It's great to have football back. So wonderful that this off-season has been mostly uneventful. It's been so quiet that Butch Jones literally said virtually nothing for 40 minutes yesterday at his annual state of the state. I call this a great sign. Camp begins this year with relatively little controversy yet many questions. And if you think about it, this takes a little bit of skill to execute from a pr standpoint. This is a team replacing virtually both lines with major issues at QB including the lack of a true #1 and yet everything seems pretty harmonious. And from what I understand, behind the scenes much harmony exists on this team. It's a far cry from any pre-season in the past five years. Not even close. These guys are pushing each other. Somebody I trust greatly said that Marquez North has been an absolute terror in his off-season conditioning. I'll be shocked if he doesn't have a great camp and 2014. Also, Josh Dobbs has been a real vocal catalyst behind the scenes in terms of pushing his teammates in the weight room as well as during voluntary workouts. Butch Jones said yesterday that Tennessee has gone from a program with ZERO guys able to squat 600 pounds to one with ELEVEN guys capable of this impressive feat. He called the difference in one year in the strength and conditioning area a 'night and day difference.'
First practice is 7:25 tonight!
My major concern in talking to some sources close to the team is Tennessee's offensive tackle play. To be honest, some close to the program are scared of what will become of the tackles. Will they be able to pass block? This is going to be a really interesting camp for Blair. He's in better shape no doubt but can he move quickly enough to create resistance? We don't need All American play out of him just adequate play. If he improves and Coleman Thomas comes along then, Tennessee could win a few more than the Vegas over/under of 5.5. If that pair doesn't take the next step it could be a really long season around here.
In the meantime, check out this wonderful report from my friends at Rocky Top Insider.
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Randy Moore from Insidetennessee.com joins me every Tuesday. His appearances are getting better and better. That guy has been bringing it on the air! He said something three days ago that I want to explore on the air today. Randy believes the Vols will surprise this season. He believes they will exceed expectations. In doing so, Randy shared a quote taken from a poster on one of his chat boards. 'In time the pessimist may be proven correct, but the optimist will have a more enjoyable time during the journey.' Now, that's something to consider as Randy offered the following. 'Now is the time for optimism. Whatever's going to happen this season is going to happen. Nobody thought neither Missouri nor Auburn had any chance to do anything last year. You never know. So why not aim high and believe?'
Is Randy right or is it better to be realistic with yourself as it relates to Tennessee's prospects for the upcoming year? We will kick this around today on the show.
Jordan Williams remade his body in the off-season the old fashioned way. With lots and lots of food!!!
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Great read from Patrick Brown on Marquez North.
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Congrats to my guy Maury Hanks! Basilio Radio Family member in good standing is now scouting for the Detroit Pistons after inking a new deal! Great guy and wonderful resource for our program. I'm really happy for him. This doesn't look like the easiest way to make a living if you ask me.
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Yesterday in T-Mail Matt in Clinton wanted to know about the possibility of Chuckie Keaton playing in Knoxville next year. I ran it by Mike Huguenin of NFL.com/cfb/247 who shared with me that although this is a great thought, Keaton is actually a 5th year player this year as he did redshirt at Utah State. Meanwhile Huguenin (who knows seemingly everything about everybody in college football) said a guy that may be a 5th year transfer candidate to a place like Tennessee (that's if the Vols decide they need a 1 yr stop gap next year) is Matt Johnson from Bowling Green. His head coach and former UT OC Dave Clawson developed him to the tune of 3,400 yards and 25 td's. Johnson is only 6-0 so he's a perfect college QB that would probably have a tough time drawing NFL interest. Could be one to file away. Especially with the Midwest roots of Butch Jones. BTW, this kid looks like Josh Dobbs a little bit.
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Keith Hatfield shows his impressive range in today's Hatfield IX.
Hatfield's Nine
'The calendar turns to August. That means pennant races and football camps take center stage.
1. Oakland is obviously playing for the here and now. All of their moves have been designed to hoist the trophy this season.
2. While they didn't get as much in return as I would have anticipated, Tampa made the right move in trading David Price. They simply had too many teams ahead of them to make the postseason.
3. Boston did a nice job of reloading. They improved a terrible outfield situation by trading two expendable assets
4. Detroit can now run four big time starters out to the mound in seven game series. They will be very difficult to handle.
5. Seattle improved their situation without losing a major leaguer. Austin Jackson is a major upgrade in the outfield for them.
6. St. Louis cast their lot with their farm system. Choosing to play Oscar Tavares will turn out to be the smart play.
7. Yankee fans ripping their front office unfairly. They simply don't have enough prospects to make a deal.
8. Ruben Amaro, Jr. showed why Philadelphia fans loathe him. You can't keep that rotting roster in place.
9. The fact the Marlins were buyers is shocking. I doubt anyone had them pegged as contenders.
Remember to give me a listen and a call today for Show Cause with Keith Hatfield today from 1-3 on the Basilio Show platforms + web stream + WLAF AM/FM.
Enjoy your weekend,
Keith'
Eric S touches on a myriad of recurring themes from the TB Show this week.
'Sharknado II: I totally DVR'd this. Robert Hays as the airline pilot in the opening scene? Awesome with awesome sprinkles. If only Leslie Nielsen were still around!
Re: Modern Country. Absolutely pathetic. Like Derek Dooley's hair and those hideous orange pants. Today I ride out with the boys to change the tire for the Mrs. who had a flat. While driving, I flip around on the radio to some music and hear a line in some country song about the thrush dual exhaust system on his truuuuuuck. Uh, right. Your truck has an exhaust. Who cares? Where are the guys like Steve Dahl and Mike Veeck who had the Disco Demolition Night? That's exactly what we need now. A fake-ass country-rappin demolition night. Bring an old IH combine and throw all that crap into the gears, grind it down to dust, and let the crowd go wild. Better yet, let's do it at the VT-Tennessee game at Bristol. And throw Derek Dooley in there for good measure. Well, in effigy. It's not 1979 in Comiskey Park after all.
Re: Lane Kiffin at Neyland. Kiffin is a gnat. Not worthy of our worst or our best. If we all believe that it was better for UT that he left quickly, if we all believe that he would have dragged UT into the pits of NCAA compliance hell, then why don't we smile and welcome him back as an Alabama assistant-safe in the knowledge that he will do just the same thing to Alabama?
Eric S.
UT '95'
This is so predictable. Michael Sam has become an activist playing football instead of a football player dabbling in activism. Those aren't my thoughts. That comes from his college roommate at Mizzou. And the guy that took Sam on here is his former Roommate in Columbia.
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Tony Barbee lands in Lexington.
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Sad story here.
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Congrats to Ruin Tomorrow Sooner (AKA Ruben Amaro Jr.) for letting the trade deadline pass without making ANY deals. That's pretty damn special for a team on pace to lose 96 games. Failing to move Cliff Lee is wonderful as he got hurt 40 pitches into last night's start. Can't make this stuff up. Move over Cubs. The Phillies are coming for your level of futility.
Tony
Final Four
Posted: Sun, Apr 7th, 12:12 PMFriday night’s Iowa-UConn Final Four game had 14.2 million viewers. That’s more than any women’s college basketball game, ever. More than every 2023 NBA Finals game and more than every 2023 World Series game. ESPN has had the rights to NBA games since 2002. But the Final Four game between Iowa and UConn was the networks most-watched basketball game, men’s or women’s, pro or collegiate EVER
.... [more] Final Four
Posted: Sun, Apr 7th, 12:12 PMFriday night’s Iowa-UConn Final Four game had 14.2 million viewers. That’s more than any women’s college basketball game, ever. More than every 2023 NBA Finals game and more than every 2023 World Series game. ESPN has had the rights to NBA games since 2002. But the Final Four game between Iowa and UConn was the networks most-watched basketball game, men’s or women’s, pro or collegiate EVER
.... [more] Missouri Game Preview
Posted: Thu, Nov 9th, 12:56 PMThe Vols did what they were expected to do against UConn. There's not really much to say about that game. The game this Saturday in Columbia, Missouri will decide whether or not this season is a failure in my opinion. If they Vols lose, they are staring at 8-4 and probably the Gator Bowl. Maybe Reliaquest.
.... [more] Connecticut Game Preview
Posted: Thu, Nov 2nd, 6:19 PMThe Vols are coming back to Neyland Stadium and I am returning after a discretionary bye week. I'll be honest with you. This year it seems like I've been writing the same preview over and over because the formula to win has been the same pretty much every SEC game. I didn't want to sound like a broken record so I needed a bit of a break from that.
I'll start with some general observations.
.... [more] 
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