Drew Richmond loses his black stripe

#4
#4
I honestly do not understand the black stripe as a rite of passage for our team.

Not complaining, I literally mean that I do not understand it.

When I first heard of it, I thought it was a one-month deal...motivation to get "approved" by teammates during spring camp.

Then it lasted into fall camp. Then it lasted into the season. Now it looks like it may last through the post-season.

Truly just do not understand.

Would love to hear Butch (or whoever thought it up) explain how it works, what purpose it serves, how, etc.
 
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#6
#6
How can we complain about something that we don't know how it works. Could be motivational or a rite passage. If it's working, Let it be.
 
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#9
#9
volunator said:
How can we complain about something that we don't know how it works. Could be motivational or a rite passage. If it's working, Let it be.
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Is it working? If we don't understand how it works, or why, or what it is intended to accomplish, I'm not sure we can determine whether it is in fact accomplishing its intended goal(s).

Not complaining, just really, really curious about the thought processes behind the practice.
 
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#13
#13
The coaches use the black stripes for players to learn how to give their all for Tennessee. It can't possibly be a bad thing no matter how long that takes to learn. A football team is a brotherhood. Not a group of individual talents. Its more than being a good football player. Its learning how to put it all on the line for the guy next to you.

If it's taking this long for really talented young players to get their stripes off, that means the standard for excellence at Tennessee is getting much higher. And that's a really good thing.

We're about to start winning big in my opinion. Glad for Drew Richmond. I hope he wins that vacant tackle spot next year.
 
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#14
#14
It's nothing more than a motivational tactic. What I dont understand is how anybody can be bothered by it. There's plenty of things to be bothered by, this aint one of them.
 
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#15
#15
seaofORANGE22 said:
The coaches use the black stripes for players to learn how to give their all for Tennessee. It can't possibly be a bad thing no matter how long that takes to learn. A football team is a brotherhood. Not a group of individual talents. Its more than being a good football player. Its learning how to put it all on the line for the guy next to you.

If it's taking this long for really talented young players to get their stripes off, that means the standard for excellence at Tennessee is getting much higher. And that's a really good thing.

We're about to start winning big in my opinion. Glad for Drew Richmond. I hope he wins that vacant tackle spot next year.
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Yeah, that's awesome. If that's the intent, if it's a huge life lesson like that, about committing to something bigger than yourself, then that's just awesome. And explains perfectly why it might take so long.
 
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#18
#18
VFL-82-JP said:
I honestly do not understand the black stripe as a rite of passage for our team.

Not complaining, I literally mean that I do not understand it.

When I first heard of it, I thought it was a one-month deal...motivation to get "approved" by teammates during spring camp.

Then it lasted into fall camp. Then it lasted into the season. Now it looks like it may last through the post-season.

Truly just do not understand.

Would love to hear Butch (or whoever thought it up) explain how it works, what purpose it serves, how, etc.
Click to expand...

The way I understand it, which doesn't make it true, is that each incoming player is assigned a mentor (upper classman). Once the mentor believes that the player is displaying the attributes of a Tennessee Volunteer, the stripe is removed. It's strictly the mentors decision. Hopefully this means Richmond is ready to do all it takes to start next year.
 
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#19
#19
You basically don't get the stripe removed until you start practicing like a veteran with consistency. I think every new player has an older mentor at his same position who decides when the younger guy has displayed over time that he "get's it" (for lack of a better term).

If you're still practicing like a freshman and forgetting plays and alignments and not finishing drills like a leader, you're not going to lose your stripe. It also puts older players in a leadership role. They can't demand that a younger player practice well if they aren't practicing well.

I think it's awesome and one of the many tools Butch has used to drastically change the culture here.
 
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#20
#20
seaofORANGE22 said:
You basically don't get the stripe removed until you start practicing like a veteran with consistency. I think every new player has an older mentor at his same position who decides when the younger guy has displayed over time that he "get's it" (for lack of a better term).

If you're still practicing like a freshman and forgetting plays and alignments and not finishing drills like a leader, you're not going to lose your stripe. It also puts older players in a leadership role. They can't demand that a younger player practice well if they aren't practicing well.

I think it's awesome and one of the many tools Butch has used to drastically change the culture here.
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Agreed. Makes great sense as you've explained it.

Thanks, Sea (and Mother, too!). I appreciate you taking the time!
 
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