The really sad thing is that given Butch's track record with elite recruits, even if he managed to snag Bell at the last minute he probably would have come here and been a bust, joining the ranks of McKenzie, Kongbo, Kyle Phillips, etc.Unfortunately there's a long list of kids in that same situation across several of our coaches. Kind of makes me sick to think about some of them.
Thing is they don't have any Orange blood.To all Vol fans in the Knoxville area........Memphis is from the extreme western part of the State of Tenn all the way to the extreme eastern part of the state. It takes me literally all day to get from Reelfoot Lake (Lake County Tenn) to Knoxville. This is why all the players from West Tenn go to Ole Miss, Memphis, Arkansas, Alabama, Miss State..............they are all closer to West Tenn than is Knoxville !!!! ............For example, I can be in the States of Kentucky, Missouri, Arkansas, and nearly Alabama within 45min. to an hour from my home at Reelfoot Lake. I am literally 30 mins. from Kentucky. Missouri, as a crow flies, right across the Mississippi River about 30 mins to cross the river. So........yall have an idea why we lose players to other schools. I can be in Starkville Miss much quicker than I can be in Knoxville Tenn. Ole Miss and Miss State are in Memphis Tenn backyard. As a matter of fact one would never know when he leaves Memphis Tenn and enters Southaven Miss. or Memphis Tenn and enters West Memphis Arkansas , which is literally across a bridge.
Great players don't go to Ole Miss, Arkansas, or Mississippi State, in general.West Tenn is coming through for the Big Orange................Go Vols !!!!! Thank God for Jeremy Pruitt. We have been losing all our great(not good) players from Memphis to the likes of Arkansas, Ole Miss, Miss State and close schools to the Memphis area. West Tenn players have not even hardly been considering the Vols. I hope Pruitt now has a solid connection with the Memphis players !!! We have got to start keeping our 4 star players (in state) at home !!!!!
To all Vol fans in the Knoxville area........Memphis is from the extreme western part of the State of Tenn all the way to the extreme eastern part of the state. It takes me literally all day to get from Reelfoot Lake (Lake County Tenn) to Knoxville. This is why all the players from West Tenn go to Ole Miss, Memphis, Arkansas, Alabama, Miss State..............they are all closer to West Tenn than is Knoxville !!!! ............For example, I can be in the States of Kentucky, Missouri, Arkansas, and nearly Alabama within 45min. to an hour from my home at Reelfoot Lake. I am literally 30 mins. from Kentucky. Missouri, as a crow flies, right across the Mississippi River about 30 mins to cross the river. So........yall have an idea why we lose players to other schools. I can be in Starkville Miss much quicker than I can be in Knoxville Tenn. Ole Miss and Miss State are in Memphis Tenn backyard. As a matter of fact one would never know when he leaves Memphis Tenn and enters Southaven Miss. or Memphis Tenn and enters West Memphis Arkansas , which is literally across a bridge.
If Memphis can stop being like the other side of the planet for UT.... we'll be in business.
What was the great linbacker from Jackson Tenn..........Al Wilson ??? Doesn't sound right but close ...........Trey Smith from Jackson Tenn. Several good Vol football players from West Tenn...............lots more if they would be recruited. However, everybody thinks all the good football is played in the East Tenn area..............WRONG ! Greg Emerson who plays now is from Jackson Tn.
They took a 4-5* in Willis' place (Brooks?). If it happened today no one would bat an eye either.Patrick Willis out of Bruceton begged to play at UT even reportedly willing to walk on if just given a chance. Powers that be told him to take his less than up to snuff West TN football skills elsewhere. He did, became an All SEC, Consensus AA Linebacker at Ole Miss. Became a 1st round draft choice to the NFL's SF 49ers where he reaped All Pro honors as well. Those little schools in West TN just can't produce players can they? How about Al Wilson?
Don't kid yourself !!!!! Some of the best from Tenn down through the years have..............however, several years ago that wasn't saying much. For many many years West Tenn was rarely recruited. For example..............Patrick Willis out of Bruceton Tenn was as good as they come at Ole Miss...........linebacker All SEC, !!!!Great players don't go to Ole Miss, Arkansas, or Mississippi State, in general.
................................Exactly, Saw Patrick Willis play. One of the Best toever play the game from close to my home. Played for Ole Miss.Patrick Willis out of Bruceton begged to play at UT even reportedly willing to walk on if just given a chance. Powers that be told him to take his less than up to snuff West TN football skills elsewhere. He did, became an All SEC, Consensus AA Linebacker at Ole Miss. Became a 1st round draft choice to the NFL's SF 49ers where he reaped All Pro honors as well. Those little schools in West TN just can't produce players can they? How about Al Wilson?