Recruiting Football Talk VIII

Also one is the flagship research public university of the state and the other is a private liberal arts university. Sewanee does not want to be that big. Or even close.
Sewanee was one of the best college football teams at the turn of the twentieth century, several high school teams adopted the color purple in the Sequatchie Valley because of Sewanee. Sewanee was on the path to becoming Notre Dame. Sewanee was a charter member of the SEC. They left the SEC in 1940 coinciding with the tv era and a rise in the popularity of college football. It was after that that the schools took on markedly different trajectories.
I contend, and data backs me up, that football had a large hand in the current states of the two schools. Sewanee is largely the same as it was in 1900 and UT most definitely is not. The Sewanee has a gorgeous campus and a great place to step back in time. Their football stadium, the oldest in the south is really cool.
 
I would say that they certainly have the potential of being better in the passing game than us, but they definitely have not shown it. The WR talent they have is insane, but it has not worked out because Will Howard has been average at best. I really don't know why they went after him in the portal so hard. Kstate basically let him walk for the QB who is there now.
Avery Johnson.
 
Passing Stats
OS: 70.3% 3052 yards 29 TDs 8 INTs
UT: 64.7% 2771 yards 21 TDs 7 INTs

Rushing Stats
OS: 405 carries 2030 yards 5.0 ypc 24 TDs
UT: 545 carries 2784 yards 5.1 ypc 32 TDs

I think our balance on offense is grossly underrated, especially in a December game.
And those stats were all before losing their starting LT and All-American Center...
 
Happy Playoff Pregame Friday! If you are traveling be safe and God speed.

December 20, 2024: You will be inclined to think about the past and all of the ways you have been hurt, but this will not be helpful. Those times are behind you, and dwelling on them will not change anything. You must forgive and move on. Otherwise, you will get stuck in a cycle of never-ending remorse. Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things
 
I really don't get all the hand wringing over UT missing out on these NIL mercenaries. The NIL highest bidder, get the cash now crowd is not the ones we want. They are unreliable and short sighted. We want, and Heup is getting the long game athletes with their sights on becoming the best and making their big money in the League.
Our coaching staff is putting players in the League and right thinking athletes understand that. A lot of these misses people are whining about are chasing the buck at the expense of becoming the best player they can. I was a broke azz for a few years getting an education while many around me lived off daddy's dime had money and partied. All of those would trade with me today. Culture and character wins. Mercenaries and get rich quick do not, Lane says hi.

I think that generally this is fine, but that occasionally we should pay what’s needed to land a key player in a position of need. Right now that feels like a stud #1 WR for Nico. We’re missing that for sure. Matthews could be it but it’s too soon to tell.
 
I think that generally this is fine, but that occasionally we should pay what’s needed to land a key player in a position of need. Right now that feels like a stud #1 WR for Nico. We’re missing that for sure. Matthews could be it but it’s too soon to tell.
I truly believe we under value that position, monetarily. Think we ask our WR to do a lot, blocking, route running, making tough grabs.

That said, really dont think there is anything in the porthole worth chasing.
 
Not entirely true. In the beginnings of college football it was primarily promoted by the most prestigious academic institutions because it was the best PR a school could have. Football was the front porch of a university. Today CFB and college athletics genera tremendous schools for universities.
Enrollment at the University of Alabama has nearly doubled in the Nick Saban era and also doubled in the Bear Bryant era. This is largely due to a successful football program.
There is a reason why UT is as large as it is today and why Sewanee (a very prestigious school) is as small as it is. In 1900 the enrollment of both universities was around 300. Today: Swanee <1000, UT about 40,000.
I'm well aware of the role that sports plays in building schools, but it's still a school way more than a sporting event, and it isn't out to screw kids, SAs or otherwise. The point stands. The constant vilification of one side or the other isn't healthy.
 
  • Like
Reactions: rikberry31
I think that generally this is fine, but that occasionally we should pay what’s needed to land a key player in a position of need. Right now that feels like a stud #1 WR for Nico. We’re missing that for sure. Matthews could be it but it’s too soon to tell.

I like Barnes' approach to the portal. They seem to find 1 year guys that are about business and improving draft stock (Knecht, Chaz, Igor) OR they find guys with multiple years that are "do whatever you need" types (Gainey, Felix)
 
I truly believe we under value that position, monetarily. Think we ask our WR to do a lot, blocking, route running, making tough grabs.

That said, really dont think there is anything in the porthole worth chasing.

I don't agree with this...

HS talent we chase the best at WR.
Travis Smith Jr. is a top 20 WR in this class
Matthews was a top 10 WR in his class
Staley was a top 15 WR in the same class
Seldon was a top 5 WR in his class
Leacock was a top 15 WR in his class

In the portal we've also chased top 20 WRs. Bru, Thornton, & Brazzell


I think we've had weaker coaches at WR in the Heupel era...though still not sure if Pope will be the long term answer. Kodi Burns left and is back in college again after Saints released him so he obviously wasn't it either.
 
I think that generally this is fine, but that occasionally we should pay what’s needed to land a key player in a position of need. Right now that feels like a stud #1 WR for Nico. We’re missing that for sure. Matthews could be it but it’s too soon to tell.
I agree we need to pony up for the right player, ya have to pay for quality. I think we do that, we did it with Sanders.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jack Burton
35 hours. Buckeyes are a fruit.

The fruit is leathery and smooth (like Ohio State brains) or can be weakly spiny (like the team) or warty (Ryan Day.)
The weakly-spined/warty part is just the outer casing, not the fruit itself. Similar to how a hickory nut has a husk/shell that breaks open revealing the nut. So the thorny shell is really a farce, like the team.

Buckeyes are also toxic, much like their fanbase.
 
Sewanee was one of the best college football teams at the turn of the twentieth century, several high school teams adopted the color purple in the Sequatchie Valley because of Sewanee. Sewanee was on the path to becoming Notre Dame. Sewanee was a charter member of the SEC. They left the SEC in 1940 coinciding with the tv era and a rise in the popularity of college football. It was after that that the schools took on markedly different trajectories.
I contend, and data backs me up, that football had a large hand in the current states of the two schools. Sewanee is largely the same as it was in 1900 and UT most definitely is not. The Sewanee has a gorgeous campus and a great place to step back in time. Their football stadium, the oldest in the south is really cool.
I know full well the history of the University of the South. My dad played football and baseball there. The Majors family were family friends because dad played for Shirley and they remained close. We spent a lot of time down there on Monteagle.

My point is that Sewanee was never going to be a 40,000 enrollment university. Comparing the enrollments of a small liberal arts university and a state flagship large public research institution is apples and bananas. They have entirely different goals.
 
I'm well aware of the role that sports plays in building schools, but it's still a school way more than a sporting event, and it isn't out to screw kids, SAs or otherwise. The point stands. The constant vilification of one side or the other isn't healthy.
Totally agree. A lot of UT alums went pro, most of them not in football. That I can attest to.
 
  • Like
Reactions: SSVol
Ohio State's offense doesn't impress me much. The skill positions are great but that OL really is going to slow them down.

Their defense, on the other hand, is really good. One of the best d-lines in the country, two lockdown corners, and an elite safety, and our offense tends to struggle with teams (pretty much just Georgia) that look like that.

They also blitz a ton from a bunch of different looks / directions and they get really good pressure with it. Nico's gotten better as the year's gone on, but handling the blitz has not been a strength of his at all.

If we're going to win this game:
- The defense has to get pressure with 4 so they don't destroy us in the short passing game.
- We have to beat them when they blitz. Nico really needs to take a step.
 
I know full well the history of the University of the South. My dad played football and baseball there. The Majors family were family friends because dad played for Shirley and they remained close. We spent a lot of time down there on Monteagle.

My point is that Sewanee was never going to be a 40,000 enrollment university. Comparing the enrollments of a small liberal arts university and a state flagship large public research institution is apples and bananas. They have entirely different goals.
I agree your point is a valid one. I am a realist, football is the face of a major university and a huge money maker. Like I said in another post a lot of UT alumni are going pro, most of them not in football. I have gained a lot because of my education and I give a lot back, much through football.
 
I don't agree with this...

HS talent we chase the best at WR.
Travis Smith Jr. is a top 20 WR in this class
Matthews was a top 10 WR in his class
Staley was a top 15 WR in the same class
Seldon was a top 5 WR in his class
Leacock was a top 15 WR in his class

In the portal we've also chased top 20 WRs. Bru, Thornton, & Brazzell


I think we've had weaker coaches at WR in the Heupel era...though still not sure if Pope will be the long term answer. Kodi Burns left and is back in college again after Saints released him so he obviously wasn't it either.
How was Burns not it? He was good enough in college to land an NFL job. They’re different levels. Also, Burns wasn’t just fired. The head coach was fired, so, as is always the case, the staff was let go.

Burns is a fantastic college WR coach. I’d love to have him back.
 
  • Like
Reactions: volsagain
December 20, 1971

UT - 14
Arkansas - 13


Tennessee played Arkansas for the first time since 1907 in the Liberty Bowl. Arkansas dominated time of possession and total yards, but only held a 13-7 lead in the 4th quarter. A field goal nullified by a penalty, gave UT hope. A series later, the Vols recovered a fumble and marched down the field. After a 22 yrd pass from Jim Maxwell to Gary Theiler to the 19, the stage was set for the “Crossville Comet,” Curt Watson, to score on a 17 yrd TD to tie the score. Eddie Hunts PAT gave the Vols a 14-13 lead. On the next possession, Eddie Brown intercepted a pass to seal the victory. The 10-2 Vols finished #9 in the country.

Curt Watson’s game winner

A8D60AE3-0C22-401A-B2C7-00736588929A.png


Carl Johnson gets after Joe Ferguson
5452FF3E-BC86-404F-9037-A312C2DFBF45.png
Cool! Jim Maxwell lives in the Tri Cites and does drywall work. He helped with our bathroom remodeling a couple of years ago.
 

VN Store



Back
Top