Posted by vollady on April 28, 2008 at 12:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Best of luck to all of you and thanks for your years as Vols.

Posted by andy112382 on April 28, 2008 at 2:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Anyone else notice the low numbers for several NCAA teams as far as players drafted?

Florida: 2
Georgia: 4
Alabama: 0
FSU: 3
Miami: 3
Nebraska: 3
Ohio St: 3
OU: 4
PSU: 2

Just seems kind of strange to me, at least, with some of the traditional powerhouses only having a couple of picks....usually even on 'down' years, teams like Miami or OU get a decent number of players taken.

Good luck to Mayo, Ainge, Cottam and everyone else who signs! Make us proud!!!

Posted by jimr07 on April 28, 2008 at 6:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)

andy112382--how about soutern cal with 12 in the first three rounds? and, i do not see your point.

Posted by rusty_shackleford on April 28, 2008 at 6:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Andy, things change. Talent is going where it can play early which means players may be going to "smaller" or less traditional schools. That may be why schools like Troy and TN St. have first round talent.

The last time UT had a TE drafted in the 3rd round, it worked out pretty well. Good Luck to Brad and the other alums!

Posted by pdhuff on April 28, 2008 at 6:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Best of luck, guys. Wish I could ride the pines with several thou in the pocket. Thanks for the memories. God knows, Ainge, where we would have been last year without you and Cut.

Passes into the stands and all.

Posted by eb502us on April 28, 2008 at 7:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)

pdhuff, without Ainge and Cut, we'd have fared much better. Both are highly highly overrated. Cut with his dink and dunk offense and puzzling play calling in key situations and Ainge with his poor mechanics, poor footwork, suspect decision making and average arm. While I wish both the best, I just don't see Ainge sticking in the NFL unless he shows something we never saw at UT. Hard to live off your last name in the NFL.

Posted by sjt18 on April 28, 2008 at 7:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Andy, two things.

One, some of the teams you listed just didn't lose alot of great players. Second, the reduction in scholarships a few years back spread the talent out even more. It used to be that the large schools could take a larger chunk of guys with potential. Now it is more risky. They miss quite a few that get collected by the Troys of the world.

Posted by GreerVol22 on April 28, 2008 at 7:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)

pdhuff, should be interesting this fall for sure. Minus an Ainge and a Cut, + another Clawson. All puns intended.

Posted by TommyJack on April 28, 2008 at 7:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Pro career for Cottam? Fair chance. Ainge? No chance.

Posted by hiresanders on April 28, 2008 at 8:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Two out of the last 4 years we have only had 3 players drafted (2005, 2008). If you didn't know the talent level has slipped before, you sure do now.

Posted by orangebloodgmc on April 28, 2008 at 8:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Four Vols on the Chiefs team! I guess I'll have to follow KC more this season. Go Vawls!

Posted by TurboFan on April 28, 2008 at 9 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Thought Hefney might have gone to Cleveland. Don't know the situation in Tampa but Cleveland didn't draft a CB after losing one of their first teamers. Seemed like a wide open cattle call for Hefney to show something at his natural position. Good luck to them all.

Posted by Basketball_Jones on April 28, 2008 at 9:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)

One thing all of you failed to mention on those not getting drafted is the draft is only 7 rounds not 12 like it used to be. Thats 150 or so kids that would have gotten picked up.

As far as Hefney getting drafted, he had a terrible senior year, I think he pulled a Jamal Lewis and played not to get hurt and it hurt his draft status, unlike Lewis.

If I were a late round kid I would rather be a free agent, you get to almost choose between 2 or 3 places of where you would want to go. Seems like you could chose a team to fill a need. Just a thought.

Lastly after all that I feel the talent level has dropped off. I was taling with someone the other day asking how in the hell a guy like Jared Lorenzen can make it as a back-up/third stringer and Tee Martin/Casey Clausen can not.

Posted by Silent_Fulmer on April 28, 2008 at 9:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)

This is my favorite time of year. A time when Phil Fulmer goes silent for about 4 months. Where's Fulmer? Jackson Hole? He isn't around for any qoutes to the media like a pro-active type of coach that is for sure (Bruce Pearl).

Posted by TurboFan on April 28, 2008 at 9:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)

It's a crapshoot, Mr Jones. Choose the team that seemingly has the most need and open position, give a good showing in few opportunities then they pull the rug out from under you the last week of preseason when they opt for a veteran free agent that just got off the bus.

Posted by Silent_Fulmer on April 28, 2008 at 9:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Sorry duncecap, spelling quotes wrong and our QB who played with us for 4 years isn't the same when it comes to football knowledge of your team.

Nice try though.

Posted by jimr07 on April 28, 2008 at 10:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)

tommyjack--did you offer your expert opinion to the Jets? i am sure they would welcome your insight. at least give Erik a chance to show he can or cannot make it.

Posted by jimr07 on April 28, 2008 at 10:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)

sphs_vol--leave ashley alone because he is convinced that he is the only person with a callender. his comment is always thought provoking. i mean who else could come up with only so many more days? see what i mean?

Posted by TommyJack on April 28, 2008 at 11:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)

jimr07: If the Jets called, they didn't leave a message. But I would have been glad to share my thoughts with them. OK with you?

Posted by TommyJack on April 28, 2008 at 11:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Ashley: JimR just likes to bitch.

Posted by Silent_Fulmer on April 28, 2008 at 11:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)

wow, Ashley has serious self assurance issues. Maybe you need to spend some time on the Oprah message board as well girlfrenn'

Posted by orangebloodgmc on April 28, 2008 at 11:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I kinda like the countdown.

Posted by alfrizzle097 on April 28, 2008 at 11:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Eye hoope ewe gies kan lyten up.The spelengs git mesed up frum tieme to time because these comments are written in one or two minutes. Wee don't use spell check on it. It doesn't seam too bother aneebody else, sew just let it go.
Bye the way, hope eye gave ewe enough spellings to correct.

Posted by chris_ann on April 28, 2008 at 11:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)

i am very proud of our draft picks from UT..
wish them the best in the NFL... GOOD LUCK ERIK I WILL MISS YOU ......

Posted by TurboFan on April 28, 2008 at 11:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Have to admit, the countdown is concise and to the point.

Posted by kjneel on April 28, 2008 at 11:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Hefney was awesome as a Junior but got burned ALL the time last year. NFL teams saw the same thing thus no draft.

Posted by WorkinLikeHeck on April 28, 2008 at 11:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)

What's been going on here (other than Ashley getting owned again)?

Posted by alfrizzle097 on April 28, 2008 at 11:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Hefney's junior year wasn't that great in my opinion. I saw him commit early to one part of the field and let other players look bad when he was as much at fault as them. His senior year he simply learned how to play safety and it turned out he wasn't that good at playing it the right way.That being said, at least he did play it the way he was supposed to last year.

Posted by Silent_Fulmer on April 28, 2008 at 11:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Ashley, did I spell girlfrenn' wrong?

Posted by feathersax on April 28, 2008 at 12:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Why do so many of you people sound like GA dawg fans? Reading these posts is depressing.

Posted by Silent_Fulmer on April 28, 2008 at 1 p.m. (Suggest removal)

does your countdown refer to days to football season or days till Fulmer speaks to the media?

Posted by PLEASEGETRIDOFTHENOTSOSLIMONE on April 28, 2008 at 1:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Straight from Yahoo Sports

New York Jets
Picks: LB/DE Vernon Gholston, TE Dustin Keller, CB Dwight Lowery, QB Erik Ainge, WR Marcus Henry, OT Nate Garner
Positives: Keller and Lowery
Negatives: Gholston and Ainge
Bottom line: C. Jets fans at the draft were thrilled when their team grabbed Gholston to give them another outside pass rusher, another piece in an aggressive offseason. But there are plenty of people around the NFL who contend that Gholston is the biggest potential bust of the first round. There are concerns about whether he really likes the game. That’s not good. Keller gives the team a more dynamic receiver for the middle of the field and a stopgap if starting TE Chris Baker doesn’t play for the Jets this season. Lowery gives them depth at a weak spot. Ainge is a waste of a pick.

Posted by alfrizzle097 on April 28, 2008 at 3:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Silent_Fulmer, why do you have a problem with Fulmer not talking to the media during the off-season? I'm not sure I can see your logic. Why shouldn't he be able to take time off like everybody else? Do you never take vacations? I just don't see what your problem is. I'm not trying to take a shot, I just want to hear your thoughts.

Posted by Silent_Fulmer on April 28, 2008 at 3:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)

alfrizz - It's more about being at the right place at the right time.

I think we all know how high in regard I hold Bruce Pearl. Does Pearl take vacations? Or enough of them? I don't know, He probably deserves to take more than he does...is my perception. I don't care how much vacation anyone takes as long as the job gets done.

The reality is Fulmer is not meeting program goals (0 SEC titles in 10 years this season). My perception is he might not just be "Workin like enough heck" to get our program where it needs to be.

So in review,

1. Get the damn job done
2. Get the damn job done
3. Don't make a perception be you care as much about not talking to the national media and living in Jackson Hole half the year if your not meeting goals.

Posted by imw8n4u on April 28, 2008 at 3:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Fulmer works 19 hours days 9-10 months a year. Cut him some slack for spending some quality time in Jackson Hole. Even there he's probably still working 4-5 hours a day on the phones. Besides, he has to have some time to spend all that money, otherwise what good does it do to make it?

Posted by Silent_Fulmer on April 28, 2008 at 3:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Here is the current state of the SEC stock up - stock down type of stuff taking into account the past couple of seasons and what is to come in the future.

Florida - stock up, ho hum, national title and heisman contenders

USC - Flat, hiring spurrier and going to bowl games is about as good as USC can do

UGA - stock up, bcs bowl games and winning them

UT - stock down, had we won the SEC this past season I would give us close to flat - maybe.

UK - stock up, going to bowl games and getting athletes is better than I thought UK could do

Vandy - stock up, almost getting to bowl games is about as well as Vandy can do

Posted by Silent_Fulmer on April 28, 2008 at 3:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)

imw8n4u - thanks for missing my point. I don't care how many hours a day you work.

Get the job done.

There are coaches that work less the Fulmer and get better results.

Get the job done.

Posted by WorkinLikeHeck on April 28, 2008 at 3:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)

19 hours a day 9-10 months out of the year? So, let me get this straight, he commutes 35 minutes each way from Maryville to Knoxville for what at least an hour out of the day. The man obviously likes to eat and being generous, he only spends an hour eating all day long. That only leaves about 3 hours of sleep for Foolmore. Nopee!!!!! You had me going there for a minute though.

Posted by Silent_Fulmer on April 28, 2008 at 3:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)

SEC West

Arkansas - Stock down, A lot of NFL talent and no hardware to show for it. Now they have a high priced coach and a bare cupboard.

LSU - stock up, ummmmm yeah, they took Tennessee's place in the SEC after Fulmer decided he didn't want to work to hard anymore post 90's

Ole Miss - stock down, firing cutcliffe was a bad move and they have nothing to show for the whole mess except for the Fulmer of the West, Houston Nutt.

Miss St. - stock down, slowly but surely pulling together and are pretty close to flat

Alabama - stock down, 6-6 stinks for $4mill period. Things look good for the future supposedly and could get back to flat or stock up in 1 year.

Auburn - stock up, Big time stock up. SEC titles, roughing other teams up and knocking you off the ball at the line of scrimmage leads to 10 win seasons almost every year for Tubs and Co.

Posted by WorkinLikeHeck on April 28, 2008 at 3:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I see I am still on Thunder Thigh's mind. She managed to go a few posts without mentioning me but it appears she can't get enough of me. LOL!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by Silent_Fulmer on April 28, 2008 at 4:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Funny how Thunder girl went from spelling be champ this morning to not caring how to spell words

Posted by Silent_Fulmer on April 28, 2008 at 4:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I guess Thunder has nothing else to contribute until the clock strikes midnight tonight. Keep in mind though, Fulmer is two hours behind Knoxville time though Thunder.

Posted by WorkinLikeHeck on April 28, 2008 at 4:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Basically cottage cheese thighs does 1 of 3 things:

Makes a post about me

Provides a football countdown

Correct spelling in posts that she deems negative (Funny, how she doesn't correct the spelling on posts that she deems positive)

Anyhow, that is pretty much the extent of posting creativity.

Posted by TommyJack on April 28, 2008 at 4:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Cottage Cheese Thighs...nice image. lol

Posted by WorkinLikeHeck on April 28, 2008 at 4:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I figure that this is as good as time as any to congratulate our beloved Coach Foolmore for having the SEC team with the most NFL draft picks (53) as well as 1st rounders (9) than any other SEC team since the 2000 NFL draft.

Too bad Foolmore doens't have 1 single SEC title to show for it since then. We appear to have the talent, what's the deal?

Posted by WorkinLikeHeck on April 28, 2008 at 5:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I guess when Fulmer talks about SEC parity, he's talking about coaching parity, because we sure have had the talent to win at least 1 title since 2000:

SEC

School Total drafted 1st round picks
Alabama 31 2
Arkansas 28 6
Auburn 33 6
Florida 47 8
Georgia 49 8
Kentucky 13 1
LSU 43 8
Ole Miss 18 4
MSU 16 0
USC 21 4
Tennessee 53 9
Vanderbilt 11 2

LSU has won 3, UGA 2, Bama 1, Florida 1, and Auburn 1 SEC titles with less talent than what an organization that spends tons of money evaluating, drafting, scouting, and developing this talent. But hey, it's SEC parity, right Foolmore?

Posted by TommyJack on April 28, 2008 at 5:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)

WorkinLike: It's called "coaching them down".

Posted by pdhuff on April 28, 2008 at 6:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)

TJ, how is the koolaid supply in Boerne? I have a 55 gallon drum of brewed orange I can send you.

Its labeled ol' sjt18, bulging the barrel as we speak. Currently out of orange-colored glasses, shipment coming in late August......

Hope Ainge has some skin-thickener with him. Jets fans, boy howdy!

Posted by TommyJack on April 28, 2008 at 7 p.m. (Suggest removal)

PD: Only burnt orange koolaid here.
You don't desecrate good MM with the koolaid, do you?

Posted by ballewville6 on April 28, 2008 at 7:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)

you bunc of fools you say fulmer is a fool and ainge was a wasted draft pick ,souds like to me that most of you just jumped on the tennessee bandwagon when they won national tital,i agree we should have won more sec titals with the talent we have had,but i have been a fan since i was 3 years old and tennessee was an average team but in the last 35 years my love for tennessee football has stayed strong,the bad and the good so in my opionion if you cant pull for the vols even if you hate the coach find you another team to be a fan of ,one reason we might not have got the big time recruits is they may read your worthless comments and think if the fans dont like the coach and stuff why should i play there give fulmer til 2010 just 2 more years if he wins keep him if they fold get new coach ,but have pride in UT instead of bringing up only negativity..go VOLS fan for life here ,i have never jumped on bandwagons like everyone else i have liked THE VOLS IN collage and sixers in nba dolphins in nfl and houston and pittsburg in mlb all of them since atleast 1975 and boy have my teams had some lumps put on them but i never waverd so all you that jump onto a bandwagon every year to whoever is winning go to h-ll.

Posted by WorkinLikeHeck on April 28, 2008 at 8:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)

100 pounds of chewed bubble gum thighs, I believe your assistance is needed with ballewville6's above post.

Posted by philfan on April 28, 2008 at 8:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)

This is how the SEC fared in the 2008 NFL draft. The average number of draftees per SEC team was 3 (35 divided by 12 teams):

LSU-7 drafted (West)
Arkansas-6 (West)
Auburn-5 (West)
Georgia-4
Kentucky-4
Tennessee-3
Vanderbilt-3
Florida-2
South Carolina-1

To me, this demonstrates the incredible parity that has developed recently in the SEC, especially in the East Division. Tennessee, which finished 12 in the nation and won the SEC East Division, and Florida, which was ranked 13, were the overachievers. Was this due to good coaching? Arkansas and Kentucky were the underachievers. Could this have been due to poor coaching? Alabama had no players drafted. This could mean that the great new recruits had better step up fast, or Alabama could be in big trouble next year. Freshmen drop the ball a lot, miss assignments, and over pursue the ball carrier.
I would like to stress that I am not a professional sports analyst. However, I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

Posted by Silent_Fulmer on April 28, 2008 at 8:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ballewville6 - are you vols4jesus's offspring? Good lord boy! Thats some spellin'!

Posted by TommyJack on April 28, 2008 at 8:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

What ballewville said. lol

Posted by vol_in_lsu_land on April 28, 2008 at 8:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Workinlike heck or CRVol or whatever...

I'm not sure I follow you?....You have this "rating system", and you contend that if Fulmer had won an SEC title, you may have deamed his status as "flat"...But in the same breath you sing the praises of Auburn who has only won ONE SEC title in the same period and declare Tubberville king of the hill. So if we had won the SEC, why would we be "flat" as you say it?

That is utter BS. If we had won the SEC, along with a bowl win (which would have been almost gauranteed if we'd played Hawaii in a BCS game as projected) we would almost certainly be a preseason top 10 pick. That is STOCK UP no matter how you slice it. Instead, we finished basically runner up but still won a quality bowl game.

This past year's results were an improvement from 06, at least by final finish and bowl performance standards, and both years were an improvement from 05. I may wear orange colored glasses, but yours are most definately rage shaded red if you can't see that this team has been improving.

This year is a total question mark, not because the talent isn't there, but because of coaching changes. This team could go either way if you logically look at it. We could have such a break-away offense the likes of which we haven't seen in years, or it could fall flat. We have many shining promises on defense, and a few big questions about line positions. I feel the offensive questions have been largely answered. Even ole TDTN (general fritter) who is a vocal critic has expressed his positive impressions. Last year Tennessee was one of only two offenses to have a 3000 yrd passer, 1000 yard rusher, and a 1000 yard reciever in the SEC. With the stellar o-line intact, an improved running game, and a 5-star quarterback, how can we be negative? I'm absolutely giddy to see this new offensive coordinator shake things up.

Tennessee, mark my word, is the most underrated football team in the SEC going into 08. I'm afraid that SEC contention is probably not likely because I do think Florida or Georgia will edge us, but I think this will be a manning-era like season where we are runner-ups in the East with a good enough season record for a BCS appearance (see Georgia last year)

To me, a great record and a BCS win trump the SEC title. SEC titles can be won with a much lower national ranking than BCS invitations generally require.

Get off the rage-red koolaid and look for something to get excited about!

Posted by TommyJack on April 28, 2008 at 8:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)

A BCS win trumps the SEC ring???? No way.

Posted by philfan on April 28, 2008 at 8:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Great post, vol_in-lsu land,

Some people are just negative by nature and just cannot help it. Trying to reason with them only makes them more bitter. These people will look at a rainbow and complain that there are too many colors. Using statistics does not help them to see the light either. CRVol has no rating system that has been proven effective. He just invented one to prove his point, which quite simply is that Tennessee sucks, has sucked, and will always suck. For me and most people on this board, I am ready for the new Clawson era to begin, for no other reason that is different and could be very exciting to watch.

Posted by 55Vol on April 28, 2008 at 8:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Silent_Fulmer- glad you are not my stockbroker. Thanks for showing everyone why you should be making minimum wage at best.

Posted by vol_in_lsu_land on April 28, 2008 at 8:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)

TommyJack.

Yes, in my opinion on the NATIONAL STAGE, a BCS appearance and win, especially with a strong record (11 win regular season perhaps) trumps an SEC championship (in many cases)....It is fully possible for Tennessee to win an SEC championship with 4 losses on the regular season. Especially with the "parity" that we have seen i.e. last year. OTOH, if we went the season with one loss, (perhaps Georgia) and Georgia went undefeated, and Georgia got beat in the SEC CG by a 9 win West team, what team will look the best on the national stage?

Yes indeed, in many cases it is MHO that a BCS appearance and win are preferable to an SEC championship.

Posted by WorkinLikeHeck on April 28, 2008 at 9:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)

vollsufan and foolmore fan, those are nice posts and all but I didn't come up with those ratings, so you basically addressed your posts to the wrong person. Good effort though.

Posted by vol_in_lsu_land on April 28, 2008 at 9:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)

OK, well with your multiple personality disorder, it's very hard to keep up. Everything about your workinlikeheck posts and the "silent fulmer" and "pleasegetridof" etc posts all point to the same MPD individual. Only, the various personalities are exactly the same, only the name changes.

Posted by ElizabethtonvolnNC on April 28, 2008 at 9:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Vol_n_LSU...don't worry about Sniffles...er Workin's MPD...he'll figure out who she really is one day, and become a true VOL fan legend...RIGHT sniffles...

Posted by AppreciativeAlum on April 28, 2008 at 9:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)

2 spiders and 3 vols = 5 vols next year.

Posted by andy112382 on April 28, 2008 at 9:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Funny stuff, on one hand someone like myself points out how teams like UF, UGA, bama, OU, OSU, etc did not have many taken in the draft.

On the other hand, people on here who seem to think we are coached by someone using the name foolmore (hey, some people can't spell, it's not their fault they weren't given an education) Simply dismiss that by saying it has to do with scholarship reductions, things changing, etc but as soon as Tennessee has a low number of picks or anything that could be considered so-so they tear into that and spin it their way to play right into their hollow arguments......hey, if anything we have some future politians amongst us!

Anywho, I was just pointing out a little tidbit earlier, none of it matters, only thing I care about is kicking some tail next season around the nation starting with UCLA!

GO VOLS!!!

Posted by Silent_Fulmer on April 28, 2008 at 10:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)

vol in lsu land - My ratings are based on the expectations of the program. Auburn's are not near what ours are last time I checked where there not even the biggest program in their state.

ALSO, Tubs and co. hasn't rolled in a 5-6 MotherFING season and Foolmore has with greater expectations and talent!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by sjt18 on April 29, 2008 at 3:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)

TJ said: "WorkinLike: It's called "coaching them down"."

How do you figure? According to the recruiting svcs, UT has NOT gotten better talent during that period than UGA, UF, LSU, Aub, or maybe even Bama.

If UT is putting that many more guys into the NFL that would seem to mean that they are finding guys who are overlooked and/or developing players very well.

At the same time, player development and all that can't make up for having a horrible OC from 99 to 2005. Player development doesn't make a scheme work or save a team from bad playcalling. CPF allowed Sanders to squander some of the best offensive talent UT ever had. Player development can't make up for a failure to lead and get guys "going in the same direction".

Also, Fulmer's strength doesn't seem to be game day coaching. I don't think that's a strength of Chavis either. Alot of guys kicked Cut's gameday coaching and play calling but I think he was more or less working within the limitations he inherited from Sanders.