Online Now 1981

The CheckerBoard

The place for inside information on the Tennessee Vols

On this Board 854
Record: 4783 (12/9/2012)

Online now 1959
Record: 6475 (12/7/2012)

Reply

Why the next 14 days are so important to me

  • The next 14 days are crucial for the Tennessee football program as Hart & Co. select the next head coach for the Vols. I think it will essentially determine whether we come back as a program or if we are set back a decade.

    I would prefer a "home run hire" like Gruden or Stoops because it would energize the fan base but schools like Vandy and Ole Miss have shown that you don't have to bring in a big name to make a huge turnaround in your program.

    My son is 8 years old and can't remember our last winning season (since he was 5) nor a bowl victory (since he was 3). We were watching the Florida and Florida State game this weekend and he actually asked, "Daddy, has Tennessee ever been this good?" I had to re-remind him of Tennessee's history.

    So this hire is really important to me as a Tennessee fan but even more important as a dad. Living in Mississippi, I don't want him to adopt one of the local programs as he gets older because Tennessee is not a winning program. I want him to share in the traditions with me at Tennessee. (Even at 7 hours away, we still make a couple games a year.)

    He is completely all VOL right now but I want to see us win again so he can share in the same kind of fun I had as a UT fan in the 90's.

    Come on' Hart - bring us a winner!!!

    signature image signature image

    MississipVol ●

  • I get it. Hart needs to get this right or the problem will keep building on itself.

    The depth of the hole we are in requires a Gruden profile hire.

    SRDC Vol

  • SRDC Vol said...

    I get it. Hart needs to get this right or the problem will keep building on itself.

    The depth of the hole we are in requires a Gruden profile hire.

    We are kind of at that "tipping point" where the wrong hire could REALLY set us back and devastate the program.

    Think Len Bias and how that draft choice and his subsequent passing set back the Celtics for years and years.

    signature image signature image

    MississipVol ●

  • I'm sick of losing. I was sick to my stomach when we hired Dooley. Most non-ut fans new that was a terrible hire.

    I just don't want to see that again.

    You know Dooley was a Virg alum and they didn't even interview him when they hired London. You know who else they didn't hire.....their former DC Al Golden.

    I just can't believe golden is a real candidate. The guy finished 3rd in the MAC his last year at Temple and is 13-11 at Miami.

    People seriously think he's proven enough to be ready to coach in the toughest league in America? If he's not Derek Dooley part deux, I don't know what is.

    OMGJonGruden

  • MississipVol, where in Mississippi are you from? I grew up in Bruce, hence brucevol, it's just south of Oxford.

    brucevol ●

  • brucevol said...

    MississipVol, where in Mississippi are you from? I grew up in Bruce, hence brucevol, it's just south of Oxford.

    I grew up in Tupelo, went off to college, married a girl from Knoxville (with orange blood), and graduated from UT.

    We lived in Florida and Tennesssee a while and moved back to Tupelo about 8 years ago.

    Glad to see there's another Mississippian on the board! I know right where Bruce is!!

    signature image signature image

    MississipVol ●

  • I live in Memphis now, but I love Bruce. Small town, not much to it, But it's still home.

    brucevol ●

  • brucevol said...

    I live in Memphis now, but I love Bruce. Small town, not much to it, But it's still home.

    We lived in and around Memphis for 10 years but we love the small town life now!

    But we still get up to Memphis pretty regularly. Love the Redbirds - big Cards fan here!

    signature image signature image

    MississipVol ●

  • MississipVol said...

    We lived in and around Memphis for 10 years but we love the small town life now!

    But we still get up to Memphis pretty regularly. Love the Redbirds - big Cards fan here!

    Cards fan too. Autozone Park is great. Huge Grrizz fan too. Best team in the NBA

    brucevol ●

  • I grew up in Baldwyn Bruce and Mississippi. Glad to see some orange bloods from the home state! I reside in NW GA now. Only 3 hrs to my beloved Knoxville. Also, completely unrelated, this is my first post! GBO

    just_a_vol ●

  • Mississippi, I have read many of your posts on TOS and also am here because I am unhappy with the direction over there. Good seeing you here.

    just_a_vol ●

  • just_a_vol said...

    I grew up in Baldwyn Bruce and Mississippi. Glad to see some orange bloods from the home state! I reside in NW GA now. Only 3 hrs to my beloved Knoxville. Also, completely unrelated, this is my first post! GBO

    +1 and Welcome!

    Jestrad28 ●

  • Thanks 28. Never posted over on TOS. I am really impressed with the civility and lack of trolls here. Looking forward to keeping up with all things VOLS with all of you.

    just_a_vol ●

  • just_a_vol said...

    I grew up in Baldwyn Bruce and Mississippi. Glad to see some orange bloods from the home state! I reside in NW GA now. Only 3 hrs to my beloved Knoxville. Also, completely unrelated, this is my first post! GBO

    welcome to the board, just_a_vol! Happy to have you here. Thanks for posting!

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

    Ryan Callahan ●

  • Same here. I never posted on TOS. Joined this site yesterday. It's getting old and uncivil there. I know where Baldwyn is. I had a friend move from Bruce to there.

  • just_a_vol said...

    I grew up in Baldwyn Bruce and Mississippi. Glad to see some orange bloods from the home state! I reside in NW GA now. Only 3 hrs to my beloved Knoxville. Also, completely unrelated, this is my first post! GBO

    Welcome to the board J-A-V. I live in Madison...there are many Vol fans in MS.

    signature image

    Its not a stupid question until you ask it.

    Ram_Lock ●

  • just_a_vol said...

    Mississippi, I have read many of your posts on TOS and also am here because I am unhappy with the direction over there. Good seeing you here.

    Thanks! Good to know there are other former Mississippi folks around!

    Yeah, I have enjoyed the last few days here and, like you said, the civility here along with the heavy involvement from the mods/"staff" has been a refreshing change.

    I have been a member of TOS for 6 years, barring a short period when I just got fed up! HA! the MB can be entertaining I guess but it feels like grade school some times with all the name calling and cussing. The information kept me coming but even that has gotten less and less, particularly over the last couple of years.

    I'm glad I am not the only one who felt that way!

    signature image signature image

    MississipVol ●

  • Yeah, I have been there for 5 years and feel like there is just an unwillingness to share info with subscribers, even real opinions. I actually get more info from some limited contacts (former players) than I do over there. I like the fact that W/R/K actually answer questions in a timely manner and give an opinion. Are you by chance a golfer?

    just_a_vol ●

  • I've been to Bruce for football games many times. Keep up the fight down there!

    just_a_vol ●

  • just_a_vol said...

    I've been to Bruce for football games many times. Keep up the fight down there!

    just_a_vol, I didn't get a chance to go, but Bruce played at Eupora for the North Half Championship Friday. They lost 31-28. Threw an int at the 3 with 33 seconds left. If they would've won, I would have made the trip to Jackson.

    brucevol ●

  • shaverschoice said...

    Welcome to the board J-A-V. I live in Madison...there are many Vol fans in MS.

    shaverschoice, one of my best friends lives in Gluckstadt. We have an annual crawfish boil the last weekend in April there. I almost moved to Madison last year. It's a great town.

    brucevol ●

  • just_a_vol said...

    Are you by chance a golfer?

    Used to be but not so much any more.

    signature image signature image

    MississipVol ●

  • I'm right there with you MississippsVol. My daughter is 8 and my sons are 6 and 3. Sub-par Vol football is all they've ever known. My wife went to Clemson and I see the balance of power shifting in my own house . . the kids are becoming ACC/Tiger fans!! It disgusts me. I have no ground to stand on anymore . . to argue for the Vols at this poiont is almost irrational.

    This is Hart's defining professional moment. The Vols are barely hanging on to relevancy in college football. He needs to unite the fan base and pack the stadium with this hire. With so many coaching vacancies out there I hope he has the phones working and staff pulling all nighters to get us the best available.

    GeneHarrogate

  • MississipVol said...

    I grew up in Tupelo, went off to college, married a girl from Knoxville (with orange blood), and graduated from UT.

    We lived in Florida and Tennesssee a while and moved back to Tupelo about 8 years ago.

    Glad to see there's another Mississippian on the board! I know right where Bruce is!!

    Another Vol fan in Mississippi here. People always ask if I'm a Bulldog or a Rebel. Even with the past several down years the Vols have had, I still answer with pride "neither, I'm a Volunteer". vols

    This post was edited by jbsmbp on 11/25/2012 at 4:18 PM

    jbsmbp

Tennessee
247Sports
Features
Resources
Connect

247Sports In partnership with CBS Sports