TXVol_44
I've Played The Game
- Joined
- Nov 13, 2008
- Messages
- 532
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- 180
I've been following Tennessee football for 39 years, since Johnny Majors' first year as HC in 1977. I'm an optimist that loves this university and the teams that have battled on the gridiron over that span. I've seen many ups and downs over those 39 years that put the events of this past week in perspective. Here are my thoughts:
1) Coach Butch Jones needs to take control of this football team as a DECISIVE decision-maker. I'm troubled by reports that he allegedly asked the PLAYERS whether or not Jalen Hurd should play in a football game. The last time I checked, HE is being paid to make those decisions, not the players. If the players felt strongly enough to dispute that decision, that's one thing. But to ASK their advice on what to do...is quite another. Can you imagine Jim Harbaugh or Nick Saban doing that?
2) Jalen Hurd is a disgrace. He quit on his teammates and his coaches, so it was time to say goodbye. As talented as he was, my gut tells me that he was poison to that locker room. No player in his right mind screams at his coach during a football game, regardless of the situation. Furthermore, no player wearing the Power T on his helmet should EVER refuse to enter a football game if he is physically able to do so, or because of a dispute with a player or a coach. DO YOUR JOB! SET THE EXAMPLE! BE A LEADER! The NFL was watching. Character matters.
3) We have to win in the trenches to contend for a championship. As much as we want to blame the skill positions of RB and QB for committing turnovers and negative yardage plays, it takes a TEAM EFFORT for this to happen. I've seen what happens when Josh Dobbs has time to make a decision to throw or run. Those guys up front have to play better, or we may find ourselves on the losing end of more SEC games this year.
4) Stop wanting to fire people! The call to fire our coaching staff every time we lose a football game has to stop. We are a spoiled, pretentious fan base at times. Our hunger to win championships sometimes out-flanks the need to build this program back the right way. And...To the fan(s) who sought out Lane Kiffin after the Alabama game to ask him to come back to coach at this university, I say this: Not only NO, but HELL NO! I'll take Butch Jones any day of the week, and again on Saturdays, over Lane Kiffin...Period. Character matters. Al Davis tried to warn us -- remember?
5) Championship Teams Are Spawned From Championship Player-Leaders. Al Wilson, Peyton Manning, Tee Martin, Billy Ratliff, Deion Grant, Jason Witten. Locker room leaders stamp out poison before it becomes poisonous. They motivate, inspire, and demand the best from one another. They call out quitters and either set them adrift or change their outlook for the better. Derek Barnett, Cam Sutton, Alvin Kamara, Josh Dobbs, Todd Kelly Jr.... are their voices being heard?
1) Coach Butch Jones needs to take control of this football team as a DECISIVE decision-maker. I'm troubled by reports that he allegedly asked the PLAYERS whether or not Jalen Hurd should play in a football game. The last time I checked, HE is being paid to make those decisions, not the players. If the players felt strongly enough to dispute that decision, that's one thing. But to ASK their advice on what to do...is quite another. Can you imagine Jim Harbaugh or Nick Saban doing that?
2) Jalen Hurd is a disgrace. He quit on his teammates and his coaches, so it was time to say goodbye. As talented as he was, my gut tells me that he was poison to that locker room. No player in his right mind screams at his coach during a football game, regardless of the situation. Furthermore, no player wearing the Power T on his helmet should EVER refuse to enter a football game if he is physically able to do so, or because of a dispute with a player or a coach. DO YOUR JOB! SET THE EXAMPLE! BE A LEADER! The NFL was watching. Character matters.
3) We have to win in the trenches to contend for a championship. As much as we want to blame the skill positions of RB and QB for committing turnovers and negative yardage plays, it takes a TEAM EFFORT for this to happen. I've seen what happens when Josh Dobbs has time to make a decision to throw or run. Those guys up front have to play better, or we may find ourselves on the losing end of more SEC games this year.
4) Stop wanting to fire people! The call to fire our coaching staff every time we lose a football game has to stop. We are a spoiled, pretentious fan base at times. Our hunger to win championships sometimes out-flanks the need to build this program back the right way. And...To the fan(s) who sought out Lane Kiffin after the Alabama game to ask him to come back to coach at this university, I say this: Not only NO, but HELL NO! I'll take Butch Jones any day of the week, and again on Saturdays, over Lane Kiffin...Period. Character matters. Al Davis tried to warn us -- remember?
5) Championship Teams Are Spawned From Championship Player-Leaders. Al Wilson, Peyton Manning, Tee Martin, Billy Ratliff, Deion Grant, Jason Witten. Locker room leaders stamp out poison before it becomes poisonous. They motivate, inspire, and demand the best from one another. They call out quitters and either set them adrift or change their outlook for the better. Derek Barnett, Cam Sutton, Alvin Kamara, Josh Dobbs, Todd Kelly Jr.... are their voices being heard?
