5 Days out from National Signing Day!!! Reminder!!! You're invited to join us live on site as we are doing an unprecedented recruiting Triple Cast at Smoky Mountain Brewery @ Turkey Creek in West Knoxville. When I say we, I mean 3 different radio shows from 3 different radio stations, joining forces all in one spot to serve you the living common fan. I sure do hope that you will make plans to join us as Jason Swain will lead things off in the morning from 7a to 11a followed by yours truly from 11a-3p followed by Russell Smith from 94.3 FM.
Now that Quarte Sapp is in the barn, Tennessee is sitting at 29. So, for everybody that comes aboard the boat a body must go overboard. Or does it? Pat Allen awaits. Does Tennessee turn him down? Do they turn down Richmond?
The latest on the OC search. Could Butch Jones be burning up on another lover? Sure anything is possible but my gut is telling me that he's been campaigning this week with positive planted information about DeBord and false flag candidates. Could Jones hire another guy? Sure he could. Will he? I'll believe it when I see it.
Vol Colonel believes that Butch Jones did meet with Mike Sanford from Boise State earlier this week in Vegas. VC told me last night that Jones may meet again with Sanford again this weekend or in his words 'maybe this is a smokescreen.' Sanford has looked like a guy trying to get out of Boise this off-season. He interviewed a couple of weeks back rather publicly with Ohio State in an unsuccessful attempt to land a job with Urban Meyer.
Link
Orange Throat has a thought on this and more in his Friday brief.
Orange Throat
Random musings as we head into the weekend :
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: I could be wrong but I think Butch will end up hiring Mike DeBord, maybe as soon as this weekend. The huge questions on this will be the fact DeBord is not a real QB coach, he hasn't called plays in eight years and the spread hasn't been his thing. The undeniable plus in this is DeBord has a strong resume as an offensive line coach and that is our number one question mark going into next season.
NATIONAL SIGNING DAY: Butch is like the kid at Halloween who's told he can't have any more candy. He just wants to sneak one more Hershey kiss.
Tennessee has a big numbers problem, and it's going to impact next season's class. Quarte Sapp's commitment Thursday placed even more pressure on the numbers and there's no way they will turn down an offensive tackle like Drew Richmond or Pat Allen. They are pulling out all the stops on flipping Richmond this weekend, and if he's ready to commit, I think somebody on the current commitment list gets a very uncomfortable phone call.
BRUCE VS. DONNIE: I think Bruce Pearl comes in to his old stomping ground with nothing to lose. Auburn's bad.
We're #53 and they're #141 in the RPI, but we are beatable at any time because we have no dependable inside game. I think the Tennessee crowd will give Bruce a nice welcome but will be all in for Donnie and the Volunteers. Failure isn't an option here.
GATHERING CLOUDS: The Southern Miss situation certainly isn't getting any better. We better tie everything down because the NCAA hurricane is coming.
I think most all of us think Donnie is worth fighting for, but this thing is looking a little more ominous as time goes on. The good news is: we have had time to add hurricane straps so our roof doesn't blow off.
LADY VOLS: Saw where some golfers are upset with the name change. Why are we fighting this battle right now?
If this was a good idea, why didn't we change the women's basketball team to Vols?
Orange Throat
Great stuff Throat!!! I about agreed with everything you just said though I don't know what to make of this OC search. Jones loves playing games with the media. This is much appreciated from all of us in talk radio. Games with media = show filler. At least I'm honest.
HOOPS LOOK AHEAD and THE OC "SEARCH"
WE CAN LOVE TYNDALL AND STILL REMEMBER PAST COACHES FONDLY
SINCE WE LAST SPOKE: 1-29-15
HOOPS LOOK-AHEAD: The recent two-game losing streak has our Vol Basketball team sitting at 12-7 overall, 4-3 in-conference and though the last week has been underwhelming, still ahead of where most projected. Games against Auburn Saturday and a rematch with Mississippi State the following Tuesday will bring us to the midway point of the conference season and as the caller Mouthpiece astutely pointed out on the SmartWay/Dalton Bearing Overtime Show two wins and a 6-3 record would be an SEC Coach of the Year-worthy start for Donnie Tyndall....
DEBORD? WHAT DE-HELL? If Mike DeBord is indeed named the successor to Mike Bajakian as Tennessee’s OC I sure hope Butch Jones knows what the hell he’s doing. On the surface it wreaks of cronyism and rewarding a friend regardless of the impact on the program. It’s not that DeBord has a blank resume; he served two extended periods at Michigan (92-99; 04-07) including two stints as OC (97-99; 06-07) and led their offense during the 1997 National Championship season....
MARKING FOR MEARS AS WELL: I realize that many that read this blog are too young to remember –or possibly care- about the Ray Mears era at Tennessee. As I mentioned above however he is the first coach to build –and with Pearl’s self-destruction- the last to maintain a true basketball program at Tennessee
...[more]
Stand With The Tony Basilio Show
Join the T Club
Make a One-Time Donation
Send Us A T-Mail. Click Here.
Click to subscribe on Apple Podcasts
Huge basketball game tomorrow in Thompson Boling Arena. Tyndall can't afford to lose that game. He just can't. Sonny Smith was wonderful yesterday on the air visiting about his enjoyment of both the Bruce Pearl era plus the Tyndall era. Sonny Smith is right in that both of these guys are special basketball coaches.
The two players suspended yesterday by Southern Miss. I reported it before it broke yesterday on the show. I can tell you that sources I've spoken with their say its academic issues related to Tyndall's tenure there. I understand that these are Juco guys, one of whom Tyndall didn't coach. Just sit back and watch and you will understand in time what this is about. I've also learned that right now the NCAA's scope on this investigation on the academic side goes 3 deep thus far. It should be noted that NONE of what transpired yesterday was unexpected by Tennessee. So, my sources inside the UT AD continue to hold that they've got a fighting chance to get through this thing. Folks are constantly asking me off the air I think Tyndall is going to weather the storm here. My answer there is the same as it is here, I have a better chance predicting the weather will be two weeks from Sunday than trying to figure out what the NCAA will do.
Again, I think the Notice of Allegations is going to read like an absolute bombshell when it's released. Doc Dearstone is going to be flat out giddy when this comes down. Donnie Tyndall needs to keep winning and we need to keep up the support for this guy. I don't trust Dave Hart who I believe is an institutional type of guy. He's the X factor in this whole equation for me. That said, Tyndall is in great standing with the power players in town. But, so was Bruce Pearl till the NCAA stuff trickled out. I guess I'm talking in circles here. Not my intention. I guess I have absolutely zero idea what's going to happen here and neither does anybody else involved. Nobody at Southern Miss, Tennessee or the NCAA has any clue of where this will end up.
We all owe a debt of gratitude to Bruce Pearl and his staff and everyone involved in his tenure here. Just tremendous times. I will NEVER forget the several Pearl Patrol bus trips we took during his tenure. Some of my favorite times of doing this show. The early days of Bruce Pearl will also be near and dear to my heart. Seeing the Lofton years here was truly a joy. My favorite BP Tennessee game will always be the road game at Georgia in his first year. The night we took over the arena. Tony Jones promised me something special for our efforts in getting down there and they brought that team into the stands as we were milling around with the Georgia fans. It was complete pandemonium. You just had to be there. Seeing the Tennessee fans swallow up the miniscule Georgia contingent in their post-game was surreal. The El Debarge years at Georgia won't soon be forgotten by this common fan.
Seeing the caller TR on the court with JuJuan Smith will always be etched in my mind's eye. The fellowship on that trip was just amazing. I wish I could've brought every listener and reader of this blog on that bus trip. I'm telling you, I've been to a ton of GREAT sporting events and I've NEVER witnessed anything like the looks on those Dawg fan faces when UT's team came into their stands. It was the most fantastically reckless antic I've ever witnessed in sports. I will always appreciate the early Pearl years. Those teams lived on the edge. I will always be partial to his first 3 teams that played like they were coming for your lunch money and most nights they took it.
Hatfield IX Time:
Hatfield's Nine
'Tony,
This should be an epic sports weekend in Knoxville. Alas, the inevitable dark cloud formed yesterday.
1. I have no opinion of how fans should react to Bruce Pearl prior to the game tomorrow. There's no denying his accomplishments here.
2. On the other hand, once the ball is tipped he's the enemy. If you find yourself still rooting for him, you aren't a Tennessee fan.
3. Tennessee desperately needs to win for postseason purposes. A loss means one of the three letter tournaments is the best case scenario.
4. I hope Donnie Tyndall and his team handle the chaos that comes with NCAA issues as well as SMU. The Mustangs appear totally unphased by it all.
5. Cincinnati is doing a fantastic job of keeping their collective head above water without Mick Cronin. They compensate for a lack of offense with stifling defense.
6. Virginia has a chance to eliminate Duke from contention for the ACC regular season title tomorrow. The Blue Devils would be four games back of the Cavaliers with a loss.
7. Memphis could inject life into its NCAA Tournament hopes with a win at Gonzaga. We'll see if the recent Tiger resurgence is simply the product of a light schedule.
8. I'm always amazed when the sports media gets upset about a player refusing to talk to them. It's as if Marshawn Lynch is withholding some sort of Ghandiesque wisdom from them.
9. The Super Bowl winner adds a major piece to their legacy. The Patriots can cap a dominant run and the Seahawks would join the pantheon of repeat winners.
Join me today for Show Cause! We will break it all down today on your Tony Basilio App/Web Stream and WLAF AM and FM in Lafollette.'
Keith'
We go international for our first correspondence.
'Tony,
I saw today that Alabama pulled two offers from commitments. I assume one was pulled in order to get the Richmond kid from Memphis. What really peeves me is that last week Butch Jones got killed by media for pulling an offer on the Ford kid just 2 weeks before signing day and today hardly a peep about Saban.
Why are the media types so afraid to tackle the likes of Saban and Roy Williams? It's just sickening.
Just wanted you to know that I am a loyal listener living in Mexico. I depend on guys like Swain, Russell Smith and yourself for my Vols fix. Your blog is my morning paper. Thanks for all you do for the common fan... even those in Mexico!
Viva Vols!
Dan, Mexico'
Dan: Bama is beyond reproach with the Saban worshipping media. He is to Butch Jones what Roy Williams is to Donnie Tyndall. All of these guys are handsomely paid but some some guys are acceptable punching bags. Saban has what we call in the trade equity and gravitas. The practice of cutting kids inside the final couple of weeks stinks. The whole thing stinks when you start playing with lives like this. When kids do it to these coaches, they all go crying to the media. Nick Saban is the worst.
'Yo T-Bone! Against my better judgment, I read a submission of John "Drive-By" Adams in the Thursday KNS. The guy was actually saying that Dave "Claw-Fense"Clawson was held back by a lack of talent in Knoxville rather than his scheme. He indicated that Clawson was shackled by slogs like Arian Foster, Montario Hardesty, Denarius Moore, Jonathon Crompton, Luke Stocker, Ramon Foster, Jacques McClendon, Josh McNeil... and a host of Volunteers!
Meanwhile, Clawson's success is measured by his promotions: Left UT for the HC of Bowling Green, then the HC of Wake Forest!
But, as Tony B's followers know, Wake Forest finished DEAD Eff-ing LAST in offense (128 out of 128)) in 2014. And it wasn't even close! 127th SMU outgained the Claw-Fense by 53 yards per game!
T-Bone, is he that stupid? Or, does he think that we are that stupid that we will read his words, blissfully ignorant of the facts, and think that he has written something of merit?
Best,
Bigger Al, Louisville, KY'
Hate to tell you but I'm with John Adams on this one. Clawson is an excellent coach in my mind who was in the wrong place at the wrong time with a scheme that was too much too soon for his personnel. By comparison, Cutcliffe was able to simplify and organize. Clawson is a fine coach who won at Richmond, Bowling Green and got the job at Wake Forest. The outlier was his time at Tennessee. I agree with John Adams. Sorry.
'Greetings Tony,
I've waited a couple of days to write you about a matter that affects both the SEC schools we support--Vanderbilt & UT. Both schools have a lot more in common than most would be willing to admit. The subject both have been facing since the late part of the football season is that members or I guess I should say former members of both football programs have been accused of raping a female(s). Well, now at least half of the former players involved in the Vanderbilt incident have now been tried & convicted of their crimes. Each were found guilty & rightly so. Yes, you read that correctly. They deserved to be convicted & they should by all rights be sentenced to the maximum term the law permits by the judge.
Vanderbilt has & continues to be raked over the coals relative to this matter by the media & the general public. They deserve to be given a harsh review for what occurred. Certain facets of what Jimmy Frank (James Franklin) was permitting to go on under his watch were criminal.
That's proven fact now.
However, when the University discovered on a video tape what had occurred to the University's credit they immediately called the Metro Police Department into the matter. The University suspended & then dismissed the players. That part of the matter has received little attention from the media types at all.
If it wouldn't have been for the review of the tape by campus police looking for another incident this situation quite possibly would have seen the light of day.
Now, let me say this so we completely understand each other, Vanderbilt, like every other college in the country has its issues with underage drinking & unsavory things happening on campus.
That's no news flash.
When the two of us were in school back in the dark ages, it was nothing to see someone lying in a hallway, on a couch in the lobby, or against a hallway stairwell passed out from too much alcohol. Who knows what their clothing situation(state of dress or lack thereof) might have been. My point in this is--it wasn't that unusual an occurrence.
Now, what went on in the dorm room was unusual & disturbing on so many levels, it’s unspeakable. Vanderbilt now has to get their "nose out of the air", if you will, & speak publicly about this matter. They need to do it sooner rather than later. The people needing to do the talking are the Chancellor & the Chairman of the Board of Trust. The sooner they get their collective noses back in joint the better.
UT has a pending case concerning two former players. The difference is the matter happened off campus rather than on it. I commend Butch Jones for taking swift action in this matter & suspending the players. I can't say the same thing about The Knox County DA. The DA has had the case for some time & to the best of my knowledge has done nothing to either move the situation forward or dismiss the charges. It makes me wonder if the DA just thinks people are going to forget about the matter or that it will get swept under some rock & forgotten.
It shouldn't.
If the two former football players need to stand trial, the DA owes it to not only the alleged victim to get moving on the case; but, also to the public at large. It'll be interesting to see what is done in the case at UT.
We already know what has happened at least to half of the individuals involved in the Vanderbilt matter. I suspect the other two former players will receive a similar fate as their former teammates did; but, that's yet to be decided.
Hopefully, UT doesn't turn into a Florida State or some other university that has gone down the slippery slope of whitewashing a situation such as this because it's an athlete. I guess only time will tell. Here's hoping the next time I write or speak with you it'll be about something much more pleasant.
Vandy Joe'
Stand up letter Vandy Joe. Good hearing from you. I hate this stuff. Those kids convicted at Vandy should go away for a long time. The worst part about that story is that it looks like the orchestration of the event occurred at the direction of the victim's boyfriend. What the hell? And I do mean hell? Because behavior like that is pure evil. I've read enough about that case to know that it was savage what apparently happened to that poor young kid. Isn't that every parent’s worst nightmare? That your kid would end up either on the giving or receiving end of this situation. And the victim? Unspeakable horror. How do you go on after this? I have an interview on
'Book Corner' on this site talking about PTSD. It's very real and the consequences of trauma are stark. Pray for that young lady. Heartbreaking all the way around. As for the case at UT, I've learned a long time ago not to judge matters such as these until the legal process takes its course. Therefore I reserve judgment on any of that case until I see what becomes of it. Some will call that a cop out. I call it judicious judgment borne from experience in doing this job.
'Tony,
What's up with the transfers of Wharton and Sawyers? When did all of this occur, I first heard of it via your blog on Wednesday. Although it opens up two spots for this year it is disheartening. I read Beano's blog and his criticism of DeBord for our next OC. I must say I share his sentiments. It smacks of cronyism and payback at a time when we can ill-afford to make a mistake in this coaching hire. My objections are centered more around the fact he has no experience coordinating a spread offense and no experience developing quarterbacks. We've gone through too many coaches and schemes in the last six or seven years to take steps backwards now. I'm hoping all of this is smoke-screen and the actual hire is someone like Coach Canada from NC State who won't be announced until after National Signing Day so as to not torpedo NC State's new class.
Phil, Nashville'
Wharton and Sawyers are two different cases. On one hand, Wharton is a young man that could have a bright future as a college football player. He may be Penn State bound from what I'm hearing. I wish I knew what was really going on with him. From what I've gathered from sources, I think it would be fair to call the reasons for his apparently leaving complicated.
As for Sawyers. He needs to decide whether or not he wants to be a college football player. He hasn't exactly shown the greatest amount of dedication here.
Today on the show we will talk UT/Auburn...the OC deal...BP memories and more live @ Pilot on Merchant Road.
Reminder tomorrow we are live on the app/web stream with your Smartway/Dalton Bearing and Hydraulics Tennessee Basketball Overtime as soon as the game goes final! Get the app!
Droid |
iPhone
Hope you have a great weekend. Let's get out tomorrow, appreciate BP for the job he did and then beat the living daylights out of his basketball team and send him back to the Plains with a double digit loss. Viva Tennessee!!
Tony
Get the Droid App!
Share This Blog
