It's always interesting and fun to break it down with Beano. We had some serious fun yesterday talking about the health of the Tennessee program juxtaposed with the rest of major college football. We were both surprised at the lack of phone activity we had when we were discussing what appeared on yesterday's blog regarding Tennessee being the second healthiest team in the SEC as we speak today. I have Tennessee as the 8th healthiest program in the country. This simply means that the Vols are among a handful of teams that I expect to compete for a playoff berth over the next 3 to 5 years. As we broke it down yesterday on our Fairways and Greens 19th Hole overtime show, it dawned on me that the reason we didn't get much response on the issue is that what else is there to say? Tennessee is back. Now the question is, how far back? Can Butch Jones take advantage of this perfect set up?


Allen from West Tennessee called talking up Bob Shoop. I must say that I believe Shoop is a great hire and I love his bluster over the past couple of weeks. I like a coach that isn't afraid to engage the fans and call out opponents. If you have the horses, why not? I'll never forget when Jimmie Johnson called a Dallas talk show unannounced and declared to Cowboy Nation and the world that his team would hammer the mighty 49ers in the first NFC Title Game appearance of the JJ era. BTW, the Cowboys went on and won that game thanks to a catch from former Vol Alvin Harper.


This gets me back to this year. Butch Jones isn't Jimmy Johnson. In fact, he coaches tightly in the moment. This is the exact opposite of what Bob Shoop is promising to deliver this season in money time. I believe Shoop when he talks about what he intends to do in crunch time. The question is will Butch Jones let him ramp it up in a winning moment?


The truth is that Butch Jones is a conservative coach. He's way more conservative in the moment than Phillip Fulmer ever dreamed of being. Beano made a great point about 2015 yesterday on the air in that if Butch Jones would've allowed Josh Dobbs to win both the Florida and Oklahoma game, Tennessee would've at least gotten a split there. Beano cited the absolutely abysmal final drive for Tennessee when they were trying to protect what quickly became a one score game. We know the result just as we do with what happened on defense in that one.


Butch Jones was like this at Cincinnati. This is nothing new. He must learn to let go and trust these coaches. The big question I have is will he? It's interesting to think about because if he lets Bob Shoop play as aggressively on defense like he's promising, it will be the first time in Jones' tenure as a head coach that he's played wide open on that side of the ball. I say if you have the forces, go for it. I also say that I'll believe it when I see it. No offense, but that's my stance until proven otherwise. Butch Jones coached afraid last year and this scares me.


Revisiting the Dobbs issue, Beano made a really interesting point in that in the signature wins Jones has had here he's turned his QB loose and thrown caution to the wind. In both cases, (at South Carolina 2014, Georgia 2015) Dobbs was dealing at the end of the games out of necessity. Some serious food for thought there.


The table has NEVER been more set for success in one particular season than this year.

Georgia has a new coach
Florida is average at best
9 of the 12 football games will be played in state
Mizzou and SC are a mess

How do you answer this question?

If Bama and Tennessee play twice in 2016 the following will happen.

A. The Vols will sweep
B. Bama will sweep
C. Teams will split 1-1


When you start digesting expectations for 2016, check this out. Link


I rest my case. Link






Tell me a story:

Today I'm going to ask you to share a story today about your favorite sporting event and or concert experience. Let's have some fun on today's show and let the string out a little bit. What do you say?


Vol Colonel reported right here yesterday that Dave Hart has spoken with former Clemson HC Jack Leggett for some reason regarding the expected Tennessee Baseball opening. I do think a visit did take place between Hart and Leggett, but I don't know the reason for the conversation. I spoke with some folks yesterday about Leggett and what kind of candidate he would make at Tennessee. One source compared Leggett to Phillip Fulmer. Apparently he had two different tenures at Clemson. One when he had a great staff and the other when he got coasted at the end of his run there. Another source shared with me that Leggett when hard after the Auburn opening the last time that job was available. In other words Tennessee could probably get him if they wanted him. Would you want him? My answer is hell no. Tennessee better do something outside the box with this hire. A half asleep 60+ year old man is not a good idea for this opening as far as I'm concerned.


Speaking of half asleep.

Sorry to see Yurtseven announce for NC State yesterday. Someday soon Rick Barnes and his sleepy staff are going to begin recruiting to the clip they did at Texas. I just know it's coming. Don't you? Sorry to beat this into the ground, but look at the current top 150 list from any service. I'll let you choose your hoops recruiting service for our exercise. Try and find how many players are listing Tennessee as a possibility. It would be comical if it wasn't so sad.






Roster is taking shape for this weekend!

I'd like to welcome Tony Robinson to the fold.

I told him I'm bringing the jams as we will make our presence known.

Here's the working roster






I've never been prouder to be a fan of Daryl Hall. The man absolutely spoke the truth on this issue. The goofy left is obsessed with race in an unhealthy way. Link

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