Can someone please help me understand?

[JSS Nashville]

I grew up in Knoxville and attended UT for a few years. Since then I have had the luxury of attending other college football games at many venues besides our beloved Neyland Stadium. And because of these 'other visits', I simply can't understand how this coaching staff can't sell UT Football any better than they have! Knoxville is truely a unique atmosphere for college football. SI even voted it the Best Stadium in the country a few years back... With the tradition, the facilities, the long list of current and past NFL players, hell, even the coaching staff, why aren't these kids looking at UT? I grew up with UT being 'wide receiver U', but can't seem to find any proof of that tag anymore. But the more I look at what we have 'to sell', I find it sickning to see the likes of Kansas State, Minnesota, Oklahoma State having better recruiting classes than The University of Tennessee!

So if you have any ideas that can help me understand this madness, please let me know!

[KB5252]

Too many factors to list. One problem is off field issues. Question mark coaching staff/leadership. Maybe the most important thing is the normal ebb and flow that many programs are seeing now. Look at FSU, ND and many other powerhouse schools all going through tough stretches. Maybe I'm all wrong we'll just have to wait and see.

[justingroves]

ND had the #2 class today.

[DC Vol]

Originally Posted by justingroves

ND had the #2 class today.

Lends credence that kids eventually will not care how a school did during a year when they were in HS. I think the jury is still out on Weis, but ND does look like they're going places.

They also haven't won a bowl game since 1994.

[KB5252]

Yes but if you look at their overall performance the past few years they have been down.

[justingroves]

Originally Posted by KB5252

Yes but if you look at their overall performance the past few years they have been down.

But it doesn't seem to hurt their recruiting when they have had back to back top 5 classes.

So, in a roundabout way, that is not an excuse for poor recruiting classes.

[justingroves]

Originally Posted by DC Vol

Lends credence that kids eventually will not care how a school did during a year when they were in HS. I think the jury is still out on Weis, but ND does look like they're going places.

They also haven't won a bowl game since 1994.

I hope they don't win one until 2014.

[Vol4ever]

Well we keep changing the assistant coaches and we stay the same. Thunder Thornton is personal friends will Phil so CPF will retire when he chooses

UNLESS

Attendance drops to about 90,000

[Hotrodpinto]

Originally Posted by justingroves

I hope they don't win one until 2014.

I hope they fall off the face of the earth.

[KB5252]

Originally Posted by justingroves

But it doesn't seem to hurt their recruiting when they have had back to back top 5 classes.

So, in a roundabout way, that is not an excuse for poor recruiting classes.

Did not realize that. I still think we will be ok. It is going to get harder and harder to recruit. Look how many good recruiting coaches surround us now.

[DC Vol]

Originally Posted by KB5252

Did not realize that. I still think we will be ok. It is going to get harder and harder to recruit. Look how many good recruiting coaches surround us now.

I didn't honestly expect them to earn that title here with only a month under the gun. At this point next year if Scott hasn't brought in some quality talent from Va. I'll be a bit let down.

[LIvol]

The comment about Florida St and ND's recruiting be down, should be stricken from this post.

They had off-field issues and both finished in TOP 7

[KB5252]

I should have made it clearer. The programs overall were down. I don't have the time to research other teams recruits but they were bound to have been down the past couple of years. What else would account for their drop off. If I am wrong please let me know.

[HATINGBAMAISAWAYOFLIFE]

everyone places too freaking much empahsis on ranking the recruiting classes...
prove it on the field.
huge difference in high school and college as many have seen...
THOUSANDS of high school kids every year are stars yet many of them fizzle in college...so do many 5 star recruits.

[JSS Nashville]

While I agree with the "over empahsis" on all the recruiting sites/ stars/ rankings out there, UT's class just doesn't get it done. I think a few of these guys will be play makers in the next few years... But we ARE NOT listed as one of the schools to beat anymore! As I look over the Top 100/150 or whatever list you see, Tennessee has lost it's place amongst the Elite! And regardless whether I believe in stars or rankings, this class is NOT Elite and doesn't fill the holes that needed to be filled!