Recruiting Football Talk VII

[mr.checkerboards]

At least someone recognizes just how good Joe Milton is!!!

Navy Shuler, imo

 

[cHiZzLeVOL]

@Geaux_Vols thanks for pushing that Tulane WR to us, from the shadows, we appreciate it!

 

[LA Vol]

I didn't mean to say that UT is handcuffing coach. Not at all. I don't think our NIL is on the same level as the big boys. I'm not sure other football focused teams are diverting as much towards other sports. We seem to be spreading money around the whole Athletic department. Also, I think there is still a massive amount of under the table stuff that goes on in dirt. I don't think we're getting our hands dirty there (rightfully so, imo). I think the program is exactly where the SEC wants this program, a perennial 8-9 win team.

I didn't see your post, InVOL. I'll go back and find it. I was making a general comment on people advising others to lower expectations because 2024 would be a step-back year that couldn't match the past two seasons. UT expects to keep building on the foundation and culture that have been established and while a step back could happen, I don't think it's expected or would be all that welcome.

Of course, any year can have adverse circumstances that impact results but I think the internal goal and belief is that UT will continue to become more competitive with top teams and challenge our rivals for championships. But yes, UT is committed to academics, spreading the wealth around and doing things "the right way" while other programs are not. You're right-- this can be a constraint of sorts-- but the coaches seem bought in.

 

[VolGee4]

One of the reasons is that resources don't work like that. UT spending more money is necessary because UT has some recruiting disadvantages compared to some of the big dogs. Geography. Talent distribution compared to distance from other major programs. The state of the UT program over the last 10 years specifically. It's similar to arguing why does a company running an oil rig in Texas spend more money but not get more oil compared to the oil companies in the Middle East. That is not to say that the coaches couldn't be doing some things better to improve recruiting. They are certainly not flawless. But it is not a direct money spent=certain recruiting ranking results.

This has always been my opinion as well. Is it the chicken or the egg? Are we good at recruiting because we spend money or do we have to spend money in order to recruit? I believe it is the latter based on geography. We have to go places to recruit. Yes, Georgia spends a lot, too, but they have been getting more out of state because of their success and being more selective at home. But UGA could spend much less and still recruit good classes.

 

[volbeast33]

uuuugggghhhh!!!!

 

[Big Orange#1]

Plus we're not playing them in September. I think from 1993 - 2023 Tennessee would play this cute game of not showing Florida how they played in their 1st couple of games prior to the Florida game and then when they played Florida they couldn't execute because they hadn't performed the secret game plan in live game action yet. When we played Florida in Dec. at Florida in 2001, we won because our team was confident in their game plan.

And Florida was more talented for the majority of the last 30 years

 

[UTSuave’]

LFG!!! @knoxvol52 @UTSuave’

They wanted him bad last year and missed

 

[SoilVol]

For some reason, the thought of tracking wounded deer makes me sad.

View attachment 601691

Not to get all forensic on y'all, but that's not a white-tailed deer. That's either a summer coat elk cow or it's a red deer hind (elk cousin) in New Zealand (probably).

Whatever the wound is it's several weeks to months old. It also looks suspiciously like swamp cancer (pythiosis) which has been recorded in New Zealand. It's a very rare and horrible pathogen that is almost always fatal or requires amputation. Rare in humans, most common in horses and occassionally recorded in dogs. Common in the Southeast along the coasts. There's a new vaccine treatment for it in horses and dogs.

I know all of this because my sister's dog has only the second recorded case in a dog in TN.

 

[SoilVol]

Transfer Portal should have some "blocks" factored into it. Like each team can "block" 1-3 teams from taking a player, otherwise that player had to sit 1 season at those schools.

This would prevent a player from jumping to a rival.

or make it a default block to any team on the schedule for the following season.

 

[LA Vol]

I ask this question in earnest, as I am genuinely curious your thoughts, but if we have a Top 5 recruiting budget but are not getting even Top 10 results with this staff, is that reason for concern? If the money is there but the results are not, what is the problem?

I think part of what's happening is that those programs who consistently rank higher-- i.e., UGA and Bama-- are getting the top big name recruits while UT is selectively recruiting to a very specific profile. This staff values players based on their own criteria and relies on their ability to develop.

Sometimes, they miss on highly ranked players who prefer other programs. Sometimes, they're outbid by programs who put a higher premium on a player or have a greater need at that position. Sometimes, they pass on highly ranked players who may not fit academically or culturally. There are always going to be programs who will pay more or take players UT won't take. And UT will always spend more on recruiting because we recruit nationally and the budget is higher for that without a direct correlation to results.

 

[UTSuave’]

Def some strange climate over your house.

Weather report: cloudy

 

[volbeast33]

Not even fair.

 

[butchna]

Transfer Portal should have some "blocks" factored into it. Like each team can "block" 1-3 teams from taking a player, otherwise that player had to sit 1 season at those schools.

This would prevent a player from jumping to a rival.

or make it a default block to any team on the schedule for the following season.

Abused by way too many HCs in the halcyon days…including Saban, Bill Snyder and our own Dooley. Can’t “prevent” pettiness in empowered grown men.

 

[Jack Burton]

this 100%

the SEC is going to eat their own with new teams and new scheduling... I just hope it helps more than hurts. The goal now is to make the 12 team playoffs... but you likely need 9 wins (or more) which is way easier in some conferences

10 gets you in. 9 is going to be the range of weeping and gnashing of teeth most likely.

 

[KPT_VFL]

10 gets you in. 9 is going to be the range of weeping and gnashing of teeth most likely.

View attachment 601700

All I get from this is Notre Dame should be forced into a conference. Otherwise they’ll eat up a spot almost every year.

 

[BigSteve09]

this 100%

the SEC is going to eat their own with new teams and new scheduling... I just hope it helps more than hurts. The goal now is to make the 12 team playoffs... but you likely need 9 wins (or more) which is way easier in some conferences

They are going to make the rules up as they go to get the teams in that they want

 

[smokeyhuntsgators]

Saying Florida is a sure W is absolutely nuts lol

Agreed!! I’m pretty optimistic because it’s a home game but still would have it as a Toss Up..Just due to the history and all that.

 

[smokeyhuntsgators]

Orange_Crush and Smyrna be like:

 

[Vol423]

Agreed!! I’m pretty optimistic because it’s a home game but still would have it as a Toss Up..Just due to the history and all that.

History would suggest that the Florida game is not a toss-up.

 

[Glitch]

No need to fire Willie, simply don’t extend

 

[BigSteve09]

These are the teams that the networks, thus the committee(s) (so ultimately, conference leadership as well) will prefer going forward:



No surprises. Except the fact that we need to be on there more often. Though there are countless 3-6M games that we surely account for underneath this list.

Going off of that list, these were the most important brands for college football in 2023. Sorted by the numbers in that tweet above.

Alabama

Deion <-- which is exactly why he will end up at a SEC or Big Ten school immediately

Ohio St
Michigan

Oregon
Georgia
Florida St
Penn St
LSU
Texas
Washington

Iowa
ND
Auburn
Tennessee
Nebraska
OkSt
USC
A&M
Mizzou

You think Alabama being far-and-away the largest cash cow for the sport (more than double the eyeballs that FSU got) had anything to do with them getting in?

Hopefully our exciting offense renews interest in the program, which would make us more valuable to the networks, and more valuable to the conference. They take care of their producers.

 

[smokeyhuntsgators]

Strange…I saw this signal in the southern sky. I must’ve been looking the wrong way!! Dammit!!

View attachment 601669

 

[DD4ME]

Fact or Cap? IYO

 

[SSVol]

Orange_Crush and Smyrna be like:
View attachment 601708

 

[smokeyhuntsgators]

History would suggest that the Florida game is not a toss-up.

Under Heupel, it’s a toss up!