A recent article on GVX [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][Vols need to release mid-term enrollees] speaks of morals, integrity, and class — all of which have become buzzwords around Knoxville this week. I like to think of them as anti-Kiffin traits.
We use words like honor, code, loyalty. We use these words as the backbone of a life spent defending something. — Col. Jessup, A Few Good Men
You see, the Vols’ football program has become Bizaro Tennessee — the exact opposite of the Tennessee program that we’ve witnessed over the past 14 months. The win at all cost mentality has been replaced.
No longer is the town motto, ‘if you aren’t cheating you aren’t trying’.
Suddenly, character and honor are more important than winning football games. And that’s the foundation the above linked article uses to argue that Tennessee should release (with no questions asked) the eight mid-term enrollees that were recruited by the former Tennessee coaching staff.
But Mike Hamilton doesn’t agree.
In a statement released earlier this week, Hamilton said he had no intention of releasing the mid-termers. And as a result, any of those players wishing to transfer would have to sit out a full year according to current NCAA guidelines.
I admit, it’s very unfortunate that these kids are the victim of circumstance. None of the players in question had anything to do with what’s happened at the university this week. It’s not their fault that the coaching staff, who sat in their living room and made promises, bolted at the first opportunity.
But as unfair as the situation may be, it wouldn’t have been very smart of Mike Hamilton to offer transfer orders to anyone who asked… on the first day of classes.
The Corporal will take you by Personnel on your way back to the flight line and you can have all the transfer orders you want. But you have to ask me nicely. — Col. Jessup, A Few Good Men
These kids were obviously angry and confused after learning they had just been betrayed by people they trusted. Of course their initial reaction is going to be, ‘I want out’.
Instead, Hamilton, a seasoned negotiator, a shrewd businessman, came out with a harsh stance that forced these student athletes to take some time to make a calm, rational decision.
He took that stance to give himself time to hire a new coach and give that coach a chance to sit down with these eight kids and talk to them about football and life.
If Hamilton handed out transfer orders on the first day of class, it’s possible that all eight of these early enrollees would be gone — therefore missing out on the opportunity to attend what you and I know to be a great university.
Some of these players may like Derek Dooley and some may not, but I think it’s important they have the opportunity to meet him. After that, if they still aren’t convinced that Tennessee is the place for them, then let them transfer.
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