Edwin Star had a tune back in the day called WAR. In it he asked 'what is it good for?' His conclusion, 'absolutely nothin', say it again'. It's against this backdrop that Reed Carringer of Rockytopinsider.com asked back in the summer, 'Strength of schedule, what is it good for?' His conclusion, absolutely nothing. I'll say it again. Read this piece from Reed. The dirty secret about strength of schedule is that those at the top of college football don't play inordinately difficult schedules. I realize this seems like an anathema, but it's true. Read this.
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So, it's against this backdrop that I once again repeat that if you made me king, I'm not playing this game if I'm Tennessee because Tennessee and Oklahoma have different goals at this point in time. We simply don't belong in this game for a lack of a better way of phrasing it.
Now, not belonging in the game can also be an opportunity. Tennessee will walk into Norman playing on house money. It's time to have some fun at somebody else's expense. Let it all hang out. Play some two back. Blitz on defense. Go on 4th down's on the plus side where it makes sense. Through caution to the wind.
We will have the results of our film study tomorrow right here at Tonybasilio.com. Vol Colonel turned to Dr. Sean Sinclair last night and said 'Sean, I think you might just be right. This Oklahoma team is very good but they're certainly not great.' I must confess that I came to the same conclusion. This Oklahoma team Tennessee will see Saturday night would be good enough to finish 3rd in the west but not much more than that. They certainly aren't better than either Texas A&M or Auburn. At the same time, I would think that Alabama would love another crack at them.
Put it this way, Oklahoma lacks the big play ability on both sides of the football that truly great teams possess. Sure, they have enough athletes to grind Tennessee down but they don't have enough to truly hammer Tennessee.
That is unless the Vols cooperate. Now, if Tennessee goes out and plays scared and fails to execute, the Vols will get run off the field. If Tennessee plays a clean game, the result of our comprehensive film study tells me that Tennessee has a chance to make this thing a game.
I wish the Vols had a little more fire power in both lines. Because truly they could throw a scare into OU with a little more up front on both sides. Tennessee doesn't. So I'm not feeling a win in this one but I'm feeling better. Make sense?
Tomorrow you will read the result of our Tony Basilio Radio Family Film Study and perhaps you will draw the same conclusion.
On a side note, I would like the thank Fab Five Freddie for bringing the tofurky last night. I've never tried it. Not bad. Also, Mrs. Vol Colonel made a delicious desert for us. Thanks to all for coming. It was even great having Jerry Colquitt and Tony Robinson check in with us via Skype.
Go To Pick 'Em
'X', presented by Dalton Bearing & Hydraulics, is fighting back after what he perceives as a slight on him yesterday on the air by Dr Sean Sinclair.
'X' Says
One of your loyal listeners let me know you and Sinclair were giving it to me pretty good today regarding my comments about Richmond.....
I stand by those comments BRUDDER... and let me add more
The reason I don’t think Richmond committing to Ole Miss is such a big deal right now is
1) He has publicly stated MULTIPLE TIMES he will take all 5 official visits
2) He sounds like a confused kid citing the reason he choose Ole Miss is due to an opportunity for immediate playing time... REALLY has he not paid attention to Tennessee's issues at tackle... He walks on campus next season at Tennessee and his biggest competition to start is another true freshman ... Jack Jones from Murfreesboro
3) In an interview he gave after announcing his commitment, he casually mentioned his dream school was "Ohio State"... That on top of taking all 5 official visits ....bet Hugh Freeze already has a knot in his stomach about Richmond's commitment
4) Richmond talks with Tennessee's staff at least once per week.
5) It is September 9th not February 1st... with a confused kid I would rather be the hunter than the hunted.... Ole Miss will have their hands full holding on to him until National Signing Day (I must qualify this by saying I don’t know if he is an early enrollee or not)
6) My guess if anyone is interested... He likely ends up signing with the last school he visits or more likely the last coach he talks with the morning before he signs
7) And Butch Jones has recently supplanted another staff member and taken over as Richmond's lead recruiter.
There are a couple of kids each recruiting cycle that change their mind a half a dozen or more times before signing. Richmond strikes me as "that guy" in the 2015 recruiting cycle.
Tennessee needs offensive tackles. Butch Jones is in a predicament. Do you hold a spot for Richmond and continue to change his mind? The answer is yes of course you don’t quit recruiting the #1 prospect in the state BUT you better go into year 3 with some answers at offensive tackle in the event Richmond signs with Ole Miss or some other school
.
With respect to my comments about Memphis kids at Tennessee. Dr. Sinclair is right. I completely with whiffed on Ced Wilson. Dan Williams AND Ced Wilson are two Memphis products that ended up being really good players here. Name another?
I am not going to criticize anything Butch Jones is doing recruiting right now... Regardless of what the recruiting standard is for a team that keeps putting up 5 and 7 seasons Coach Jones and his staff have far and away exceeded expectations on the recruiting trail. I am beyond pleased and I think most Tennessee fans are
However, in the spirit of fairness, given our offensive line issues generally and offensive tackle issues specifically I think it is fair to ask ...
1. what did Missouri see in 2014 mid state offensive tackle prospect Paul Adams that Tennessee didn't? He signed with Missouri last cycle. Tennessee evaluated him but that was about it.
2. How did this staff so badly mis-evaluate Dontavious Blair? Everyone is still hopeful the light bulb will come on for him but he isn’t even in the conversation right now.
3. Right now, the only true tackles on the roster is Coleman Thomas and Blair. Blair is a non-factor. Marquis Pair is a tackle but he hasn’t showed up in 5 years. We have guards playing tackle right now. In this class Tennessee needs MULTIPLE offensive tackles.
The apparent loss of Richmond would not sting as bad if Tennessee had made mid state offensive tackle prospect Alex Givens. It now appears Givens may follow Richmond to Ole Miss. Trying to be fair, there is a trend that is concerning.... Tennessee was a bit slow to pull the trigger on Jashon Robertson and Michael Sawyers last cycle as well as the aforementioned Adams. If James Franklin is still the Coach at Vanderbilt neither Robertson nor Sawyers are wearing orange right now. Givens seems to me to be another our staff has been just a bit slow in pulling the trigger on.
We'll see what happens. All is not lost with Richmond. Tennessee will find a couple more offensive tackles. In closing with Richmond, Tennessee is in a great spot. As I said above, much rather be the hunter than the hunted.
Go Vols
'X'
X, a couple of things. First I never took you to task on anything yesterday. Secondly, Sean only challenged your thoughts on abandoning Memphis to concentrate on the Carolina's. I do agree with most everything you've stated here. The thing I've come to appreciate about football recruiting (a subject you're way more versed in than yours truly) is that you can't win them all. Nor can you get them all right. The problem is that when you're in Tennessee's spot, you can't afford to miss too much. And when you do miss (Blair, etc) it's glaring. Pretty tough spot to be in. Unforgiving to say the least.
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Mike G checks in again today from OKC. He's a Vol fan living behind enemy lines and has been blogging for us this week from there in preparation for Saturday's UT/OU matchup. Here's his Thursday offering.
'Yo Tony,
The big news on Wednesday late night Oklahoma City sports reports lamented the fact that the Pride of the Southland will not be serenading the fans in Norman with "Rocky Top" Saturday night. One sports caster even paid tribute to a USA Today Poll that ranked "Rocky Top" the #2 College Fight Song with "Boomer Sooner" charting at #6 (Michigan's diddy took the top spot).
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I'd recommend every Vol fan read Ryan Aber's article on Newsok.com (sports section) titled "Willie Martinez Returns to Face Sooners." Pay particular attention to the comments by former Martinez DB's who still play for Oklahoma. Also of note, while Coach Jones hired Martinez and Tommy Thigpen from the fired Gene Chisek Auburn assistants group, Bob Stoops plucked Jay Boulware from the same staff. Boulware now coaches the Sooner tight ends and special teams. Here's the article.
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How many Oklahoma football players does it take to change a light bulb? Just one, … but he gets a weekly sealed plain white envelope, a new sports car, and three hours credit.
How can you determine if a vehicle belongs to a single OU student/alum or a married OU student/alum? Both the driver door and the passenger door of the married Sooner's pick 'em up is covered in dried tobacco juice.
Unfortunately, we have to close on a tragic note. An OU football player died from drinking milk. The cow fell on him.
--
MIKE G'
I'm trying to wrap my brain around how and why the NFL could find itself in this spot regarding Ray Rice. Think about it for a moment, this is a league where domestic violence is no stranger. Ray Rice, if he was active right now, would simply be one of a handful of guys involved in domestic violence in just this off-season alone. Greg Hardy of the Panthers and Ray McDonald of the 49ers come to mind. Hate to bring this up but the NFL has had domestic situations end up in murder in the past couple of decades and has overcome this to become our national past time. So, those who say repressing the Ray Rice served the NFL as a cover up ring hollow to me. Still, why would the NFL not pursue the Ray Rice matter more vigorously? What gives with the conflicting report the AP stating that the NFL had that video in its possession since April. It makes little sense to me that the NFL would go out of its way to cover up Ray Rice's criminal behavior. Think about it. What's in it for them. We know what the league is. None of us think these guys are all choir boys. Nobody is pretending. So, what gives with this story? Ray Rice simply isn't worth any of this. It just makes no sense to me...What do you think?
When you read this do you really think the NFL is a savory sport? It is what it is. Professional Football is a gladiator sport. It might be one of the more difficult ways in our world to make a living. Just go back 12 months in this incredible resource. That league is crazy train. Why would they protect Ray Rice who was on video. Does not compute to me. Ray Rice is a 6 year veteran.
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Tee Mail:
'Fidel Goodell: "We certainly didn’t know what was on the tape, but I’ve been very open and honest … two weeks ago when I acknowledged that we didn’t get this right. That’s my responsibility, and I’m accountable for that.”
I can just imagine Curley, Spanier et al saying the same thing about the Sandusky shower when Mike McQueary made them aware of it.
Do you really need to see a video? (disclaimer, I haven't watched it.)
And what a coincidence that at the same time we're piling onto the NFL for missing the boat with Rice, Penn State is getting all their sanctions wiped out.
Like Penn State, Wall Street HFTs, stock manipulators, and Quantitative Easing, the NFL is another Too Big To Fail enterprise.
On the Tennessee Oklahoma matchup, you asked about the possibility of Stoops running up the score if it presents itself..
This is a distinct possibility.
Remember, this is the guy who rang up 50+ points on Texas routinely. There just wasn't any mercy. Also, he was the defensive coordinator at Florida from 1996-1998, so having been shaped by Spurrier, he's in tune with that run it up mentality.
Oh, sure he has to face Tennessee next year. But that's next year. This year, he needs to have his team look impressive for the playoff pageant judges. This spring, his team wore shirts with the playoff logo on them or some playoff theme. I forget where I saw that story.
From a purely practical standpoint, OU will want to score enough points to secure the outcome as soon as possible. They do not want for Tennessee to be encouraged by a close score, hang around, and ultimately think they have a chance to win. The team that thinks they have a chance to win will play like it and just might do it.
I see it maybe being like the 1996 UT-UF game. Florida rang up a big lead early and protected this for the duration-secure in the knowledge that they could score more if they wanted or needed to.
Eric S'
Bob Stoops to NFL talk has started already.
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Sure, those Tennessee alt jerseys making the rounds online are ugly but these Maryland uni's are FUGLY! Jeez Louise.
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I'm going to blast Mike Huguenin (in a friendly way of course) for not having Tennessee in his latest bowl projection.
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Utah State's Matt Wells getting a lot of love here.
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Got a great show lined up today. Mike Huguenin, stops by for his usual Thursday visit. We will also chat with Good Ole JR. Jim Ross of WWE fame is a huge Sooner booster and will join to talk all things OU. Join us at 11am Eastern time right here!!
Love
Tone
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