Orange Throat
Tony B's Tennessee:
Random musings as we welcome Tony back from his trip to Yankeeland (to borrow from the old joke, when Tony left Knoxville for Philly, the IQ temporarily went up in both places!).
JIMMY TURNS THE OTHER CHEEK: UTK chancellor Jimmy Cheek announced his resignation this week, to the applause of many Vol fans. It's easy to beat up on Cheek and we have, but it should be noted that most everyone who has come into contact with the native Texan thinks he is a genuinely good person of strong character. However, he had poor PR instincts and skills, he didn't supervise his athletic directors well at all (or as well as other departments like Diversity), and system prez Joe DiPietro was all too happy to let Cheek take the flak on everything. It also didn't help the optics that Cheek spent 34 years at the University of Florida before coming to K-Town, and the Vols are 0-7 against the Gators during his UT tenure. (Even though it would be hard to call that anything more than a coincidence, we're in favor of putting the new chancellor on the job before Sept. 24, just to be safe)
WHO'S NEXT? Totally open. Insiders who are usually reliable tell us ETSU prez Brian Noland will not take this job, and it's not clear DiPietro would offer it to him. You see, Noland finished a very close second to DiPietro in the system president sweepstakes in 2011. The wise guys don't think DiPietro would like having the younger and more dynamic Noland waiting on his demise to claim the system top job. Given all that, expect the chancellor selection process to take quite a while.
HART NEXT ON THE CLOCK: As we've touched on in the past few weeks and months as this has developed, we believe Dave Hart's contract will not be extended beyond this time next year and the Alabamian will announce his retirement in the coming months. All indications are DiPietro soured on Hart over things like the Lady Vol nickname debacle, and refused to go along with a contract extension, even though Cheek was for it. Make no mistake about this. Even though he's about as visible as Jimmy Hoffa most of the time, DiPietro is large and in charge as system president (he is in good standing with the trustees) and he wants a new chancellor and AD that will stop the flow of problems pouring in his in-box from the Knoxville campus.
HAS BUTCH GONE 3-STAR CRAZY? There was quite a bit of fan elation over the Orange Carpet Day haul of eight commitments last weekend, followed closely by digital hand-wringing over the predominance of 3-star rankings of those players. Some in the twittersphere have even challenged Tony to criticize Jones over this like he does Rick Barnes. The problem with that thinking is the football HC and staff have landed several premier players over the last three years and are in on players in the 2017 class who could stake a claim to being the best RB, OT, WR and DB in the nation. Plus, several three stars have developed into outstanding players with pro potential. Barnes, who we like a lot, did not sniff the Top 100 with the incoming class and doesn't appear to be doing it with the 2017 recruiting effort.
GREAT MOMENTUM IN RECRUITING BUT ... Having said the above, most of the best prospects on Tennessee's hot list are still out there uncommitted. Still, Maleik Gray's commitment a couple of weeks ago probably led to a great Orange Carpet Day and Butch Jones and his crew have unmistakable momentum in the home state in a good year for talent. We're starting to see some encouraging signs on Oak Ridge phenom Tee Higgins (even though Beano has done absolutely nothing to help on this) and that would be a mega-huge get. Some insiders think Higgins might even re-commit to the Volunteers before the start of the football season.
HOW ABOUT NUMBERS? Jones' commit list now numbers 18 and with 25 allegedly to give, things could start to get tight. Right? Not necessarily. There will be attrition of all kinds with the current group, especially among the first 10 or so that pledged.
Orange Throat
IGYV
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Throaty:
Firstly, way to commeth correcteth. I've been getting credit all week for calling the shot on Jimmy Cheek. You sir are the one who called that shot. Both you and Vol Colonel were way out in front on that one. As for the other moving parts at Tennessee, only here would we have a guy up for Chancellor that finished a close second to the current Prez. And have we confirmed his name is Brian? Because I've personally referred to him by at least 8 different first and last names. Interesting.
On the Hart deal: will Phillip Fulmer try to get in the mix and in the hunt on this one? If I was to ask the living fan, the following, how would this come out?
As next AD at the University of Tennessee, I would like to see:
A. Phillip Fulmer
B. David Blackburn
C. Another Tennessean
D. Somebody national with zero Tennessee ties/AKA best person for job.
E. For comedy purposes...Mike Hamilton
I'm going to trust you Throaty when you tell me that Hart is on the way out. How could Waldo DiPietro not sour on the guy? Outside of football and track, Tennessee is a mess. That's an indisputable fact as you read this today in late June 2016.
As to your 3 star crazy assertion. I'm going to trust Butch Jones, and in the words of Ben Simmons (yes, he really said this last night) "trust the process." Jones has shown an acute ability to identify and develop players that can contribute here. Besides, not every one of those guys will be on Tennessee's signee list when it's all said and done.
As for Tee Higgins, both Jerry Colquitt and Beano are working on that one. Though I think between the two of them you're talking about enough pull in Oak Ridge to get some extra cheese at Big Ed's, I'm feeling good about both guys getting personally involved in this one. Both Beano and Jerry are full Butch and feeling it. All kidding aside, I think Tennessee will be awfully tough for Tee Higgins to turn down. Especially after the season that Tennessee WR's are going to turn in 2016.
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Tee Mail
'Great to see you today and give Smoothie King some business. Always glad to give some love to the folks that advertise with you and keep you on the air.
I forgot to tell you, Re: Butch Jones and 2016; He really needs to get to the dome. What else is left? Carolina, UGA, MIZZOU are all in the rear view mirror. Only UF and Alabama are left in the category of "getting over the hump".
Approach the game and the season with confidence because all of the pieces are here, Butch. The breaks may not go your way, but you'd better not coach like that or it'll be 2015 all over again. Believe! I know it sounds like some cat poster. (As Vetruvius says in The Lego Movie).
I'm sure you rocked on last night at Clancys. Yawl need to work up Time Out Of Mind as a Bluegrass tune. Perfection and Grace! Naaaaxt Laaaaavel!
Eric S.
IGYV 2016'
Eric: Great seeing you and your son yesterday. Glad yawl are getting to visit with family this week. Good for the soul. I appreciate your input in the blog. It's always great hearing from you. Your son is classic! I love that kid!!! You do realize that I got IGY from Donald Fagan off his solo Nightfly lp? Just wanted to make sure we were on the same page there. And since it is IGYV, it's happening my friend in 2016. Oh yeah. It's coming.
Thanks for everybody that turned out at Clancy's. It was great fun playing with David & Lance as part of Ftn City Ramblers. Great news on the music front. We will be playing a whole bunch at Clancy's during football season. I'll have some details in the near future. You out of town blog readers/show listeners who will be traveling in for football games may have an opportunity to see us do our thing live. Fun stuff.
RIP Ralph Stanley. Saw him live a couple of times and I can honestly say that the man had 5 times as much soul as the entire Bro Country (bowel) movement combined.
Tony
IGYV 2016
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