Article: Meach and moving on

#1
orange+white=heaven

orange+white=heaven

VN GURU
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#1
The tfp's Gentry Estes has a nice write up on the Vols' future millionaire...

The opening bit about Cut's advice to Robert was very revealing I thought...

tfpOnline:Full article link
Of all the conversations and advice, one sticks out in Robert Meachem's memory.
In the grim aftermath of a disheartening Outback Bowl defeat, Tennessee offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe saw "a lot of doubt" in his star receiver. It was too much for any sales pitch. Instead, Cutcliffe quickly cut through the swirling reasons to stay or go, and in a sense, made Meachem's tough decision a simple one.
" 'If you're not going to come back 110 percent into college, don't do it,' " said Meachem, recounting Cutcliffe's words. "'Don't do yourself like that. Don't do the team like that.'
"I could respect that."
Even though Cutcliffe wound up losing his most decorated offensive weapon, he would say it again.
"I would tell any of those guys that," Cutcliffe said. "That can hurt you. You get a guy back that doesn't want to be here and things get a little tough, situations arise that aren't good for your team. It's always got to be team-first."
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Correct choice or not, Meachem remains glum about it. His almost apologetic explanation: God told him he needed a new challenge in life.
"It was real tough to leave them because I didn't want to leave them," Meachem said. "It's a decision that you make yourself. Nobody else can make the decision for you. It was just time for me to go."
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I think Meach has been undervalued throughout this entire draft discussion these last weeks. McShay here sounds like everyone else has. I have no memory for numbers, but I thought Meach's stats last year stacked up almost identically to Calvin's. And physically, Johnson may be a tick faster, but not so much as to make him as far superior as he is thought to be...but I digress... back to the article..
Even Todd McShay of Scouts Inc., who projected Meachem relatively low as the 30th pick to the San Diego Chargers, still said he could be the second receiver taken behind Georgia Tech's Calvin Johnson, depending on the specific needs of each team.
"He may never be a pure No. 1 receiver in the NFL," McShay said, "but Meachem has the speed and the playmaking skills to be a great player."
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Few deserve more credit than Meachem, who totaled a school-record 1,298 receiving yards amid a resurgent Vols passing attack.
"I think he's going to do fantastic," UT head coach Phillip Fulmer said. "I obviously would have loved to have seen him stay another year. He's really just come into his own this year."
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...Taylor arrived with a prescribed fire, while Meachem and fellow receivers had been humbled enough to respond.
"The consistency and the intensity level of his work route-running drastically improved," Cutcliffe said. "His understanding of the things we wanted him to be and what he was doing was so different than what I'd seen from him before."
Said Fulmer: "It was wonderful to have him take an 8-yard hitch and take it 80 yards or run a reverse for 40 yards. He's a good player and a great worker. He became a great practice player."
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"It's a big, emotional day," Meachem said. "It hasn't hit me yet. It's one of those feelings that you want it to be over, but then again you don't want to be over because you don't know what you're about to get into."
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My opinion. Meach is going to grow into a receiver of quiet excellence. A Marvin Harrison type career, with slightly less gaudy numbers.

Good Luck tomorrow Meach...
 
#2
#2
Best of luck to Mr. Meachem. At least we won't have to face him this fall. :)

I liked the quotes by Cutcliffe, too. Ole Miss was fooooooooooooooolish to let him go.
 
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