'26 TN OT Gabriel Osenda (Tennessee commit)

[cncchris33]

“Character assassination” Not remotely close to what he’s doing with Ellarbee.

To be clear, those weren't my words.

 

[butchna]

To be clear, those weren't my words.

Well your post was a mess. All I saw was blank after the quote. Thought your contribution was the last paragraph.

 

[HoleInTheRoof]

Just listened to the govols247 pod on this kid. Rucker isn’t hosting so it’s a good listen.

Excited about this kid.

 

[NighthawkVol]

Take your own advice…sage one.

Will do.

 

[Orange_Crush]

No I don’t believe it. If so (unless THEY are Heupel) it’s more yenta gossip…ergo OPINIONS…from those that don’t matter. It’s pretty well established that PROGRAMS draw the big uglies. UGA is on its second run with Searels. The first run was decent. but not an annual haul of 5 stars end on end. Before him Matt Luke suddenly became an elite recruiter after being mere passable at Ole Miss. Now he had Clemson not even in the running for David Sanders. And…the Holy Grail of OL recruiters, SAM PITTMAN? Never did it at the level at UGA BEFORE or AFTER his tenure in Athens. I’m not too stubborn to disregard no development of our past two classes or recruiting of this current class if they go belly up, but until then he gets my benefit of the doubt no matter what Message Board Messiah conjures up.

Bumped because: Underrated post.

 

[Orange_Crush]

Yes he did.

I think he owns a business outside of the University but knows a few higher ups on the football side of things. Thats why he always says he doesn’t really have a feel on particular recruitments. He just knows what the higher ups think and what the higher ups are told by the recruits because of his relationship with those higher ups.

However, I could be mixing him up with another insider.

Curious who the "higher ups" would be, or at least what type of "higher ups"? Coaches and staff? Boosters? Lord knows, we've seen how boosters at UT, and more recently Auburn etc..., can play dirty games toward coaching staff to try to get their way? Even with a staff, I've personally seen how big personalities in the workplace can clash, and create unfounded rivalries and backbiting.

I mean, the main point being, again, unless we know the sources of the gossip that are creating/informing an 'opinion', we can't really judge the motives behind those opinions. (I'm not claiming that King has poor motives; just floating the possibility that even the smartest and best intended people can be used and manipulated.)

The main FACTS that we know are that, through a period of pending pay-for-play-sanctions, associated negative recruiting, a court case against the NCAA, current recruiting restrictions and losses of scholarships, all following two decades of fecklessness and the program being a joke byword in NCAAF... Elarbee took the tough job. With him as the position coach, OL recruiting has steadily improved. The position group performance and the coach have been recognized as one of the best in NCAAF. UT has set school records.

King aside, maybe we as a fanbase show some sanity and gratitude, and give the guy the benefit of the doubt until he and the staff have had a more level recruiting field, and a minute to develop the OL they are able to recruit on that more level recruiting ground? Despite the unsubstantiated rumors and gossip posted in an anonymous message board?

I mean, Geez people...

 

[Orange_Crush]

.

Let me clarify. I underline the following:

I won't discount the chance that Elarbee's flaws may rub King wrong more than others

That statement seems to be assuming the flaws for them to rub King the wrong way, which is the fallacy of begging the question. Further, IF you were to assume that, you would be assuming that King personally observed Elarbee's flaws, to be rubbed the wrong way. OR you would be assuming that King is passing on rumor as gossip. As far as I can figure, that is your two options.

Neither seems to me a valid option for posters to parrot King's posts as gospel worthy of continuing the Elarbee gossip and seeing the board worked into a "fire lazy Elarbee" narrative like we've seen here since MAKING THE STINKING PLAYOFFS a mere four years since seeing the program left for dead by lesser staffs.

And per the odds that the gossip about Elarbee are as factual as the kibbles about recruits? Not knowing the source of either rumor, we can't know the motives of those who share them, so I would assume the "odds" to be incalculable at this time, so I would tread much more lightly when they are publicly attacking one of our staff's character and/or abilities to do his job.

I think the odds that you would want the same respect in a public forum are greater than the odds that unknown gossip sources are as pure as the falling snow.

 

[Orange_Crush]

I wonder what happens to this commitment if we fire the position coach he's signing on to play for, and introduce instability to that very position group?

 

[TheMookieMonster]

I wonder what happens to this commitment if we fire the position coach he's signing on to play for, and introduce instability to that very position group?

This line of argument runs directly counter to the bold-faced portion of Butchna’s essay that you agreed with moments ago about OL and Big Uglies committing to programs and not coaches. Just saying.

 

[MarcoVol]

This line of argument runs directly counter to the bold-faced portion of Butchna’s essay that you agreed with moments ago about OL and Big Uglies committing to programs and not coaches. Just saying.

I’m sure the big uglies wouldn’t commit to a program where they believe the OL coach wouldn’t develop them for the next level. So regardless of what anyone says, the OL recruits at the very least *trust* GE. Would be very difficult for anyone to refute that. One would assume that is important in recruiting.

 

[Orange_Crush]

This line of argument runs directly counter to the bold-faced portion of Butchna’s essay that you agreed with moments ago about OL and Big Uglies committing to programs and not coaches. Just saying.

Not if you consider the "instability" part of the argument. I agree that it's mostly the program, and I believe that that 'program' part of the argument includes stability in the places that have made the program successful. If I had said, "I wonder what would happen if Elarbee is fired..." Otherwise, your criticism melts. (It may seem a distinction without meaning to some, but it's not saying "It had to be Elarbee". It's saying "What happens if the room he was attracted to is shaken up into an unknown?")

My basic point was similar to this quote, which is specifically about building and retaining program health and not about individual coaches:

https://atozsports.com/nashville/volunteers/vols-insider-latest-potential-coaching-staff-changes-football-tennessee/

Staff continuity is an important part of success at the collegiate level. Changes are going to happen, but if a playoff team can keep a coaching staff in tact, it's a huge plus moving into the next season.

 

[barrylee]

After all, this is the recruiting forum not the football forum and we all know we are the Superior Posters to that cesspool. Let’s act like it

Since the loss, this place has been inundated with FFers. All you need is a hint of negativity and just like that, they show up!

I'm constantly seeing monikers I don't recognize..

 

[Orange_Crush]

Since the loss, this place has been inundated with FFers. All you need is a hint of negativity and just like that, they show up!

I'm constantly seeing monikers I don't recognize..

I'm seeing historically good RF regulars who have been drinking the poison.

 

[LaagerVol]

D4H another blowhard under your protection? And get over yourself with “every post”. You’re being dramatic.

If by “under my protection”, you mean on my ignore list, then I guess so?

 

[cncchris33]

Let me clarify. I underline the following:





That statement seems to be assuming the flaws for them to rub King the wrong way, which is the fallacy of begging the question. Further, IF you were to assume that, you would be assuming that King personally observed Elarbee's flaws, to be rubbed the wrong way. OR you would be assuming that King is passing on rumor as gossip. As far as I can figure, that is your two options.

Neither seems to me a valid option for posters to parrot King's posts as gospel worthy of continuing the Elarbee gossip and seeing the board worked into a "fire lazy Elarbee" narrative like we've seen here since MAKING THE STINKING PLAYOFFS a mere four years since seeing the program left for dead by lesser staffs.

And per the odds that the gossip about Elarbee are as factual as the kibbles about recruits? Not knowing the source of either rumor, we can't know the motives of those who share them, so I would assume the "odds" to be incalculable at this time, so I would tread much more lightly when they are publicly attacking one of our staff's character and/or abilities to do his job.

I think the odds that you would want the same respect in a public forum are greater than the odds that unknown gossip sources are as pure as the falling snow.

You're getting way too deep in the weeds, and I'm not particularly interested in parsing every word of another overly wordy post.

Put simply, my belief is that if you trust King is getting good info on recruiting and team information, then it's not a leap to believe that he's passing along information on Elarbee from someone close enough to get the level of inside information he is privy to, whether that be firsthand or otherwise. And it's not really begging the question because I'm not presuming the conclusion to be absolutely true.

If you disagree, that's fine. I get it. If you find his sharing that information to be distasteful and ill-intentioned, that's also fine. No need for another lengthy post to tell me why.

 

[LaagerVol]

I'm seeing historically good RF regulars who have been drinking the poison.

I’m not claiming to be on the “historically good RF regulars” list but I want to clarify my stance so my opinion doesn’t get lumped in with anyone else, because these things get muddied up on here.

I’m on record as stating that Ellarbe was at a huge recruting disadvantage when this staff first got here, so imo he gets a pass on the first 2 recruiting years. He seemed to develop some guys to me those first 2 years. Darnell Wright, whether of his own hard work or from Ellarbe’s tutelage made a huge jump his last year here. I thought CGE did a good job turning some questionable SEC talent into a functional unit.

The last 2 years, imo OL recruiting has been very good. I don’t know how much that was or wasn’t a product of Ellarbe but I’m more than pleased with the results. Those guys shouldn’t be expected to start until this year and next. Several of them got quality playing time this past year.

So my analysis, which means zero, is that the proof will be in the pudding over the next couple of years. If the HS guys from the 24-25 classes don’t turn into really good, some great, starters over the next 2 years, I think that will tell the tale on Ellarbe more than any volnation opinion.

As far as KingVFL, I don’t know him. He seems to have some level of information which i take with a grade of slaw, just like I do with every other poster on here. I don’t take it for more than it’s worth or place too much importance on it. I just don’t see why someone gets so hung up calling people out, over and over, post after post, but lm the one being dramatic lol

 

[Orange_Crush]

You're getting way too deep in the weeds, and I'm not particularly interested in parsing every word of another overly wordy post.

Put simply, my belief is that if you trust King is getting good info on recruiting and team information, then it's not a leap to believe that he's passing along information on Elarbee from someone close enough to get the level of inside information he is privy to, whether that be firsthand or otherwise. And it's not really begging the question because I'm not presuming the conclusion to be absolutely true.

If you disagree, that's fine. I get it. If you find his sharing that information to be distasteful and ill-intentioned, that's also fine. No need for another lengthy post to tell me why.

No need for length response, as I believe the last one stands on its own.

Best wishes...

 

[Orange_Crush]

Interesting Osenda quote per Elarbee @ ~ the 3:00 mark of below video.

 

[Jack Burton]

You're getting way too deep in the weeds, and I'm not particularly interested in parsing every word of another overly wordy post.

Put simply, my belief is that if you trust King is getting good info on recruiting and team information, then it's not a leap to believe that he's passing along information on Elarbee from someone close enough to get the level of inside information he is privy to, whether that be firsthand or otherwise. And it's not really begging the question because I'm not presuming the conclusion to be absolutely true.

If you disagree, that's fine. I get it. If you find his sharing that information to be distasteful and ill-intentioned, that's also fine. No need for another lengthy post to tell me why.

We like insider information that’s positive, but anything neutral or negative tends to see the messenger put through the wringer. People have different ideas about what should and shouldn’t be discussed online but we’re fanatics deep within a sub forum. I don’t see an issue with the current level of discourse as I think the University of Tennessee Athletic Department is robust enough to manage despite what we’re discussing here. I’d rather us not chase out good info because we don’t agree with it.

 

[Orange_Crush]

If only you knew.. wouldn’t give Glen any credit here

Osenda just did.

 

[Volator]

Osenda just did.

But but KingNico’s opinion is gospel. Just ask his loyal legionaries

 

[KingVFL]

But but KingNico’s opinion is gospel. Just ask his loyal legionaries

Yall can believe what you want on this. No point in arguing and sharing any more would be disclosing too much.

 

[KingVFL]

Osenda just did.

I’d say.. it’s likely Osenda doesn’t even know the full behind the scenes on this from our side. Lot of unnecessary drama.

 

[KingVFL]

He answered the first with "I think", and truth isn't defined by votes or how many believe it.

@butchna isn't the one here (perhaps unintentionally) convincing VN to fire one of our coaches, so I'm not sure the burden of proof is on him. If I recall correctly King has stated that he doesn't come here stating opinions, so he's the one claiming the facts. And as butchna pointed out, unless he's in the building, he can't be very sure of the "facts" that he's in here posting about our coaches.

I appreciate his info as much as the next guy, when it comes to who/what we're in on. But a look around VN right now may just be convincing enough to caution someone against trashing one of our coaches, especially with a "facts-only" claim.

These are not my opinions. I don’t really want to debate the definition of an opinion vs a fact but I’m really just sharing the sentiment the people that live this.

 

[KingVFL]

We like insider information that’s positive, but anything neutral or negative tends to see the messenger put through the wringer. People have different ideas about what should and shouldn’t be discussed online but we’re fanatics deep within a sub forum. I don’t see an issue with the current level of discourse as I think the University of Tennessee Athletic Department is robust enough to manage despite what we’re discussing here. I’d rather us not chase out good info because we don’t agree with it.

Yeah maybe that’s the lesson for me here. Just post good stuff.

Anyway I’ve probably said more than I should. Be well guys.