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#1
lawgator1

lawgator1

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#1
From ESPN:

[I]Added (UF) center Mike Degory: "Anytime there's a change made, it takes a little time. The wheels are in motion. You guys only see the tip of the iceberg. But there's a lot going on under the water. This thing is heading in the right direction."[/I]

That says it all and is the difference in sentiment between, on the one hand, teams like Florida or South Carolina, and on the other hand teams like Tennessee and FSU. Always got to feel like you are getting better, like the ship is pointed in the right direction. And that is the way Florida fans feel right now.

The question is, does UT have something that sets it apart form FSU and the other teams seemingly on their way down? Well, you made a change at OC, whereas FSU's Bobby Bowden of course will not get rid of his son, Jeff (maybe in the offseason, we will see). You do seem to have some athletic recruits -- real questions right now about where FSU is headed with Bowden in his 70's.

I am really looking forward to next year in Knoxville. I met so many nice people on this board this year. I may have to come up there for the game and put some faces with some names!!!

Thanks to all for a fun season of poking good natured fun and some good analysis, too. I'll be around for B-ball, but wanted to take a moment to say how much I enjoyed chatting with everyone here.

 
#2
#2
thanks law. hopefully your right abour our recruits and so forth. i think we have some great talent ahead of us. weve just got to do a good job of utilizing it. the problem with fulmer is that he is too inbred with hiring most of his assistants. maybe this new staff that he is supposedly bringing in will point us in the right direction. as for florida, i think meyer, lovr him or hate him, is steering florida in the right direction. itll be fun to watch next year in knoxville.
 
#3
#3
Thanks for the nice compliments lawgator. It's great to have decent fans of other teams come in and hang out with us, and you're certainly one of the coolest gator fans, along with NC, that I've ever come across. Hopefully you're right and we can get this ship turned around. Only time will tell.
 
#5
#5
Originally posted by dan4vols@Nov 27, 2005 8:42 AM
Classy post from a classy guy. You know a tree by its fruit.
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lawgator1 must be a pecan tree. He's totally NUTS.

:lol:
 
#6
#6
Tennessee's talent level on the offensive side is dropping. By that I mean yes, they are certainly D-1 caliber players, BUT not on a par with teams from the mid-late 90s.

Go position by position and tell me there's a player on this year's team you'd rather have than a player from 4-5 years ago.

Cody Douglas or Fred Weary?

Erik Ainge or Tee Martin?

Robert Meacham or Cedric Wilson?

Rob Smith or Chad Clifton?

Freshman Arian Foster or Freshman Travis Henry?

Therein lies the REAL problem.

From all indications, CRS was not only an abysmal game-day coach, but he (and ultimately, the $2.5 million-dollar-man) allowed Tennessee's recruiting of offensive players to drop off.

Chavis has done OK recruiting on defense, although why he seems to have an aversion to DBs over 5'8" eludes me.
 
#7
#7
Originally posted by OneManGang@Nov 27, 2005 10:18 AM
Tennessee's talent level on the offensive side is dropping.  By that I mean yes, they are certainly D-1 caliber players, BUT not on a par with teams from the mid-late 90s.

Go position by position and tell me there's a player on this year's team you'd rather have than a player from 4-5 years ago.

Cody Douglas or Fred Weary?

Erik Ainge or Tee Martin?

Robert Meacham or Cedric Wilson?

Rob Smith or Chad Clifton?

Freshman Arian Foster or Freshman Travis Henry?

Therein lies the REAL problem.

From all indications, CRS was not only an abysmal game-day coach, but he (and ultimately, the $2.5 million-dollar-man) allowed Tennessee's recruiting of offensive players to drop off.

Chavis has done OK recruiting on defense, although why he seems to have an aversion to DBs over 5'8" eludes me.
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But how much of that is the coaching and development by the assistant coaches we had 5-8 years ago compared to those we have (soon to be gone) now?

I agree that the players from years past appear more desirable, but I think with the proper development our current crop will be just as productive. Based on the recruiting services the talent we bring in hasn't dropped off - we just aren't doing as much with it while its here.


 
#8
#8
A few random thoughts:

I don't believe that this year is an indication either way of which direction the program is heading. It is a point from which the program could progress, digress or remain the same.

At the end of 2004 we would not have been talking about UT as a program on the decline, on the contary, it was looking up hence the lofty preseason projections.

As for the comment by the UF player - I think that's the type of comment you should and would expect to hear from a player whose team just crushed its biggest rival. I think UM will be good but honestly, UF (with its resources and access to players) should never lose more than 3 games in a year. I know UM will be successful there but I'm skeptical about a return to Spurrier-era domination.

South Carolina may finally reach its potential but I don't see them consistently competing at the UT/UF/UGA level year in and year out.

 
#9
#9
Serious question... how old is Mike Degory? The guy doesn't look a day under 38.
 
#10
#10
Originally posted by lawgator1@Nov 27, 2005 1:04 AM

I am really looking forward to next year in Knoxville.  I met so many nice people on this board this year.  I may have to come up there for the game and put some faces with some names!!! 

Thanks to all for a fun season of poking good natured fun and some good analysis, too.  I'll be around for B-ball, but wanted to take a moment to say how much I enjoyed chatting with everyone here.
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:thumbsup:

Same here Law, hope things get better for us to have a little competition. It's no fun if you lose em all.
 
#11
#11
Originally posted by OneManGang@Nov 27, 2005 10:18 AM
Tennessee's talent level on the offensive side is dropping.  By that I mean yes, they are certainly D-1 caliber players, BUT not on a par with teams from the mid-late 90s.

Go position by position and tell me there's a player on this year's team you'd rather have than a player from 4-5 years ago.

Cody Douglas or Fred Weary?

Erik Ainge or Tee Martin?

Robert Meacham or Cedric Wilson?

Rob Smith or Chad Clifton?

Freshman Arian Foster or Freshman Travis Henry?

Therein lies the REAL problem.

From all indications, CRS was not only an abysmal game-day coach, but he (and ultimately, the $2.5 million-dollar-man) allowed Tennessee's recruiting of offensive players to drop off.

Chavis has done OK recruiting on defense, although why he seems to have an aversion to DBs over 5'8" eludes me.
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I think there is no shortage of great recruits on the team, just a shortage of developement. We have fast, powerful, and large guys at our offensive skill positions. The QB has a strong arm. Our linemen look like Mack trucks. The problem is these guys have not had the basics instilled in them.
 
#12
#12
Originally posted by volinbham@Nov 27, 2005 11:03 AM
I think UM will be good but honestly, UF (with its resources and access to players) should never lose more than 3 games in a year.  I know UM will be successful there but I'm skeptical about a return to Spurrier-era domination.


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I am skeptical of that, as well. Spurrier simply knows how to motivate players and get the most out of his talent. To be fair to Meyer, the talent there now is not what makes sense with his system. I think he's done a fair job of adapting. But its obvious he would probably prefer to have players that can make his system work and so he'll likely go that route in recruiting.

What I like about him is that it seems to me that he is enthusiastic and accepts criticism and is open to new ideas. I've never once felt that, despite some grumbling from some ultra-unrealistic Gator fans, there was any circling of the wagons around him or his staff. I respect him.
 
#14
#14
Originally posted by tidwell@Nov 27, 2005 11:45 AM
Serious question... how old is Mike Degory?  The guy doesn't look a day under 38.
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:eek:lol: Ive thought the same thing. He reminds me of Ogar from the Revenge of the Nerds movies.
 
#15
#15
Originally posted by OneManGang@Nov 27, 2005 10:18 AM
Tennessee's talent level on the offensive side is dropping.  By that I mean yes, they are certainly D-1 caliber players, BUT not on a par with teams from the mid-late 90s.

Go position by position and tell me there's a player on this year's team you'd rather have than a player from 4-5 years ago.

Cody Douglas or Fred Weary?

Erik Ainge or Tee Martin?

Robert Meacham or Cedric Wilson?

Rob Smith or Chad Clifton?

Freshman Arian Foster or Freshman Travis Henry?

Therein lies the REAL problem.

From all indications, CRS was not only an abysmal game-day coach, but he (and ultimately, the $2.5 million-dollar-man) allowed Tennessee's recruiting of offensive players to drop off.

Chavis has done OK recruiting on defense, although why he seems to have an aversion to DBs over 5'8" eludes me.
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It's development, not raw talent. I agree with some others there.

Chavis said he though Meachem was the best WR prospect he has seen since Carl Pickens. So what happened?

Also, the coaches recruit mostly by region, so it's not as if Chavis recruits defensive guys and the OC recruits offensive guys. For instance, CTT signed D Morley last year.

Recruiting ranking aren't player-specific perfect -- and they don't even profess to be. But the overall gist of the players and the rankings are quite indicative of where the talent is going and who will likley be good on the field.
 
#16
#16
Originally posted by IBleedOrange24/7@Nov 27, 2005 3:13 PM
:eek:lol: Ive thought the same thing. He reminds me of Ogar from the Revenge of the Nerds movies.
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:lolabove: :lolabove:
 
#17
#17
Law, lots of luck. Glad to know there are some classy gators. By the way, you guys can now get JRS back home. Why we hired him in the first place is beyond me.
 
#18
#18
Originally posted by RealVol@Nov 28, 2005 11:17 AM
Law, lots of luck. Glad to know there are some classy gators. By the way, you guys can now get JRS back home. Why we hired him in the first place is beyond me.
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Thanks but I think we'll stick with what we have at the moment. How about that W over FSU? Sure does suggest that the ACC is not very good this year.
 
#19
#19
Originally posted by volinbham@Nov 27, 2005 11:03 AM

I don't believe that this year is an indication either way of which direction the program is heading.  It is a point from which the program could progress, digress or remain the same.

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Well said. It is what happens next that will dictate our path.
Jason Hall was quoted in the Chattanooga paper saying that what this team lacked was chemistry, and that that is what he wishes he could change about this year. He said further that the players seemed to think they could overcome it with talent, and the coaches seemed to ignore it.

Progress... Digress... or remain the same...
Yes, that is the question!
I think good things will happen this offseason. It will come from a group of young men who are dedicated to getting better. From the players.
 
#20
#20
Originally posted by lawgator1@Nov 27, 2005 2:04 AM
From ESPN:

[I]Added (UF) center Mike Degory: "Anytime there's a change made, it takes a little time. The wheels are in motion. You guys only see the tip of the iceberg. But there's a lot going on under the water. This thing is heading in the right direction."[/I]

That says it all and is the difference in sentiment between, on the one hand, teams like Florida or South Carolina, and on the other hand teams like Tennessee and FSU.  Always got to feel like you are getting better, like the ship is pointed in the right direction.  And that is the way Florida fans feel right now.

The question is, does UT have something that sets it apart form FSU and the other teams seemingly on their way down?  Well, you made a change at OC, whereas FSU's Bobby Bowden of course will not get rid of his son, Jeff (maybe in the offseason, we will see).  You do seem to have some athletic recruits -- real questions right now about where FSU is headed with Bowden in his 70's.

I am really looking forward to next year in Knoxville.  I met so many nice people on this board this year.  I may have to come up there for the game and put some faces with some names!!! 

Thanks to all for a fun season of poking good natured fun and some good analysis, too.  I'll be around for B-ball, but wanted to take a moment to say how much I enjoyed chatting with everyone here.
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ah yes, the cordial greeting from a gator to vol after a losing season, and after UF throttles FSU...thanks buddy. Appreciate that. Just kidding. I was rooting against you guys, but after UGA beat Ga Tech, i was then happy that the SEC put the ACC back in it's place...so congrats, at least someone held up their end of the bargain this year....and y'all should be loaded for bear next year...

As for us, well, as we all know there's a myriad of issues on this team...one of which which hasn't been discussed too much to my recolection, is no team leaders. yeah, everybody loved and resepected RC, but he wasn't the guy on the feild that could deliver game in and game out.

Jason Allen and Kevin Simon were as well, but dont' see how they had any affect on the offensive side of the ball.

One of the things we need, and it needs to happen in the off season starting today, is player leadership on the offensive side of the ball...someone that will demand and expect better from his teammates. T martin had it based on his on the feild toughness and example. Peyton had it both vocally and by example....and there were others too...but we haven't had that "go to guy" on offense in quite some time. the guy you knew you could depend on, that wouldn't let anyone down, and WANTED it in crunch time.

I think EA could be that guy. I think Foster could be that guy. I think Crompton could be that guy in the future...
time will tell.....
 
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