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We start today with some concerning developments on the AD search. Let's get a couple of things straight before I get into reporting what I've learned.

Firstly, I'm always going to call it like I see it here no matter the cost. I take my responsibility of doing and saying what I think is proper for this sporting community seriously. I'm about to speak to truth to power today in this column and will encourage you to do the same.


Secondly, much of the reporting we do here on the AD search has been brought to you in real time. Everything I touch on here is subject to change. This is a fluid situation and will continue to be one until an AD is hired.


We opined here several weeks ago that the Tennessee AD job calls for a Tennessee man at this point in time. I realize this is seen as passé by some readers of this blog and that's okay. Bottom line is we don't need no more damn Bammers at the helm of the UT athletics department.


This brings me to the developments of the past couple of weeks. It seems that a gathering storm of support has refocused on Bama Jon Gilbert for the UT AD job. I realize this is absurd and will come as hard to believe for some, but the fact is that Rick Barnes has done a nice sales job on this one internally. I wish he recruited with this much aplomb. Fact is that Gilbert reluctantly let it be known during Barnes initial canvassing on his behalf several weeks back that he really wasn't interested in the job. Well, that has changed. And the change has come in the past 10 days.


I'm told a few powerful boosters are now on the side of anointing Gilbert as the next AD at UT. What's troubling is that there's an illogical school of thought among many power players internally that Tennessee doesn't need Tennessee people in high level administrative jobs. Whereas David Blackburn's ties to the school would be seen as a plus at a provincial place like Alabama, this may just be working against him at Tennessee. No. I'm not making this up.


I'm putting these developments out before thousands today because I want those with the money and power to really think before they act on this one. I want you to get involved and make your voice heard. We don't need another Bammer here. I do believe Gilbert is a decent fellow, but I'll remind you that he's the same guy that hired Donnie Tyndall when he had a choice of a world full of hoops coaches. That hiring process was mostly his baby and the results were catastrophic. Tyndall begot Barnes who is leading UT off the cliff. Bammers Dave and Jon started the hoops program rolling off the cliff. Meanwhile David Blackburn has hired championship and hall of fame level coaches at Chattanooga. It's like the choice between life and death.


Again, Blackburn's Tennessee ties seem to be working against him while Gilbert's lack of UT affiliation is thought to be a plus by several in the power/booster base. Some who were squarely in Blackburn's court several weeks back are now thought to be vacillating and open to listening on the Gilbert for AD movement. I don't get it.


I'm here to tell you that you must make your voice heard. Call the shows. Hit the boards. Send e-mails to your local paper. Tell UT board members that you know or power players in your life that they can't hire this Bammer. Let's do the right thing and either bring Blackburn home or hire a UT guy.


I do believe this is a two horse race (Gilbert & Blackburn) at this point in time but that too could change. Joe DiPietro said that he would like to hire a chancellor before an Athletic Director. It stands to reason that the new chancellor could have somebody else he wants to pull in as the new AD. Stay tuned.


The point of all this today is that Tennessee has a guy sitting in Chattanooga that would be an absolutely PERFECT HIRE! He's paid his dues. He would be a uniter instead of a divider like these Bammers. He understands the Tennessee culture. He will be apt to work with the Lady Vols and restore their dignity. He would help shepherd Butch Jones to the next level while putting his foot squarely up Rick Barnes' backside.


I've always admired the ability of the folks in charge around here to constantly screw up two car funerals. This could be another in a long line of self-inflicted wounds.


My hope is that by exposing these developments we would aid in keeping our university from failing to hire one of our own for a damn Bammer.


If you feel the need, get involved. If not thanks for reading.
















Eric: I'm still trying to process exactly what we saw on Saturday in Neyland Stadium. I'm on tonight with Tony Robinson 10-10:30pm and Jerry Glanville 10:30-11:00pm on MyVLT. I can't wait to discuss what those guys saw that Tennessee did that took Florida's deep passing game away from them. I've never seen an opposing team bail so profusely on the deep ball when it was obviously working. I wonder if Bob Shoop did something inside the X's and O's or if Florida just thought they had the game in the bag. It's still quite hard to believe.







Mike Detillier joined me yesterday on the show and shared that short list at LSU consists of the following 3 guys.




Of those 3 guys the one that would scare me the most from an SEC standpoint is Tom Herman. I think he's special, has a tremendous personality, and will recruit like a mad man there. He would effectively pull guys out of Texas with his Houston ties.


Petrino would be interesting at LSU because he would give that fan base the wide open style they crave. But could he behave there? Does he have the energy to compete in this league at this stage?


David Shaw is an NFL head coach in the making. His father was an NFL head coach and has encouraged his son to say in the college ranks. Shaw might be the most underrated coach in college football. He would be very interesting at Baton Rouge.






It's funny John in Gainesville mentioned this because we've taken a beating expense wise in 2016. Yesterday is a great example. We're on the air doing our thing and gremlins got into our equipment. My engineer came out last night for a visit that wasn't cheap. Therefore I'm strongly considering experimenting with some sort of PayPal tip jar this weekend. I really am humbled by the interest my listeners/readers have in the welfare/viability of what we do. I really am touched by your bringing this up.










I love Arnold Palmer. Always have. Always will. He literally changed the business of sports overnight with his association with Mark McCormick. I just read an awesome book on all this called Players by Mathew Futterman. In fact we will be featuring Mathew on an upcoming Book Corner interview.


Kneeling for the anthem isn't going to fly in the heartland in college football. Tennessee hasn't had to deal with this yet. Link





Dean: I agree. Butch's goofiness is amusing and harmless. Never a dull moment. As for this team, they are going to go down with the 1985 team as one that helped UT get back to glory. I really believe that. I don't think these guys are going to win a Natty anytime soon but I wouldn't sleep on them beating either Bama or A&M in a rematch in Atlanta. Put it this way, if they ever put 4 quarters together they are going to be tough to beat.



Shane helps make In The Pocket and The Jerry Glanville Show look amazing on MyVlt. I didn't realize Shane was a jack of all trades. Here's a link to his podcast. Give him a click and a holla. Link


Tomorrow at Tonybasilio.com...CC Hoops with UT basketball recruiting update while Jerry Colquitt breaks down the film for the Georgia game.

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