Vols trending Down (247 article)

You don't have to be truthful if you have no fear of having to answer for your statements. Same goes for the author. Odd how he only got one good comment from every single source

I also have a hard time with people willing to stab their boss or coworker in the back anonymously while still collecting a paycheck from his efforts

Exactly. In reading it, it reads as if he started out with a middle of the road kind of season recap, then either decided or was told to slant it negative. Certain things don't quite add up (multiple players with drug issues?, the odd captains thing, etc) and a lot of it seems tacked on.

I'd also add, there's another issue with Haney's "anonymous" sources. They aren't all people on UT's payroll who fear for their jobs as some keep saying. He's including former players, and the catchall "people close to the program" along with "staffers", "people within the program", etc. There's a difference in those phrases. If an alum, donor, or general jocksniffer doesn't have the squabs to put their name on the criticism, then I have no use for it (at that point they are only pushing their own beliefs).

That said, I'd say there is a lot of truth to that article. The main thing I got out of it is that this is where Blackburn needs to be the guy we all hope he is. In an ideal world, a leader like him could come in, calm Jones down and help him make the changes needed. I think CBJ knows he went too far and bet too heavy on the "player led team". Hopefully he can change course.
 
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Take it however you want. It's a hit piece full of anonymous opinions backing the writers desired outcome. It was published the day after ut's biggest commitment. The agenda is pretty obvious imo

You're right, he just gathered all this information last night after the announcement.
 
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The implication being that Haney just made it all up?

Does he not have an editor? The editor in on the conspiracy as well?

Never said Haney made it all up. He likely only picked the quotes that gave him the story he wanted from the start. You really think Hood was the only one willing to say a positive thing about Butch?

If VN had taught us anything it's that insiders like to embellish when given the chance
 
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Take it however you want. It's a hit piece full of anonymous opinions backing the writers desired outcome. It was published the day after ut's biggest commitment. The agenda is pretty obvious imo

Article was clearly in the works prior to commitment.

Clearly not a favorable article for Butch, but Trey's commitment doesn't make the '16 season any less disappointing.
 
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I've mentioned this 4 or 5 times here, and will again. While attending the game this year versus Ohio University, there was a high school football coach local to Knoxville seated behind us. He mentioned several times, unsolicited, that the scuttlebutt in local circles was the program culture was a mess. His words, "the inmates are running the asylum." He'd heard that Butch was losing control. From what we've heard about Kongbo, along with issues related to Hurd and Williams, it makes sense. After watching the defensive meltdown against SC and Vandy it seems especially true on defense.
 
Take it however you want. It's a hit piece full of anonymous opinions backing the writers desired outcome. It was published the day after ut's biggest commitment. The agenda is pretty obvious imo

How is Haney supposed to know where Smith would commit to? If Smith went to Alabama, are you saying he doesn't publish the piece? Or was he "saving it" until a bit of good news came out about the program? Come on now.
 
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Never said Haney made it all up. He likely only picked the quotes that gave him the story he wanted from the start. You really think Hood was the only one willing to say a positive thing about Butch?

If VN had taught us anything it's that insiders like to embellish when given the chance

Well, when the AD who hired Butch failed to comment...
 
Never said Haney made it all up. He likely only picked the quotes that gave him the story he wanted from the start. You really think Hood was the only one willing to say a positive thing about Butch?

Dave Hart clearly wasn't willing to throw a few kind words in.

Should have contacted Hurd...Butch says they have an outstanding relationship.

Honestly, people around UT football should be disappointed. There may be folks who still back him, but I think he has more skeptics than supporters at this point. Article reflects that.
 
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How is Haney supposed to know where Smith would commit to? If Smith went to Alabama, are you saying he doesn't publish the piece? Or was he "saving it" until a bit of good news came out about the program? Come on now.

I'm saying it could have easily been delayed. UT fans got half a day before they were kicked by yet another impartial UT site/reporter
 
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Take it however you want. It's a hit piece full of anonymous opinions backing the writers desired outcome. It was published the day after ut's biggest commitment. The agenda is pretty obvious imo

If it's nothing more than a hit piece then why are Hood's comments included?
 
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It's kind of difficult to argue against there possibly being some sort of culture problem going on. I tend to believe that some players are shown preferential treatment. Just look at the Kongbo and Hurd situations. One player refusing to move positions and another flat out quitting because he didn't get his way. Before you say that every team goes through this and loses players, let me ask you when has a team had their #1 running back up and quit mid-season? I'm not necessarily saying Jones has gone full Mark Richt. I believe this can be fixed. It comes down to if Jones is willing to do what needs to be done.
 
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Articles that contain quotes by "anonymous sources close to the situation" always give me pause. Props to Hood for being the only one to attach his name to his opinion

That's all I see here is his opinion. Changes do need to be made, but this is the same coach, same system that everyone bought into for the last 3 years. If his comment about Jones getting snippy with reporters means he's insecure, then what is Nick Saban? Is he insecure with himself and his program? Vol fans should remember who they are and where we recently came from before we start trying to run a coach off again.
 
I'm saying it could have easily been delayed. UT fans got half a day before they were kicked by yet another impartial UT site/reporter

Ok, so we've established you don't know how investigative journalism works.

Let's move on to deadlines. Do you understand how they work?
 
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It took over 30 years to find out who Deep Throat was. The credibility of the quoted anonymous sources will be determined one way or the other soon enough.
 
Ok, so we've established you don't know how investigative journalism works.

Let's move on to deadlines. Do you understand how they work?



This isn't a newspaper that's already been printed. Anything online can be delayed, replaced or rolled back. Do you understand how the Internet works?
 
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Hard to blame folks that don't want to lose their job over being named in an article about a failed coach, IMO.


Thank you. It amazes me how many people don't understand how sources work. If they wish to remain anonymous, you have to keep them anonymous or you will 1) lose them as a source and 2) they will deny it in public and you run the risk of losing credibility.

I get so tired of reading through the " This can't be real because he didn't name the sources" comments.
 
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if we really have to wait until June, when Hart officially retires, then i'm probably agreeing with you.

and if next year really goes south, there won't be much left to talk about....but if he goes 8-4 again, and i think that's the ceiling next year, i'll be shocked if he's not back in 2018. not saying i agree with that. but history has shown us that UT doesn't make that kind of change when you're posting winning records and going to bowl games.

we're not FL or GA that will fire a coach after an 8 or 9 win season....no matter what the trend of hte program is at the time. we had to wait an additional 3 years to can Fulmer, an additional year to can Dooley....so why would anyone think we're going to can Jones?

this program at the top cares about business....and business is good. period. if championships were the priority, we probably wouldn't have hired Dooley or Jones to begin with.
I dont see a way that UT goes that long without an AD.

I don't think he survives 8-4 again. If Hart was still under contract through that point and still a working AD I would feel the way you do on that tho.

In its current and most recent history I agree with your last statement. "I'll keep selling you a 25$ bologna samich, as long as you keep buying it."

I think the next AD is the first step away from the recent past.
 
All in all I think the article was written because of the media hype around the team on a national basis coming into this season. This season by all pre-season expectations was a bust.

Now its time to move on to a new year and not make the same mistakes. Some on here have to understand it has been 18 damn years since we have had anything near a good team. Heck Im in my late 50s and wonder if I will ever see a National Championship again.
 
That's all I see here is his opinion. Changes do need to be made, but this is the same coach, same system that everyone bought into for the last 3 years. If his comment about Jones getting snippy with reporters means he's insecure, then what is Nick Saban? Is he insecure with himself and his program? Vol fans should remember who they are and where we recently came from before we start trying to run a coach off again.

No, that is his arrogance kicking in, not insecurity. Hes a winner. Jones is not. Big difference, so your logic has no merit.
 
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