'17' TN ATH Tee Higgins (Clemson commit)

First off I do not recall LWS saying that, only that lawsuit was hurting us, not that we are second tier program now.

Also we should be more mature imo. I know I hate he chose them too, but I would still rather lose him to Clemson than team in burgundy or Florida.

Larry said that back years ago. While Dooley was still coach. He said Tennessee was never going to be able to recruit elite classes consistently again. That we were not a top tier program anymore, and we were never going to be able to compete with the elite of college football consistently. He gave several reasons why, and nearly everybody disagreed with him vehemently including me. I think I may have been wrong.
 
This 100%.

Boggles my mind why someone would choose to sharpen their football skills in the ACC. Enjoy that game against Wake Forest, Duke, Virgina or any other choices where you're playing in front of 28,000 people.

Clemson's home stadium is great, with an outstanding atmosphere. It ain't Neyland Stadium, but it's an outstanding venue nonetheless in front of 80,000+ seven times a year.
 
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Clemson's home stadium is great, with an outstanding atmosphere. It ain't Neyland Stadium, but it's an outstanding venue nonetheless in front of 80,000+ seven times a year.

That's very true. But most of their conference opponents aren't anywhere near the same atmosphere. I think that was his point.
 
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If Higgins, Johnson, Rogers, and Richardson was part of our class, I'd dang sure feel a lot better.

Higgins I'll give you but the others are very average from what I've seen. HJ wouldn't have been successful here. I wasn't the least bit concerned when he decommited. I was ticked at the character he showed when did. We can talk all we want about how Butch can adjust his system but we're seeing Butch's system. If Butch wanted to open things up he'd never hired DeBord. He's happy doing what he's doing. Will it ultimately win us Championships? We'll see. 2017 will tell the story IMO when he doesn't have a 250# RB dishing out punishment.
 
So did we in Tuscaloosa. Does that not count? Or is it because they're Clemson and we're Tennessee? Your argument is invalid buddy.

No its very valid if you take off the orange glasses. Clemson has an easy schedule in the ACC compared to us in the SEC. Thats not up for debate. However they made it to the NC game against the best team in the country. And they almost beat them. The point is, when Clemson came up against the best competition, they still excelled. Now had Alabama handled them easily and blew them off the field, then the argument about their easy schedule would be valid. That wasnt the case.
 
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That's very true. But most of their conference opponents aren't anywhere near the same atmosphere. I think that was his point.

Hey Ron, what are the "insiders" saying over on VQ? The only "insider" who responded after Tee's announcement over here is burnin orange and he said Tee mislead staff and was a silent while visiting during Orange Carpet day.
 
Higgins was the only real loss in that group. There are plenty of Amari Rogers around, Richardson was not even that high on our RB board, and I think it's 50/50 that HJ even last at Clem's son. He doesn't fit their offense any better than he does ours. JG will be much more successful here than HJ would have ever been.

Agree
 
Larry said that back years ago. While Dooley was still coach. He said Tennessee was never going to be able to recruit elite classes consistently again. That we were not a top tier program anymore, and we were never going to be able to compete with the elite of college football consistently. He gave several reasons why, and nearly everybody disagreed with him vehemently including me. I think I may have been wrong.

No, you weren't wrong. The notion that we can't recruit elite classes anymore has never been more incorrect. Its all about who the coaches are. You have to nail the hire, and if you whiff as badly as we did with Kiffin and Dooley after Fulmer let things degrade for a few years, you are going to be in pain. Michigan has been on a similar trajectory, and they nailed the hire.
 
Higgins I'll give you but the others are very average from what I've seen. HJ wouldn't have been successful here. I wasn't the least bit concerned when he decommited. I was ticked at the character he showed when did. We can talk all we want about how Butch can adjust his system but we're seeing Butch's system. If Butch wanted to open things up he'd never hired DeBord. He's happy doing what he's doing. Will it ultimately win us Championships? We'll see. 2017 will tell the story IMO when he doesn't have a 250# RB dishing out punishment.

Wouldn't bother me a bit to have HJ on our depth chart. We need help in the slot. Rogers is talented and an instate legacy. Richardson is a workhorse kind of back and instate. If he can play at Clemson he can play here. I'd take all 4 in a heartbeat.
 
Hey Ron, what are the "insiders" saying over on VQ? The only "insider" who responded after Tee's announcement over here is burnin orange and he said Tee mislead staff and was a silent while visiting during Orange Carpet day.

Couple posts from Fortenberry...


"Really surprised here. Had some people tell me in the last few weeks they were confident it was Tennessee. Obvisouly, that isn't the case as Clemson picked the Tigers.

This one isn't over and won't be until signing day, but I'm pretty surprised right now."


"He spent a lot of time with Tennessee's coaches the last few weeks and gave them a lot of indications that Tennessee was the right place. Obviously, that wasn't what happened. I think that's why the staff is probably frustrated today."
 
Couple posts from Fortenberry...


"Really surprised here. Had some people tell me in the last few weeks they were confident it was Tennessee. Obvisouly, that isn't the case as Clemson picked the Tigers.

This one isn't over and won't be until signing day, but I'm pretty surprised right now."


"He spent a lot of time with Tennessee's coaches the last few weeks and gave them a lot of indications that Tennessee was the right place. Obviously, that wasn't what happened. I think that's why the staff is probably frustrated today."
Long story short he lied. Next.
 
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Higgins I'll give you but the others are very average from what I've seen. HJ wouldn't have been successful here. I wasn't the least bit concerned when he decommited. I was ticked at the character he showed when did. We can talk all we want about how Butch can adjust his system but we're seeing Butch's system. If Butch wanted to open things up he'd never hired DeBord. He's happy doing what he's doing. Will it ultimately win us Championships? We'll see. 2017 will tell the story IMO when he doesn't have a 250# RB dishing out punishment.
My favorite part of the paragraph.A 250 running back dishing out punishment.He actually relishes doing it also.Its almost euphoric watching him do it.:)
 
Wouldn't bother me a bit to have HJ on our depth chart. We need help in the slot. Rogers is talented and an instate legacy. Richardson is a workhorse kind of back and instate. If he can play at Clemson he can play here. I'd take all 4 in a heartbeat.
HJ would play a similar role as Dormady has so far here. I don't consider Rogers a legacy because his dad has a hard-on for TN. We shouldn't take kids because they're in-state. We should take kids that are the best we can get. We are on much better backs than Richardson IMO.
 
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Larry said that back years ago. While Dooley was still coach. He said Tennessee was never going to be able to recruit elite classes consistently again. That we were not a top tier program anymore, and we were never going to be able to compete with the elite of college football consistently. He gave several reasons why, and nearly everybody disagreed with him vehemently including me. I think I may have been wrong.

Impossible to know.....also impossible to project, if we win this year and start placing players in the first round of the draft like we have in the past that will predict our future. I think it is pretty obvious that kids in general are impressionable and unlike the past our world is getting smaller, playing for your home state isn't the same as it was once because any team in the nation is viewable, followable, and doesn't have to be on a local station to do so.

To me no one is to blame or has screwed up the recruitment, Tee made an informed decision based on what is best for his particular possition and future...can't blame him. If we are truly to be great again it will be weather we can lose out on a recruit like Tee but find a replacement with similar rankings to satisfy the star gazers and a player who sees UT as his ultimate goal destination dream school and one he can prosper within, which butch has proven he can do...
 
just shows me, the butch hype train is losing steam in recruiting, we are losing kids in staters at pos of needs. it sucks.

why did anyone like this post? i want to see Butch succeed. but were getting that ass whipped in state this year. oh well, moving on. Next?! and just win.
 
Couple posts from Fortenberry...


"Really surprised here. Had some people tell me in the last few weeks they were confident it was Tennessee. Obvisouly, that isn't the case as Clemson picked the Tigers.

This one isn't over and won't be until signing day, but I'm pretty surprised right now."


"He spent a lot of time with Tennessee's coaches the last few weeks and gave them a lot of indications that Tennessee was the right place. Obviously, that wasn't what happened. I think that's why the staff is probably frustrated today."

latest
 
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Couple posts from Fortenberry...


"Really surprised here. Had some people tell me in the last few weeks they were confident it was Tennessee. Obvisouly, that isn't the case as Clemson picked the Tigers.

This one isn't over and won't be until signing day, but I'm pretty surprised right now."


"He spent a lot of time with Tennessee's coaches the last few weeks and gave them a lot of indications that Tennessee was the right place. Obviously, that wasn't what happened. I think that's why the staff is probably frustrated today."


Thanks... I can only hope that Butch is trolling Clemson setting them up for a huge flip come NSD (Just kidding/kind of:)) Something seems fishy to me, because I can see team in burgundy stealing some in state or a mix of schools, but all Clemson! Not a bad school, but still one school!

I can understand a recruit choosing to go to another school, I just do not like that he mislead staff if in fact that is what happened.
 
This feels worse than any recruiting loss we've had in a long time... I'm trying to think of one worse than this recently and can't do it... Vonn Bell was a loss but safeties aren't hard to come by and I knew we would get Todd Kelly Jr so that didn't bother me much. We never really had a shot with Jalen Ramsey so it's hard to feel too bad about that one either. Harrison Smith hurt really bad but once again, a safety and it did not hurt not like this. Michael Oher hurt but we knew about the Touhey family. Patrick Turner was a great WR but not as good as Higgins. Golden Tate never really considered Tennessee. I would have to go back to Chris Leak in 2003 or maybe even Cadillac Williams in 2001... Butch has some work to do. We must land Gibbs and Trey Smith or this class is the biggest disappointment we have ever had.

Having said all of that, it won't impact 2016 where we should still have a great year! Keep those heads up, guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
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Next? So just give up on one of the best players in the state? Please tell me you're joking. We need Higgins. There is no way Butch gives up on him.

Why not? We will win with or without him. We have a talented roster and will still sign a good class.
 
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