Football & Track

[nc vol fan]

Here's are a couple questions nation. How far behind are we in track to other programs, and is it a money thing for better facilities, or coaching?? Seems like if there was a investment in our track program it would help in the future for athletes in skill positions on our football team. Now I am aware that the Vols have had great track athletes in the past , but that still says nothing for the whole state of the program. I think that this is one more example that UT athletics as a whole needs investment and backing in order for success to come back to this university and not just one area..

 

[volroadwarrior]

Another Hamilton and Cheek athletic program disaster.

 

[loosecannon]

Tennessee has had a long tradition in track and field. However, as of the last 6-8 years the men's team has been subpar to not only Tennessee but to other teams in the area. They do not get top tier recruits nor do they have top tier coaches. The Nashville area turns out a huge number of nationally recruited track and field athletes and few ever make it to Knoxville. They have made some positive coaching changes lately in the throws and they have a good vaulting and middle distance coach. Sprints and jumps are mediocre coaching imho as there are better coaches at other schools in the state.

 

[Rudy123]

Here's are a couple questions nation. How far behind are we in track to other programs, and is it a money thing for better facilities, or coaching?? Seems like if there was a investment in our track program it would help in the future for athletes in skill positions on our football team. Now I am aware that the Vols have had great track athletes in the past , but that still says nothing for the whole state of the program. I think that this is one more example that UT athletics as a whole needs investment and backing in order for success to come back to this university and not just one area..

Am I correct in that there is one head coach and he coaches both male & female track? That seems a little too much for one coach to give his best with that much responsibility....

 

[DeerPark12]

Am I correct in that there is one head coach and he coaches both male & female track? That seems a little too much for one coach to give his best with that much responsibility....

That's how most track programs in the SEC and NCAA are set up now. UT was one of the last SEC schools to combine track programs.

The biggest thing that has impacted UT the last five years in track is the lack of an indoor facility. Top level recruits are looking for a school that they can make their home base after their college career is over, and without an indoor facility, UT doesn't have that anymore.

 

[Blood Runs Orange]

Here's are a couple questions nation. How far behind are we in track to other programs, and is it a money thing for better facilities, or coaching?? Seems like if there was a investment in our track program it would help in the future for athletes in skill positions on our football team. Now I am aware that the Vols have had great track athletes in the past , but that still says nothing for the whole state of the program. I think that this is one more example that UT athletics as a whole needs investment and backing in order for success to come back to this university and not just one area..

You would think this would be the case, but you must have never watched Leonard Scott. That guy was an absolute burner and a track standout. We put him at WR and he blew by the secondary every time but he just couldn't catch the ball. My buddy used to scream "Don't throw it to stone hands!"

 

[governmentmule]

You would think this would be the case, but you must have never watched Leonard Scott. That guy was an absolute burner and a track standout. We put him at WR and he blew by the secondary every time but he just couldn't catch the ball. My buddy used to scream "Don't throw it to stone hands!"

that is true,but the Ds had to use guys to cover him,just in case he would catch one

 

[nc vol fan]

You would think this would be the case, but you must have never watched Leonard Scott. That guy was an absolute burner and a track standout. We put him at WR and he blew by the secondary every time but he just couldn't catch the ball. My buddy used to scream "Don't throw it to stone hands!"

No I saw Scott....lol forgot about where he came from though..I am just saying that an improvement in track would have to help football I would think.. NOT every year but years we struggle recruiting speed guys for skill positions it would just be another pool to pull from

 

[HHIvol]

The Tennessee Fund has just started a new campaign to build or improve the facilities of ALL UT sports. It's called the Campaign for Excellence. Feel free to support it in any way that you can. It's very important for the maintenance of all of our sports. Just call the Tennessee Fund office or go online at tennesseefund.org.

 

[Bukstar]

Tennessee has had a long tradition in track and field. However, as of the last 6-8 years the men's team has been subpar to not only Tennessee but to other teams in the area. They do not get top tier recruits nor do they have top tier coaches. The Nashville area turns out a huge number of nationally recruited track and field athletes and few ever make it to Knoxville. They have made some positive coaching changes lately in the throws and they have a good vaulting and middle distance coach. Sprints and jumps are mediocre coaching imho as there are better coaches at other schools in the state.

This is the same MO as the football program. Why did these two programs start their decline at the same time? Coincidence?

 

[nc vol fan]

Like I said I understand that wd have had goid or some great track stars from time to time, but I fail to see that we have HAD a GREAT track program year in and year out, or the facilities that attracts the great ones, and that brings me back to my point a upgrade in track & field will benefit the football program greatly, also I thought the excellence program was the the one where you sponsor a student athlete.. I get stuff in the mail all the time from the university. . after a while it starts looking the same...

 

[VOLINVONORE]

Like I said I understand that wd have had goid or some great track stars from time to time, but I fail to see that we have HAD a GREAT track program year in and year out, or the facilities that attracts the great ones, and that brings me back to my point a upgrade in track & field will benefit the football program greatly, also I thought the excellence program was the the one where you sponsor a student athlete.. I get stuff in the mail all the time from the university. . after a while it starts looking the same...

One has to go back a number of years, but we did have a very good track program which also improved our football team. Chuck Roe(sp) was the coach at that time.

 

[Reverend Bubba Flavel]

Where is the evidence that a strong track program helps skill positions in football?

I know it used to be the case - at least to some extent - back in the 70s and into the 80s. But I do not think it is all that common anymore.
You look at our roster and Reginald Juin is an All-American First Team outdoor track athlete but has been absent on the football field.

I mean a strong track program cannot hurt, but it seems like its relevance to football has been diminsihed.
Of course I could be totally wrong.

 

[loosecannon]

The best thing a good track program does is that it give you an additional resource. Strength coaches and football coaches for the most part are very knowledgeable about many different aspects of running, but they have little knowledge of speed specific training compared to a top level track coach. A good friend of mine works with Olympians as a strength and conditioning coach. He knows a ton about S&C (he was an Olympic coach) but he will admit that he supplements his training knowledge with the knowledge of world class sprinting coaches and he has guys that run 4.1 to 4-2 consistently in the 40.
All I am saying is the knowledge, skills, and trained eyes of a world class sprinting coach are an incredible asset that could benefit any skill player that runs even part time for a track team or any athlete that trains under his expert eye.

 

[m9000]

Willie Gault was probably one of the best track-football players. Richmond Flowers was another.