VolDave53
Life is Good, Just Look Around ~ Matt Prater
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An Open Letter to John Currie:
Mr. Currie,
You are a younger fellow, placed into a position of power as caretaker over one of the state of Tennessees most treasured, yet floundering institutions: the Athletic Department of the flagship University. You know this, of course, but I perceive you do not understand the significance therein. I beg a few moments of your time to explain or perhaps enhance your understanding of the culture from whom you have most recently received a shocking introduction.
The roots of this understanding go back far beyond your years, or even beyond my existence. As the University of Tennessee, nestled in the quaint mountains in East Tennessee, awoke each Fall to the chilling of the air and the crisp colors of Autumn, the isolation of the people would, to a degree, fade as the hopes of another season of Tennessee Volunteers activities would commence. Dreams of witnessing the pageantry of the pregame, the entry of the Vols from the bowels of the stadium to a roaring crowd of the faithful, would entice the minds of most of the mountain people that comprise the fandom.
Most could not afford to go to the games, but imagined the thrill of the win which was sure to follow, holding on to every word of George Mooney, Lindsey Nelson, or John Ward as the colorful words would describe the action on the AM radio. Some could not receive the broadcasts and would listen for someone living up on the ridge would come out and announce: How bout them Vols. Were up 14-10! As hopes for their teams rose and fell with the words, the obscure lives of mountain people faded into dreams of glory; their one means of telling the world that we have something wonderful in this state. Those days of a simpler life are predominately gone as the sports program became a business, but the memories remain. Our hopes that we might regenerate the glory of our heritage remain. Mediocrity is not in our culture.
The teams, primarily the football team, but also the basketball and baseball teams, represented the wholesome nature of pure sports. General Neyland brought forth the best in his players and provided leadership by example that served so many of the players during the trials endured in WWII. Neyland, Ray Mears, The Majors family, Phil Fulmer, Doug Atkins, Reggie White, Al Wilson, Doug Dickey and our beloved Pat Head (Summitt), players and coaches, represented not only the University of Tennessee, but the people of this fine state even if they did not obtain their early heritage here. We were proud of them and held these people in an iconic status even if they, like us, were flawed to a degree. They demonstrated a commitment to excellence that we have not seen for the last decade.
Poor decisions influenced by big money interests (Haslam $$) and shortsighted management have not dampened our desire to have our Tennessee Vols return to a position of significance. As one member of the Board of Trustees so clearly stated, At Tennessee, Football floats all boats when it comes to providing funding for all of the other sports. We the fans have supported the teams, win or lose, to a degree that defies common sense. Our passion not only goes to our heritage, the memories of Beatie Feathers or Curt Watson, Chamique Holdsclaw or Earnie and Bernie, but to hopes for our children to experience the same joys that have been experienced in Knoxville. Please dont take this passion for granted again. From Watauga and King's Mountain to the Alamo, from Crocket to York, Tennesseans have a history of revolt and love a fight.
You recently exuded quite a prideful attitude at a news conference in which we dismissed that latest failed attempt at coaching winning football. You laid out quite a self-imposed standard that thrilled the Vol Nation: Big, Expensive and Explosive were the words and exactly what the fans wanted to hear. We hoped that finally someone understands what it takes to commit to excellence on the Gridiron. You smugly looked at the reporter that inquired as to whom you were leaning in your search. As big as this hire was, you were taking in on your shoulders and only slightly sharing the burden with Beverly Davenport. What this inferred to the fans was that you already had a decision made, a coach in the pocket that you knew would electrify the fan base, recover the declining recruiting class and return our Vols to a position of significance.
Little did we know that you had no concept of the needs of this program, the values of the fans, nor did you demonstrate the common sense to communicate your intentions to others who might have provided better guidance. If indeed you did seek the counsel of interested minds, perhaps you need to look at how you selected these august people and disregard their input in the future. YOU decided that Greg Schiano had done no wrong, no matter what the cultural implications may be.
On second thought, you were right in your attributing the words Big, Expensive and Explosive to this hire. It cost us the reputation built on the backs of giants, was the biggest PR nightmare in state history and it surely did explode in your face.
Ashamed of you,
Dave T
A longtime Vol fan
Mr. Currie,
You are a younger fellow, placed into a position of power as caretaker over one of the state of Tennessees most treasured, yet floundering institutions: the Athletic Department of the flagship University. You know this, of course, but I perceive you do not understand the significance therein. I beg a few moments of your time to explain or perhaps enhance your understanding of the culture from whom you have most recently received a shocking introduction.
The roots of this understanding go back far beyond your years, or even beyond my existence. As the University of Tennessee, nestled in the quaint mountains in East Tennessee, awoke each Fall to the chilling of the air and the crisp colors of Autumn, the isolation of the people would, to a degree, fade as the hopes of another season of Tennessee Volunteers activities would commence. Dreams of witnessing the pageantry of the pregame, the entry of the Vols from the bowels of the stadium to a roaring crowd of the faithful, would entice the minds of most of the mountain people that comprise the fandom.
Most could not afford to go to the games, but imagined the thrill of the win which was sure to follow, holding on to every word of George Mooney, Lindsey Nelson, or John Ward as the colorful words would describe the action on the AM radio. Some could not receive the broadcasts and would listen for someone living up on the ridge would come out and announce: How bout them Vols. Were up 14-10! As hopes for their teams rose and fell with the words, the obscure lives of mountain people faded into dreams of glory; their one means of telling the world that we have something wonderful in this state. Those days of a simpler life are predominately gone as the sports program became a business, but the memories remain. Our hopes that we might regenerate the glory of our heritage remain. Mediocrity is not in our culture.
The teams, primarily the football team, but also the basketball and baseball teams, represented the wholesome nature of pure sports. General Neyland brought forth the best in his players and provided leadership by example that served so many of the players during the trials endured in WWII. Neyland, Ray Mears, The Majors family, Phil Fulmer, Doug Atkins, Reggie White, Al Wilson, Doug Dickey and our beloved Pat Head (Summitt), players and coaches, represented not only the University of Tennessee, but the people of this fine state even if they did not obtain their early heritage here. We were proud of them and held these people in an iconic status even if they, like us, were flawed to a degree. They demonstrated a commitment to excellence that we have not seen for the last decade.
Poor decisions influenced by big money interests (Haslam $$) and shortsighted management have not dampened our desire to have our Tennessee Vols return to a position of significance. As one member of the Board of Trustees so clearly stated, At Tennessee, Football floats all boats when it comes to providing funding for all of the other sports. We the fans have supported the teams, win or lose, to a degree that defies common sense. Our passion not only goes to our heritage, the memories of Beatie Feathers or Curt Watson, Chamique Holdsclaw or Earnie and Bernie, but to hopes for our children to experience the same joys that have been experienced in Knoxville. Please dont take this passion for granted again. From Watauga and King's Mountain to the Alamo, from Crocket to York, Tennesseans have a history of revolt and love a fight.
You recently exuded quite a prideful attitude at a news conference in which we dismissed that latest failed attempt at coaching winning football. You laid out quite a self-imposed standard that thrilled the Vol Nation: Big, Expensive and Explosive were the words and exactly what the fans wanted to hear. We hoped that finally someone understands what it takes to commit to excellence on the Gridiron. You smugly looked at the reporter that inquired as to whom you were leaning in your search. As big as this hire was, you were taking in on your shoulders and only slightly sharing the burden with Beverly Davenport. What this inferred to the fans was that you already had a decision made, a coach in the pocket that you knew would electrify the fan base, recover the declining recruiting class and return our Vols to a position of significance.
Little did we know that you had no concept of the needs of this program, the values of the fans, nor did you demonstrate the common sense to communicate your intentions to others who might have provided better guidance. If indeed you did seek the counsel of interested minds, perhaps you need to look at how you selected these august people and disregard their input in the future. YOU decided that Greg Schiano had done no wrong, no matter what the cultural implications may be.
On second thought, you were right in your attributing the words Big, Expensive and Explosive to this hire. It cost us the reputation built on the backs of giants, was the biggest PR nightmare in state history and it surely did explode in your face.
Ashamed of you,
Dave T
A longtime Vol fan
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