Feb
2008
There’s been a lot of negativity surrounding the Vol nation lately regarding the strength of our signing class. The reason for this of course stems from the low ranking of the class (33 over at Rivals last time I checked, and something like 9th in the SEC). Ultimately, it’s this type of negativity that brings our rankings down. We’re a strong fan base that, despite having a coach with only a single losing season over the last 16 years and ending only 2 seasons outside of the AP top 25, refuse to stand by him, citing a need for “new blood” or “fresh ideas”.
First, let’s recognize that recruiting rankings don’t really mean anything. We here at Fulmer’s Belly give a warm welcome to all 18 of our recruits and are happy to have each of them. It’s really a special thing to be a part of the Volunteer family. Most of us would give anything to have their athletic ability and spend 4 years playing for one of the greatest teams in this nation’s history. These men have truly joined a special team, and we’ll spend the next 4 years cheering for them until our voices give-out in Neyland. Or until we’re too drunk to cheer anymore.
Now, a heavy part of the recruiting process revolves around negativity. What’s the first thing Nick Saban, Les Miles, Mark Richt, and Urban Meyer have to say about Tennessee to a recruit choosing between the two respective schools? Tennessee has a coach on the hot seat whose fans do not believe in him and could be fired in any given year. How many recruits crossed Tennessee off of their list after the Florida loss, and Fulmer’s job was all but lost? Nary a one of us would have predicted we would come back to win the East and compete in the SECCG.
It’s time we learn that maybe Phillip Fulmer knows a little more about coaching a football team than we do, and knows more about it than most Division-I coaches. It’s time we learn what it’s really like to be a fan of Tennessee and welcome our 18 new students to the Big Orange Country by showing them we have no fear and neither will they. We don’t want a Julio Jones or a Terrelle Pryor that’s just going to use his time here as a catapult to the NFL Draft. We need men that will play with the type of fire burning in them that we have as fans.
Let’s let them, and all future recruits know, that it’s great to be a Tennessee Vol.
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“We don’t want a Julio Jones or a Terrelle Pryor that’s just going to use his time here as a catapult to the NFL Draft. We need men that will play with the type of fire burning in them that we have as fans.”
I think that is an interesting point, but unfortunately, today’s landscape in college football works against that philosophy. There are many college coaches that encourage their juniors to not only file paperwork with the NFL, but to take advantage of the draft process and do what is best for them. As much as it would suck to lose Terrelle Pryor to the draft early, I think most fans across the country would gladly take him for 3 years (or any other talented player, for that matter).
The same could have been said about a guy like LeBron James. Everyone knew he was NBA-bound, but with the new NCAA rules, college teams would have done almost anything to sign him, even if it was just for one season (instead of 4). I think it is very convenient to say that “we don’t want a Julio Jones or a Terrelle Pryor” since Tennessee had no shot at getting either of them (especially after Cutcliffe left). However, you and I both know that had Pryor signed with the Vols, this wouldn’t even be an issue.
I am a Crimson Tide fan and I have to commend you on this posting concerning team support. Substitute the names with any other programs and it would just as pertinent anywhere.
Nice point Vincent, I agree with what you said there, but also, I think it’s maybe too bad to have too many mouths to feed at one table, as we typically do at the QB and RB spots. Not to say that it’s never good to have good players, but you know..
J Willie: Exactly!
Vincent, I couldn’t agree more, my point here is that we need to get behind the players we do have and not make them feel like they are our 2nd, 3rd, or even 4th choices. It ultimately hurts the program and affects recruiting down the road.
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