Recruiting Forum Football Talk [RIP 9.3.2019]

[chargervol]

Sooo I have some bad news to share but VN has over the years become my extended family -- y'all are my dysfunctional brethren and sisteren. If anyone doesn't want or need to hear bad news go ahead and skip this post (it won't hurt my feelings).

I haven't really wanted to talk about it but the trauma people at Red Cross said that it was good for me to tell the story... Here goes... Friday evening I decided to cook (something I've done a million times over with no issue) but this time when I lit the burners the gas exploded. It knocked me out of the room and I think it knocked me out for at least a few seconds but when I came to my senses I was on my back and my pants were quite literally on fire. I stripped them off and looked up and noticed that about half the ceiling had been blown off and was now in the floor. What I didn't notice immediately was that a small fire had broken out further behind me and farther behind the initial blast. Once I did notice it we set about a bucket brigade, tried to beat it out, and even dumped cat litter on it but it just got bigger and bigger.

I know they say you can't imagine how quickly fire can spread but until you see it happen you just don't get it. In under a minute, it went from something we thought we'd be able to put out to a situation in which we were about to die if we didn't flee and I almost waited too long. I went back one last time after I knew it was time to abandon ship but when I thought I could still make it out safely. I managed to grab the keys, pants and a cell phone and thought about grabbing more but the smoke was starting to get really bad and even though I hesitated over the decision finally decided it was now or never.

By the time I made it out of our bedroom the fire had spread to the front door and was blocking my way out. (Thank god I'd put on a pair of jeans despite not having any shoes). All I could think of at that point was "I'm not going to effing die like this." I knew the door was straight ahead even though it was getting hard to see and flames were all around me so I decided that my best option was to just run as fast as I possibly could because fire takes a bit to catch and if I went fast enough I could minimize the damage.

Someone had to be looking out for me because it worked. I ran straight through those flames without getting a single burn (not even from the aforementioned smoldering pants). I did get a mean cut on my foot from something but otherwise we both came out relatively unscathed (the OH did suffer a few minor burns from trying to beat the fire out/standing too close while I was running water back and forth). The sad news is that I was unable to get my little tom cat out (the guilt there has been killing me but when I came back from what I turned out to be the last trip there was no way I could've gone back in without dying). There was a partially opened window that I'm hoping he escaped out of (cats are good at survival so there's at least a small chance but we haven't been able to go back and check just yet. He and the family heirlooms/photos and mementos are the most painful things to have lost.

BTW, all y'all need to go out right now and get a fire extinguisher for your home. If we'd have had one we might not have lost everything. The fire wasn't a grease fire but for whatever reason it couldn't be put out despite its initial size. An extinguisher would've done that.

P.S. Can someone catch me up on what I've missed the past few days?

Anything I can do..
I know I'm limited but not useless, just let us know how we can help.
Where are you located?

 

[UTProf]

Oh my gosh man, that’s terrifying. Thank God you’re okay. I have so many questions but just glad to hear you’re okay! Hope the cat is okay somewhere too. I like to think he got out and the first thing he saw was a Bammer fan and he proceeded to claw him to pieces in fright!

Sheesh, that’s scary. Checking fire extinguisher location right now.

This made my day and an example of VN at its finest!

And seriously, all y'all get fire extinguishers if you don't have them and check them if you do. This was honestly one of those things I always saw on TV and thought happened to other people. You never think it will happen to you until it does and then it's too late.

 

[Jackcrevol]

View attachment 191616
He is seriously one strange dude.

 

[BJHSVol]

Unfortunately, yes. It never really had a chance. By the time the fire dept. arrived it was over but even then they had trouble getting enough water and had to call in another truck. Because we lived out in the boondocks, the road was one lane/one car. We were stuck watching it burn for several hours because there was no way out one the fire trucks arrived.

Obviously money can’t replace everything you lost, but I linked below a comment I found and saved a while ago that might be helpful when you’re going through the insurance process.

 

[SweetasSoda]

Sooo I have some bad news to share but VN has over the years become my extended family -- y'all are my dysfunctional brethren and sisteren. If anyone doesn't want or need to hear bad news go ahead and skip this post (it won't hurt my feelings).

I haven't really wanted to talk about it but the trauma people at Red Cross said that it was good for me to tell the story... Here goes... Friday evening I decided to cook (something I've done a million times over with no issue) but this time when I lit the burners the gas exploded. It knocked me out of the room and I think it knocked me out for at least a few seconds but when I came to my senses I was on my back and my pants were quite literally on fire. I stripped them off and looked up and noticed that about half the ceiling had been blown off and was now in the floor. What I didn't notice immediately was that a small fire had broken out further behind me and farther behind the initial blast. Once I did notice it we set about a bucket brigade, tried to beat it out, and even dumped cat litter on it but it just got bigger and bigger.

I know they say you can't imagine how quickly fire can spread but until you see it happen you just don't get it. In under a minute, it went from something we thought we'd be able to put out to a situation in which we were about to die if we didn't flee and I almost waited too long. I went back one last time after I knew it was time to abandon ship but when I thought I could still make it out safely. I managed to grab the keys, pants and a cell phone and thought about grabbing more but the smoke was starting to get really bad and even though I hesitated over the decision finally decided it was now or never.

By the time I made it out of our bedroom the fire had spread to the front door and was blocking my way out. (Thank god I'd put on a pair of jeans despite not having any shoes). All I could think of at that point was "I'm not going to effing die like this." I knew the door was straight ahead even though it was getting hard to see and flames were all around me so I decided that my best option was to just run as fast as I possibly could because fire takes a bit to catch and if I went fast enough I could minimize the damage.

Someone had to be looking out for me because it worked. I ran straight through those flames without getting a single burn (not even from the aforementioned smoldering pants). I did get a mean cut on my foot from something but otherwise we both came out relatively unscathed (the OH did suffer a few minor burns from trying to beat the fire out/standing too close while I was running water back and forth). The sad news is that I was unable to get my little tom cat out (the guilt there has been killing me but when I came back from what I turned out to be the last trip there was no way I could've gone back in without dying). There was a partially opened window that I'm hoping he escaped out of (cats are good at survival so there's at least a small chance but we haven't been able to go back and check just yet. He and the family heirlooms/photos and mementos are the most painful things to have lost.

BTW, all y'all need to go out right now and get a fire extinguisher for your home. If we'd have had one we might not have lost everything. The fire wasn't a grease fire but for whatever reason it couldn't be put out despite its initial size. An extinguisher would've done that.

P.S. Can someone catch me up on what I've missed the past few days?

So glad you're safe!!!

 

[UTProf]

First off, this is a very tragic event to go through and one that will go with you the rest of your life.

Second, is the insurance process going well so far?

Third, how can we help in the meantime?

Last and most important: praying right now for you.

There was no insurance on it because we only recently found out we owned it (literally like ~2 weeks ago). We had originally moved out there to help out with sick parents. When they passed away things went into probate with a prior claim that had been filed against the estate. Neither one of us had dealt with that sort of thing before and we were completely ignorant of how it works and we didn't want to insure something we didn't think we owned. We both thought that until the probate was resolved no one truly 'owned' it. The attorney suing the estate for a previous debt was the one who helped us find out what the ownership status/mortgage status was (ironically it was free and clear but we only just learned that). I know that probably sounds stupid to those of you with experience and/or legal knowledge but it was something we'd never dealt with before.

We were going to take out a small mortgage to take care of the estate's prior debt and would've gotten insurance with the mortgage but the fire happened before all that was taken care of. We screwed up in some pretty stupid ways (we should've gotten some form of homeowner's the second we realized it was indeed ours but you think you have time). It was truly just plain ignorance of how things work that got us.

As for helping, prayers, kind thoughts, etc. are always appreciated. We haven't really had time to do anything in terms of like gofundme or anything like that and tbh, some of that has been because I haven't wanted to talk about it let alone deal with it VN has helped me before (when my car broke down) so I don't really feel right about asking for anything financially. It was the trauma counselor I talked to today at Red Cross in Knoxville (and those people are freaking saints) that told me I should talk about it. I know it sounds crazy but ever since the fire it's what I see when I close my eyes and talking about it is supposed to help me put it firmly into the past instead of it being something that keeps me up at night.

 

[UTProf]

Anything I can do..
I know I'm limited but not useless, just let us know how we can help.
Where are you located?

We lived in Union Co. but we're in Morristown now. (With my dear parents who are already driving me insane - lol).

 

[UTProf]

We lived in Union Co. but we're in Morristown now. (With my dear parents who are already driving me insane - lol).

And Charger, you of all people don't need to be worrying about me. Brother, I've been worrying about you. You've got bigger issues.

 

[VolsDoc81TX]

18-1 with 12 left, predictions on record in final 12 games?

Feel like 8-4 is a pretty fair/reasonable prediction.

Drop 1 to Kentucky
Drop 1 @ LSU
Drop 1 @ Ole Miss or Auburn
Drop 1 other...not sure we beat USC twice with how they defend or could see Miss St getting a close win here

XV- nulla

 

[Catbone]

XV- nulla

pls no

 

[InVOLuntary]

Sooo I have some bad news to share but VN has over the years become my extended family -- y'all are my dysfunctional brethren and sisteren. If anyone doesn't want or need to hear bad news go ahead and skip this post (it won't hurt my feelings).

I haven't really wanted to talk about it but the trauma people at Red Cross said that it was good for me to tell the story... Here goes... Friday evening I decided to cook (something I've done a million times over with no issue) but this time when I lit the burners the gas exploded. It knocked me out of the room and I think it knocked me out for at least a few seconds but when I came to my senses I was on my back and my pants were quite literally on fire. I stripped them off and looked up and noticed that about half the ceiling had been blown off and was now in the floor. What I didn't notice immediately was that a small fire had broken out further behind me and farther behind the initial blast. Once I did notice it we set about a bucket brigade, tried to beat it out, and even dumped cat litter on it but it just got bigger and bigger.

I know they say you can't imagine how quickly fire can spread but until you see it happen you just don't get it. In under a minute, it went from something we thought we'd be able to put out to a situation in which we were about to die if we didn't flee and I almost waited too long. I went back one last time after I knew it was time to abandon ship but when I thought I could still make it out safely. I managed to grab the keys, pants and a cell phone and thought about grabbing more but the smoke was starting to get really bad and even though I hesitated over the decision finally decided it was now or never.

By the time I made it out of our bedroom the fire had spread to the front door and was blocking my way out. (Thank god I'd put on a pair of jeans despite not having any shoes). All I could think of at that point was "I'm not going to effing die like this." I knew the door was straight ahead even though it was getting hard to see and flames were all around me so I decided that my best option was to just run as fast as I possibly could because fire takes a bit to catch and if I went fast enough I could minimize the damage.

Someone had to be looking out for me because it worked. I ran straight through those flames without getting a single burn (not even from the aforementioned smoldering pants). I did get a mean cut on my foot from something but otherwise we both came out relatively unscathed (the OH did suffer a few minor burns from trying to beat the fire out/standing too close while I was running water back and forth). The sad news is that I was unable to get my little tom cat out (the guilt there has been killing me but when I came back from what I turned out to be the last trip there was no way I could've gone back in without dying). There was a partially opened window that I'm hoping he escaped out of (cats are good at survival so there's at least a small chance but we haven't been able to go back and check just yet. He and the family heirlooms/photos and mementos are the most painful things to have lost.

BTW, all y'all need to go out right now and get a fire extinguisher for your home. If we'd have had one we might not have lost everything. The fire wasn't a grease fire but for whatever reason it couldn't be put out despite its initial size. An extinguisher would've done that.

P.S. Can someone catch me up on what I've missed the past few days?

I don't see that as bad news. I see that as wonderful news that you both survived with relatively minor injuries. I know it seems terrible but it could have been much worse. Sorry for the things you lost but so happy that you weren't seriously injured or killed.

 

[UTProf]

I don't see that as bad news. I see that as wonderful news that you both survived with relatively minor injuries. I know it seems terrible but it could have been much worse. Sorry for the things you lost but so happy that you weren't seriously injured or killed.

I mean, it's a sob story, but you're definitely not wrong about how lucky we were, especially me. I just have no idea how I got knocked down by the initial blast, had my pants set aflame, and still only came away with a painful cut on my foot. I've been told several times that I was lucky the initial blast/fire didn't kill me but I just can't figure out how I managed to escape it all so (relatively unscathed). I'm not super religious, although I do consider myself to be fairly spiritual, and it honestly feels like some minor miracle to me.

 

[InVOLuntary]

I mean, it's a sob story, but you're definitely not wrong about how lucky we were, especially me. I just have no idea how I got knocked down by the initial blast, had my pants set aflame, and still only came away with a painful cut on my foot. I've been told several times that I was lucky the initial blast/fire didn't kill me but I just can't figure out how I managed to escape it all so (relatively unscathed). I'm not super religious, although I do consider myself to be fairly spiritual, and it honestly feels like some minor miracle to me.

I hate it happened to you. Hate you didn't have insurance, that sucks big time. You know VN has your back if you need something. Wish that stubborn SOB @chargervol would get with the program.

 

[tn88volfan]

View attachment 191616
He is seriously one strange dude.

 

[UTProf]

I hate it happened to you. Hate you didn't have insurance, that sucks big time. You know VN has your back if you need something. Wish that stubborn SOB @chargervol chargewould get with the program.

@chargervol should let me set up an account for him and in turn he could set up one for me. Maybe then both of us would feel better about it?

Regardless, @chargervol, needs to listen to others about VN. When my car broke down around Christmas a couple of years ago VN chipped in a little bit to help me through. I thought I'd wake up hating myself for having to accept help/charity but instead I found that it restored my faith in humanity and even changed me in a positive way. Now, when I see someone come up short at the grocery store check out I cover it if I can. (I've bought several gallons of milk since then). I'm not rich by anyone's standard but I found that helping others feels good (it's a little addictive, tbh) and gives life just a little more purpose. VN taught me that people do care. It may be hard to find sometimes but there really is more good than bad out there.

We all want to be heroes (at least that's my theory) and each of us gets that chance. It's just that sometimes we may not realize that buying a gallon of milk for a woman who has come up short in the check out line is every bit as heroic as superman rescuing the damsel in distress.

 

[nicksjuzunk]

Sooo I have some bad news to share but VN has over the years become my extended family -- y'all are my dysfunctional brethren and sisteren. If anyone doesn't want or need to hear bad news go ahead and skip this post (it won't hurt my feelings).

I haven't really wanted to talk about it but the trauma people at Red Cross said that it was good for me to tell the story... Here goes... Friday evening I decided to cook (something I've done a million times over with no issue) but this time when I lit the burners the gas exploded. It knocked me out of the room and I think it knocked me out for at least a few seconds but when I came to my senses I was on my back and my pants were quite literally on fire. I stripped them off and looked up and noticed that about half the ceiling had been blown off and was now in the floor. What I didn't notice immediately was that a small fire had broken out further behind me and farther behind the initial blast. Once I did notice it we set about a bucket brigade, tried to beat it out, and even dumped cat litter on it but it just got bigger and bigger.

I know they say you can't imagine how quickly fire can spread but until you see it happen you just don't get it. In under a minute, it went from something we thought we'd be able to put out to a situation in which we were about to die if we didn't flee and I almost waited too long. I went back one last time after I knew it was time to abandon ship but when I thought I could still make it out safely. I managed to grab the keys, pants and a cell phone and thought about grabbing more but the smoke was starting to get really bad and even though I hesitated over the decision finally decided it was now or never.

By the time I made it out of our bedroom the fire had spread to the front door and was blocking my way out. (Thank god I'd put on a pair of jeans despite not having any shoes). All I could think of at that point was "I'm not going to effing die like this." I knew the door was straight ahead even though it was getting hard to see and flames were all around me so I decided that my best option was to just run as fast as I possibly could because fire takes a bit to catch and if I went fast enough I could minimize the damage.

Someone had to be looking out for me because it worked. I ran straight through those flames without getting a single burn (not even from the aforementioned smoldering pants). I did get a mean cut on my foot from something but otherwise we both came out relatively unscathed (the OH did suffer a few minor burns from trying to beat the fire out/standing too close while I was running water back and forth). The sad news is that I was unable to get my little tom cat out (the guilt there has been killing me but when I came back from what I turned out to be the last trip there was no way I could've gone back in without dying). There was a partially opened window that I'm hoping he escaped out of (cats are good at survival so there's at least a small chance but we haven't been able to go back and check just yet. He and the family heirlooms/photos and mementos are the most painful things to have lost.

BTW, all y'all need to go out right now and get a fire extinguisher for your home. If we'd have had one we might not have lost everything. The fire wasn't a grease fire but for whatever reason it couldn't be put out despite its initial size. An extinguisher would've done that.

P.S. Can someone catch me up on what I've missed the past few days?

Dear God man

So sorry to hear this

 

[MoCo_Vol]

Lines up with Chaney 3 year deal.

Tee learns/coaches under Chaney and stays with program long term.

(In my orange tinted view of things of course)

Fwiw, Tee only has a 2 year deal.

 

[UTSuave’]

stick to the grass kid.


South Carolina Signee Says Gamecocks will "Bury" No. 1 Vols | RTI

 

[Smokey123]

I mean, it's a sob story, but you're definitely not wrong about how lucky we were, especially me. I just have no idea how I got knocked down by the initial blast, had my pants set aflame, and still only came away with a painful cut on my foot. I've been told several times that I was lucky the initial blast/fire didn't kill me but I just can't figure out how I managed to escape it all so (relatively unscathed). I'm not super religious, although I do consider myself to be fairly spiritual, and it honestly feels like some minor miracle to me.

Sounds like more than a minor miracle. Something similar (minus the House) happened to my dad a few years back, pretty insane.
Glad you and your family is ok!

 

[SmokinBob]

Sooo I have some bad news to share but VN has over the years become my extended family -- y'all are my dysfunctional brethren and sisteren. If anyone doesn't want or need to hear bad news go ahead and skip this post (it won't hurt my feelings).

I haven't really wanted to talk about it but the trauma people at Red Cross said that it was good for me to tell the story... Here goes... Friday evening I decided to cook (something I've done a million times over with no issue) but this time when I lit the burners the gas exploded. It knocked me out of the room and I think it knocked me out for at least a few seconds but when I came to my senses I was on my back and my pants were quite literally on fire. I stripped them off and looked up and noticed that about half the ceiling had been blown off and was now in the floor. What I didn't notice immediately was that a small fire had broken out further behind me and farther behind the initial blast. Once I did notice it we set about a bucket brigade, tried to beat it out, and even dumped cat litter on it but it just got bigger and bigger.

I know they say you can't imagine how quickly fire can spread but until you see it happen you just don't get it. In under a minute, it went from something we thought we'd be able to put out to a situation in which we were about to die if we didn't flee and I almost waited too long. I went back one last time after I knew it was time to abandon ship but when I thought I could still make it out safely. I managed to grab the keys, pants and a cell phone and thought about grabbing more but the smoke was starting to get really bad and even though I hesitated over the decision finally decided it was now or never.

By the time I made it out of our bedroom the fire had spread to the front door and was blocking my way out. (Thank god I'd put on a pair of jeans despite not having any shoes). All I could think of at that point was "I'm not going to effing die like this." I knew the door was straight ahead even though it was getting hard to see and flames were all around me so I decided that my best option was to just run as fast as I possibly could because fire takes a bit to catch and if I went fast enough I could minimize the damage.

Someone had to be looking out for me because it worked. I ran straight through those flames without getting a single burn (not even from the aforementioned smoldering pants). I did get a mean cut on my foot from something but otherwise we both came out relatively unscathed (the OH did suffer a few minor burns from trying to beat the fire out/standing too close while I was running water back and forth). The sad news is that I was unable to get my little tom cat out (the guilt there has been killing me but when I came back from what I turned out to be the last trip there was no way I could've gone back in without dying). There was a partially opened window that I'm hoping he escaped out of (cats are good at survival so there's at least a small chance but we haven't been able to go back and check just yet. He and the family heirlooms/photos and mementos are the most painful things to have lost.

BTW, all y'all need to go out right now and get a fire extinguisher for your home. If we'd have had one we might not have lost everything. The fire wasn't a grease fire but for whatever reason it couldn't be put out despite its initial size. An extinguisher would've done that.

P.S. Can someone catch me up on what I've missed the past few days?

Oh man. I’m so sorry and glad y’all are safe and unhurt.

 

[UTProf]

Oh man. I’m so sorry and glad y’all are safe and unhurt.

Thanks. If there's any advice I can give to VN it's that my entire life I've been wary of fires (I had more than one relative and several friends who lost homes in fires growing up). I had thought out/planned how I'd make my escape if something ever happened. BUT when something actually did happen all that flew out the window. I just really can't emphasize enough how quickly the fire got out of control and how helpless you are once that happens.

If no one pays attention to anything I say from now on please mind this bit of advice: get a fire extinguisher if you don't already have one. AND if you do have one then get another.

 

[Devo182]

In literally any other chosen profession an 18 year old could be compensated according to their value. I don't like systems or institutions that restrict that. I'm not sure why this is different specifically when the skillset in question is tied to physical traits that diminish as you grow old. Let these kids make hay while the sun is shining. I'm not particularly worried about the presence of chaos when it's not hurting folks.

They can be. Go to a league that accepts 18 year olds (I believe cfl and maybe arena do. Will the new xfl?).

Also, part of extreme capitalism is allowing individual entities to set their own rules, which both the ncaa and nfl have. cfl, arena, xfl also have/will have their own.

 

[Devo182]

Thanks. If there's any advice I can give to VN it's that my entire life I've been wary of fires (I had more than one relative and several friends who lost homes in fires growing up). I had thought out/planned how I'd make my escape if something ever happened. BUT when something actually did happen all that flew out the window. I just really can't emphasize enough how quickly the fire got out of control and how helpless you are once that happens.

If no one pays attention to anything I say from now on please mind this bit of advice: get a fire extinguisher if you don't already have one. AND if you do have one then get another.

Lord am I paranoid about this. I will absolutely not allow any candles, or gas heating/stove in my household.

 

[RikidyBones]

Praise Moses you're ok @UTProf

 

[jordan4vols]

Obviously money can’t replace everything you lost, but I linked below a comment I found and saved a while ago that might be helpful when you’re going through the insurance process.

This is not true for a lot of insurance companies and a lot of what was written here could easily fall under bad faith which would be serious trouble for the offending company. Contrary to what is believed the insurance company is not out to get people and advising someone to hire a public adjuster (lawyer) is beyond irresponsible. Public adjusters (lawyers) take a standard 30-40% of anything recovered off the top. If you have 50,000 in personal property coverage and everything was destroyed it’s pretty easy when you start adding everything up to get to 50,000. Now you hire a public adjuster and you get 34000 and he gets 16000 for doing the same thing you could just as easily do.

The same can be said for the home value. A total loss fire will result in the full payout of the home coverage. So you have 200,000 coverage for the home and instead a public adjuster takes 60,000 of it after writing an estimate.

The same is also true for bodily injury claims. The value of the claim doesn’t increase because an attorney is hired....no matter what they say. If you have a claim valued at 10,000 let’s say for easy math and you’ve hired an attorney your giving the attorney 3500 of it or so for writing a letter.

Contrary to popular belief it’s much much easier for adjusters or insurance companies in general to work with attorneys. It makes the job super easy. It’s just to help the customer or injured party the most this is not the case but people hear Erik Ainge or some other radio personality reading a paid advertisement and take it as gospel.

@UTProf your best option is to work directly with your insurance company. There are bad faith laws to protect you as well as department of insurance guidelines that are on your side.

**Edit** just saw your post about no insurance. I’m sorry man. That really stinks man. Prayers.