Evan Russell not available tonight (Friday) now AVAILABLE

[BDHVOL]

ESPN's Troy Eklund issued a public apology to Evan and Tennessee during his broadcast today.

Weak. Probably reading with a smile in his face. If he or ESPN really were concerned about the damage he caused. They would make it policy to stop reporting this crap. Stick with Scores, stats and highlights. The way ESPN used to be. Before Disney and their politics bought them. This is a toothpaste out of the tube deal. Damage was done can’t be undone.

 

[BowlBrother85]

The way this thread responded yesterday was embarrassing. Read those first few pages of wild speculation. It's cringe-worthy stuff.

 

[Aerie Vol]

Much to the Russell family.

Bwahahahahaha

Perfect. I gotta meet these people.

 

[Rickyvol77]

I hope he did too.

Here's the response from Evan's father.

Russell’s dad has more patience and forgiveness than I would for my son

 

[Sudden Impact]

Let me ask a Serious Question?

What happens when the Vols pull into Omaha and there are Signs in the Stands that state VOLs Use PEDs, Tennessee Cheats.

I can't imagine but it could happen....

 

[Rickyvol77]

Let me ask a Serious Question?

What happens when the Vols pull into Omaha and there are Signs in the Stands that state VOLs Use PEDs, Tennessee Cheats.

I can't imagine but it could happen....

Who cares

 

[ThreatLevelOrange]

If a player is ill it shouldn't look suspicious that he isn't with the team. He may not feel well enough to be at the ball park and he and the staff don't want to spread it to others -- and that doesn't just apply to COVID, but to any sort of illness.

And no one knew he was sick before the game. That’s why there were rampant rumors.

 

[GUNTERSVOL]

Agreed. I would not have jumped to PEDs personally (not sure where that came from), but the way it was announced (simply that he was “unavailable” and it would be addressed after the game — especially when our beat writers are also saying there is nothing physically wrong with him) sounded to me like it was likely something disciplinary (not judging Evan here, just playing the probabilities based on the way these things usually go in college sports). That’s no justification for making up rumors, etc., but the way to avoid those rumors would have been to say that he was unavailable due to a health issue.

Could be very costly. About the only way to IMMEDIATELY counter the impact of the public announcement is to also immediately announce that the issue will be addressed to the limits within the legal system. This would best mitigate any questions in the minds of the baseball brass for the upcoming draft. Anything less could be construed as just trying to avoid or duck the issue. I would start out letting people know my intent was to become a majority owner of the entire Disney Corporation. Might settle for a little less.

 

[vollygirl]

I’m glad Jason, his dad, cleared it up. I hope some of you are truly ashamed of where you went with a young man who has been nothing but a perfect example of a teammate and a Vol from day one. He needs our prayers and support.

And not that it matters to anybody, but I see some of you differently now for the comments you made.

 

[ThreatLevelOrange]

I hope he did too.

Here's the response from Evan's father.

Classy.

 

[volsagain]

I can honestly say Evan's dad is a better man than me. If someone spread such damaging information about my family I'd be like
View attachment 461065

They've just started the cake it's not even baking yet. The icing on this cake may be hard to stomach .

 

[BigOrangeCrush32]

Let me ask a Serious Question?

What happens when the Vols pull into Omaha and there are Signs in the Stands that state VOLs Use PEDs, Tennessee Cheats.

I can't imagine but it could happen....

Are you kidding, I hope there is signs like that and our guys see them because that will be Lights out and game over for the team we are playing if not the whole World Series. This team feeds off stuff like that. I can already see the HR celebration as soon as they hit it... double biceps flex towards the stands.

 

[BowlBrother85]

Weak. Probably reading with a smile in his face. If he or ESPN really were concerned about the damage he caused. They would make it policy to stop reporting this crap. Stick with Scores, stats and highlights. The way ESPN used to be. Before Disney and their politics bought them. This is a toothpaste out of the tube deal. Damage was done can’t be undone.

It was very unprofessional. Suspicion and cynicism permeate all forms of broadcast journalism now. A kid can't just get sick anymore. It's so stupid.

 

[BruisedOrange]

Aside from HIPPA and FERPA laws limiting what one can reveal about a person's medical data, here's something else to consider...

Evan is from a generation that lives on social media. They have no concept of privacy the way any of us over age 40 take for granted. And as a very public figure on social media, he gets also gets mocked, vilified, silli-fied, and potentially memed -- and all just as he's about to go into the CWS, the highest profile exposure of his young life in his ultimate profession.

Now, if you can put yourself in his world, what do you think would happen if he let CTV announce that he's out with diarrhea? That would be his "image" for the rest of the CWS, at the mercy of his opponents. Sure, us older guys say, "sticks and stones..." but we cannot appreciate that he exists in that world, even more than in the real world. In the real world, he can only be with and aware of a roomful of people. Online, he's in a "room" with hundreds of thousands, 24/7!

Or maybe he was being professional by not revealing his situation. What if he got food poisoning from a restaurant that's providing NIL money to other Tennessee athletes? What's the professional thing to do in a situation where your simple overnight illness could cause thousands of dollars of damage, and maybe destroy a business? And don't think for a second that people would not quickly determine where he ate!

Or, heck--what if it was his grandma's egg salad that made him sick? You gonna throw your lovin' grandma under the bus, or leave her vulnerable to public humiliation due to someone's careless word?

It matters not whether any of my hypotheticals are true--they're just a way of illustrating that there are many, many other possible aspects to what could have gone into his (and his coach's) decision to be ambiguous in the announcement.

 

[volsagain]

Let me ask a Serious Question?

What happens when the Vols pull into Omaha and there are Signs in the Stands that state VOLs Use PEDs, Tennessee Cheats.

I can't imagine but it could happen....

Probably be a lot of balls blowing up. Not just baseballs .

 

[Sudden Impact]

Are you kidding, I hope there is signs like that and our guys see them because that will be Lights out and game over for the team we are playing if not the whole World Series. This team feeds off stuff like that. I can already see the HR celebration as soon as they hit it... double biceps flex towards the stands.

I agree not worried about the team.....Fuel to the Fire.

What I am saying is that if this does happen and it lowers Draft Stock and hurts the Tennessee Name then the Monetary Damages will mount.

I thinking that ESPN knows this and it will continue to get worse for them as damages mount as the result of an unauthorized statement.

I would bet that this maybe Elkund's last Regional and will not continue to the Super regionals. The longer this drags out the worse for ESPN.

Opposing Fans will jump into feeding frenzies like this and ESPN cannot control without statements to counter. No Action by ESPN, we had a lame apology today will cause a slippery slope and cause more damage.

Actions are stronger than Words and there has been no Action today but let's see what happens in the future.....

 

[VolPack22]

You can tell he was reading that from a script….too little too late in my opinion

Yep written by the Disney Watchdogs.

 

[BruisedOrange]

Are you kidding, I hope there is signs like that and our guys see them because that will be Lights out and game over for the team we are playing if not the whole World Series. This team feeds off stuff like that. I can already see the HR celebration as soon as they hit it... double biceps flex towards the stands.

Fine... for knowledgeable fans. But how many will see the image in passing, have no idea what it's about--OR THAT IT'S PROVEN FALSE!--and pass it along as fact.

"I dunno Clarice, I saw on TV that Tennessee puts drugs in their athletes. You don't want Jimmy playing football at a school like that!"

An image is worth a thousand words, so it probably takes two thousand words to correct a misinformed opinion. And there's no way you'll ever identify and reach every person who came away with a mistaken impression.

Of course, you could always just trust ESPN to protect Tennessee's reputation during their broadcasts...

 

[Volfan1000]

Russell's bat lenghthens an already strong lineup.

Go Big Orange!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[txbo]

ESPN announcer Troy Eklund won’t survive this.

Yes he will.
The Russell family won't want anything to do with a law suit against him.

 

[BowlBrother85]

Evan is from a generation that lives on social media. They have no concept of privacy the way any of us over age 40 take for granted. And as a very public figure on social media, he gets also gets mocked, vilified, silli-fied, and potentially memed -- and all just as he's about to go into the CWS, the highest profile exposure of his young life in his ultimate profession.

Now, if you can put yourself in his world, what do you think would happen if he let CTV announce that he's out with diarrhea? That would be his "image" for the rest of the CWS, at the mercy of his opponents. Sure, us older guys say, "sticks and stones..." but we cannot appreciate that he exists in that world, even more than in the real world. In the real world, he can only be with and aware of a roomful of people. Online, he's in a "room" with hundreds of thousands, 24/7!

I couldn't help but think about this when reading your post ... and George Brett was one of the all time greats.

He never lived this down :

Kansas City Royals' George Brett: 'The Hemorrhoids Guy'

 

[MAD]

Yes he will.
The Russell family won't want anything to do with a law suit against him.

I agree with you, they are good people. I just don’t see him surviving because of all the bad PR.

 

[txbo]

And not that it matters to anybody, but I see some of you differently now for the comments you made.

The shame is getting a little thick in here. Some of you need to take a lesson from the Russell family.

 

[BruisedOrange]

Yes he will.
The Russell family won't want anything to do with a law suit against him.

Maybe, but sometimes you have to take your stand on behalf of all the innocent people who wouldn't have the means or constitution to call out the ESPN goliath and its phalanx of lawyers.

We'll see. I feel confident they're people who will make a wise decision for the greater good, whatever that might prove to be.

 

[DaddyChad]

The way this thread responded yesterday was embarrassing. Read those first few pages of wild speculation. It's cringe-worthy stuff.

Yeah there’s a lesson to be learned here. Unfortunately it won’t take. Some are too damn dense. Best practice is to not spread BS especially about your own players.