I was really surprised the level to which Butch Jones was hawking tickets to the Bowling Green game yesterday at his press conference in Knoxville. This crowd or lack thereof that will flock to Nashville Saturday afternoon is no reflection of the Tennessee fan base. This game in Nashville is a greed play by the administration that should 100% be played in Knoxville. Put it this way....If you put this game in Knoxville it would sell out in Neyland Stadium. Tennessee can do the Vol Walk and bring the band but them playing in Nashville is not real college football. I believe the fans are showing that they've reached the breaking point. The average orange blooded person simply can't afford to go to that game but easily would pack Neyland Stadium for that one. It's just a different deal with zero tradition around it. Unless they paper that stadium, I'm afraid its going to be unsightly when the ball is punted high in the air.
Other Notes from yesterday's press conference and thoughts going forward.
Gaulden a huge loss:
Fits nickel perfectly…. Perfect against the run and could cover
A great special teams player. Maybe best special teams player on UT's roster from a coverage standpoint.
Kyle Phillips: His not being listed in top 4 is a mild surprise. He will be breakout star here barring injury. He’s really showed out in camp. He’s a monster. By next season could be one of the best DE’s in league.
On MLB:
It’s been conventional wisdom that Kirkland would eventually win the job. Christian Lundy believes that Jumper is a guy they trust more and that Kirkland isn’t really close to being handed the starting job just yet. He just has a lot to learn to play that position at that level. Kirkland needs to get a little bigger plus learn some more. Lundy believes through team sources that Kirkland is the 3rd best MLB right now. But consider that he’s a true freshman who missed the spring with injury while on campus. Not a real surprise when you take all this into consideration.
On Tuttle-McKenzie:
McKenzie’s been banged up in camp and needs to get in better shape.
Tuttle has some fine veteran players in front of them. Stripling will hone both guys technique-wise.
Our projected O-Line is as follows:
Kerbyson, Robertson, Thomas (Center), Wiesman, Kendrick.
Comment: We are expecting Thomas to eventually nail down the starting center duties even if things don't start this way. Crowder is a 5th year guy and a real leader for this team but he's physically limited compared to the more talented Thomas who will have a chance to shine at that position. If that group could stay healthy and intact as we have it figured, this could be a group that really grows as the year transpires.
Punter Depth Chart X 3:
Lundy said he’ll be surprised if Daniel isn’t the starter. What’s the motivation behind listing 3 co-favorites? That's a strange deal.
If given odds pre-camp, Renfroe would’ve been listed as third.
Thanks to Christian Lundy for helping me compile our notes.
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Congrats to John Brice of Volquest for landing the Vol Network sideline reporting job. Great for him. John deserves every great thing that comes his way. I've always found him immensely talented and a great guy too.
I think I speak for EVERYONE reading this when I say that I hope this takes.
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Georgia naming Greyson Lambert starting QB is a great sign......for the rest of the league.
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UGA QB fraternity reacts.
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This is GREAT! Best/Worst celebrity fans.
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In two days you'll notice a decal on South Carolina's helmets. It's in honor of the recent tragedy?
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Look at the way South Carolina is spending that money.
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REMEMBERING RANDY VOL WINS FROM MOST TO LEAST LIKELY
SINCE WE LAST SPOKE 8-27-15
Busted
Posted: Sun, Mar 24th, 4:22 PM WE’LL MISS RANDY MOORE: I came home Saturday -from what now seems like an even less important batting practice session than usual- to the sad news that Randy Moore had passed away at 63 years of age. My first thought was that is way too young for anyone let alone someone as widely respected as Randy. My second was of his earliest work with the
Knoxville Journal in 1974 when I was a senior at Oak Ridge High School....
VOL WIN DIFFICULTY RATING: With a little over a week before we have to start
“taking em one at a time” here is one man’s opinion on Tennessee’s chance of winning games in the 2015 season from most to least likely
...[more]
Listener Robert H. put together a great chart of SEC Football over the years. Click the image to see it all.
Class move by Va Tech.
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Pat Haden gets BLASTED here. He makes Mike Hamilton look competent through the eyes of this columnist.
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Everett Golson is the new FSU starting QB.
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There will be tons of balls in the air this weekend in college football.
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Inside Bama's depth chart.
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COMMUNITY CHEST VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Additional volunteers are needed at Community Chest of Knoxville Thrift Shop located at 1508 N. Central (corner of Central St & Woodland Ave, a block and a half from our FISH Northwest Pantry). Volunteers at the Community Chest help with receiving, sorting and displaying in the retail shop donations of clothing and household items. For more about the Community Chest go online and
check out their website. Proceeds from the Community Chest support the work and mission of FISH Hospitality Pantries.
For more information about volunteering at the Community Chest contact Jim Wright at (865) 207-8572 or
send him an e-mail. Thank you.
That Deflategate is still an issue is a real embarrassment.
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Higgs with his SEC Agenda week #1.
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Hoosiers are a hot mess under Crean.
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Saw where #3 Trent Richardson got cut yesterday by the Raiders. On the same day that #2 draft choice RGIII got benched.
Can Kirk Cousins play or is he the other guy?
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This is amazing.
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Our condolences to our friends over the passing of longtime Gadsden Times sports editor Jimmy Smothers died today at age 82.
Final thought: 'More than 1,000 bets have been placed on Ohio State to win the national championship at the MGM sports book. Next closest is TCU with 675.' Courtesy David Payne Purdum Twitter.