'17 TN ATH Jacoby Stevens (LSU commit)

[bignewt]

I've was born and raised in the Knoxville area but have traveled all over. Been to every state except for Alaska and Rhode Island. Lived in Virginia for a while. I always had a tug for back home. Obviously I have always been a fan of the big orange. People are different. It's a free country and I don't begrudge people for doing their own thing. I also don't begrudge people for favoring the folks that are loyal to their home town.

Im with ya ive lived everywhere but was always a Vol fan and it took me 42 years ti move here. Thing is im a fan of all our Vols period. If Hurd was from Montana i would be no less a fan.

 

[InVOLuntary]

... and so has Butch Jones! (Jalen Hurd, Derek Barnett, Kyle Phillips, TK JR, Josh Malone, Jashon Robertson, Drew Richmond, Charles Mosley and even Maleik Gray and perhaps Trey Smith for 2017 - we will see). A few have gotten away for 2017 but it really is just one (Higgins) that especially hurts. Even in times of success Georgia and Florida both lose a lot of talent because there is so much of it. Georgia lost Kyle Davis, Nigel Warrior and Derrick Brown in 2016 and Robert Nkemdiche in 2013. There is in-state pressure in Tennessee just like Georgia but that doesn't mean we are going to get them all and it sure as hell doesn't mean that our fan base should harass or boo teenagers... Geez!

You just really are having trouble grasping my point aren't you? This has zero to do with Butch.

 

[Jax_Vol]

Serious question, has Bob ever brought positive news?

As I recall, Bob is a Vanderbilt fan...




Bwaaaaaaaaa Haaaaaaaaaaa Haaaaaaaa!

 

[BowlBrother85]

You just really are having trouble grasping my point aren't you? This has zero to do with Butch.

You're not making a point. You seem to be suggesting that there is a lack of passion and state loyalty among Tennessee football fans because we don't apply pressure to local talent (social media suggests otherwise) but the only thing you provide to back that up is that our in-state players who pick other schools aren't booed at their announcement ceremonies and their parents aren't harassed after the fact. With the population growth in the mid-state we will get more local talent in the long run but we will also lose more. That's just how it is.

 

[InVOLuntary]

You're not making a point. You seem to be suggesting that there is a lack of passion and state loyalty among Tennessee football fans because we don't apply pressure to local talent (social media suggests otherwise) but the only thing you provide to back that up is that our in-state players who pick other schools aren't booed at their announcement ceremonies and their parents aren't harassed after the fact. With the population growth in the mid-state we will get more local talent in the long run but we will also lose more. That's just how it is.

I'm suggesting that there is less in-state pressure to stay and play for Tennessee than in other states. If you disagree we'll just have to agree to disagree. That's the point. If a player from the state of Alabama spurns the Crimson tide, parents lose jobs. Right or wrong the pressure to stay instate is much greater in other states imo. If you don't share it it's ok.

 

[Vol464]

Im with ya ive lived everywhere but was always a Vol fan and it took me 42 years ti move here. Thing is im a fan of all our Vols period. If Hurd was from Montana i would be no less a fan.

If Hurd was from Montana, I wouldn't like the vols anymore. :crazy:

 

[UTVolinExile]

Hey InVOLuntary, I got your point.

 

[Kristy*]

Take a kid in Alabama that Auburn and Bama want badly and he announces for Tennessee or LSU at his high school and he gets booed out of the gym. Take a kid in GA that chooses TN or Clemson over the dogs, Take a kid from Louisiana that chooses Bama or Texas Am over the home state school, they get booed out of the gym.

It definitely is different here. Jacoby gets standing ovation. People wonder why Tennessee has trouble keeping kids home.

Did Marquez Calloway get booed?

Jacoby isn't even from here

Does it look like they're booing? It looks like Callaway's classmates are helping him form a Power 'T' to me. But that wouldn't fit the narrative. . .

 

[NYCVol]

I'm suggesting that there is less in-state pressure to stay and play for Tennessee than in other states. If you disagree we'll just have to agree to disagree. That's the point. If a player from the state of Alabama spurns the Crimson tide, parents lose jobs. Right or wrong the pressure to stay instate is much greater in other states imo. If you don't share it it's ok.

Jason Allen? Tee Martin? Fred Weary? Joey Kent? Richmond Flowers? And a whole boatload of others...weak argument.

 

[InVOLuntary]

Jason Allen? Tee Martin? Fred Weary? Joey Kent? Richmond Flowers? And a whole boatload of others...weak argument.

Yea, I'm sure in the 20's in-state pressure was less too.

 

[InVOLuntary]

Does it look like they're booing? It looks like Callaway's classmates are helping him form a Power 'T' to me. But that wouldn't fit the narrative. . .

That was his teammates if remember correctly. Also, not sure how much GA wanted him. Also there are exceptions I'll agree.

 

[Glitch]

Id say its good kids can go where they want, good grief if you love someone set them free!

The correct version of that is:

"If you love someone, render them unconscious with a chloroform soaked rage, dig a 20 foot deep pit in your basement, and keep them there forever."

Making a suit from their skin is completely optional. :muahaha:

 

[Vols4us]

It is family, cumulative coaching and community orientation that moves many to commit to the prominent in-state school. Practically speaking, UT has not been dominant in football for over a decade. A one season splash now and again down the road does not get it done. No roller coaster rides will get it done. UT has been both of those. No stability - until the last few years. That is too late to attract many currently as the imprint has been made on them as they grew up. It has been 15 years since the 1997-2001 run. Until recent years it seemed the coaches did their best to mess up TN HS coaching relationships. When the HS coaches turn off, so goes the feeders to the program. Add in the option of choice. Informed student athletes look at more than just football. Social networking has opened things up a lot.

It's a long term fix and will never be successful 100% of the time. But if you want to see things strongly improve - win at a higher level and more consistently.

 

[bignewt]

That was his teammates if remember correctly. Also, not sure how much GA wanted him. Also there are exceptions I'll agree.

I would add that I wouldn't put Goergia in that category they lose big in-state talent every single year. Their towns are probably used to it.

 

[sjt18]

Why are some trying to spin these losses into not a big deal?

All we heard last year was, "Just wait til next year. It is a great year for talent in TN HSFB". According to Rivals, UT got just 2 of the top 10 players in TN last year. Right now Rivals has 13 guys ranked 4*. The top 3 are already committed to someone other than UT. Of the 7 committed, only two are committed to UT.

This isn't good. Regardless of what you blame it on, only ONE GUY is paid to fix it.... and his job likely depends on getting it fixed.

The 247 composite looks a bit worse. They only rank 7 TN players as 4* plus two with 5*. Five of these 9 are committed with only one to UT. Neither 5* is committed to UT.

That is a WORSE percentage of top instate players than Bama, UGA, LSU, and UF get. If UT is to compete then THIS MUST CHANGE.

 

[Nationdom]

This guy will be all vol after we take care of business in Tampa .

 

[bignewt]

Why are some trying to spin these losses into not a big deal?

All we heard last year was, "Just wait til next year. It is a great year for talent in TN HSFB". According to Rivals, UT got just 2 of the top 10 players in TN last year. Right now Rivals has 13 guys ranked 4*. The top 3 are already committed to someone other than UT. Of the 7 committed, only two are committed to UT.

This isn't good. Regardless of what you blame it on, only ONE GUY is paid to fix it.... and his job likely depends on getting it fixed.

The 247 composite looks a bit worse. They only rank 7 TN players as 4* plus two with 5*. Five of these 9 are committed with only one to UT. Neither 5* is committed to UT.

That is a WORSE percentage of top instate players than Bama, UGA, LSU, and UF get. If UT is to compete then THIS MUST CHANGE.

Or you can just RECRUIT THE PLAYERS YOU WANT AND NOT LISTEN TO HOMER FANS WHO THINK ALL THE BEST PLAYERS ARE FROM TN.

 

[smokey90]

Why are some trying to spin these losses into not a big deal?

All we heard last year was, "Just wait til next year. It is a great year for talent in TN HSFB". According to Rivals, UT got just 2 of the top 10 players in TN last year. Right now Rivals has 13 guys ranked 4*. The top 3 are already committed to someone other than UT. Of the 7 committed, only two are committed to UT.

This isn't good. Regardless of what you blame it on, only ONE GUY is paid to fix it.... and his job likely depends on getting it fixed.

The 247 composite looks a bit worse. They only rank 7 TN players as 4* plus two with 5*. Five of these 9 are committed with only one to UT. Neither 5* is committed to UT.

That is a WORSE percentage of top instate players than Bama, UGA, LSU, and UF get. If UT is to compete then THIS MUST CHANGE.

Moreover, the two 5* are not from Memphis. They are from Oakland Ridge and Middle Tennessee. This should be recruiting hot spots for UT.

 

[m1al]

Oakland Ridge? Where's my atlas?

 

[BaldBiker]

Moreover, the two 5* are not from Memphis. They are from Oakland Ridge and Middle Tennessee. This should be recruiting hot spots for UT.

If you don't know the places you are talking about, don't post about it. Okay, thanks.

I mean Oak Ridge, TN is a pretty famous place in American history....ya know....that whole WWII thing....the atomic bomb.

 

[bignewt]

If you don't know the places you are talking about, don't post about it. Okay, thanks.

I mean Oak Ridge, TN is a pretty famous place in American history....ya know....that whole WWII thing....the atomic bomb.

What atomic bomb? I'm here now, Ill ask around!

 

[sjt18]

Or you can just RECRUIT THE PLAYERS YOU WANT AND NOT LISTEN TO HOMER FANS WHO THINK ALL THE BEST PLAYERS ARE FROM TN.

So you are saying that UT did not recruit and is not recruiting the most talented players in the state?

Or maybe you are saying Jones was wrong when he made a big deal over the need to get the best players in your home state.... and his appeal to them about playing for their home state university?

 

[sjt18]

If you don't know the places you are talking about, don't post about it. Okay, thanks.

I mean Oak Ridge, TN is a pretty famous place in American history....ya know....that whole WWII thing....the atomic bomb.

So rather than dealing with the point of his post.... you quibble over a brain cramp?

He's correct of course. These are mid and east TN players. That should be a lock down area for UT.

 

[BaldBiker]

What atomic bomb? I'm here now, Ill ask around!

shhhh. It's a secret.

 

[bignewt]

So you are saying that UT did not recruit and is not recruiting the most talented players in the state?

Or maybe you are saying Jones was wrong when he made a big deal over the need to get the best players in your home state.... and his appeal to them about playing for their home state university?

I am saying he is recruiting the best players for his system. He has mentioned in-state recruits sure has he made a big deal about it? As big as the people on here do? No. The home state or failure thing was created and is nurtured on this site.