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1st time poster.... from Memphis

  • So I signed up for the 247 trial some time ago thinking I'd only be on here for a week. Yet I'm still here. Not a big deal to most but as a girl living in Memphis, I never thought I'd spend money on a website subscription....

    So yeah, I'm hooked. An avid reader, I'm a bit bowled over by the quality of the content. Simply put, the writing is excellent. It's become my first stop (and sometimes the only stop) during the day to read about the Vols.

    So not sure how Wes, Ryan, and Kevin can keep this pace up though I will be a member as long as they do -I've even got a couple sorority sisters on the 247 bandwagon!

    So couple quick questions.....
    What's it like covering a coach who is an intellectual like Dooley?
    Also - I love Wed w/ Wes (one of the reasons I joined). I've got a good feel for alot of players but not for Bray? What's he like off te field?
    Last one- your objectivity is commendable. However, how can you cover a team & not become a fan given how much access and investment you have w/ these players.

    memphischic

  • welcome to the board...

    signature image signature image signature image

    Go Vols

    orangeasylum

  • Welcome! glad to have you here. It really is a great site.

    tmoney3460

  • memphischic said....

    Last one- your objectivity is commendable. However, how can you cover a team & not become a fan given how much access and investment you have w/ these players.

    I have often wondered this too but never think to ask! Great question!

    Welcome to the board! It's great seeing more and more ladies join the board!

    gr82btnvol

  • Thanks gr82btnvol! I will do my best!

    memphischic

  • memphischic said...

    So I signed up for the 247 trial some time ago thinking I'd only be on here for a week. Yet I'm still here. Not a big deal to most but as a girl living in Memphis, I never thought I'd spend money on a website subscription....

    So yeah, I'm hooked. An avid reader, I'm a bit bowled over by the quality of the content. Simply put, the writing is excellent. It's become my first stop (and sometimes the only stop) during the day to read about the Vols.

    So not sure how Wes, Ryan, and Kevin can keep this pace up though I will be a member as long as they do -I've even got a couple sorority sisters on the 247 bandwagon!

    So couple quick questions..... What's it like covering a coach who is an intellectual like Dooley? Also - I love Wed w/ Wes (one of the reasons I joined). I've got a good feel for alot of players but not for Bray? What's he like off te field? Last one- your objectivity is commendable. However, how can you cover a team & not become a fan given how much access and investment you have w/ these players.

    GREAT QUESTION !!!!!!!!!cheers

    signature image

    shoeless7777

  • memphischic said...

    So I signed up for the 247 trial some time ago thinking I'd only be on here for a week. Yet I'm still here. Not a big deal to most but as a girl living in Memphis, I never thought I'd spend money on a website subscription....

    So yeah, I'm hooked. An avid reader, I'm a bit bowled over by the quality of the content. Simply put, the writing is excellent. It's become my first stop (and sometimes the only stop) during the day to read about the Vols.

    So not sure how Wes, Ryan, and Kevin can keep this pace up though I will be a member as long as they do -I've even got a couple sorority sisters on the 247 bandwagon!

    So couple quick questions..... What's it like covering a coach who is an intellectual like Dooley? Also - I love Wed w/ Wes (one of the reasons I joined). I've got a good feel for alot of players but not for Bray? What's he like off te field? Last one- your objectivity is commendable. However, how can you cover a team & not become a fan given how much access and investment you have w/ these players.

    by the way , welcome to the board , its great to have you here and i am sure you will continue to love it over here +1coffee

    signature image

    shoeless7777

  • wataugavol

  • Thanks for making a girl feel so welcome around here! The only issue I have with this board is explaining to my manager why my productivity plummets on Monday mornings. I cannot do anything work related until I have read the VIP Room wrap-up!

    memphischic

  • memphischic said...

    Thanks for making a girl feel so welcome around here! The only issue I have with this board is explaining to my manager why my productivity plummets on Monday mornings. I cannot do anything work related until I have read the VIP Room wrap-up!

    dont feel bad as my boss asks me that question all the time and its not limited to Monday morning either

    signature image

    shoeless7777

  • Thanks for the kind words, and thanks very much for spreading the word about the site. It means a lot.

    I think fans are more willing to give us a try when they are recommended by friends instead of us telling everyone how great we think we're doing here.

    Thanks again!

    biggrin

    Kevin Ryan

  • memphischic said...

    So I signed up for the 247 trial some time ago thinking I'd only be on here for a week. Yet I'm still here. Not a big deal to most but as a girl living in Memphis, I never thought I'd spend money on a website subscription....

    So yeah, I'm hooked. An avid reader, I'm a bit bowled over by the quality of the content. Simply put, the writing is excellent. It's become my first stop (and sometimes the only stop) during the day to read about the Vols.

    So not sure how Wes, Ryan, and Kevin can keep this pace up though I will be a member as long as they do -I've even got a couple sorority sisters on the 247 bandwagon!

    So couple quick questions..... What's it like covering a coach who is an intellectual like Dooley? Also - I love Wed w/ Wes (one of the reasons I joined). I've got a good feel for alot of players but not for Bray? What's he like off te field? Last one- your objectivity is commendable. However, how can you cover a team & not become a fan given how much access and investment you have w/ these players.

    Thanks for the kind words, and thanks for being on the site. Glad to know we have a couple sorority sisters on here, too.
    thumbsup

    As for covering Dooley, I can't speak for Wes, but it's definitely interesting to cover a coach who's a bit more on the intellectual side. That's not to say other football coaches aren't as smart, by the way, but Dooley's law background and things like that come through from time to time. He's sharp, and his random references to things like Shakespearean plays keep everyone interested and entertained.

    Bray is kind of a quiet guy off the field, relatively soft-spoken for a quarterback, but also kind of light-hearted a lot of the time. He jokes around a lot with many teammates, particularly the receivers, and he seldom seems to be affected by the environment he's in or any pressure he might feel. Laid-back is kind of a vague description, but that's probably the best way to put it.

    It's easy for Wes and I to cover teams objectively. It's how we were trained in college — at UT, believe it or not — and while you're naturally going to develop good relationships with some players and coaches, it can't affect how you cover a team. It's just business.

    This post has been edited 2 times, most recently by Ryan Callahan on 9/12/2011 at 12:33 PM

    Staff writer for govols247 — http://www.twitter.com/RyanCallahan247 — rcallahan@247sports.com

    Ryan Callahan

  • DTvols1

  • DTvols1 said...

    welcome

    Fairhopevol

  • thanks for all the love and welcoming words!

    Ryan - I think its great how much you/Wes/Kevin interact with the board. Since I'm not really a "poster" I don't know if this is common practice on message boards or part of what makes 247 unique. Something tells me its the latter of the two!

    Dooley's wit and candor in dealing with the media seemingly appears as though he enjoys it. Do you think he genuinely likes talking with the media or does he consider it a "necessary evil" (not that you are evil but you know what I mean).

    Your description of Bray is how I perceived him. Our last QB from the west coast was often depicted as laid back but he seems to be a different kind of "laid back" from Casey Clausen. Clausen came across as a little more standoffish then Bray but then again we didn't have this kind of insight to the players 10 years ago.

    Finally, I understand its business but it would seem difficult to keep the personal side out of it. Thanks for weighing in on the topic!

    memphischic

  • memphischic said...

    thanks for all the love and welcoming words!

    Ryan - I think its great how much you/Wes/Kevin interact with the board. Since I'm not really a "poster" I don't know if this is common practice on message boards or part of what makes 247 unique. Something tells me its the latter of the two!

    Dooley's wit and candor in dealing with the media seemingly appears as though he enjoys it. Do you think he genuinely likes talking with the media or does he consider it a "necessary evil" (not that you are evil but you know what I mean).

    Your description of Bray is how I perceived him. Our last QB from the west coast was often depicted as laid back but he seems to be a different kind of "laid back" from Casey Clausen. Clausen came across as a little more standoffish then Bray but then again we didn't have this kind of insight to the players 10 years ago.

    Finally, I understand its business but it would seem difficult to keep the personal side out of it. Thanks for weighing in on the topic!

    Yayyyy, a woman on the board!!! Is this our first? If so, we just moved up in the world, hahabiggrin

    615Vol

  • 615Vol said...

    Yayyyy, a woman on the board!!! Is this our first? If so, we just moved up in the world, hahabiggrin

    There's at least five I've seen post on this board.

    signature image signature image signature image

    Go Vols

    orangeasylum

  • 615Vol said...

    Yayyyy, a woman on the board!!! Is this our first? If so, we just moved up in the world, hahabiggrin

    Nope, gr82btnvol I think is her name is a female also. But yes its always great to have women on board. thumbsup

    signature image signature image signature image

    DTvols1

  • memphischic said...

    Finally, I understand its business but it would seem difficult to keep the personal side out of it. Thanks for weighing in on the topic!

    It's definitely something fans struggle to understand. Most people can't comprehend that someone who closely follows sports and enjoys watching them could cover a team, build relationships with players and coaches and not become a fan of that team. But it's simply ingrained in us. For me, it's never even an issue. We're here to cover the team first and foremost, and because of that, we keep a certain distance that allows us to remain detached from caring about what happens to the team.

    I've never struggled with it, honestly, but I'm sure there are a lot of writers who do and simply hide the fact that they're fans of the team. These days, unfortunately, some don't even try to hide it.

    This post was edited by Ryan Callahan on 9/12/2011 at 2:45 PM

    Staff writer for govols247 — http://www.twitter.com/RyanCallahan247 — rcallahan@247sports.com

    Ryan Callahan

  • oh... well, memphischic you're no longer special. sorry, haha

    615Vol

  • memphischic said...

    thanks for all the love and welcoming words!

    Ryan - I think its great how much you/Wes/Kevin interact with the board. Since I'm not really a "poster" I don't know if this is common practice on message boards or part of what makes 247 unique. Something tells me its the latter of the two!

    We think it's an important part of the subscription experience. Access to the staff is something that you don't get many places.

    Sure, guys will do a "chat" from 1-2 on Tuesdays, but that's not really access or interactive. We are around the board as much as we can be, and we answer things as quickly as possible so you don't have to wait and wonder if we saw it, are ignoring it, decided not to answer, etc.

    Hope that helps.

    -KR

    Kevin Ryan

  • biggrinWelcome!

    This post was edited by tnbear66 on 9/12/2011 at 4:12 PM

    tnbear66

  • memphischic said...

    So I signed up for the 247 trial some time ago thinking I'd only be on here for a week. Yet I'm still here. Not a big deal to most but as a girl living in Memphis, I never thought I'd spend money on a website subscription....

    So yeah, I'm hooked. An avid reader, I'm a bit bowled over by the quality of the content. Simply put, the writing is excellent. It's become my first stop (and sometimes the only stop) during the day to read about the Vols.

    So not sure how Wes, Ryan, and Kevin can keep this pace up though I will be a member as long as they do -I've even got a couple sorority sisters on the 247 bandwagon!

    So couple quick questions..... What's it like covering a coach who is an intellectual like Dooley? Also - I love Wed w/ Wes (one of the reasons I joined). I've got a good feel for alot of players but not for Bray? What's he like off te field? Last one- your objectivity is commendable. However, how can you cover a team & not become a fan given how much access and investment you have w/ these players.

    welcome to the family

    ol dad

  • I have never even looked at another Tennessee message board. I don't need to.

    InVols

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    Senior Writer, govols247 Email: wrucker@247sports.com Twitter: www.twitter.com/@wesrucker247 Facebook: www.facebook.com/wesrucker247

    Wes Rucker