Recruiting Forum Football Talk IV

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#24,928
#24,928
mrMet said:
I’m in Nashville. Do y’all go nationwide or just southeast or what?
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We have drivers that are OTR, mostly local and regional though. Right now I have a good gig out of Birmingham al to nashville. Just having trouble finding consistent freight to Alabama. Steel isn’t the most reliable as of late.
 
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#24,929
#24,929
Gilbert said:
Syracuse WR Taj Harris is in the portal. Three year starter and all ACC last year. Has a career 135 receptions, 1857 yards, and 10 TDs. Would have 2 years left.
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images
 
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#24,931
#24,931
Volsdeep4 said:
Why black in a noon game?? Save them for ole miss
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Contractual obligations? I'm sure some Nike exec got a $900,000K raise for promising to make these 6months before they were going to be made anyway, then, after they got made at regular time 6 months later, Exec got fired and he made $900K for not doing anything.
 
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#24,932
#24,932
Jackcrevol said:
Contractual obligations? I'm sure some Nike exec got a $900,000K raise for promising to make these 6months before they were going to be made anyway, then, after they got made at regular time 6 months later, Exec got fired and he made $900K for not doing anything.
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That makes more sense than anything else I’ve heard
 
#24,933
#24,933
Jackcrevol said:
Contractual obligations? I'm sure some Nike exec got a $900,000K raise for promising to make these 6months before they were going to be made anyway, then, after they got made at regular time 6 months later, Exec got fired and he made $900K for not doing anything.
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Wait...Kevin Steele took a job as a Nike Exec?
 
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#24,935
#24,935
Volsdeep4 said:
I certainly hope so. He seems like a stand up guy. I believe he’s the one that donated all the money to Tennessee staffs during COVID. @LA Vol
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Yes, Larry Pratt covered salary reductions for lower tier staffers so their families wouldn't suffer financial hardships during the pandemic. He's a major donor for all marquee sports-- Pratt Pavilion and locker room complex for bball, multiple phases of Neyland stadium renos and new LNS renos. He takes the role of lead donor, kickstarting fundraising and getting others on board.

He was the major player for LNS expansion, pushing things forward while UT was waffling a bit. The Pratts also have multiple endowments. He's a great guy who likes working behind the scenes to get things done. Wish we had more like him.
 
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#24,936
#24,936
LA Vol said:
Yes, Larry Pratt covered salary reductions for lower tier staffers so their families wouldn't suffer financial hardships during the pandemic. He's a major donor for all marquee sports-- Pratt Pavilion and locker room complex for bball, multiple phases of Neyland stadium renos and LNS renos. He takes the role of lead donor, kickstarting fundraising and getting others on board.

He was the major player for LNS expansion, pushing things forward while UT was waffling a bit. The Pratts also have multiple endowments. He's a great guy who likes working behind the scenes to get things done. Wish we had more like him.
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indeed!
 
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#24,943
#24,943
Some background - Hendon Hooker


Hooker is the son of MEAC Hall of Fame quarterback Alan Hooker, who starred just up the road at N.C. A&T.

“Most of the time, people try to compare us,” Hendon said. “He just told me to make my own path and I hold my destiny, so whatever work I put in is what’s going to come out on the field.”

Before he could walk, Hendon could be found with a ball in his hand. Whether he was crawling on the floor of the Hooker home, watching his father’s collegiate highlight tapes — the only thing that stopped him from crying sometimes, his mother, Wendy, revealed — or sleeping in his crib, he always had a ball. As he grew, his love of sports only increased.

“(Hendon) was known for changing clothes multiple times a day,” Wendy Hooker said. “... When he was about 5 years old, he had to put on a football uniform to play outside. He would go back in, change. Even if he was playing golf, he would have on plaid shorts, golf shirt and then he would come back in and he had five piles of clothes from the day.”

Hendon Hooker didn’t just cherish sports; he loved putting in the work that brought out his God-given ability. He would consistently wake at 5 in the morning and work on his three-step drops, as well as run hills and distance. Many in the Gate City, watching him develop, hoped Hendon would follow in his father’s footsteps to A&T.

While at Southwest Guilford Middle School, the chatter around the budding football star began to heat up and a scholarship offer was extended by his father’s alma mater. But before he would enroll in the Early College Program at A&T, Hendon realized he already was outgrowing the Aggies.

“We always talked about it when I was younger, and I would tell him, ‘Yes, (I’ll go to A&T),’ ” Hendon said. “At one point when I was in eighth grade, I said, ‘Hey, Dad, I’m getting pretty good. I don’t think I’m going to go to A&T.’ ”

When he moved on to high school, Hendon also had to adapt to changes at home. Alan left Guilford County Schools, where he was director of employment, to become leadership development officer with the Houston Independent School District, a job that would separate him from his family.

“I just got used to the flow of things,” Hendon said of his father not living at home. “My first year of high school was really getting to know the different aspects of a higher level of football, so that really helped me out in gaining my own identity when he was gone.”

Hooker had a senior signal-caller ahead of him on the Dudley depth chart who was a pretty good player in his own right — future Tennessee cornerback Emmanuel Moseley, who would lead the Panthers to the 2013 Class 4-A state championship.

“(Emmanuel) thinks on another level,” Hooker said. “That helped to elevate my game to the next level and think ahead on different plays and different reads to help me out.”

Throughout his life, doubters and naysayers have motivated Hendon Hooker. Part of his maturation was learning to deal with the spotlight.

“There have been negative statements toward me since I was in eighth grade,” he said. “They would say, ‘You only get everything because of your dad.’ But my dad wasn’t out at 6 o’clock in the morning running hills before school, or running miles or doing three-step drops at 5 in the morning, so it’s the work that I put in.

“My dad isn’t throwing touchdowns on Friday night. He’s in the stands with my mom eating popcorn.”

Even though Alan was more than 1,100 miles away, he was in constant communication with his son. The former quarterback would break down film and impart his wisdom over the phone.

Virginia Tech isn’t the only place Hendon sees a familiar face. Alan is back from Texas and living under the same roof. Hendon eats lunch with his sister and A&T student, Nile, on a consistent basis, and his younger brother, freshman Alston, is a backup quarterback on the Dudley varsity.

“It’s incredible,” Hendon said of having his brother as his understudy. “He’s always looked up to me. And he’s always been my best friend since the day he was born, so just being with him every day is great.

“Usually he would be across town at Southwest Middle and I wouldn’t see him until I got home. But really seeing him and teaching him the ropes has been great this season. And, hopefully, I can get him a ring in case he doesn’t win one so he can at least say he has one ring on his finger.”

It’s like déjà vu all over again — a freshman Hooker quarterback, learning the Dudley system with a Power Five commit leading the program. Despite the resemblance, the youngest Hooker understands that the keys to the program will not simply be handed to him — not with sophomore Richard “Quad” Monroe IV on the roster.

“It’s not an easy road,” Alston said. “It’s not golden brick. I still have to work for what I want.”

He learned that life lesson from Hendon.
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Family and football drive Hendon Hooker
 
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#24,948
#24,948
Enki_Amenra said:
The fans should go ahead and start coming back to Neyland. The whole program, from the AD, the coaches, and the players are showing that they are doing their best and getting better every week.

They have done basically everything that the fans have asked of them every week as the season progresses. Fix the QB, fix the d, eliminate penalties, make adjustments, show respect, have fun, etc. The coaches and players are both getting better each week. Not only that, they're producing rankings in the top10 nationally and they're doing it with a shallow roster. They deserve to see how awesome Neyland is when the fans are there and pumped up.
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Great post.
 
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#24,949
#24,949
TrippieRedd said:
I want to see black helmets, and an orange one. The orange can be used every blue moon if that makes people happy.

Honestly just tired of seeing them same old **** and combos.
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I dont mind the white helmets, but have wanted to see a Smokey logo on a helmet. Or the rifleman although I doubt that ever happens. Last idea would be the old school Vols lettering that would be cool too.
 
#24,950
#24,950
mr.checkerboards said:
I dont mind the white helmets, but have wanted to see a Smokey logo on a helmet. Or the rifleman although I doubt that ever happens. Last idea would be the old school Vols lettering that would be cool too.
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Bring out different combos as well.

Do black helmets, with orange or white unis and black pants.

or smokey helmets, with white jerseys and smokey gray pants.

I wanna see some sick combos.
 
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