Ekeler is out - headed to Nebraska

[Vol737]

I would've fired Ek after he didn't have Boo drop back on the Ohio State field goal. That was a coaching fail. Did they not scout the kicker at all? All the Ohio fans around us said, "Watch, this will be 10 yards short."

Well, technically it was his last game. So, either way...

I appreciate what he did while here.

 

[dduncan4163]

At least NB has the Platte River to drive along.

Kansas is like that awkward girl at the high school dance: flat, boring, and you never seem get anywhere.

 

[Dormandy Fan]

Thanks coach Ek!!! Sorry to see you go. Best of luck.

 

[feathersax]

Ek's special teams were extra special! Really sorry to see Mike Ekeler leave Knoxville. His enthusiasm will be missed.

 

[Tin Man]

At least NB has the Platte River to drive along.

Kansas is like that awkward girl at the high school dance: flat, boring, and you never seem get anywhere.

And the roads are horrible…

 

[titansvolsfaninga]

Man, Tony V is crushed. Who is going to be his bro now? They fought like brothers. Is there a Waffle House exactly halfway between Lincoln and Knoxville?

 

[Starchief13VFL]

It's the birthplace of Kool Aid. Show some respect

They also have a quilting museum

 

[#1HomeGrownUTVOL]

I think the best outcome we get is promote coach chop. He is a natural fit. He has worked with CRG for a while. It is a good fit with CTB. The special team coordinator can be coached by an analyst. Evan Crabtree has been working with our special team anyway. A lot of other SEC teams do this already.

 

[DonDiego]

I hate to see him go, but seems I read somewhere he was working without a contract extension. That's a bad sign for guys like him, if so.

 

[Jax_Vol]

Just released video of coach arriving in Lincoln

View attachment 719195

I hope he has a sock hat.

Nice people but that wind is vicious.

For you hillbillies, a sock hat is what they call a toboggan.

 

[Jax_Vol]

I hate to see him go, but seems I read somewhere he was working without a contract extension. That's a bad sign for guys like him, if so.

Unsure if true, but yes...I heard his contract expired on Jan 31.

 

[Deebowbear]

I hate to see him go, but seems I read somewhere he was working without a contract extension. That's a bad sign for guys like him, if so.

I guess the other coaches with contracts ending signed new ones

 

[865Orange]

I guess the other coaches with contracts ending signed new ones

 

[SpookyAction]

He never unleashed that secret weapon, Jackson Ross.
Eventually, even the announcers didn't bother mentioning it.
Misdirection, yes.
They really should cut him loose. He has to be brutal if he played Australian Rules Football.

 

[207 others]

Sorry to see this, I figured with his daughters emersed in Lady Vol Sports he's stay...

Good Lord...have y'all ever BEEN to Nebraska? Especially Lincoln??!!

it is a terrible place, flat and boring, nothing to do, smells like agriculture yet it is company owned agriculture, not even a funny old timer who sells raw milk !!

 

[GulfCoasterVol]

Children of the Corn.

 

[0nelilreb]

Sorry to see this, I figured with his daughters emersed in Lady Vol Sports he's stay...

Good Lord...have y'all ever BEEN to Nebraska? Especially Lincoln??!!

Actually , I lived on South Sumner St. not far from the Stadium . My daughter was born at Lincoln General . I miss Runzas. For anyone that does know , google “ Runza”

 

[butchna]

I hope he has a sock hat.

Nice people but that wind is vicious.

For you hillbillies, a sock hat is what they call a toboggan.

Sock hat sounds way more sophisticated.

 

[TAF]

...For anyone that does know , google “ Runza”

Yeah...it "RunsAh" right THRU-yah!!!

 

[montanatenn]

Sock hat sounds way more sophisticated.

bahgun or bogurn

 

[rocytop2624]

Bittersweet for sure - in my opinion, the last few years have been some of the best ALL AROUND special team units Tennessee has ever fielded.
That is all credit to Coach Ek.
Love his passion and enthusiasm for the game.

Other side of the coin, he gets a chance to go coach at his alma mater with better opportunity for advancement.
Realistically, was he eer going to be more than ST Coordinator here at UT?...probably not.
At Nebraska, I think he has a chance to move to other roles and grow his career - I can never be mad at a guy that take that chance.

Thank you for all you have done to advance the brand - GO VOLS !!!

He coached the outside linebackers also.

 

[Backwards K]

He was a good towel waver and cheerleader. Young fans like him because he yelled a lot and ran up and down the sidelines. I wish he had spent more time making sure his KO return team didn't get a penalty every other time they decided to run back a kick off, making sure his punt returner caught punts and didn't let the ball roll 20 yds downfield and maybe not roughing the punter at inopportune times in big games.

UT survived Trooper Taylor taking is towels somewhere else, the Vols will survive this one too.

 

[GUNTERSVOL]

Bittersweet for sure - in my opinion, the last few years have been some of the best ALL AROUND special team units Tennessee has ever fielded.
That is all credit to Coach Ek.
Love his passion and enthusiasm for the game.

Other side of the coin, he gets a chance to go coach at his alma mater with better opportunity for advancement.
Realistically, was he eer going to be more than ST Coordinator here at UT?...probably not.
At Nebraska, I think he has a chance to move to other roles and grow his career - I can never be mad at a guy that take that chance.

Thank you for all you have done to advance the brand - GO VOLS !!!

Just for the record, grew up 50 miles away, but went to K State.

 

[CAVPUT]

He was a good towel waver and cheerleader. Young fans like him because he yelled a lot and ran up and down the sidelines. I wish he had spent more time making sure his KO return team didn't get a penalty every other time they decided to run back a kick off, making sure his punt returner caught punts and didn't let the ball roll 20 yds downfield and maybe not roughing the punter at inopportune times in big games.

UT survived Trooper Taylor taking is towels somewhere else, the Vols will survive this one too.

Was about to make the same comparison. We'll be fine on special teams even without the rah, rah stuff. Every personnel change is an opportunity to get better as a coaching staff....especially as recruiters.