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Why we should be encouraged, not despondent

  • We're all disappointed about how today turned out. Sure, there were positives -- Josh Dobbs and Jaylen Miller appear to be excellent additions. But missing out on Von Bell, Derrick Green, E.J. Levenberry, Davin Bellamy and Trey Johnson is undoubtedly a little gut-wrenching.

    Is it any consolation that Tennessee finished second for each of these players? I say yes. Here's why:

    UT was hardly in the picture for most of those players before Derek Dooley's departure. Bell wasn't impressed with what was happening at UT. Levenberry felt ignored. The others listed UT among a bevy of other options.

    I think it's very encouraging that Butch Jones was able to get UT in the hunt for these players this late in the game. It speaks to his ability to intrigue top recruits. If he can accomplish this much in two months, what can he get done when he has a whole recruiting year to build relationships with top guys?

    I'm disappointed today. You are, too. But even though UT missed on several top prospects, the WAY UT missed gives us hope for the future.

    This post has been edited 2 times, most recently by WesVols on 2/6/2013 at 10:08 AM

    WesVols

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    Ryan Callahan ●

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    MiddleTNVol

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    Seanbt ●

  • +1 Good post, I like the optimism.

    I just disagree that coming in second is much on an accomplishment. UT is a big program, with great facililties in the best conference in college football, I think any hire would be able to drum up some interest among elite prospects simply by being the new coach at UT.

    If you are an elite prospect with some doubts, take Boyd for example, and UT calls with a new coach, of course you are going to listen. I think it is disapointing that even after getting these prospects on campus, we were unable to close with the exception of Dobbs.

    I am not saying Butch is a bad coach and anyone who has seen me on this board knows I drink a ton of orange kool-aid, I just don't think we can look at the results today and say with any greater certainty that we found our guy.

    bavw

  • bavw said...

    +1 Good post, I like the optimism.

    I just disagree that coming in second is much on an accomplishment. UT is a big program, with great facililties in the best conference in college football, I think any hire would be able to drum up some interest among elite prospects simply by being the new coach at UT.

    If you are an elite prospect with some doubts, take Boyd for example, and UT calls with a new coach, of course you are going to listen. I think it is disapointing that even after getting these prospects on campus, we were unable to close with the exception of Dobbs.

    I am not saying Butch is a bad coach and anyone who has seen me on this board knows I drink a ton of orange kool-aid, I just don't think we can look at the results today and say with any greater certainty that we found our guy.

    Coming in second is more of an encouragement than an achievement. It isn't something to celebrate, but it is something that should give us hope.

    WesVols

  • +1 I got sunshine on a cloudy day. I said, it's great to be a Tennessee Vol !! tennesseekoolaid

    crawdad

  • Coming in second is not encouraging and is not an achievement. I think Butch will get it done here, but no one should be ok with finishing 2nd with recruits here at Tennessee.

    Lcbskballer15 ●

  • Lcbskballer15 said...

    Coming in second is not encouraging and is not an achievement. I think Butch will get it done here, but no one should be ok with finishing 2nd with recruits here at Tennessee.

    I think you missed the point of my post. While we're all disappointed UT came in second for these guys, the way Jones got UT in the hunt helps our belief that he will get it done here.

    WesVols

  • I am very excited about and for the guys that signed with Tennessee today. I like everyone that signed with us and can't wait to see them play this fall.

    Having said that, we had room to sign a few more players, and while I don't want to fill those spots with warm bodies, I really would have liked to land a DT or another stud LB/RB. Just think the team needs more big bodies that can run and hit if we're going to compete in this league.

    Plus, a little lime light would have helped on signing day. Seeing the Vols on ESPN always helps.

    "People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -George Orwell

    arngekrush ●

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    Kevin Ryan

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    Lcbskballer15 ●

  • WesVols said...

    I think you missed the point of my post. While we're all disappointed UT came in second for these guys, the way Jones got UT in the hunt helps our belief that he will get it done here.

    I just don't think that is true.

    He was a new coach at a traditional powerhouse, it is never going to be easier for him to get us in play with guys than it was this year.

    bavw

  • bavw said...

    I just don't think that is true.

    He was a new coach at a traditional powerhouse, it is never going to be easier for him to get us in play with guys than it was this year.

    He didn't have an "in" with any of those prospects. He built relationships in less than two months and had each player on the verge of signing with UT. Does the competition get easier? No. Does recruiting get easier when he's actually able to build long-term relationships with top prospects down the road? Yes. And that's the point I'm making.

    WesVols

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