The CheckerBoard

How can you not love this staff and the way Butch Jones and all of the assistants are reaching out to the former Vol greats and making them a part of the program again.

It would be awesome if Joey Kent, Alvin Harper, Peerless Price, Willie Gault and some of the others would come and talk about the history of Wide Receiver U. And of course you can't forget the two guys that might have been the first in the long line of great Vol receivers in the early to mid 1970s, Stanley Morgan and Larry Seivers.

One thing, other than him reaching out to Joey, that really stands out to me is his dedication to the "family" aspect of the football team. I sure as hell would want a guy coaching for my university, who although he took a job elsewhere, still feels like he should stick around to coach at the bowl game.

CBJ has brought in quality coaches, but more importantly I think he has brought in quality human beings. I'm not discounting Dooley's staff, many of them were awesome, but contrary to a lot of people on this site I like who Jones has brought with him.

Can't wait to see Coach Azzanni reestablish Wide Receiver U!

P.S. I wonder how he takes to being called Coach Azz....

Video from GoVolsXtra: Zach Azzanni talks UT football recruiting

By George, that's the attitude we need at Tennessee. I like this guy a lot, and I knew nothing about him other than where he came from. Our players and the kids we are recruiting need to understand that we are the University of Tennessee and the best of the best have played here before them. They have a standard to bear. Coach Azzani has me fired up, and I don't even play!

I remember when I first heard Dooley was hired. I remember having a similar feeling about him as I did initially about Jones: I was very hesitant to accept him in because I knew nothing about him. The differences between the two end very quickly from there. While it took months, and really even a couple of years, to get a feel for Dooley and his (ever-changing) staff, it has taken about a month for me to warm up to Jones. I was very skeptical of Butch Jones when I first heard the name. Like Dooley, it wasn't familiar and I knew nothing about him. Now, I really can't help but be excited about this hire. Not out of blind optimism, or an irrational self-assurance because we have been down so long. I have genuine excitement about Tennessee's direction now. A major key to that is Jones' transparency; he wants people to know what he's about and he's out there letting us know that he's selling the best place in the world with a kick ass plan to get us back on top. And we know what to expect from him! It's been so refreshing to finally feel a strong sense of direction, opposed to feeling completely lost in the dark with Dooley (and when the lights came on with him, it was not pretty). Let's go Coach Jones! You at least have this Vol's full support!!

The young man on this team need this kind of enthusiasm and emphisis on our Vol culture. I wish they could bump into our legends every day on campus and on the practice field. I wish these greats could sit in on position meetings often.

Great information - also, let's not forget Jason Witten, former VOL TE - All American - having a hall of fame career with the Cowboys to visit with the current VOLS when his schedule will permit. And of course one of the greatest VOLs of all time- Peyton Manning. I'm excited about the new staff.

And don't forget we lost Arnett, Cam Clear and D'Rick Rodgers before the season.

I too was excited about Dooley,at first, because of Vince,but as we soon found out he was not Vince. I was a little skeptical about a coach from the Big East but he definitely sounds like a winner ready to restore THE BIG ORANGE,so I am ready to go. The sooner we can shut up these red turds the better,I'm so sick of hearing roll tide at work I could puke.GO VOLS!!!!!