Sad News to begin to today's show. The Rutledge Rifle is gone. Tennessee legend AW Davis has passed away. To All his family, we wish our condolences. AW was a kind, sweet and gentle giant that always carried himself with the class of a champion. Just a sweet guy. Loved his Tennessee basketball. Always took time for everybody. Made time for me when I was a wet behind the ears kid starting in the business and I will never forget it! AW Davis is truly one of the great ones. Smith Funeral Home in Rutledge will be handling the arrangements.
On Treyvon Paulk: In this climate this is a zero tolerance issue. In my mind it should've always been a zero tolerance issue. At this point in time, this is something that would get ANY member of Tennessee's team tossed. Period end of sentence. Famous Jameis couldn't get away with this right now. Some are saying that Tennessee saw that he couldn't play or that they had many options in the backfield therefore they jettisoned him to create a scholarship. IMO, that's a bad read on this situation. Treyvon Paulk committed an unpardonable sin in this climate. There is no wiggle room. FWIW, when he fully heals, this kid is going to be a really nice player for somebody. Hopefully he's learned a lesson from this. I don't care what you say a women has done to you, the only question you will be asked by anyone wanting to know is did you strike her. It's literally one strike and you're out in the sports world across the board and it should be.
Call me crazy but this weekend is an easy cover for the Vols. Now, granted Tennessee does have to 'populate' Georgia's backfield when it comes to stopping that great running game. Both Gurley and Chubb are excellent. Somebody tried to tell me yesterday that they thought Gurley was overrated. To that I say, I'll trade right now. Wanna trade.
Great appearance from Houston Kress yesterday off the top of the program. He set the tone for what's shaping up to be a great week of broadcasting in my world. The Vols are going to deliver a very good performance. I'm feeling it. Off week. Critical two game stretch. Tennessee has to come out of this 1-1 at least. They are capable of this. Houston Kress is right. Don't sleep on Tennessee Saturday.
With no Josh Smith and no Vonn Pearson, who will make the plays downfield for the Vols? It's time for Josh Malone to have a coming out party!
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Meanwhile, Georgia is pretty healthy for Saturday's game.
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When UGA QB Hutson Mason looks at that film of UT's defense, he has to be impressed.
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It will be interesting to see what new wrinkles the Vols employ at Georgia. Will we see more two back? What kind of role will the new freshmen rb play for UT? Does he get any time. Do the Vols alter goal line offense? Does Tennessee attempt to hit some long stuff early? What are the matchups they really like in this one?
Georgia figures to keep it on the ground as much as possible.
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That Noon start for Tennessee Florida doesn't surprise me but it’s still a kick in the gut. If you read me you know that I'm of the belief that we were going to get swallowed up by the strong games of that weekend. Sure enough, this is exactly what happened. Even Georgia/Vandy got a better start time at 4pm Eastern. I was told yesterday that the 4pm Saturday slot is actually the low one on the totem pole as it goes head to head with the 3:30 CBS monster game. It is the #6 slot on the board out of 6. Call me crazy but I would much rather be #6 this week than #5. Could you imagine how great the atmosphere would be if that game kicked off at 4pm and went into the early evening! That would've been pretty sweet. I still think Tennessee gets Florida this year. Then again, I've thought that at least 4 times during the past 9 years and you see what good that's been.
Vols are chasing Texas A&M legacy Bryce Mathews and insidetennessee.com's Danny Parker is all over it.
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Randy Moore from Insidetennessee.com joins me today off the top.
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Tennessee's secondary will test Mason this weekend.
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Jon Reed, 1/2 of Young Guns, heard Friday 3p to 5p Friday's right here at tonybasilio.com joins me today live @ Pancho's.
Jon Reed
'You survived the bye week. I know it wasn’t easy, but you did it. The good news is that it’s officially Georgia week, now. The bad news is that Georgia can tie the all-time series with the Vols Saturday.
And, for as much talk as there was of Oklahoma being a turning point for the Tennessee program, the national perception disagrees as the Vols opened as 18 point underdogs on the road in Athens. Talk about disrespect.
The road game at Oklahoma felt like a recipe for disaster. A primetime game under the lights against a team starving for respect welcoming the Vols on a third of the roster’s first road game was a tall task for Butch Jones and company. Going into Georgia for a noon kickoff against a Bulldog squad that is still being hyped up as a championship contender despite a loss at South Carolina should not be as intimidating for the Vols.
Busted
Posted: Sun, Mar 24th, 4:22 PM Unlike the Sooners, Georgia’s offense is one-dimensional. Granted, that one dimension, the running game, is spearheaded by perhaps the best running back in the country in Todd Gurley, and, thanks to a 66-0 beat down of Troy, he will be very well rested after only getting six touches the entire game. Ideally, Hutson Mason will be the key to the game for Tennessee.
Mason has been average this season, but has yet to make a mistake. Of the clichés that are apparently the keys for every team’s upset chances, force turnovers, win special teams, limit your own mistakes, Tennessee will not get much help from the Bulldogs. As a team, Georgia has only one turnover through three games. Special teams have been a weakness as Butch Jones has constantly pointed out. In the battle of return men, the Vols are at a slight disadvantage in the Devrin Young/Todd Gurley matchup.
Georgia’s defense will present the Vols with opportunities to move the ball; South Carolina racked up 447 total yards of offense. The obvious issue is: will the offensive line be able to hold up at all? Having a bye week to prepare as well as the return of their best tight end Ethan Wolf should help.
Quarterback Justin Worley has proven to be more accurate in 2014 than at any other point in his career. Marquez North is better than any defensive back that Georgia will have on the field. Yet, Tennessee is not going to be able to keep up with high caliber teams in a shootout. Best case scenario for the Tennessee offense would be scoring somewhere around 27 points.
Can the defense limit Todd Gurley? The Vols best player, AJ Johnson will dictate that.
For as much as the Oklahoma game showed on the field improvement in the decrease in talent gaps, the final score still reflected a 24 point game that was never in doubt. The good thing about the tough schedule is that Tennessee gets another opportunity to make a statement that the new era of Volunteer football has arrived on Saturday between the hedges.
In a winnable game.
Follow @jon__reed on twitter. Listen to Young Guns with myself and Christian Lundy on the Tony Basilio Network Fridays from 3-5.'
Good stuff for Blake Sims.
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Don't laugh, but Kentucky isn't bad.
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Tony Romo is your guy in September/October/November. Enjoy it Cowboy fans. Soon the calendar will turn to December and it will all end.
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Two Brandon Marshall's. One confusing night.
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Butch Jones threw me when he was talking about getting 'population' to the football. That dude loves his slogans no doubt. A caller during our Fairways and Greens 19th Hole bonus segment told me that if Butch Jones wants to bring in a former player for a 'Population' seminar, perhaps he ought to reach out to Travis Henry. Just sayin.....
The Bears and Jets....Now that's enough to chase a person to wrestling. How long have the Jets sucked? Have they done anything outside of Knoxville native Chad Pennington's years in that city? I listened to Steve Sommers on WFAN after that game and he was so cunning and cruel the way he was gigging Jets Nation. Those poor people. Could you imagine being a Jets fan? Ugly uniforms, ugly history, ugly football, ugly coach....just ugly.
How do scrubs like Doron Lamb make NBA rosters? Go to Kentucky. So political. You can't tell me a guy like Jordy Mac has to play overseas yet Doron Lamb gets to play in the NBA.
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This guy waves the banner for everyone with a dream that won't let it die. 31-year-old Guilder Rodriguez, who had been in minor leagues since 2002, got 1st career MLB hit for Rangers. 1095 games in minors riding the long bus trips. Are you kidding me?
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Tony