Posted by agentorange on September 19, 2007 at 9:42 p.m.

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Posted by nicksjuzunk on September 19, 2007 at 10:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I love how people take anything Fulmer says and turns it into a negative thing. He could say, "I am donating 1 million dollars to the university" and he would still get criticized. Oh... I guess he already did that huh? And the people who criticize couldn't give a rip about the players or the University. You just want to see championships. We all want to see championships but we have a good coach and a good person at the helm. Remember when Nebraska ran off Frank Solich? Loyal to the University for years, pretty good coach, got fired really quick and it took them years to get back. Don't be too quick people. It can definitely get a lot worse.

Posted by jboyle5555 on September 19, 2007 at 10:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Finally looking at somebody to replace Marsalous Johnson.. Hello ! Get an athelete at the corner, somebody that can run with the receivers and cover.

Posted by mtnvol on September 19, 2007 at 10:16 p.m.

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Posted by TNvolunteer on September 19, 2007 at 10:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Hey guys, get off Marsalous Johnson.....This is his first year starting.....Remember Jason Allen and Inky's first year as a starter...They couldnt stop passes thrown there way and got beat on a regular basis, but they got better with expereince...Give him so time, he'll come around....But I am glad to see and hear that Willingham and Vinson are close to playing more.

Posted by Feared_Mustang_Package on September 19, 2007 at 10:30 p.m.

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Posted by tngeoff on September 19, 2007 at 10:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Okay. In the Marines it's called "dropping your pack". It was obvious Saturday that several Vols "dropped their packs."

Posted by tngeoff on September 19, 2007 at 10:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I just watched the Kentucky, Louisville replay and am watching the end of the Alabama, Arkansas game. All I can say is we have some serious offense minded teams yet to go. Our D Better get stout quick.

Posted by tngeoff on September 19, 2007 at 10:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Any of you guys remember a really, really old chat room from days gone by run by a guy called Grid Orange?

Posted by agentorange on September 19, 2007 at 10:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)

crvol, i'm a miami brain and you're close to breaking the 4-post rule already that we set out weeks ago. go down to that bar under vic and bill's and while we eat vol burgers you find your soulmate.

Posted by jaruk123 on September 19, 2007 at 10:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Just like the Peach Bowls, just like UGA in 2003, Fulmer coached teams quit on the field just like Fulmer did by punting with 2 minutes left at Cal. Disgraceful. UT needs to find a new coach.

Posted by DennisVols on September 19, 2007 at 10:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Taylor said he's not surprised that the newcomers haven't had more of an impact.
"Look at (Robert) Meachem," Taylor said, referring to last season's leading receiver. "He didn't do it correctly - the way you wanted him to - until he was a junior."
And what happened after Meachem had the good year? He left for the NFL. Meyers takes the same 4 and 5 star freshmen receivers and has them making big impacts in their 1st SEC game, 3 weeks into the season. All this talk about the young guns not being ready is more of sign of coaching talent than the receivers. UT’s schemes have long been known to be overly complicated and if we have to wait 3 years for our coaches to train this talent to a level of excellence we saw in Meachem then something is seriously wrong. Either the system is messed up or the coaching staff is incompetent to a point that they are incapable of training highly touted recruits to the level they need to be in order to help this program be successful.
I don’t want to hear that it cannot be done. It is getting done by every successful program out there. What a waste that Meachem could not be developed by the coaching staff for 3 tears. Look at what we lost in the 2 years we did not prepare him to play. Then we got just one good year before he went to the NFL. Basically the university invested 3 yrs of education, a cost many in the state cannot afford for their children, just to get one year of the level of production out of him they expected when he was recruited.
I don’t blame Meachem. It is the coaching staff’s job, at the University of Tennessee, to develop these young men into the types of players that help this team be at a level of competition that is expected.
Now we are at 1-2 on this season, beaten soundly by the only 2 ranked teams they played and I hear the coaching staff saying that the young gun are not ready to play.
"It's kind of like having a car with no gas," Taylor said. "I don't want that. I want to be able to drive it."
Wake up. The university has bought that car Mr. Taylor, the investment in the cost of the scholarship is more than most of us would ever pay for a car. It is the responsibility of this coaching staff to have these young men ready to play. Not until they become seniors or juniors but right away. By the time these freshmen are juniors (using Meachem again) the same FL players will be juniors as well. The deference then will be that the FL players will have 3 years experience under their belt. Our juniors will be freshmen in their junior year and that will be the next excuse.

Posted by tngeoff on September 19, 2007 at 10:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)

The single biggest "quit" game I ever saw was that Nebraska Tennessee bowl game. That and this years Florida game are pretty close in comparison.

Posted by utbear on September 19, 2007 at 10:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)

It's a shame, I like Fulmer. But being a good person and a well liked person doesn't mean you can do the job.
We continually say we have the top 5 recruting class, but we just don't know how to develop the talent to the BEST of our ability. Players like Manning will work hard and play hard for themselves, regardless of what the coaches do. If you don't have someone to motivate and develop the talent in those unlike Manning, your screwed. Florida lost a lot of players last year and they have a lot of new, young players, they must know how to work with and develop their talent.
You have to be willing to change with the times, mix it up, keep it different.
Is this not one of the reasons Majors lost his job? Being stubborn and not willing to change? During the finals call in show, there was a previous player on who said he reqonized the same old plays from 10 - 12 years ago. Hey Coach, try something new, be different, don't want to see you go.

Posted by mtnvol on September 19, 2007 at 10:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)

crvol, so it was your sweety. Sorry dude, but some surprise packages just aren't meant to be opened.

Posted by orangeblood on September 19, 2007 at 11:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)

i don't recall jason allen ever getting torched much

Posted by dbrandon on September 20, 2007 at 12:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Great comment dlskaggs!! Agree with you 100%

Posted by DannyVol on September 20, 2007 at 1:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)

utbear:

Very good post.

Just look at all the talent we have squandered over the years...Jabari Davis et al. Davis was the fifth ranked player coming out of high school and he barely made an impact at UT.

There are many others like Davis within the last five years. Sure, there are always hits and misses, but I think we rank pretty high with our recruiting misses -- mostly because of development.

Then look at poor old Arkansas. You think Tennessee is a recruiting desert? They rarely have even 3 star athletes, but compete for the West title about every other year. Unlike us, development is their forte.

We need a coach, a real hands-on coach, not a CEO.

Posted by movol77 on September 20, 2007 at 1:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)

"Remember when Nebraska ran off Frank Solich? Loyal to the University for years, pretty good coach, got fired really quick and it took them years to get back."

They're still not back. Solich was fired for going 9-3.

Posted by 66cheVolet on September 20, 2007 at 1:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Our so called complicated defence and offence seems to be taught to young players on our rivals teams pretty easily. They don't seem to have any trouble comprehending how to defend or score on us. I'm sick and tired of hearing how complicated our system is to grasp. This is another excuse that's also getting very old. If you have difference making talent coming in, you have to find a way for them to make an impact early and often. That has been an achilles heel around here for a long time. In response to an earlier poster, I will always be a fan of Coach Fulmer, because I believe he is a man of impeccable character. The criticism he is receiving is his own doing. I too am very upset about everything that has already been mentioned many times. I only wish everyone would stop the personal attacks, name calling etc. I promise you nobody wants change more than I do. Mr. Hamilton it's very simple, either we change and succeed, or we stay the course and continue to fail. That sir, is the future of our football team, and very easy to foresee. The ball is in your court.

Posted by GenNeyland1285 on September 20, 2007 at 5:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Why does this come as such a shock? From the looks of it there was more than one player with a "T" on their helmet that "quit" last Saturday. Find'em, kick them off the team, and figure out a way to turn this thing around.

We still have 9 more games to go and anything could happen. Lets hope this team can shrug off the UF game, figure out how to play defense, and win some games this year.

GO VOLS!

P.S. Does anyone have Greg Schiano's phone number...I heard Mike Hamilton has been looking for it.

Posted by GreerVol22 on September 20, 2007 at 7:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I've already spoken about Ainge pouting on the sideline after he muffed the handoff to Arian...so who quit Mr Ainge? look in the mirror bud, before you throw out a statement like, "I wouldn't want him playing for me on my team, period." You are the leader of this team, act like it, or take a seat.

Posted by ElizabethtonvolnNC on September 20, 2007 at 7:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)

GatorNation, you weren't saying that $#@! when Zook was your head coach!

Posted by 55Vol on September 20, 2007 at 7:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)

CRVol....move to Brentwood and get some class. Geez

Posted by vol88 on September 20, 2007 at 7:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)

If a player quits, it's the coach's job to see that and replace him with someone who wants to play. I promise you there were dozens on the sideline Saturday who would've loved to go in there, regardless of the score. Find those kids and develop them. Let the quitters ride the pine for a while.

Posted by grvol on September 20, 2007 at 8 a.m. (Suggest removal)

It was obvious to the gator players, the fans, television audience, everyone except the Vol coaches. Also there's an article in Tennessean about Vols pathetic (last place in the nation in all divisions) punt coverage team. Fulmer says they'll work to fix it. Its been that way for years and he either won't or can't fix it. They won in 98 despite terrible punt coverage that was never fixed. That team was so talented and lucky to overcome such pathetic coaching.

Posted by hiresanders on September 20, 2007 at 8:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)

We should put a Q on our helmets for quitters instead of the T that now stands for Tim Tebow owns us.

Posted by VolnFlorida on September 20, 2007 at 8:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)

GO ARKANSAS STATE!
Fulmer quit on this university after the '98 Championship. LOOK AT THE TAPE! Watch the players
rush on the extra point. They don't. UT will be lucky to win three games. Two if they cannot beat ARK St., who played Texas down to the wire.
Go hire the Texas Tech Coach or the Defensive Coach at L S U and be done with it. WE waited eight months for this three month root canal.
Thanks Pumpkin.

Posted by RocketVol on September 20, 2007 at 8:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)

This does not surprise me. A few years ago Nebraska players commented that UT was not nearly as tough as they thought they would be up front. Video evidence reveals the trench butt-lashing was indeed accurate. Tennessee is obviously soft - have been for 2 decades - and I'm sick of watching the line get dominated. Roto-Rooter the Program.

"Winning is not a sometime thing; its an all the time thing. You don't win once in a while; you don't do things right once in a while; you do them right all the time. Winning is a habit." -Vince Lombardi

Tennessee is NOT teaching the play-to-play, practice-to-practice, game-to-game winning habit.

Posted by tigervol9802 on September 20, 2007 at 8:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Why is anybody surprised by this? After getting embarassed over, and over, and over, and over, I'm sure I'd quit too. Especially if it was the second time in two weeks.

There is a big difference between being "reserved" and "intense". I have seen many coaches before who were reserved, not animated, stoic, etc. on the sidelines who still were able to fire a team up and have them ready to play on the field. Tony Dungy anyone?

That said, I don't see on this team where the coaching staff has them excited to play and intense anymore.

And RocketVol - That is my all time favorite quote and I have that entire speech framed on my wall at home.

Posted by bigbluevol on September 20, 2007 at 9:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Two things: 1)Please never cite Jabari Davis as an example of a talented player we wasted. He was the epitome of a bust, but not even that because he was overrated. 2)Hate the coaches all you want, but don't get on here and root for the other team. That's freakin' ridiculous.

Posted by orangebloodgmc on September 20, 2007 at 9:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Young dbs can look bad but grow into something else; Rashad Baker had some bad days as a freshman but I think he is still playing in the NFL to this day. But if they come here as juco's they better get up to speed much quicker. Geaux Vawls!

Posted by waterskier3 on September 20, 2007 at 9:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)

we gave up after the first score or was it hte 3 and 1 that we tried a pass and didn't make it then fla scored... I could see in the off and defense... the past several tn teams have lacked the toughness to compete for championships... when the tough gets going they whine and quit instead of making plays to keep everyone focus for 60 min and that folks is what's wrong with this coaching staff........ take urban and our talent and i promise you we wouldn't be having this conversation.

Posted by orangebloodgmc on September 20, 2007 at 9:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Y'all be sure and read that little story over on the left side of the home page, "Players that were ready when their name was called, part 1."

Posted by orangebloodgmc on September 20, 2007 at 9:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)

OK, its on the RIGHT side, not left, right under the schedule, "Players WHO were ready when their name was called."

Posted by clcvol on September 20, 2007 at 9:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Whether or not a player flat out said that he gave up is irrelevant. Tennessee has a history of falling apart and giving up. The "when the going gets tough, UT starts packing" attitude has killed us time and time again. Coaches need to step up and change that attitude before anything else in the program will change. It doesn't matter how good you are if you're going to quit the first time something goes wrong. You'll lose everytime.

Posted by Pullingguard on September 20, 2007 at 9:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Face the facts; Tennessee coaching staff has never been able to prepare young highly respected recruits to play their first year at UT. Evidently it's a coaching problem for many other SEC schools play them and they learn and develope under fire and pressure of the game. Not UT, they have to pay their dues, play on scout team, and any excuse for not having developed them to compete and make a contribution within the game.

Posted by bhtymco on September 20, 2007 at 9:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)

My grandson is 5 and I have a hard time getting him to concentrate, our receivers are supposed to have "some" experience and should not have the same concentration problem.
Come on BIG ORANGE players .............., play like you mean it on every snap and dog on it, if the starters won't or can't, why not try some of the younger players. Find someone who will step up. Don't wait until they are Seniors only to find that they don't have the heart to catch a ball over the middle or to go deep and fight for the ball.
Please, don't make the thousands of transplanted BIG Orange fans and students have to explain that we'll gett'em next year!!

Posted by vol4jesus on September 20, 2007 at 9:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)

jwraymond if you have to ask the question you show us where you come from. The means justifies the end? Please don't call youeSELF a VOL fan if you ever find yourSELF pulling for the opponent. OOPs you just did so you are now an Arky st fan I guess cause you sure ain't no VOL fan, but a turncoat! Gooday Paul Harvey page 2!!! GO BIG ORANGE!!!

Posted by mloaks on September 20, 2007 at 10:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Anthony Parker said it well. The players just did not get it done.

Posted by 55Vol on September 20, 2007 at 10:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)

jwraymond1....Osama Bin Laden needs you in Pakistan... you think like he does.

Posted by orangebloodgmc on September 20, 2007 at 11:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)

clcvol, you wrote: "Tennessee has a history of falling apart and giving up." I respectfully disagree with that. We have some epic hard-fought overtime wins to back me up (Bama, at LSU come to mind). We came from behind 3 times at top-ten Cal's place to tie it up at 21-21. Last year we were in the games vs. LSU national champ Florida until the bitter end. Your most recent memory (last weekend) is not same as "we have a history."

Posted by brdteton on September 20, 2007 at 11:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Ok, lets fire Fulmer,

Who is the better man for the job? Is Les Miles leaving LSU? Spurrier SC? Meyer FLA? Richt GA? etc...

Find a better person for the job, then think about firing the coach....

'Well, Coach Sparks up at Carson Newman...' Please, that isn't going to get it done.

Posted by joebomb on September 20, 2007 at 11:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)

brdteton....that's not our worry, it's for Mike Hamilton to figure out. Were you a big Bruce Pearl fan before he got here? Had you even heard of him? This is why we have AD's.

Posted by tigervol9802 on September 20, 2007 at 12:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Man, we heard the same questions about Buzz when he got released. "Who can you get better?" Ummm....I think the new guy turned out all right there. Heard the same last spring with DelMonico. I may be wrong, but Raleigh looks like he knows what to do and will at least pump some energy into the program if nothing else.

People, despite what you may think, Tennessee is one of the top coaching jobs in the country. Coaches know they have facilities, money, and a fan base that wants to win. No, it's not a job every coach wants because some don't want to deal with the pressue to win, especially in the SEC. Then again, I don't want a coach who doesn't want that pressure! But, I guarantee there are coaches out there who would love the chance. Who knows right now, but anyone who thinks Tennessee can't land a great coach whenever Fulmer is gone is out of their minds.

The only worry I have is the "being the coach after a successful" coach fear. Then again, I could also argue that Fulmer 02-07 has already taken care of that because he does not seem like the same coach to me as Fulmer 93-01.

And JR, I understand your thought process if no one else does. I want us to still win and still go 10-2, but at the same time, I know what is best for the program and what I am afraid it will take to get that to happen.

Posted by thevol on September 20, 2007 at 12:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)

CR- You are a broken record. Do you just copy and paste your previous posts? Come back when you have something new and worthwhile to say.

JW- At least you finally admitted that you root for the other team to win.

Why were so many posts removed? I missed all the action.

Posted by TurboFan on September 20, 2007 at 12:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Geez, does anybody not have a tape of the game to go look at and figure out which UT player Baldry was talking about? Appears the Florida newspaper confirmed the story (although not naming anybody). Why can't the KNS do it to (at least confirm). I would like to see if that player is still around next Saturday!

Posted by RocketVol on September 20, 2007 at 12:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Did anybody just hear Colin Cowherd, ESPN Radio's host of The Herd at lunch? He layed down his "slow program erosion" pick for coach that needs to go before it's too late. Anyone care to guess which program was labled as "eroding"...or what coach was labled as "poor"? Real simple, when SEC was down - he won games. Now that SEC has good coaching - he can't compete. Guesses?...anyone?

Posted by vol4jesus on September 20, 2007 at 12:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)

the british are coming so jw and ___nFlorida get your brassy Redcoat out of the closet so you won't get shot. That is what any good turncoat would do. You are showing your 'True' colors and they ain't orange for sure! The means justifies the end? Telling 10 yr old Johnny lie after lie to conceal your cheating on your wife(adultery) is certainly for the good in the long run right? Pulling against the Vols shows you to be a turncoat and not a 'TRUE VOL FAN.' A true fan will stick by the VOLS even in the muck and mire! That doesn't mean we like down times anymore than you not liking them. It means will pull for the team in the good,bad, and ugly. Now is ugly, but I've been surprised b4 and might be again. Don't know but I'm not throwing in the Orahge towel now! What is that I hear? The British are coming! Run men to your closet and get your brassy redcoat so as not to be identified with us , but rather with the enemy. I say GO VOLS!!!

Posted by jcvet on September 20, 2007 at 12:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Good post klskaggs, I agree. Don't forget, to make it even worse, Meachem was reshirted as a freshman due to an injury. It was actually his 4th yr. took him 4 yrs. to "grasp" the offense.

Posted by NortheastTNVol on September 20, 2007 at 12:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Hey all-it's my first post, so I will try to make it meaningful.

Coach Graham Clarke from Dobyns-Bennett High School would do a better job than Fulmer. Trust me. He knows what a defense is as well as a high power offense. Case closed.

First of all, it's all fine and good that SOME folks tend to be favoring Fulmer as our head ball coach. I am sorry to say that his record, donations to the university and the fact that he is coaching at his alma mater MEANS NOTHING.

The premise of any sport is to win games? At least that's the last I checked. You may need to speak with the Browns coach about that one, perhaps he and Fulmer would make great company for one another.

Bottom line, no questions asked, we are not winning key games. Fulmer is full of hot air and his staff is just plain lackluster. Once upon a time, we had a great team. Matter of fact, several great teams, but the problem lies in the coaching. We are not playing a progressive style of ball. Although its not always necessary, it would seem to me that we would think of changing a few of our schemes. Instead we get the same crap at Fulmer's press conferences about how we "Can't run the daggum ball against ______ team!" If I could venture to say, maybe you should be watching game film? I think Fulmer sits and watches doughnut commercials all day long instead of game film.

Anyway, we just need to oust Fulmer. If any of you happens to be a donor to this organization, stop, please. For the love of God, lets write a check to a progressive ball coach who knows how to respond to the heat of the SEC.

And to those of you who worry about the next few seasons being bad sans Fulmer? Imagine how much worse it WILL be WITH the Tennessee Doughboy at the helm. Jeez, I don't know how you're all so enamored with a person who will probably not win many more games as a football coach.

Bye bye Trooper, Fulmer, Cutcliffe, Chavis, Slade... er... how about this:

Dear Football Staff,

RESIGN NOW. Go coach in the middle school ranks, because that's all you will ever amount to.

Sincerely,

Tennessee Fans

Posted by clcvol on September 20, 2007 at 1:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Northeast- You seem to think that every coach needs to go, although not every facet of our team is in trouble. For example Trooper: Our WR's are catching the balls, the lack of deep threats are due more to play selection then anything. I've read where we don't have people who can break tackles. We have played some good defenses that know the basics (as we seem to not know) and can tackle. Need I remind you that Meachems two long TD's against Cal last year were more a cause of shotty tackling then breaking tackles.

Posted by jdcvols on September 20, 2007 at 1:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)

This idea that we quit in games bothers me. Look at last year, Georgia has us killed early on and we could have quit in that game...instead we come back and win big. In 2005, LSU had us down big time and we fought back to win in OT. I did not see the players quit vs California but I sure as heck witnessed Fulmer quiting. Enough has been said about the FLA game, it was over the minute that Arian "game killer" Foster pulled his magic just like the Penn State game. There are no rooms at the inn for quiters!!

Posted by bigbluevol on September 20, 2007 at 1:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I can understand why people would rip on Fulmer, Cutcliffe and Chavis. They're the big three and each has had their problems previously. However, no matter how much you hate this staff, you have to be pretty dense to think Trooper Taylor is not a good coach. He took Cedric Houston and Gerald Riggs and made them into 1000 yard rushers. He took Meachem, Swain and Smith and turned them into a fantastic trio. This guy is a great recruiter and a phenomenal coach. If you all get your wish and Fulmer is fired, I hope his replacement is at least intelligent enough to retain Trooper.

Posted by abingdonvolsfan2 on September 20, 2007 at 1:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Fulmer is one of worst motivators I've ever seen on the side lines he never looses his temper and often smiles one of his players fumbles on the three yard line! He could learn a lot from coaches like Steve Spurrier who consistently beat Tennessee with inferior talent like he did in 2005 when brought the gamecocks to knoxville! Phillip Fulmer doin' less with more since 1998! And you better believe that South Carolina will beat us again this year!!!

Posted by Colliervol on September 20, 2007 at 1:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Vol4jesus, with all due respect, you are on the verge of being tabbed the new "busybody" with your "odd" commentary. It's gotten where I see the word "Redcoats" and move on to the next post because I know yours is going to sail right over my head. But maybe it's just me.

Posted by Mr_Bandman on September 20, 2007 at 2:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"I like this team"...."They're likeable people".....????!!!!????!!!!???!!!!

Forgive me, but who gives a bleep?!?!?!

Nice guys finish last....WHOOHOO---Phil likes his players!!!!! Please go win a game you aren't expected to win for a change, then you can get together on the checker board, hold hands, and sing "Kum Ba Yah"....until then, I really don't care who Phil Fulmer likes.

Posted by bigbluevol on September 20, 2007 at 2:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Sad news. CBS Sportsline has it that Tyler Smith's father passed away this morning. It's news like that that puts football in perspective.

Posted by Wilhelm16 on September 20, 2007 at 2:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Al Davis said it best: Just Win Baby!

Posted by bigbluevol on September 20, 2007 at 2:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)

http://www.sportsline.com/collegebask...

Posted by budster on September 20, 2007 at 2:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)

How can players not give up when it is obvious watching the game that the coaches have. I do not doubt that the comment was made by a TN player. Only one might have said it but we had several that quit playing. Ofcourse the coaches quit coaching at halftime so I guess that were a little confused about what they were suppose to do and just followed their leaders.

Posted by LazhilUT on September 20, 2007 at 3 p.m. (Suggest removal)

When you have a coward, gutless coach, you have players giving up left and right...This my friends, is Tennessee footbal. a team of quitters coached by a loser.

Posted by orangebloodgmc on September 20, 2007 at 3:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)

All this anger ... are you guys dog-bitten mailmen or something?

Posted by Basketball_Jones on September 20, 2007 at 3:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)

NortheastTNVol, if we are going after a HS coach we'll go after George Quarls at Maryville who ironically runs the spread offense. Not the coach at DB.
Someone mentioned that Trooper was doing his job cause the receivers were making catches, then why can't we get all those young wideouts on the field, can he not coach them up? I'm not impressed with Trooper, I mean chest bumping doesn't make for a good coach.
Well today I did something I have never done, I gave my tickets for the rest of the year away. Random people that I knew that had never been to a UT game. I figure let someone go who will enjoy the atmosphere and not really care if we win or probably lose.....
Sorry to hear about Tylers dad, glad he got to come to UT so he could rush home to be with him if just for a short while

Posted by bigbluevol on September 20, 2007 at 4:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Trooper can coach them up - that was the point about Riggs and Houston from Woody McCorvey to Taylor and then the trio from last year. They went from Washington to Taylor and were productive. I don't think that Trooper can do anything about someone's inability to learn the plays or their unwillingness to do what he asks, i.e. blocking, etc. He's big on doing everything the right way and that's the mark of a good coach. The chest bumping and enthusiasm just endear him to the kids and make them more willing to work hard for him. And, by the way, you don't have to run the spread offense to win championships (Miami, USC, Ohio State, LSU even Florida last year didn't really run it, nor Texas. There were elements of it, but it wasn't anything like what UF is running this year.)

Posted by tnorthern on September 20, 2007 at 4:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I have a hard time hearing anything these coaches say as credible. I don't think they know their respective #@#$'s from a hole in the ground.

Posted by mtoms1272 on September 20, 2007 at 4:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Does it really matter. It looked like the whole team gave up.

Posted by scvols on September 20, 2007 at 5:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Taxation without representation = Donations without any championships. LOL! CRVOL comes up with a funny. I think 70% of the time, change is good. I love Fulmer, Cut, and the Chief. I wish they would win every game by 20 and the VOLS would win NC after NC. Now, back to what is real, since 1998 we have not been a BSC team. Almost 10 years! I think it is time for a change.

Posted by UTFAN1993 on September 20, 2007 at 5:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Rivals top recruiting classes:
'02 '03 '04 '05 '06 '07
fla 20 2 7 15 2 1
ut 2 18 11 4 23 3
ga 3 6 6 10 4 9
sc 11 8 35 23 24 6
ala 30 49 15 18 11 10
lsu 15 1 2 22 7 4
aub 6 11 21 13 10 7
two questions: where is UGA's national championship, and with 7 out of the top 10 classes in the nation, being in the s.e.c.,how about the competition?

Posted by tennisvol on September 20, 2007 at 5:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)

No reason for the Florida player to not tell the truth. Has this been a problem with some of the players? Fulmer and the staff should know. It is easy to tell - just
look at the film!

Posted by yeavols on September 20, 2007 at 5:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)

IT doesn't take a brain surgeon or a rocket scientist to see that once the vols fall behind, they give up. I saw that in the Florida game. For whatever reasons, something is wrong and has been wrong the last few years. The excuses just keep coming and coming and coming and coming...

Posted by yeavols on September 20, 2007 at 5:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Get this: I get an email from the UT alumni association chapter in Georgia that a bus trip is planned for the Georgia game. Bus fair, hoopla, and the ticket for just one low price of 85 dollars. WHEN was the last time you could take a road trip with ticket included for 85 dollars? Unheard of..the popcorn, cotton candy, and hot dog in a taxi to the local bar to watch the game for free would cost you more. WOW..I have never seen an offer like this one before! WHOOAAAAA NELLLYYYY..but I think I'll pass. Cost? Priceless!

Posted by grvol on September 20, 2007 at 6:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Trooper says it takes a receiver 3 years to grasp TN's offense enough to be productive, using Meachem as an example. Cal's middle linebacker Follet in Sports Illustrated called TN's offense "basic stuff" that required very little film study to prepare for. A Saints coach, explaining why Meachem has yet to be activated, called him "raw" with a lot of learning to do. Translation: Vol coaches are morons.

Posted by imnotwithphil on September 20, 2007 at 7:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Oh come on man - give Derek Baldry a break - the game was over - why risk injury for a lost cause? I'm mean it's not like the kid punted on 4 and 20 with over 2 minutes left on the clock at California... Why should our young men try? Why should they give it their all? I mean, it's not like they have a role model to look up to in their head coach. As I said after the Cal game, Quitting is the newest Tennessee Tradition.

Posted by invisiblekid on September 20, 2007 at 8:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)

"Taxation without representation = Donations with out any championships." Got a nice chuckle out of that one CRVol. RocketVol, the Lombardi quote never gets old, maybe we could get a copy of " When Pride Still Mattered, A Life of Vince Lombardi" to Fulmer. Questions about UT player quitting on an extra point?? Where is the uproar about the last 3 TD's scored by the Gators? Maybe it was from exhausation by the defense, but Harvin and Tebow both walked in virtually untouched.

Posted by volintexas on September 20, 2007 at 8:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Thank goodness these guys weren't with Davey Crockett at a little place called the Alamo. Everyone in what we know as the Southern U.S. would be speaking in Espanol. Seeing Fulmer's teams quit isn't new. The Orange Bowl after the 97 season was a joke. Many a Nebraska player commented on the less than iron will demonstrated by the young men in orange that day (can't use the V word with that team except for Peyton who would have cut off his leg to play in that game). Note to Hamilton: "It is time for them to go". In terms of firing Phil: 1) negotiate a deal to let Phil stay on the Hill in some advisory capacity and pay him off, 2) let Phil call a press conference and pubicly tell everyone that as a true Volunteer he thinks it is time for the University to go in a new direction, to reach "another level", 3) that he appreciates everything this University has done for him, 4) that he would especially like to thank Clint Stoerner for making that knuckleheaded play in 1998 that kept UT in the hunt for a national championship.

Posted by jcvet on September 20, 2007 at 9:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Hey orangeblood, Have you seen the games this yr? Have you
been on the moon? Are you an ex Vandy fan now turned UT fan? Hell yes I'm angry.

Posted by RocketVol on September 20, 2007 at 9:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I-kid, here's a couple for the road - it's been a long week. If anyone is traveling to the game, be safe, make a lot of noise, go to the Vol-Walk and cheer, and don't boo during the game. We can't let the troops think we have issue with them - it's the leadership we want.

"Almost all games are lost by the losers, not won by the winners." - General Neyland

"When they look back at that 9 - 1 season, they don't ask who the nine were." - General Neyland

"The alumni are starting to grumble, and I'm the one starting it." - Bear Bryant

Posted by RangerForSix on September 20, 2007 at 9:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Coaches can do 'TWO things' once the football game begins:
1. Stop play three times with a timeout.
2. Decide who is on the field of play!

"Everything else" is a suggestion! Sometimes a strongly worded suggestion, but a suggestion none the less...

To me we are 'going to score enough points to beat everyone' left on our schedule. If the coaches have the 'right personnel playing together' on the field. That is something that IS UNDER THE COACHES CONTROL; TOTALLY! Not much else is under the coaches control except; Who's on the freakin' field AND 3 stoppages of play...

We must continue to score 30-something points and tighten up our defense and special teams.
"There has to be a 'KID ON CAMPUS' somewhere, who can kick a football down to the goal line!!"

Find him/her, and get him/her a uniform. A good football program that doesn't have 2 or 3 kids who can kick a football 70 yards? (embarrassing)

It's not against the rules to tackle players viciously! "It's definitely not against the rules just tackle your opponent."
How much 'penetration' is our defense getting? 'How many guys' in the 'opponents backfield', messing up their plays? We're just not seeing it, are we? You can destroy the run and the pass, by getting your defenders in your opponents backfield, over and over again.

That has to change. Obviously the 'bend but don't break defensive philosophy', isn't working. So, it's time for our defense to become

"11 F-in' Hats to the Football".

"11 athletes, flying around the field, making fundamental tackles, for 60 flippin' minutes!"

If we don't fix our tackling, we'll score 35 points a game and lose. That can not happen, or heads, many heads will roll!!

Block and Tackle VOLS, keep getting better.

"Oh, and 'IF' we had a quitter or two, they must go, must go!!!"

Posted by SmokeDog72 on September 20, 2007 at 10:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)

From the looks of many a game over the last few years, I believe there has been more than one instance of a player quitting on a special teams play. Our team has mailed it in for entire games. We have become an uninspired, robotic, unproductive machine over the last 5-6 years. Fulmer is living totally off of sentiment. The staff is living off of sentiment. The players are not ready to run through walls for UT, the state, the fans or the orange jersey. The staff has the same mindset. Nothing fresh is coming out of Fulmer's R+D department. I think Fulmer is a great guy. But, he is a mediocre coach.

To support the opinions of those of us who want to see change, I challenge any of you who thinks we should hang on to this mildly-incompetent bunch we call our coaching staff to name me a single coach that will move on to bigger and better things if there is a regime change. Who of these masterful player developers and defensive scheme wizards will be involved in anything larger than what they have had the opportunity to be a part of at UT? Do you think a big-time program is going to make a run at Fulmer if he is available? How about the NFL? Give me a break. When he is done at UT, he is done. Period. Chavis? Head coaching candidate anywhere? The best these guys do is lateral moves to a smaller program. Cutcliffe's return to UT has maybe helped his resume. He might get a shot as quarterbacks coach with a national title contender. But, that's probably about it. He is not exactly one of those "young, exciting, great offensive minds".

THAT is what the rest of the country has already figured out. Our system is antiquated, our team is constantly overrated, our players never "overachieve" and our coaching staff is living on past accomplishments. We can quit blaming the media for disrespect or going with the "ESPN conspiracy" theory for their not so kind comments about UT. We get the opportunity to disappoint more on national TV than any other program in the country. I am tired of our fan base pointing the finger outward. It is not the polls fault concerning preseason rankings. It is not the bowl selection committee's fault for mid-tier bowl invitations. It is the product that we put on the field that is to blame. Nothing more, nothing less.

It hurts to say all of that, but the first step is "Problem Recognition". And, problem recognition, my friends, is when you realize the difference between a desired state and an actual condition. Our actual condition is not what I desire. How about you?

Posted by utnutt on September 21, 2007 at 4:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)

TROOPER NEEDS TO GO TO HE HASNT DONE THAT GREAT OF A JOB. CLEAN HOUSE HIRE A NEW COACH LET HIM DECIDE WHO THE STAFF IS GOING TO BE. SOMEONE HAS BROUGHT UP PELINI AS POSSIBLE COACH. THE LIST NOW IS SPURRIER, THE GUY FROM RUTGERS(CANT REMEMBER HIS DAMN NAME)NORM CHOW,PELINI AND THE GUY FROM BOISE STATE(CANT REMEMBER HIS DAMN NAME EITHER).SOMENE ALSO MENTIONED WEST FROM MEMPHIS. THATS ONE THAT I CANT FIGURE OUT. MEMPHIS IS NOT IMPRESSIVE AT ALL.

Posted by GreerVol22 on September 21, 2007 at 7:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)

If we do start looking for a coach we had better get some money in someones pockets quick, because it is entirely possible that Michigan, Texas A&M, Notre Dame, Tennessee, Auburn, Arizona, Virginia, & Arkansas will all be looking come seasons end....and you know the Big house will pull out 4 mill+ so get ready for tickets to go up again.

Posted by govols57 on September 21, 2007 at 9:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I totally believe what the Florida player said. We have been consistently over matched and out played for the last 8 years. Gone are the days of guys like Kevin Mays, Bubba Miller, Jason Laymen and Chad Clifton. Those guys dominated opposing defensive lines. They could open up holes for our running backs.

Where is our pass rush? Xaiver Mitchell has made one play his entire career and he is supposed to be our best pass rusher? I lost count of how many times he was blown off the ball in the Florida game and how many sacks does he have?

I put most of the blame on Fulmer because he has no idea how to develop talent but I put a ton of blame on Johnny Long! He is by far the worst strength and conditioning "coach" I have ever seen. He is nothing more than a glorified cheerleader on the sidelines.

Think about it:

Our offensive line is always overweight, slow and can't run block

Our defensive line gets blown off the ball and we have no pass rush

AND when Stuckey was here Tee Martin broke the all time bench press record for quarterbacks, Travis Henry broke the all time squat record for running backs, Darwin Walker broke the all time overall bench press record, hell, Al wilson and Jamal Lewis had a bench press competition and the coaches had to stop them at 530lbs.

Since dumbass Johnny Long has taken over only one player since 1999 has broken or tied one of those records (Jac McClendon, all time benchpress) and he doesn't even start.

How many times have we as fans read in the paper in the last 8 years, the opposing team say "UT was not as tough or as strong as we thought they would be."

Wake up, Johnny Long is a joke!!!!!

Posted by utnutt on September 21, 2007 at 1:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I AGREE I HAVE THOUGHT FOR OUIET SOMETIME THAT WE DONT LOOK STRONG AND WE DONT APPEAR TO IN GOOD CONDITION. THERE WAS A TIME THAT BY THE FOURTH QUARTER WE WERE GRINDING DEFENSES IN GROUND WITH OUR OFFENSIVE LINE. WE DONT LOOK STRONG ENOUGH ANY MORE TO PUSH A VANDERBILT AROUND MUCH LESS A REAL SEC TEAM .