Are we doing anything to change UT's relationship with west Tennessee?

#1
Sheik Yerbouti

Sheik Yerbouti

Class of 2000
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#1
Please forgive me if I have missed something obvious in the articles or discussions. I am fully stoked about CBJ & Co.'s recruiting, and especially their focus on identifying and recruiting Tennessee talent. I've seen lots of coverage of kids from the East and Middle Tennessee, but I haven't seem as much of a focus on Memphis. If I'm just not looking in the right place, please help a Vol out and point me in the right direction.

It just seems that we have traditionally taken a lassiez faire attitude toward our brothers to the West, and I wonder if our new marketing department (and CBJ in particular) have any sort of specific, long-term plan to change our relationship with that part of the state. So... do we?

I'll hang up and listen.
 
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#3
#3
TriCitiesVol said:
Steve Stripling was once again in parts of West Tennessee checking in on guys as they continue to monitor guys like Nick McLilly, Luke Ward and others in the western part of the state.

Mark Elder, who is turning some heads with the guys he's been able to close on in the past few months, was in Ohio for the better part of the week checking in on Ethan Wolf and a number of other targets in that state.

Robert Gillespie was in California checking in on a number of prospects and will be in Atlanta at the end of the week.

John Jancek was heading to Florida on Thursday to see some defensive targets.
Tennessee has done a tremendous job this spring of having a number of prospects in each weekend and while this weekend there isn't expected to be a large number of players in, the Vols are expecting to host just one or two.

But, it's another sign that Butch Jones and this staff doesn't like to to take many days off as they continue to grind towards camp season which comes quickly after the evaluation period.

-VQ
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#4
#4
I think Hubbs said we have 2 coaches designated in Memphis alone. If I'm not mistaken, Elder and CZA are the coaches. Thig has Nashville.

It was good to pull Carr last year. But Ole Miss and Miss St get in on Memphis kids real early.
 
#5
#5
I believe Memphis area will be more heavily recruited for the 15 and 16 classes than this years.
 
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#10
#10
Butch recruited West TN better than UT while at Cincy. I think he realizes the importance of recruiting the entire state.
 
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#13
#13
I'm fine stopping at Jackson and focusing on a shorter radius around Knoxville. Sure, recruit Memphis, but don't spend the time there when we can spend more time with kids that are closer, and don't get caught in the politics of an extrememely political city. There are @ 7? SEC schools closer to Memphis than Knoxville. Doesn't even really matter that it's the same state because the towns are bitter rivals.
 
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#14
#14
Spartacavolus said:
I'm fine stopping at Jackson and focusing on a shorter radius around Knoxville. Sure, recruit Memphis, but don't spend the time there when we can spend more time with kids that are closer, and don't get caught in the politics of an extrememely political city. There are @ 7? SEC schools closer to Memphis than Knoxville. Doesn't even really matter that it's the same state because the towns are bitter rivals.
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Agree. I've always thought we should lock up everything east of Jackson. Middle Tennessee is going to continually get better.
 
#15
#15
I am more concerned with the ATL. Closer than Memphis and has some of the best talent in the country. I get it though, Memphis is important.
 
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#16
#16
Spartacavolus said:
I'm fine stopping at Jackson and focusing on a shorter radius around Knoxville. Sure, recruit Memphis, but don't spend the time there when we can spend more time with kids that are closer, and don't get caught in the politics of an extrememely political city. There are @ 7? SEC schools closer to Memphis than Knoxville. Doesn't even really matter that it's the same state because the towns are bitter rivals.
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Never concede anything ! :rock:
 
#17
#17
west Tennessee outside of Memphis has never been a problem. When a blue chipper comes along they usually go to UT. Memphis has been the issue in recent years.
 
#19
#19
Yes we are. CBJ has requested all kids with any football talent at all coming out of the 8th grade transfer schools and move east of Lebanon so he and his staff can avoid Memphis and Franklinville.
 
#20
#20
Scotty's Flat Top said:
I am more concerned with the ATL. Closer than Memphis and has some of the best talent in the country. I get it though, Memphis is important.
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I say the wider the area the better. No sense in just letting good athletes go to Miss. Miss St. Ark. or bama if we can end roads with them. Would love to see the announcers call our more than half the team as from the State of TN. :rock:
 
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#21
#21
Too much talent to ignore it. A lot of good players in the private system here - I would much rather have the barrett jones of the world than let them go to bama.

There are a lot of big orange fans here - they just need something to get excited about.
 
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#23
#23
VOLracerx said:
Too much talent to ignore it. A lot of good players in the private system here - I would much rather have the barrett jones of the world than let them go to bama.

There are a lot of big orange fans here - they just need something to get excited about.
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That's kind of what I was wondering. It's almost like we need a dedicated outreach program just to let the folks over in Memphis know that we care. It's wild the physical and cultural difference that exists between Knoxville and Memphis.

Agree that we should recruit Atlanta too, obviously.

I'm going to think about how I can do my part to reach out to Memphis...
 
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#24
#24
It's interesting, if you look at the Rivals 100 for 2014 and sort by location it's easy to see that central Tennessee is where the top prospects are this year. Memphis doesn't have anyone listed. It's all Gallatin, Hendersonville, Knoxville, Nashville. Good for Sumber Co., I guess.

Yahoo Sports: Rivals.com Ranking - Rivals.com Rivals100 2014

I see. Scout has two kids from Memphis listed: LB Petra Wilson and DT Charles Mosley. Man, we could use their help.

Scout.com: Football Recruiting
 
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#25
#25
Sheik Yerbouti said:
It's interesting, if you look at the Rivals 100 for 2014 and sort by location it's easy to see that central Tennessee is where the top prospects are this year. Memphis doesn't have anyone listed. It's all Gallatin, Hendersonville, Knoxville, Nashville. Good for Sumber Co., I guess.

Yahoo Sports: Rivals.com Ranking - Rivals.com Rivals100 2014

I see. Scout has two kids from Memphis listed: LB Petra Wilson and DT Charles Mosley. Man, we could use their help.

Scout.com: Football Recruiting
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Consider the ability $ wise for a lot of Memphis kids to go to camps. Also, in my opinion, Memphis coaching is less than stellar. Ive seen talented teams travel to middle TN only to be beaten by better coaching. I am considering coachability too, I know not all things are the same with the kids.
 
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