Heath Shuler Comments

#1
perico

perico

"Thenneshee willsh be bath..."- Dr. Lou Holtz
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#1
This is probably the best statement I have read yet from anyone connected to the University. Shuler has an eloquence about him and seems to fully understand the whole process.


“When I was making my decision (whether to go pro), here was a guy who stood behind me. He took his coaching hat off and allowed me to talk with him as person. He said, ‘Speaking for the university, I hope you’ll stay, but you have to do what is best for your family.’ He stood there beside me through it all and supported me.

“I spoke to Phillip tonight. We talked about 15 minutes. I told him how much I loved him and how much he had meant to the players and the university. If he decides to go coach elsewhere, he’ll be at the top of everybody’s list. He’s been a friend, a mentor, a coach and father figure to so many players, and we can’t thank you enough.

“If you look at what the years being committed to UT and his work, he’ll always be a legend. College is such a crucial time in your life, and speaking as a former player, there is a debt of gratitude and a lot of love you have for him. To do the things that he’s done, including winning a national championship, he’s one who put Tennessee back on the national college football map.

“We went through the same thing with Coach Majors. It was in the middle of the season and you think as a player you’re partly responsible for what happened. But now that the decision’s been made, we have to get behind the university and support the university and say, ‘Now what can we do to take it to the very next level.’”
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Chattanooga Times Free Press | University of Tennessee: General Reaction

:clap:
 
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#2
#2
If he could only read a Defense the way he can give an interview....Great statement though.
 
#3
#3
He was great for us. Just terrible in the NFL. I like the guy though.
 
#4
#4
From a guy who completely understands what is going on, he is completely right.
 
#5
#5
Reading quotes by ex-players about their beloved ex-coaches is quite mind-numbing.
 
#9
#9
MacVol said:
If he could only read a Defense the way he can give an interview....Great statement though.
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You can't possibly have saw Heath play.

Heath was one of the best quarterbacks UT has ever had go through it's system. There's no doubt in my mind that if he had played his senior season we would have won a national championship. We had more talent on that team at every position with which to play than ever at any point in UT's history and we had a quarterback in Heath who knew how to play the game.

No, Heath wasn't an NFL star but the NFL isn't College Football. Heath was a tough option quarterback not a drop back passer.

Had that team not had to sort out a quarterback in the first 6 games of the season nobody could have touched it. If you'll remember, that team won it's final 6 games by something like 20 points average.

Skipper
 
#10
#10
I really enjoyed the Heath Shuler days..dont blame him for leaving early... Remember ---"you must be 21 to win the heisman". Great comment on Phils departure...Go Vols !!!
 
#11
#11
KYSkipper said:
You can't possibly have saw Heath play.

Heath was one of the best quarterbacks UT has ever had go through it's system. There's no doubt in my mind that if he had played his senior season we would have won a national championship. We had more talent on that team at every position with which to play than ever at any point in UT's history and we had a quarterback in Heath who knew how to play the game.

No, Heath wasn't an NFL star but the NFL isn't College Football. Heath was a tough option quarterback not a drop back passer.

Had that team not had to sort out a quarterback in the first 6 games of the season nobody could have touched it. If you'll remember, that team won it's final 6 games by something like 20 points average.

Skipper
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Of course I saw him play. He was an excellent QB for Tennessee and a great college QB that when he made it to the NFL the game just didn't slow down for him. Not a criticism of his college ability at all.
 
#12
#12
Heath was an amazing QB for the big Orange...Also one of the toughest I've ever seen there...That boy could take a nasty hit and keep on truckin lol
 
#14
#14
Mark Packer was talking to him by phone after the presser yesterday. Fuad Reveiz and Reggie Coleman were acting like angry kids and were trying to get Shular to get into their mean spirited diatribe. He would have none of it. Alll his actions were very classy unlike the others.
 
#15
#15
AllVolYall said:
Mark Packer was talking to him by phone after the presser yesterday. Fuad Reveiz and Reggie Coleman were acting like angry kids and were trying to get Shular to get into their mean spirited diatribe. He would have none of it. Alll his actions were very classy unlike the others.
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I'm disappointed in Reveiz's comments. I wouldn't have expected any better from Reggie Coleman.
 
#16
#16
hatvol96 said:
I'm disappointed in Reveiz's comments. I wouldn't have expected any better from Reggie Coleman.
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Me too. I remember Fuad as one of the best kickers to come through the program. I was really let down to not only hear, but see his display.
 
#17
#17
KYSkipper said:
Heath was one of the best quarterbacks UT has ever had go through it's system. There's no doubt in my mind that if he had played his senior season we would have won a national championship. We had more talent on that team at every position with which to play than ever at any point in UT's history and we had a quarterback in Heath who knew how to play the game.

Had that team not had to sort out a quarterback in the first 6 games of the season nobody could have touched it. If you'll remember, that team won it's final 6 games by something like 20 points average.

Skipper
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One of the funniest comments I ever remember reading here. Please, please, please tell me you're not serious about the 1994 team being the best in the history of UT with the exception of the quarterback. If you're serious, please post your address so we can have you committed.
 
#18
#18
The whole tenor of this thing is getting silly, IMO. I love sports, lived them, played them, etc.

However, a little maturity has made me realize how absolutely blown out of all proportion this stuff gets. We're talking about college kids playing a game, and it seems as if we're talking about life or death stuff. He's a friggin football coach.

The emotions involved in this thing, the entitlement, and everything else elevates this stuff to a level it doesn't deserve. When you run into people with sick family or those struggling to put food on the table, you quickly lose all of this hyper 'sadness' for someone who has made $20 million blowing a whistle.
 
#19
#19
MacVol said:
Of course I saw him play. He was an excellent QB for Tennessee and a great college QB that when he made it to the NFL the game just didn't slow down for him. Not a criticism of his college ability at all.
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Shuler did make a mistake and go pro too early but his failure wasn't that he couldn't read defenses...it was that Heath was in the wrong offense. Had Heath been in a true West Coast style offense from day one, he would have thrived. His style was much more Montana and Young than Peyton. Blame his failure on Washingtons coach at the time.

Ditka stills speaks fonldy of Shuler in that he was a warrior but by the time he was in New Orleans his career was over.

Straight up, Shuler is probably the most all around talented QB that ever played for UT and was a huge reason Fulmer got off to a succesful start as head coach.
 
#20
#20
Liper said:
The whole tenor of this thing is getting silly, IMO. I love sports, lived them, played them, etc.

However, a little maturity has made me realize how absolutely blown out of all proportion this stuff gets. We're talking about college kids playing a game, and it seems as if we're talking about life or death stuff. He's a friggin football coach.

The emotions involved in this thing, the entitlement, and everything else elevates this stuff to a level it doesn't deserve. When you run into people with sick family or those struggling to put food on the table, you quickly lose all of this hyper 'sadness' for someone who has made $20 million blowing a whistle.
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Exactly. :good!:
 
#21
#21
Volgrad98 said:
Pointless jab at Shuler...wow
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I've often wondered about the "expert" fans who think they know more than the players, coaches, etc. What information does one have in order to form the opinion Shuler couldn't read defenses? Just curious.
 
#22
#22
TN24 said:
Shuler did make a mistake and go pro too early but his failure wasn't that he couldn't read defenses...it was that Heath was in the wrong offense. Had Heath been in a true West Coast style offense from day one, he would have thrived. His style was much more Montana and Young than Peyton. Blame his failure on Washingtons coach at the time.

Ditka stills speaks fonldy of Shuler in that he was a warrior but by the time he was in New Orleans his career was over.

Straight up, Shuler is probably the most all around talented QB that ever played for UT and was a huge reason Fulmer got off to a succesful start as head coach.
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Good post. Shuler is still one of my favorite college QB's of all-time. His pro career didn't take off as a result of injuries that never fully healed.
 
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#24
#24
On Shuler...he wouldn't be the first highly drafted QB that didn't pan out because he lacked quick decision making and game accumen. That is actually a pretty long list.

Ryan Leaf, Akili Smith, Jamarcus Russell, Tim Couch, Cade McNown, Jeff George, Andre Ware, David Klingler, et al

On a side note, I think the speed of the game, the complexity, etc, brings decision making to the top of the list of qualities you need in a top QB (not that this is ground breaking, for some still don't get that).
 
#25
#25
Liper said:
On Shuler...he wouldn't be the first highly drafted QB that didn't pan out because he lacked quick decision making and game accumen. That is actually a pretty long list.

Ryan Leaf, Akili Smith, Jamarcus Russell, Tim Couch, Cade McNown, Jeff George, Andre Ware, David Klingler, et al

On a side note, I think the speed of the game, the complexity, etc, brings decision making to the top of the list of qualities you need in a top QB (not that this is ground breaking, for some still don't get that).
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Jeff George & Tim Couch cannot be lumped into this group. George had a pretty good career and Couch had some success at the NFL level.
 
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