The CheckerBoard

This is off subject but I just wonna say thanks to the staff at GO VOLS 247 for not allowing what I wittnesed on go vandy 247. The language and name calling would never be aloud on this site, I thought it was on our site when I posted a comment but it was a random 247 post by B. Simmons a good read but quickly was deminished by Vandy fans, the story has since been locked. Thanks Ryan and Wes for patrolling our site I would be embarresed if it had happened here.

Can't wait to see the new defense. I'm just as excited to see the new 4-3 scheme as I am to see the new offense. God knows it can't get any worse than Swiss Cheese Sal's 3-4...

im glad the coaches are fired up and seem to be enthusiastic, but, honestly, heard these identical quotes from Sal last year..and i fell for it. So im going to wait and see how the product turns out in the fall.

Regarding the holding up the fists on fourth down, and sprinting down the field between quarters...that's what schools like Vanderbilt do. This is the University of Tennessee for gosh sakes..we dont CELEBRATE a freaking 4th down.. That's what we are expected to do. Im sure to be in the minority on this one too, but, is this really the state of our program now..? We have to resort to these type of harry high school gimmicks to get the players fired up? Does anyone else see this as bush league stuff? Are we really going to hold up our fists and celebrate stopping Austin Peay on every third down? And then sprint down the field between quarters?

Worse, are we really going to do this stuff when the inevitable happens and we get down big to an opponent? Can you imagine in last year's bama game, celebrating holding their 2-3rd stringers on 3rd down being down by 20 pts in the 4th quarter..? This is not a Tennessee tradition that i hope sticks..

As long as the Defence is great, I don't care how they act. With in reason, of course. Go Vols play great D.

Frosty, I get what you are saying I think...the fist thing seems a little contrived.

But... I also think I understand what the coaches are trying to accomplish. Tennessee fans, on the whole, have had a rough time the past few years and the players have experienced the lack of support at times and the lack of unity. This is one way to show solidarity and support of a defense that was record-setting all-time bad last year and change their attitude and mind-set.

As for celebrating a third-down stop against Austin Peay...yes. Real champions, in my opinion, learn to play the same against everyone, rather than getting up for only the big games. This has been one of the Vols' major tendencies in recent years, to get up for the big ones and struggle with the Austin Peays.

Fact is, raising a fist won't hurt anyone and it might actually help.

Here's to hoping we can raise our fists A LOT for third down stops!

I would be more excited if the DC had a track record of success.

That said, I will buy-in before the spring game, but what evidence so we have that Janacek can build a great D?

From the UT Sports bio on Jancek:

"Worked as the Bearcats sole defensive coordinator in 2012 after serving as UC's co-defensive coordinator in 2010 and 2011
Also served as Bearcats recruiting coordinator for two seasons, signing the BIG EAST's top recruiting class according the Sporting News in 2011
Coached UC's defense to a Top 20 ranking in scoring defense in 2011 and 2012
Guided UC to the nation's leading defense in terms of tackles for loss (8.62 per game) and second in sacks (3.46) in 2011"

Keep in mind those 2011 numbers included the Tennessee game, so they'd probably be markedly higher if you excluded those stats...

cant wait to see the new defense will be an improvement for sure. Think these guys can coach and teach football!!!!!!!!!!! teaching is an improvment