Recruiting so far

#26
#26
I don't care what anyone says.... One decent year on the field and one good recruiting class is not enough to automatically anoint ND and Charlie Weiss as a top 5 program in college football. I will agree that things are looking good for the Irish, but I'm not ready to say they are a top 5 program. In my opinion, TN is still a top 15 program. College football is changing. I don't believe we will see teams like Florida State and Nebraska making runs like they did in the late 80's and 90's.
 
#28
#28
(smokedog#3 @ May 5 said:
your right about nebraska, but i wouldn't count FSU out quite yet.
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What I'm trying to say is that I dont' beleive that teams will make long and sustained runs of being a top 5 team year in and year out like those two teams did. I know USC has had a great run the last 4 or 5 years, but I have a feeling they will be down this year. I also believe Texas will suffer without Vince Young.
 
#29
#29
Probably true to some extent. The NCAA reducing scholarships down to 85 a few years ago seems to be creating a lot more parity.
 
#30
#30
(Donatello from Bucksnort @ May 5 said:
What I'm trying to say is that I dont' beleive that teams will make long and sustained runs of being a top 5 team year in and year out like those two teams did. I know USC has had a great run the last 4 or 5 years, but I have a feeling they will be down this year. I also believe Texas will suffer without Vince Young.
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that may be true....but only time will tell for both TX and USC...both are still loaded with talent, and won't suck in 06. TX's only real stumbling block in the Big 12 is OK, and vice versa, and while USC may be down this year, that's relative to winning 2 of 3 National Titles. they will still more than likely be the odds on favorite to win the pac 10 this year...though on paper you'd have to say Oregon and Cal might have something to say about that....

But the overall point you make i think is accurate.

CFB is cyclical these days, as 4-5 programs slip, 4-5 programs emerge, or comeback, as a result....and it looks to be based on recent history to be an 8-10 year cycle.

and having top 5 or top 10 finishes as the standard you're trying to attain, it becomes infitely harder to reach that kind of goal.

I think for programs like the ones you mention, top 15-20 is far more reachable and acceptable. Because usually if your're doing that, chances are you got a few top 10 or 5 finishes sprinkled in there....
 
#31
#31
i disagree. OSU, ND, USC, TEXAS all have the talent to be bcs teams for years to come. all except ND have made a great run and there is no reason to think they won't continue especially the way they recruit. ND is up and coming and will join them in the years to come. like i said before these four teams are what everybody is shooting for. tennessee is no longer in there league, we are atleast a step down maybe two.
 
#32
#32
(smokedog#3 @ May 5 said:
i disagree. OSU, ND, USC, TEXAS all have the talent to be bcs teams for years to come. all except ND have made a great run and there is no reason to think they won't continue especially the way they recruit. ND is up and coming and will join them in the years to come. like i said before these four teams are what everybody is shooting for. tennessee is no longer in there league, we are atleast a step down maybe two.
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yeah, but to say they're alwasy going to be there just isn't true...where were those schools 10 years ago? sure none of them sucked, except maybe for USC, but none of them were on the level they are on right now....at least 3 of the 4 teams you mention are now considered the ELITE teams in CFB today. And i don't disagree, but CFB is cyclical....10 years ago, TN was fnishing in the top 10 every year and did so for about 5 years straight.

we'll check back in another 5-7 years, and there will be a new group of Elite teams...it's just the way it works.
 
#33
#33
i agree i'm not saying 20 years from now they are going to still be the head of the class. for the future 3 to 5 years those teams stand a good chance of getting into the bcs every year. ND gets in on there name alone which is crap, but that is how the ncaa works. all 4 of those teams have huge followings, alot more than UT which also helps. that is the reason oregon was knocked out of the bcs last year and the buckeyes allowed to go again.
 
#34
#34
(smokedog#3 @ May 5 said:
i agree i'm not saying 20 years from now they are going to still be the head of the class. for the future 3 to 5 years those teams stand a good chance of getting into the bcs every year. ND gets in on there name alone which is crap, but that is how the ncaa works. all 4 of those teams have huge followings, alot more than UT which also helps. that is the reason oregon was knocked out of the bcs last year and the buckeyes allowed to go again.
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when you say followings, i assume you are referring to recent crowds at bowl games? cause i would reckon that UT's fan base has every bit a following as good as any of the teams you mentioned above...

and i do agree with you on ND....if they are going to have Big East Bowl Tie ins, they should have to share the revenue with that conf.
 
#35
#35
I agree with you on ND they get special treatment. when the ncaa talks about tennessee they say they do not travel well. i guess our 99 fiesta bowl was bad and it put a black mark against us. on the other hand OSU and texas can't seem to get enough tickets the BCS loves those two teams along with ND.
 
#36
#36
(smokedog#3 @ May 5 said:
I agree with you on ND they get special treatment. when the ncaa talks about tennessee they say they do not travel well. i guess our 99 fiesta bowl was bad and it put a black mark against us. on the other hand OSU and texas can't seem to get enough tickets the BCS loves those two teams along with ND.
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yeah, but it wasn't too long ago when TN was considered to have a "great following" which made us attractive to a lot of bowls. But, you can only go to the Citrus Bowl so many times before you get tired of seeing Orlando, at least as a fan....same with the Fiesta Bowl....and i think we traveled ok for the 99 game....and then how many peach bowls did we go to?

i digress, the repeat bowl appearances, and declining product have pushed TN fans away from buying bowl game tickets. When a fan base is used to going to big bowls every year, and then your going to 2nd tier games more regularly, travelling for the bowl games loses it's luster....

which is the exact opposite for those teams you mentioned above....they were the ones in 2nd tier games when we were going to the "big" games (and i know we weren't in the Sugar or Orange bowl every year, but you get the idea of what i'm talking about), and now their fan base is all fired up about going to BCS bowls and they make the trip.

if in 3 years, OSU finds itself in the Music City Bowl, trust me, i'd bet the OSU faithfull won't be lining up in droves to get their hands on those tickets....
 
#37
#37
There is no way to not think UTK will again become an elite program. Our stadium, facilities, and tradition are too strong. If we get back to winning then the recruits will again flood to UTK. Its not rocket science.
 
#38
#38
(crimedawg12 @ May 5 said:
If anybody has any connections there is a sleeper down at McMinn Co. High! RB/LB Trace McDermott. Strong fast kid, playing for a weak coaching staff in a tough region. Doesn't get much pub but he is as good or better than Knoxville/Chattanooga talent!
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Found out today that Ole Miss, Alabama and Louisville are showing strong interest in Trace. UT is starting to inquire!
 
#41
#41
one time in how many years........... when is the last time ole miss won an sec championship
 
#43
#43
imo Tennessee may have some good in state prospects this year, however the reality is that the Vols have lost a lot of pop due to last season and due to the apparent decline in the program the last couple of years.

they are having a harder time recruiting nationally.
 
#44
#44
(patrick @ May 8 said:
and ole miss and louisville are incredible football powers..........
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and Louisville would of beat us last year! I guess thats why we raided Ole Miss's coaching staff!
 
#45
#45
(smokedog#3 @ May 8 said:
ole miss outrecruited us last year.
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because Rivals told you so? Ole Miss has done exactly squat...and we did beat them last year, as bad as we were....
 
#46
#46
There is a great article from the Tennessean that is available on the home page of the message boards. It includes this quote:

"There were others, too, that the Vols didn't pursue as vigorously that went on to be productive players elsewhere.

The most obvious was Mississippi linebacker Patrick Willis, who might be the best defender in the SEC next season. The Vols passed on Willis, a former Class A Mr. Football from Bruceton, and instead focused their efforts on Daniel Brooks.

A Parade All-American, Brooks had several off-the-field mishaps at UT and was eventually dismissed from the team. He plans to transfer to Jackson State."

I would encourage everyone to read the entire article. I really believe that putting a wall around Tennessee this year is important to the future of the program, and CPF admits that this is as much talent that he has seen in Tennessee highschools in 27 years. Recruiting is an inexact science to some degree, but IMO you should make fewer recruiting mistakes in your own back yard.
 
#47
#47
yep, but like you said, you never know how a guy is going to turn out...we'll never know about daniel brooks. And obviously, had anyone had any indication of what kind of impact player Willis would have been, i'm sure he'd of been sought after a bit more....it is inexact science after all...
 
#48
#48
I think that UT usually recruits enough talent to beat almost anyone they play. I think it is one of CPF's strengths, but I also think it is harder to justify recruiting mistakes in state. It is a little harsh, but I think it should be easier to minimize mistakes.
 
#49
#49
i would agree with that....but in this state, with what has historically been devoid of top talent, the mistakes could be greater in sigining too many kids from TN and they not turning out.

Every state has guys that don't go to the in state school of choice....hell, we've made a living on that...which is why it's not such a crime, at least in the past anyways, to have a couple of kids go elsewhere from a state like TN.

Now having said all of that, it is frustrating to go back and see the names that pop up, and you hear the word "passed". But that's hindsight, and it's always 20/20.

but for this year, you are right, there apparently is some talent that we need to hold on to, and i'm sure we'll do what we can to keep it, but i'm also sure that some of that talent will widn up elsewhere.

I don't think anyone would argue though, that TN can't make a living year in and year out by focusing so intently on in state kids. It's a priority yes, but not THE priority, in all years.
 
#50
#50
I agree that our state is weak but I have seen local kids get the shaft by signing with UT dating back to Majors.
 
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