said I thought he could easily win over the majority of the fan base, he made it clear he wasn't talking about the fans when he said that...

Spurrier will never be the coach at UT.

Written on Missouri beats Vols in 4 overtimes, 51-48:

in response to GlennFordsFoible:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

I thank UT has a great coach. Just needs more time.

Ray Goof
University of Georgia

PS-- It's easy to sit behind your keyboard and make negative comments about a football coach.

It's more difficult to support him for an appropriate amount of time to see if UT made a good hire in spite of doing it out of desperation.

Yes, it's time to make a move and yes, you and all the Dooley haters turned out to be right. Not because most of you knew what you were talking about, though. Rather, the odds were in your favor and you picked correctly.

Congrats, you guys are sooo football savy...

But, thanks to all the good UT fans who survived 3 years of the name calling to support a coach NO ONE knew for sure about.

PSS - The "idiot" is going to make over a million a year just to leave. You doin' better?

Written on John Adams: Schedules have taken toll on UT, South Carolina:

in response to 45ReVOLver:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

Not at all what I said. Try reading it, understanding what it says, then commenting.

Your current comment doesn't make any sense if it is in response to my post. Read the post again and really try to get what it says. You may find that you and I agree way more than you think.

But your reply has nothing to do with what my post says as is.

Written on John Adams: Not enough resilience to mask the mistakes :

in response to windsorwales:

Its time Bray sat out and let Worley start. Bray has cost us way too many games this year.

Based on your post, you must think that Bray was the reason the Vols lost in SC. Bray has made his share of mistakes no doubt. But, he is the best option the Vols have at QB.

I thought his over all play vs Bama was poor. I thought he messed up late in the Miss State game. But he played his tail off in the SC game.

Bray completed 28 of 44 passes for 368 and 4 TD's yesterday. His lone interception came when all was lost and they were throwing long into 8 guys in coverage out of desperation.

Bray has some issues but that kid played a heck of a football game yesterday.

2 things:

1) If you think that fumble was his fault after seeing the play, you don't understand how this works. Based on how quick Clowney got through, where Bray was in the throwing process and Clowney's angle of attack plus the downward force he generated when stricking the ball, it would have been big news if the ball had not been stripped.
2) Worley got a chance to play most of 2 games last year when Bray was out. He played most of the SC loss (14-3) and the Arky loss (49-7). 2 ballgames, total UT points = 10.

Worley is just a sophomore. No way he will do a better job than the one Bray just did. During his 2 games last year Worley was 25 of 55 thrown for a total of 308 yards, 0 touchdowns, 3 interceptions and was sacked twice for -17.

Bray is fine for right now.

Written on John Adams: Schedules have taken toll on UT, South Carolina:

in response to HopeisNotaCourseofAction:

Why would Gruden take any college gig? Muschump was promiised the 'little ut' job back then (coach in waiting) and once he realized the the HC was never leaving he bolted for uf. Those 2 are not good examples.

"They may win big next year..."? How can anyone remotely believe that is possible with these coaches who lost by double digits and several blow outs this year to ranked teams? Over half the SEC teams will pummel us again in recruiting so we are not gaining any ground there either.

Yes, let's give CDD 2, or 3 or 4 or 5 more years to fix it. So if we are still wallowing around at the bottom of the SEC in 2018 with a 5-7 or 6-6 record, and CDD is 0-50 vs ranked teams, may we all agree it is time to replace him then?

Did you read my comment before you wrote this reply? Because if you did, I cannot communicate with you.

Read it, understand exactly what I am saying. Then, if you dissagree, I would expect you to write.

Examples: You said Gruden and Mushchamp should not count as coaches who were asked and turned the job down? Why not?

The reasons they turned it down are immaterial to the fact--They turned the job down at the time. That's a fact! Facts do count, regardless of why they exist.

Written on John Adams: Schedules have taken toll on UT, South Carolina:

in response to CaptainCaveman:

(This comment was removed by the site staff.)

No answers, just complaints. Typical I ain't got a clue how its done but I want my team to win right now or it's "fire the coach."

You can believe it or not but Dooley has improved this team. They may win big next year, or it may take 2 or 3 more years with Dooley. But he will eventually win well if he is here.

The only real question is can UT find the appropriate, qualified, quality person. One who is also WILLING to take the job from here and make them win sooner? If not, may as well hang with what they have until they can or till he wins.

That may not be a great plan or one many of the "fire the coach" crowd likes but it is at least A plan.

A minimum of 5 other coaches turned this job down (icluding Gruden and Muschamp) before Dooley took it last time. Because they could see it was a mess, included extra weight they didn't want and would take longer than normal to fix. Why ruin their good name if they had no guarantees they too wouldn't fall victim to the "fire the coach" crowd before the job was done?

A year before that, the then AD was listening to the "fire the coach" crowd before he hired a suitable replacement.

That's where the whole mess started. Because he fired a coach before he lined up an appropriate replacement.

Before UT fires the coach again I hope we have an AD who has a plan in place that actually works out. Otherwise, the past 3 years go to waste as well.

How about we fire some of the "fire the coach" crowd around here?

They are the root cause of the issues to begin with. Oh that's right, that would cut the numbers by about 50% on this site.

Written on John Chavis urges Tennessee's fans' support through rough patch :

in response to NatanElias:

Fulmer's success was due to Chavis and Cutcliffe.

Bingo! Correct answer. But, to Fulmer's credit he did have them and even managed to keep Chief.

Written on John Chavis urges Tennessee's fans' support through rough patch :

in response to pcorange:

Nice article. Reckon there was any other reason for Chavis being in town?

Just off the press!

Yes, Chavis was here for a reason! The touchdown club paid his expenses and gave him a check for speaking.

Same as was happening in about a 50 other places across the nation...

Written on John Adams: Vols playing at a level that could get their coaches fired :

in response to whatthe84:

I know the popular opinion on this weekend was not positive. I saw a different game I guess. I saw a defense that was spot on at the begining of the game. I saw a Tyler Bray who had fire in his eyes during the first series. With this week we begin South Carolina week and another giant foe no doubt looms in Columbia. The Orange men and I say men will take the field at Williams Brice as an underdog of about 6 points I predict. Tyler Bray will rise to the occasion and charcoal the yard birds with his sharp sword he carries strapped to his long side. Our defense is much to stout for the SC offense that is mistake prone. Steve Spurrier aka the Ole Ball Coach will be out of his league when CDD strolls onto the field without his crutches and inspires the Volunteer nation with his gritty toughness. The team will rally around CDD and pull off a win for the ages. A win that might bring home a goal post to K-town. Ole Rocky top will prevale and the rest of the season will be all Dubs with a momentum into next year that will be climaxed with the crystal ball being hoisted at the BCS National Championship. Go Big Orange, keep chopping the wood CDD and believe in each other and the mighty Volunteer nation!!!!! Wait till next year, we have a couple of red shirt freshman who will dominate the D line. Next year the trifecta will be complete: SEC East, SEC Championship, and the BCS National Championship!!!!!!! FACT!

Spurrier doesn't like being referred to as the "ole ball coach." He says he ain't old. He does call himself the head ball coach from time to time, though.

I've heard some sports casters saying Carolina is real fragile right now. Because of the 2 losses in a row and being basically out of the SEC East / national championship picture.

Heck, if that's what makes a team fragile, imagine how the Vols must be right now? They should have breakable stickers plastered all over each player.

I think that the team in the most sensitive mental shape is UT right now. Spurrier is going to rally his troops and try to turn things around against the Vols at home.

I hate to say it, but Clowney and co. are going to crash into Bray several times early on. They know he doesn't like to be hit and it may rattle him. UT's fine offensive line may keep him from being sacked much but S.C. is too good up front to not get their hands on him some. They will be hitting him.

If Bray acts as immature and has his head as far up his own butt as he did after the Bama game, CDD may need to warm up Worley to finish this one up anyway.

Like Dooley said, Bray needed to "man up" and show for the presser like his team mates. Instead, he left them to hold the bag and went off pouting. He may become a leader but it's obvious he ain't one yet...

Written on Vols' slump could put Dooley's future in question:

in response to UTKin1992:

Would you go to a football coach for legal advice?

Then why does UT believe a lawyer can coach our football team?

I've read some dumb comments on here but you win the award. That is officially, the dumbest comment I've ever read on a UT board.

So dumb in fact, any explanation why by me would make me about as dumb.

Written on Tennessee AD Dave Hart says Vols must move with 'urgency' to catch SEC's elite :

in response to stevefrommemphis:

"Carrying the largest - by far - debt service in the conference."

Thank you, Mike Hamilton, for trying to turn Neyland Stadium into the Taj Mahal.

I think you missed something. When Hart talks about UT's facilities, he means the stadium too. Neyland is a great stadium but far from the best in the country as far as ammenities. So a Taj Mahal, it ain't.

Hamilton is guilty of riding herd over the program's downturn, I completely agree with you there. But the big money wasted was not what he put into the infrastructure of Neyland--far from it.

In short, the improvements Hamilton made to Neyland Stadium were needed. And certainly are not the problem with the debt UT athletics currently has.

There isn't anything debt wise that can't be fixed at UT by a return to winning and competing for titles. Of course, even then, you need to manage the money properly.

Right now, UT is paying the price for 8 years of significant down-turn as far as their record idicates overall. The money crunch didn't just show up recently, it's been slowly inching up--as attendance, contributions and outside advertising contracts have been slowly drying up--as the Vols have become a second tier SEC team during this time.

The good news is where UT is now, doesn't have to be where they are in the future. TV and poll voters are itching for them to start winning again, just like they were when John Majors was hired in 1977.

The difference between then and now is, the recovery started about 3 years ago this time around. They do have some athletes on the team overall now.

Written on Mark Wiedmer: Are Auburn or UT desperate enough to hire Petrino?:

in response to Pompey:

...as everyone who has posted here knows winning in major college and professional sports is the only thing...Petrino will be hired as a head coach, the only question is who will do it...!

It wont be UT.

Written on John Adams: Vols need to play to strengths :

in response to Stooley_Dinks:

What is with the "let's play pony tail salon" pic?!?

These are truly dark days.

John, just come out and SAY IT like Sam Kinnison demanded in Back to School...remember Robert Downey, Jr before he had dental work? Dooley is too much of a p___y wimp to call THE PLAY!

But Stooley, you are a troll. Really, wanting our coach to win games is being a troll?

Yes, if you don't predict a 4 TD win every game, you are a troll.

But, what if we lose due to bad coaching and I really believe a better coach could win?

Then you are a troll. If Bill Battle had recruited better, then he would have started a string of 40 National Championships. However, when Nixon resigned, Battle was so upset, he lost it. Johnny Majors was poised to win, but Jimmy Carter and the oil embargoes were too much to overcome.

But that is irrelevant. Dooley is the coach now.

Yes, but WaltGoVols psyched him out just like you. He was on his way to a National Championship, but you, Walt, and Merlot posted ugly things about his ability. That hurt his feelings. Everyone knows that polishing Dooley's shoes is the only way to win. Firing Dooley and hiring a great coach would be disastrous.

I do not think you are a troll, Stooley. I just think you are wrong.

But, you got lots of company out there. If the coach don't win soon enough or don't win big enough, its "Fire the Coach." As if the next national championship coach in waiting is lined up outside the offices at UT.

Good thing your crowd wasn't listened to seriously in 1978, 79, 80 etc. If so, Majors would have been fired long before he brought the Vols back into the national picture.

Oh yeah, that means Fulmer would have been thrown out with the Majors water, too. And don't forget Chief, he was part of the crowd that developed during that era.

Hollarin' fire the coach about Dooley already don't make you a troll in my book, it just means you don't get it on what it takes to get UT football back on the map.

Written on John Adams: Vols need to play to strengths :

in response to budd#207344:

I have heard and seen the same thing. So why, in a critical year, would you make this kind of change? This is a team that needs a winning season more than ever. Imagine where the record is if last year's D with depth is playing instead of this unit?

My guess is it went like this:

Dooley had always planned on going to the 3-4 at some point. Had Wilcox stayed, he would not have changed this year. But, when Wilcox wanted to go, he had to have a new coordinator.

He could have possibly found a good 4-3 guy and hired him. But, that still means he has the change to make at some point.

Hiring a new coordinator creates some risk regardless of what system he uses. A new 4-3 guy may have come in and had issues that were not foreseen.

That course means you risk having issues this year as well as when you make the change you intend to make.

Since change is in the plan, why not go ahead and make it to the one you want to be married to for the long term? Its as simple as making the best of the situation.

Wilcox was leaving and somebody new had to be hired. May as well bite the bullet and go all in at that point.

That defense will continue to improve this year because Sunseri is going to be a good coordinator. I would bet money on that.

Will it improve enough to make a difference verses MSU, Ala, or SC? I don't know.

But, I believe they can out-score MSU and Missouri with what they have. If they get good enough soon enough on defense to compete with Alabama or SC that will be a big plus.

8-4 regular season as they stand. If they do that and scare phooey out of Ala or SC, I think that will do for now. Next year this defense--and this whole team--should be really strong.

Written on John Adams: Vols need to play to strengths :

in response to UTistheOLEMISSoftheEAST:

I'm just glad i'm not a ut fan. How miserable that must be.

EIGHT

I'm glad your not a UT fan too. Adding your I.Q. into the other million UT fans brings our collective average down.

I'm a UT fan and I'm not miserable. Good for Florida, they have won 7 or 8 in a row over UT!

UT's day will come around again. Normal fans get that. I surely hope that when UT is on a good winning streak against Florida and ranked in the top 5, they will spend their time celebrating with UT folks.

Rather than acting like an idiot trolling for responses to stupid comments on the Florida fans sites.

Will Muschamp is looking like a great coach. Good for the good Florida fans!

Too bad for him he has more of the silly trolls as fans than the normal coach...

Written on John Adams: Vols need to play to strengths :

in response to budd#207344:

I have a question. Although I am not on the Wilcox bandwagon, last year we ended with the 28th ranked defense. The D worked well in the first half then faded in the second. We were told it was lack of depth. This year the D spent this last week working on basic tackling and angles and pursuit? We have more depth and didn't lose any impact seniors except Malik from D. Is this defense that much more difficult that it causes players to forget how to play? Or is there some other reason that we have gone backward on defense this year?

The issues now on defense are mostly inconsistencies. That is what happens when you are going through the transition.

Several college football former coach turned analysts, familiar with other teams who have made the switch from the 4-3 to the 3-4 warned about this over the summer. Folks who know have said this transition year would have ups and downs.

Players are still getting confused from time to time on responsibilities. That's why the defense works great most of the time, then wham! A 70 yard TD run.

If the offense lined up the exact same way every time, no problem. But offenses use multiple formations and lots of motions to try and create confusion.

The other guys have highly paid coaches and scholarship players, too.

As the year goes on, the defense will continue to improve and the big plays will become less.

Switching to this defense is a process. Like it or not, this is the year UT pays the price for learning.

It would have been nice for them to have gotten away with making the change without pain, but other teams that make the switch have experienced the same things and the same pains.

Written on John Adams: Vols need to play to strengths :

in response to 10seVol85_Part_Deux:

Sorry, but I would have gone for it on that fourth and five. No faith in the FG kicking, but that isn't it. I wanted them to go for it because of the exact thing Adams is talking about. Down by 14 against #5, on the road, you have to take those risks. I guarantee he would have gone for it on fourth and five at the 30. Failing there would have given the Dogs a lot better field position than inside the 10. Trust the offense. Take some chances. Coach like Spurrier -- go for it any time you're on their side of the field.

Derek Dooley going for the FG there probably has as much to do with all the critisim he is under as any football reason. Either way he decided to go, it's still 3rd quarter and would not win or lose the game at that time.

I would have gone for the first down there, too. Just like you and ol John here.

But, say he did go for the first down and they failed to get it? You, John or me just shrug it off and say, we gave it a shot.

For Dooley, it's 2 weeks of "what the heck was he thinking? He wasted the drive! He should have taken the GUARANTEED 3 points (See, when they are criticizing, no way the kicker would have missed that one). So, the outside noise from the out to get Dooley crowd would go off the meter on that call.

He called it safe, like most coaches under fire will do.

Maybe when / if Dooley is confident that the ramifications of taking the less-conservative approach is normal. As in, just ticking off a few fans and reporters if it fails to work, he will call one like that different.

Right now, making such a call only gives more ammunition to the "he's an idiot" crowd.

So, I expect when the coach is faced with situations where there is no clear cut right or wrong, he is going to go with the by the book appproach--for the moment, anyway. Why give the fire Dooley crowd additional ammunition?

As long as you go with the normal, expected call, you can justify the criticism.

Like it or not, that has to enter into the thought process if you want to win and hang around to enjoy it too.

Written on Is Mississippi State a top-20 caliber team?:

in response to VolzsFan:

First of all, the good teams like Alabama and LSU do not roll into Starkville and beat up Miss. State. Just does not happen. When Tennessee was a team like that during the golden era of the Hall of Famer, they did not go in there and beat them up. This will be a very long day for UT.

Miss. State has not played anyone so therefore they are not a top 25 team, correct? Interesting. Clemson has not beaten or played anyone either yet they are a top 25 team. Clemson struggled with Auburn. Miss. State beat them like they where Georgia State. BTW, Troy is no pushover as we will see very soon. Miss. State went to their place and won. Miss. State did Saturday what UT could not do last year....went to Lexington and won.

UT shouldn't expect to just show up and beat anybody nowadays. But, if the past were a good indicator (which it isn't here), Tennessee would be sitting pretty in Starkeville.

The Vols have won 6 straight over the Bulldogs (and 4 out of 5 in Starkeville) by an average score of 40-15. A 25 point average margin of victory borders on blow-out numbers to many folks.

Miss. State didn't suddenly become loaded with talent the last couple of years. They suddenly got a good football coach. He runs a system that allows them to compete with more talent laden teams.

The system doesn't always mean more winning over the big guys but it does mean better games at least. The new ways at State are a lot of the reason why the past Vols big wins don't mean all that much coming into this game.

This isn't the same Miss. State team, coaching staff or philosophy of the past 15 years or so.

Still, if you go back far enough into the past, you would get the same type results. Jackie Sherill was an especially good coach who could do more with a little less. That's why he and Dan Mullen are the only two coaches with a winning record at Miss State in the past 50 years.

The Vols can beat these guys if they play as well as they did the first 3 quarters of the Florida game--but for the whole game.

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