Yesterday's first hour was terribly uncomfortable to be a part of. I HATE getting into something like that in a season when we should be celebrating. It's wonderful having a blog because this a great place to clear the air/get my say unfettered. He even takes a shot at me that I've printed in bold here because I'm not afraid to take the shots. I don't completely agree with him but I take the shot nonetheless.
That said, this T-Mail from Tom in Knoxville encapsulates how I feel about what went on yesterday.
T-Mail
'
The segment you did yesterday was disturbing on some levels as it is a sad reflection of the lengths some will go to be "successful" and cash in on the efforts of others. While we know these things happen, we are often better off not hearing about them and bringing them to the light of day. An example of this is the recent CIA report about "torture".
This should have been kept in-house. There are life and death implications and the CIA needs to operate in the gray area to extract information that will save lives.
However, the treatment of players by Butch Jones is something that we should be concerned about as these are young men entrusted to the University of Tennessee and this is a game, not life and death. Jones must change and improve his treatment of the players and everyone associated with the program. He needs to know that he is replaceable, and UT fans need to realize that as well. The Vols will be successful with any coach not named Dooley.
We all want Butch to be successful and he will as long as he evolves and keeps his ego in check. Again, we are all replaceable, and Butch needs to listen to his advisers and improve as needed. Humble is better than prideful every time.
Tom, Knoxville'
I appreciate the shot at me there. I'll own it. Believe me, I don't need the attention. I've been here 20 years. I'm established.
The only reason I brought up the treatment of certain players on the air yesterday was to encourage Butch Jones to look in the mirror. I want Butch Jones to make it here! Like Dr. Sean Sinclair, I was in favor of Jones getting his raise. For the past 2 years I've gone out of my way not to create expectations for him. I want him to be here in 5 years.
I've wanted to be fair to Butch Jones from the very beginning. Still, for a program attempting to build depth, losing three nice players in December is pretty unheard of, especially for a program in Tennessee's condition. There IS a back story. It needed to be told.
I just wanted to share the back story with you. I realize it was disconcerting. Perhaps it was as off putting as Tom stated. I just go with my gut and try my best to give it to you straight.
This isn't to say that Butch Jones is a terrible guy. He's far from that. And no, he's not like Derek Dooley. Not by a mile. There's a grand canyon between those two guys as far as interpersonal skills. Butch Jones is legitimate! He's accomplished!
It's just that Jones and staff have to re-evaluate the way they talk to some guys. That's all we were saying. Nothing more, nothing less. If you want to shoot the messenger, I get it. I also believe he's crossed the line with some guys into the personal. I don't believe there's a place for that.
I agree with Tom. Perhaps that kind of thing is better kept in house. I've been hearing stuff for months about the treatment of certain guys and shut my mouth because nothing was out there. When Hendrix made his statement, it seemed appropriate to address this publicly on my show.
Was it a mistake to address this publicly yesterday? I don't believe that to be the case but perhaps it was.
I give you my word that I won't be talking about this on the show anymore. I've had my say. As far as I'm concerned, this issue is off the table.
Yesterday we had some Butch Jones bashers on hold and I refused to put them on simply because I didn't want to turn that show into a Butch Jones bashing session. He doesn't need to be bashed but encouraged to change. I hope we didn't come off as bashing Jones. It was never our intention to do that.
I pivoted off of that conversation in the first hour that went on way too long in first place because the point was made. I just want to see my university rise to where it belongs in football once again. That's all.
I want Butch Jones to make it here! We don't need to be constantly changing coaches. My fear is that with coaches in the mid-state talking about unhappy players (and they are talking), failure to address this could lead to recruiting eroding (in state and around the region) if this isn't addressed/re-evaluated.
Tennessee is a great place to play football. Butch Jones is obviously a guy with a tremendous amount to offer this place. I'm behind the guy and his staff. He's done a great job in many eras.
I've said everything I'm going to say on this. I will not talk about it on the show ever again or in this space unless somebody else brings it up.
I'm not crusading against Butch Jones. You could say I crusaded against Derek Dooley because he was bad for this place. Time has proven this to be correct. I'm 100% for Butch Jones.
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The Hendrix deal got interesting yesterday. He backed off his comments on Twitter plus he apparently convinced his local paper to take that quote of his transferring from UT story. It seems to me that somebody got to that young man and explained that he needs UT's cooperation on a release if he wants to play somewhere big time soon. Smart move by him. He needed to back away from those comments. Of course, the original comments are how he feels. Never a dull moment around here.
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Alvin Kamara will give UT's offensive backfield a real boost in 2015.
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Jalen Hurd. Underage drinking. Who cares? That’s silly stuff. If you want to make a big deal out of this, go ahead. I won’t. College kids drink. Period. End of sentence. Biggest non-story in the history of the world. He was cited. He wasn't arrested. It's a joke. Somebody told me on Twitter last night that his buddy drinking to the point of passing out is troubling. Whatever. When you're 18-19 years old, you have to learn your limits. I once drank so much pure grain alcohol that the bed spun for 8 hours. I NEVER did it again. It's called growing up. I learned from my mistake. Here's hoping Hurd learns that he doesn't need that stuff. I don't even count this as an off court infraction by the football program. Non-story.
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Will 2015 be a perfect storm for the Vols? The Bachelor seems to think so.
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Tennessee lost twice last night in Raleigh. The game and Jabari McGhee.
Here are some random notes I made to myself during last night's game.
Tennessee down 17 cut it to 5 with 8:30 left
Vols do not quit.
Tyndall not afraid to make adjustments.
Turner killed Tennessee’s press with constant buckets on the back ends.
Mostella shot two air ball 3’s in game.
Refs missed Abu for shoving Richardson on dunk.
Ten down 9 5:45 to play, Ralston Turner hit 30 footer to make it 65-53. LSU transfer with career night. He was flat out feeling it. 8-16 from 3 at that point.
NC State hit 11 Three pointers.
Josh Richardson is nastiness. What a GREAT player!!!
Vols didn’t get off up front as much.
NC State just shot it better. 51% for the game.
Vols only turned it over 5 times.
Abu’s shot typifies the night. He just turned at threw one up with 4:19 that went in. Of course he missed from the line.
Mostella must make his open 3’s. He just needs to get better from the perimeter. He did hit 2 late but it was too little too late.
NC State was hitting tons of circus shots. They hit tons of 3’s and some crazy shots. This is a team that was scored 55 the other day on Wofford.
NC State shot it like a Sweet 16 team.
Robert Hubbs did not score.
UT 10-18 from 3point land.
Jabari McGhee ended the night with a walking boot on his right foot. According to Ben Frederickson's 'Tyndall Jabari McGhee's injury might be a fifth metatarsal, team thinks. Could be at least six weeks if that is the injury.' (Ben Frederickson KNS Twitter)
Great Tweet from Rocky Top Insider's Reed Carringer last night! Post players not named Armani had 10 fouls, 8 points and 7 rebounds.
This is a cute story.
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Chattanooga over Stanford in Women’s hoops. Wow this guy has it going on! David Blackburn is AD of the year!!!
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Poor Brandon Warren. Arrested in Alcoa. Hate seeing this.
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How about Kentucky swiping the OC from WVU? Impressive hire. What's the back story? Going to discuss with Mike Huguenin.
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Jim Harbaugh @ Michigan? In demand pro coaches just don't jump to college football. That said, Michigan fashions itself as different. If they are, perhaps they can tug on Harbaugh's heart to get back and save the program.
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Paul Chryst to Wisconsin.
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My producer Brian Hartman has a twisted sense of humor. He thinks it would be rich if Phillip Fulmer's name would surface at Pittsburgh. Comical thought.
Refreshing approach by Gary Pinkel. His staff doesn't work 200 hours a week yet they have done OK in the SEC.
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The Pelini guy isn't wrapped too tight.
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Pam Oliver stands by her report that Johnny Manziel's own teammates gave him the cold shoulder during warm ups.
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You go Doris Burke.
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Social media lessons were learned in 2014.
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Come to Sushi Spot today and taste the difference!
Tony