In our own back yard

[Vol Catdaddy]

Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt, who hasn't had a lot of success recruiting Memphis, said he had a staff meeting late last week. One of the points of discussion was refocusing recruiting efforts on Memphis starting with his 2012 recruiting class.

"We've seen effort in the last few years of the Memphis high school coaches and academic counselors to better prepare their athletes, and the schools have made efforts to get their athletes, even ninth-graders, to our summer camp," Nutt said. "So we're going to hit Memphis extremely hard; we're going to be very thorough.

"Memphis has too many athletes and it's too close to Oxford for us not to make it a recruiting priority."

SEC hotbeds

Based on rosters at the start of the 2010 season, here's a breakdown of the Southern cities (metropolitan area and a 30-mile radius surrounding the city) and the number of SEC players they produced:

1. Atlanta, 74

2. Miami, 43

3. (tie) Memphis and Birmingham, 41

5. Tampa, 36

6. New Orleans, 29

7. Mobile, 26

8. Nashville, 25

9. Jacksonvillle, 21

10. (tie) Knoxville and Houston, 19

In our own backyard seems like we have alot of Talent. The more Dooley is seen in Memphis the more we will have success in the city as far as recruiting good football players! Numbers don't lie Memphis Football is important to us, as we are important to them(coaches want to change the Memphis Stigma)! We have a lot to attract any recruit to UT, Tradition,SEC Dominace in the past, SEC Titles, First BCS Championship (although its in 98) we have the tools to do it :salute:

 

[BuckheadVol1]

Interesting and true. Nice post.

 

[OLW1948]

Thanks for taking the time to gather and post this information.

 

[Cyclopskiller]

So, we have three cities in the top ten, and Tennessee " does'nt have instate talent "... The proof is in the pudding!

 

[utvolpj]

really hard to consider Memphis our "backyard" when they are closer to about 5-6 other SEC schools than UT

 

[GahLee]

A 6 hour drive is not your backyard.

 

[manfromtn]

really hard to consider Memphis our "backyard" when they are closer to about 5-6 other SEC schools than UT

While this may be true, it is still Memphis, TENNESSEE.

 

[GahLee]

And it is still over 6 hours in a car.

Just cause Mmephis is in Tennessee doesn't make it our backyard.

 

[MemphianVol]

No, not exactly backyard. But here's the whole article if anyone wants to read it.

Honestly, I'm just happy that Memphis coaches seem to be working together to get Memphis talent recognized.

Prep coaches team up to revive Memphis-area recruiting The Commercial Appeal

 

[manfromtn]

Those numbers sort of surprised me at first, but then a question about them came to mind. How many of those "SEC players they produced" went to Vandy and Kentucky and how many of them were really players instead of practice squad/bench warmers?

 

[Vol Catdaddy]

Prep coaches team up to revive Memphis-area recruiting The Commercial Appeal I didn't got this from this Vol Extra

 

[RichRollin]

I read this and laughed. No talent in Tennessee...Uh OK. The thing is, it's on the rise as well, especially in East Tenn. As for Memphis, it's still in Tennessee. There should be a sense of pride for where you are from. Tallahassee is a good ways from Miami, Va Beach are is a long way from Blacksburg. But those schools still go after players from those areas. The article CLEARLY states the problem.... Memphis coaches sold out to other programs. They chose cash over state pride IMO. 6 hours isn't that far.

 

[PMC2726]

By "back-yard", I think they are trying to invoke that whole notion of "putting a fence around your state." I think it's a good thing to consider Memphis UT's back-yard, it's just a big back yard! If we had Marlon Brown to go along with Hunter and Da'Rick, things would be even brighter. Need to build that fence.

Ole Miss has been talking that talk for a long time about Memphis. Ole Miss focuses on Atlanta in football and Memphis in basketball. I'm from Memphis, live in Atlanta. I've seen Houston Nutt flying first class Airtran (yes, oxymoron) a few times. Last time I tapped him on the shoulder and said "Coach, you aren't in Atlanta recruiting Volunteers are you?" He laughed. He has his faults, but he's a down to earth dude.

 

[gnm53108]

In our own backyard seems like we have alot of Talent. The more Dooley is seen in Memphis the more we will have success in the city as far as recruiting good football players! Numbers don't lie Memphis Football is important to us, as we are important to them(coaches want to change the Memphis Stigma)! We have a lot to attract any recruit to UT, Tradition,SEC Dominace in the past, SEC Titles, First BCS Championship (although its in 98) we have the tools to do it :salute:

Thanks Catdaddy.

Nashville 25
Knox 19

If they could produce that every year then we'd be in buisness.Problem is that 44 so about 11 a year.Even if we got all of em thats only about half of whats needed.

Excluding memphis.

 

[utvolpj]

Tallahassee is a good ways from Miami, Va Beach are is a long way from Blacksburg. But those schools still go after players from those areas. The article CLEARLY states the problem.... Memphis coaches sold out to other programs. They chose cash over state pride IMO. 6 hours isn't that far.

Tallahassee isn't too far from FSU though and VT isn't really grabbing the elite players out of Hampton Roads. Memphis is in TN but it's just not tied to UT like people think

Those numbers sort of surprised me at first, but then a question about them came to mind. How many of those "SEC players they produced" went to Vandy and Kentucky and how many of them were really players instead of practice squad/bench warmers?

the 19 from Knoxville leads me to believe this includes many who won't see the field

 

[RichRollin]

Those numbers sort of surprised me at first, but then a question about them came to mind. How many of those "SEC players they produced" went to Vandy and Kentucky and how many of them were really players instead of practice squad/bench warmers?

WEAK SAUCE!!! How many players from other states went to Vandy and UK. It's still the SEC. Vandy has done pretty well in Ga the past few years. Does that mean Ga talent sucks?

 

[PMC2726]

I read this and laughed. No talent in Tennessee...Uh OK. The thing is, it's on the rise as well, especially in East Tenn. As for Memphis, it's still in Tennessee. There should be a sense of pride for where you are from. Tallahassee is a good ways from Miami, Va Beach are is a long way from Blacksburg. But those schools still go after players from those areas. The article CLEARLY states the problem.... Memphis coaches sold out to other programs. They chose cash over state pride IMO. 6 hours isn't that far.

I see your point, but Cal didn't leave for cash (Memphis offered him more, plus a private plane courtesy of Fred Smith). Cal left for glory/ego (or for the same reason you leave to coach at Notre Dame) -- as much as Memphians love basketball, it still doesn't compare to Kentucky. Kentucky is the bench-mark for state pride in a basketball program. They are nuts. He wanted to be a part of that. Memphis wins a national championship, everyone calls it a fluke. Kentucky wins it and he's a hero for bringing back the blue to glory.

 

[PMC2726]

I wonder if people will start talking about TCU being in Pitt's backyard?

 

[OaklandTnVol]

I wonder if people will start talking about TCU being in Pitt's backyard?

Probably not.

 

[manfromtn]

And it is still over 6 hours in a car.

Just cause Mmephis is in Tennessee doesn't make it our backyard.

How far is Miami from Gainesville in a car? As far as 5 or 6 SEC schools being closer, that is a stretch, albeit not much.
Ole Miss 1 1/2 Hrs
MSU 3 hrs
Bama 4 hrs
Arkansas 5 Hrs
Auburn 6 Hrs
UT 6 hrs
LSU 6 hrs
UK 6 1/2 hrs

My point wasn't the distance as much as it is IN Tennessee. That still means something to some of these kids. Regardless, I think CDD puts more focus on the #1 in those cities anyway as he should. Nashville and Knoxville being in the top 10 still makes me shake my head.

 

[RichRollin]

Tallahassee isn't too far from FSU though and VT isn't really grabbing the elite players out of Hampton Roads. Memphis is in TN but it's just not tied to UT like people think



the 19 from Knoxville leads me to believe this includes many who won't see the field

OK, perhaps that is a bad example. Take Texas for instance. Look at all the players on Texas roster from Texas. Look how far some of them travel and how many good programs they pass up to get to Austin. 6 hours isn't that far IMO. Look, I'm not saying we need to get all of these kids.... I'm just not buying the whole "Memphis is too far" mess.

As for Va Tech, they have done VERY well in the Hampton/Va Beach area. Also Highland Springs which is across the state.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/virginiatec...aylor-39099;_ylt=AnZMERAOU0sZX721A0OgEIVHupB4

 

[manfromtn]

WEAK SAUCE!!! How many players from other states went to Vandy and UK. It's still the SEC. Vandy has done pretty well in Ga the past few years. Does that mean Ga talent sucks?

I was just saying that with the "no talent in TN" we hear all the time, it truly made me wonder how many of those Nashville players actually signed with Vandy(the hometown school) because they werent wanted in Knoxville. I know we have a pretty good player or two from Nashville on our team now, but you know as well as I do that athletically speaking, UK and Vandy players aren't really SEC caliber most of the time. The Knoxville one is skewed and we all know it. Reveiz was a great player for us this year and we couldn't have done it without him, but if it weren't for his dad being a Vol great, he probably wouldn't have had as good a chance to shine. I am not taking anything away from Nick, but there are many more area players that "play" for Tennessee that would not see the field at most of the other top-tier SEC schools.

 

[Vol Catdaddy]

I read this and laughed. No talent in Tennessee...Uh OK. The thing is, it's on the rise as well, especially in East Tenn. As for Memphis, it's still in Tennessee. There should be a sense of pride for where you are from. Tallahassee is a good ways from Miami, Va Beach are is a long way from Blacksburg. But those schools still go after players from those areas. The article CLEARLY states the problem.... Memphis coaches sold out to other programs. They chose cash over state pride IMO. 6 hours isn't that far.

I Totally agree! Well said

A 6 hour drive is not your backyard

. Thats an easy sell to kids six hours may be long way, Knox is still in Tennessee, but far enough were a child has his independence ,and learn how to be their own man, but its also close enough were its a drive away.And thats how you sell it!

 

[armchair]

I've always had a sense that Memphis city kids are overrated. How many exceptional Memphis players have we had? Don't think they are coached very well, many have grade issues...not sure about level of competition. There is talent there, but there have been more than a few top-propspect busts outta memphis. And, yes, a lot of competition from bama, ole misss, arky, etc.

 

[gobigorange11]

Tallahassee isn't too far from FSU though and VT isn't really grabbing the elite players out of Hampton Roads. Memphis is in TN but it's just not tied to UT like people think



the 19 from Knoxville leads me to believe this includes many who won't see the field

this. just because they are on an sec roster doesn't mean we should fill our class with these guys. many of the knoxville/nashville guys are either going to the vandys of the world or sitting the bench. you can usually count on 2 or 3 guys a year who can seriously contribute.