Coming after Vitello

[drawing dead]

I don’t ask questions I don’t know the answers to most of the time, that’s correct. Now, Vandy spent a small fortune to give Corbin AND ALL THE PLAYERS he’s coaching now and IN the MLB now, a place to call home, now, in the off season...hell they just launched a several million dollar campaign to upgrade again other facilities...no one cares, no one that lives there cares...very much.

Maybe Corbin should put a girl on his squad and then they may care. They would probably break attendance records. If football can do it, why not baseball?

I do ask questions I don’t know the answer to.

 

[AthensVol2007]

That was my point. Vandy does not have a real following despite their success.

That’s because most Vanderbilt alumni aren’t from Nashville or TN to begin with, therefore many return home or move on for work. It’s a university comprised of carpetbaggers. It’s the smallest school in the conference to begin with and if you take out grad students, which make up 50% of their enrollment, its extremely small. Not to mention the average student there is not your stereotypical sports fan.

 

[vol66]

Maybe Corbin should put a girl on his squad and then they may care. They would probably break attendance records. If football can do it, why not baseball?

I so ask questions I don’t know the answer to.

Can she sing?

 

[onevol74]

Same. Plus, I do not want an off campus stadium.

What about World’s Fair Park across the street from 11th Street garage? Would essentially be on campus and great shot of Knoxville sky line.

 

[drawing dead]

their “following” really is different than many other following of fans. For instance fans of miss state are really passionate about that place. They love being at that ballpark and I don’t blame them. It’s an unreal experience.

But the vandy following is made of dads and kids that long to be the next david price, sonny Gray or brian Reynolds. They just don’t have the passion for the Experience or being a a “real” fan. A lot of those people in those stands are like that imo

TN could have the experience that Starkville has if Vitello gets what he asks for, albeit on a smaller scale for the first couple of years. I have attended basketball games there and baseball games before the renovations, it really is shocking they can get that many people to come out to the park. Starkville is literally in the middle of nowhere.

 

[drawing dead]

Can she sing?

Only if the radio is wide open.

 

[BruinVol]

TN could have the experience that Starkville has if Vitello gets what he asks for

I just don’t buy that at all. The miss state baseball experience is multigenerational. It’s the thing to do and has been for many years. I don’t think any other program can grab that niche again. This day and age of instant entertainment with technology at push of a button isn’t going to allow for such a tradition to be born imo

 

[vol66]

I just don’t buy that at all. The miss state baseball experience is multigenerational. It’s the thing to do and has been for many years. I don’t think any other program can grab that niche again. This day and age of instant entertainment with technology at push of a button isn’t going to allow for such a tradition to be born imo

I hope you don’t take issue, cause I’m still watching baseball, replays, you have a very healthy respect for the Mississippi schools, and traditionally that’s fair, the cultural aspect also fair, not built overnight, fair...why can’t we have that here?

 

[BruinVol]

I hope you don’t take issue, cause I’m still watching baseball, replays, you have a very healthy respect for the Mississippi schools, and traditionally that’s fair, the cultural aspect also fair, not built overnight, fair...why can’t we have that here?

I think that’s an easy answer.
miss state built that culture of attending baseball in a different time when there wasn’t so much competition for the entertainment attention. Much much harder to get that kind of attention from people these days

I know 4-5 folks now that drive to Starkville 4-5 weekends a year to go to games with their entire family because they grew up going. I probably know 25 times more Tenn fans and none of them go to baseball games

 

[vol66]

I think that’s an easy answer.
miss state built that culture of attending baseball in a different time when there wasn’t so much competition for the entertainment attention. Much much harder to get that kind of attention from people these days

I know 4-5 folks now that drive to Starkville 4-5 weekends a year to go to games with their entire family because they grew up going. I probably know 25 times more Tenn fans and none of them go to baseball games

I don’t disagree, there has to be some consistency, we have a ways to go there for sure, I think there are many fans with a wait and see attitude.

Ultimately, can this TOWN support it, I think so, but if folks stop going because it’s a given to get a host, yeah, I wouldn’t invest in it either.

I can see the day where Collegiate Golf doesn’t end up more high profile than college baseball, that’s the way forward, but we’ll see.

 

[BruinVol]

I don’t disagree, there has to be some consistency, we have a ways to go there for sure, I think there are many fans with a wait and see attitude.

Ultimately, can this TOWN support it, I think so, but if folks stop going because it’s a given to get a host, yeah, I wouldn’t invest in it either.

I can see the day where Collegiate Golf doesn’t end up more high profile than college baseball, that’s the way forward, but we’ll see.

The outfield experience is the key imo. Starkville had the drive in tailgate areas for years at the beginning of this. Heck I know a lot of tenn football fans that wouldn’t come to games now without the tailgate socializing of the experience.

 

[vol66]

The outfield experience is the key imo. Starkville had the drive in tailgate areas for years at the beginning of this. Heck I know a lot of tenn football fans that wouldn’t come to games now without the tailgate socializing of the experience.

I buy that, I been to our porch a couple times, we just need to “Pro” it up a bit. A permanent structure, same down the LF line.

Personally, I would like to be street legal for hosting and fans be as close as possible, the Cameron Indoor but outside if you will, nothing to look at but hell to play there!

Much Respect Man, I am baseballed out.

 

[NighthawkVol]

Arkansas offers in-state tuition to all states that border Arkansas so they do have an advantage over us. As far as UF fan support it’s hit or miss like most of their sports, for whatever reason. However, I went to a Super Regional there in 2010 vs. UM and it was a solid sellout with 5,500 people so they can have crowds when they want them so not sure what you mean by the environment not being there. I was on campus for the 2005 CWS teams and saw plenty of lackadaisical crowds and couldn’t understand why.

To Bruin’s comment about the Bright Futures that’s no different than the Hope Scholarship or whatever TN calls their’s. Graduate HS with a certain GPA and test scores and get a piece of tuition waived. UF’s advantage is a population of 21M vs. 6M and year round ability play/practice.

Tennessee has a top 5/6 recruiting class coming in next season. That, in spite of not having been to Omaha in 15+ years. Seems TV has what he needs to recruit high level talent to Knoxville.

Tennessee is ranked #6 in America and is near the top of the SEC standings in just his 4th (3rd full) season. Seems TV has what he needs to win big in Knoxville.

If TV leaves, it seems to me it would be for more money or his heart being somewhere else. Because being unable to win/recruit in Knoxville just doesn’t seem to hold water, given what’s happening right now. I would think there is plenty of appeal to being this program’s Neyland or Rupp or Skip Bertman or Dave Van Horn. The expectations here aren’t huge. In fact, they’re whatever he sets them to be. Dabo Swinney is doing this with Clemson in football. Vitello can stay in Knoxville, win big in Knoxville, generate a baseball culture and passion in Knoxville that is new and organic. In fact, if he stays, I’d say those things are almost inevitable. So why leave?

 

[BruinVol]

Tennessee has a top 5/6 recruiting class coming in next season. That, in spite of not having been to Omaha in 15+ years. Seems TV has what he needs to recruit high level talent to Knoxville.

Tennessee is ranked #6 in America and is near the top of the SEC standings in just his 4th (3rd full) season. Seems TV has what he needs to win big in Knoxville.

If TV leaves, it seems to me it would be for more money or his heart being somewhere else. Because being unable to win/recruit in Knoxville just doesn’t seem to hold water, given what’s happening right now. I would think there is plenty of appeal to being this program’s Neyland or Rupp or Skip Bertman or Dave Van Horn. The expectations here aren’t huge. In fact, they’re whatever he sets them to be. Dabo Swinney is doing this with Clemson in football. Vitello can stay in Knoxville, win big in Knoxville, generate a baseball culture and passion in Knoxville that is new and organic. In fact, if he stays, I’d say those things are almost inevitable.



So why leave?

I think this is a great post but you are missing the why leave part

I think we all know this team isn’t deep enough pitching staff wise right now. TV knows that as well and he knows why it’s not as deep as other places. If he wants to win a CWS and go to Omaha on a regular basis it’s plenty reasonable to think he would go to a program where Buiding depth is easier.

 

[AthensVol2007]

Tennessee has a top 5/6 recruiting class coming in next season. That, in spite of not having been to Omaha in 15+ years. Seems TV has what he needs to recruit high level talent to Knoxville.

Tennessee is ranked #6 in America and is near the top of the SEC standings in just his 4th (3rd full) season. Seems TV has what he needs to win big in Knoxville.

If TV leaves, it seems to me it would be for more money or his heart being somewhere else. Because being unable to win/recruit in Knoxville just doesn’t seem to hold water, given what’s happening right now. I would think there is plenty of appeal to being this program’s Neyland or Rupp or Skip Bertman or Dave Van Horn. The expectations here aren’t huge. In fact, they’re whatever he sets them to be. Dabo Swinney is doing this with Clemson in football. Vitello can stay in Knoxville, win big in Knoxville, generate a baseball culture and passion in Knoxville that is new and organic. In fact, if he stays, I’d say those things are almost inevitable. So why leave?

You quoted me and didn’t refute anything of what I said. I’m not saying TV won’t stay or can’t compete here without the additional resources. I simply stated two schools who you said don’t have them in fact do have them.

 

[AthensVol2007]

I think that’s an easy answer.
miss state built that culture of attending baseball in a different time when there wasn’t so much competition for the entertainment attention. Much much harder to get that kind of attention from people these days

I know 4-5 folks now that drive to Starkville 4-5 weekends a year to go to games with their entire family because they grew up going. I probably know 25 times more Tenn fans and none of them go to baseball games

Maybe they’re not intertwined and it’s just a baseball region of the country but I can’t help but think the Cardinals have something to do with the passion for baseball that area has. It goes back to a simpler, less busy era as you said and that of course helped shape it. It’s an area of the country save for Memphis that has no major metro area around for hundreds of miles, therefore no pro sports except for the Saints and STL Cardinals. Cardinals games were/are broadcast on radio throughout AR, West TN, North MS etc. and it WAS the entertainment for several generations in that region and that passion for Cardinals baseball is still prevalent today amongst my age category.

 

[BruinVol]

Maybe they’re not intertwined and it’s just a baseball region of the country but I can’t help but think the Cardinals have something to do with the passion for baseball that area has. It goes back to a simpler, less busy era as you said and that of course helped shape it. It’s an area of the country save for Memphis that has no major metro area around for hundreds of miles, therefore no pro sports except for the Saints and STL Cardinals. Cardinals games were/are broadcast on radio throughout AR, West TN, North MS etc. and it WAS the entertainment for several generations in that region and that passion for Cardinals baseball is still prevalent today amongst my age category.

Good post. No doubt cardinal fans have that extra juice for sure

 

[TheMookieMonster]

I think this is a great post but you are missing the why leave part

I think we all know this team isn’t deep enough pitching staff wise right now. TV knows that as well and he knows why it’s not as deep as other places. If he wants to win a CWS and go to Omaha on a regular basis it’s plenty reasonable to think he would go to a program where Buiding depth is easier.

I don't understand the logic behind this so please explain. If recruiting is not an issue (which it's not), building depth will naturally come after a few recruiting cycles. As @GregAmsler said, the incoming class is Top 5, and that was prior to our breakout season happening right now. Success is intoxicating. It will attract more top-shelf talent to the program over time. Will we all of a sudden have the depth we need next year? No. I would say it will take 2 more recruiting classes after this one to really get the program where it needs to be consistently, but it will happen sooner than later.

I will continue to die on the Hill that the only thing preventing Tennessee from being as elite as Vandy or Miss State or any other program is Tennessee itself. I am not predicting that TV stays, but if he doesn't that isn't because we can't provide TV what he needs, it because we decided not to which would be dumb.

He wants top-shelf assistant pool money. We can give him that. We can make him one of the highest paid coaches in all of CBB and we won't even have to break 1 million. Easy. If we WANT to we can give him the renovated LNS he so desperately wants AND we can give him a brand new facilities if we so choose. We had a singular donor build the new swimming complex and a singular donor pour money into the basketball facilities.

We're Tennessee. We have the money. The only question is whether our administration finally decides to spend the money in the programs that matter, or just continues to pour it into just our failing football program. I think Danny White is a smart guy. Randy Boyd is a huge baseball guy and understands what it means to the state. I have 100% confidence that they will get it done.

 

[preacherman20]

Just remember that the two studs at Vandy will be gone after this year. They will replace them with excellent pitchers but not near what they have right now. If by some chance, we could get the entire class to come to UT that is committed, then we have the edge next year for a couple of years. I think we lose a lot of guys this year to the draft and free agency but we have quality guys behind them. I do not think the stadium is a recruiting factor as much as it is a fan experience. The new turf field is the key for the players. Their main concerns would be the facilities they use which would be larger weight room, locker room, and hitting/pitching facilities. The fan experience does not affect recruiting, IMO.

 

[TheMookieMonster]

Just remember that the two studs at Vandy will be gone after this year. They will replace them with excellent pitchers but not near what they have right now. If by some chance, we could get the entire class to come to UT that is committed, then we have the edge next year for a couple of years. I think we lose a lot of guys this year to the draft and free agency but we have quality guys behind them. I do not think the stadium is a recruiting factor as much as it is a fan experience. The new turf field is the key for the players. Their main concerns would be the facilities they use which would be larger weight room, locker room, and hitting/pitching facilities. The fan experience does not affect recruiting, IMO.

The fan experience doesn't affect it much, but kids do want to play in the fancy, slick stadiums that almost feel like AA or AAA stadiums, which is mostly what the rest of the SEC stadiums look like. We can do some renovations and easily expand capacity. It won't be hard.

I was talking with my dad the other day, and we were reminiscing a bit about the Helton years when they'd truck in extra bleacher seats and have the entire 1st and 3rd base line extended for big series because fan interest was so high they needed the extra seats. The point being that this is a huge baseball state. Fan support will be there, heck it already IS there. Just look at how loud the stadium was and how expensive tickets were for the Florida and Vandy series. I imagine if we win the next 2 series (as we should) tickets in Knoxville for the Arkansas series will approach $500 - $600. Anyone that says we don't have the interest on par with other elite schools is kidding themselves. I paid $600 for a freaking World Series ticket in Fenway Park in 2018 for comparison. Our fanbase is starving for a winner. Baseball is providing that. And TV is going to develop a loyal following by the Orange Faithful if he keeps this up.

 

[Y9 Vol]

Vanderbilt is proof that you can have a shatty stadium and still bring in the best talent in the country. Their stadium is horrid.

 

[6-4-3]

They have really nice player development facilities, etc. But I agree, their stadium is crap.

 

[BruinVol]

I don't understand the logic behind this so please explain. If recruiting is not an issue (which it's not), building depth will naturally come after a few recruiting cycles. As @GregAmsler said, the incoming class is Top 5, and that was prior to our breakout season happening right now. Success is intoxicating. It will attract more top-shelf talent to the program over time. Will we all of a sudden have the depth we need next year? No. I would say it will take 2 more recruiting classes after this one to really get the program where it needs to be consistently, but it will happen sooner than later.

I will continue to die on the Hill that the only thing preventing Tennessee from being as elite as Vandy or Miss State or any other program is Tennessee itself. I am not predicting that TV stays, but if he doesn't that isn't because we can't provide TV what he needs, it because we decided not to which would be dumb.

He wants top-shelf assistant pool money. We can give him that. We can make him one of the highest paid coaches in all of CBB and we won't even have to break 1 million. Easy. If we WANT to we can give him the renovated LNS he so desperately wants AND we can give him a brand new facilities if we so choose. We had a singular donor build the new swimming complex and a singular donor pour money into the basketball facilities.

We're Tennessee. We have the money. The only question is whether our administration finally decides to spend the money in the programs that matter, or just continues to pour it into just our failing football program. I think Danny White is a smart guy. Randy Boyd is a huge baseball guy and understands what it means to the state. I have 100% confidence that they will get it done.

Just a reminder that this is a discussion and not an argument.

Looking at recruiting classes BEFORE the draft isn’t the way to judge classes. It’s about what kids come to school.

vandy started with David price, then it was WalkerB, then it was rocker and Leiter that were all first round talents out of hs but gambled on themselves. Until Tenn starts doing that you won’t see the same depth.

Draft after draft we see vandy have 4-5 top 2-3 Round draft guys and year after year we see them hold on to at worst half of them. Tennessee has to start holding on to them.

I’ve said it a number of times here that Covid as a blessing in disguise as it allowed Tidwell to come to school. I’m convinced without covid he signs last year

 

[preacherman20]

But this also goes against your theory on not recruiting young guys. The top guys in each HS class are committing very early, typically as 9th graders. For us to be able to recruit the best in HS, we have to understand that whether it is a good practice or not, we need to be able to go get the best talent as soon as they are determined which is usually at a very young age.

 

[Border Vol]

Hopefully Tennessee will do what they have to do to keep Coach Vitello