The CheckerBoard

his point was that given where those programs are today, if you're an elite recruit it would be VERY difficult to justify going to UT. as he said, he's looking at it from a logical standpoint, not emotional standpoint, and I think it would be very hard to logically say that going to UT would be a better decision at this point than 'bama or tOSU. It's different as fans.

i disagree with these players thinking because bama won 3 out the last4 champ-games.by going there is going to get them to the nfl..or ohio st not losing a game ..or tenn 5-7 57 last 2 years,look who we have going out at juniors to the draft..and we could have a couple more go pro this year and go 2-3 round..so we put alot of players in the nfl also...you got be good and work hard every day and you get your results..doesnt matter where you go...but trying to explain this to 18 year olds..well good luck

last year we wasnt realy as bad as our record shows...i think butch wins the games we should
and maybe pull a upset here and there and boom..more 4-5 stars coming knocking..go vols

That is because you have overlooked the meaning of the word "fan" which is short for fanatic.

"A person marked or motivated by an extreme, unreasoning enthusiasm, as for a cause."

There actually is no incongruity there, because the perspective fans have is different from the perspective players will have. These players aren't making the best decision for them as a fan, but as a player. If you're a 5-star/high 4-star player, you're being viewed as someone who's as close to a lock for the NFL as it gets. So of course those players are going to consider what will provide them the best opportunity to make it to the combine and then the league. As long as Tennessee continues to have sub-.500 seasons, the perception will remain that there are schools better suited to get players to the NFL. What's happening in college football (which I think the new salary structure actually encourages) is that the recruits are treating their college choice more and more as a business decision. It's the NCAA's version of free agency, and the ultimate goal for the majority of these players is an NFL contract.