Leaving the Vols hat on the table

#1
BigOrangeLoyalist

BigOrangeLoyalist

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#1
Obviously, this class is going to be great, and the 2015 class is shaping up very nicely as well. Butch gets it, and we have a definite chance of being a strong SEC and national power within the next few years.

I can't wait for recruits that left the Tennessee hat on the table (Derrick Green, Berrios), or that decommitted from us (Lauderdale, Powell), to look at our rise to the top, and think "Damn, that's where I should have gone." Hopefully we'll see some 'Man, I really made a mistake,' tweets on down the road.

I don't care if it's a heartless way of thinking, but I'm going to take joy in seeing those that passed up on the Vols regret their decisions later on. Sure, I appreciate that they considered Tennessee, but consideration doesn't do anything for me, or for us. You're either a VFL, or you're not.
 
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#2
#2
They are 18 years old. Really doubt most adult fans care to hold a grudge against an 18 year old prospect for choosing another university. Unless, of course, that recruit goes by the name Vonn Bell - then the grudge is eternal.
 
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#4
#4
BigOrangeLoyalist said:
Obviously, this class is going to be great, and the 2015 class is shaping up very nicely as well. Butch gets it, and we have a definite chance of being a strong SEC and national power within the next few years.

I can't wait for recruits that left the Tennessee hat on the table (Derrick Green, Berrios), or that decommitted from us (Lauderdale, Powell), to look at our rise to the top, and think "Damn, that's where I should have gone." Hopefully we'll see some 'Man, I really made a mistake,' tweets on down the road.

I don't care if it's a heartless way of thinking, but I'm going to take joy in seeing those that passed up on the Vols regret their decisions later on. Sure, I appreciate that they considered Tennessee, but consideration doesn't do anything for me, or for us. You're either a VFL, or you're not.
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Many people said the same thing during Dooley's first year. Those recruits were right. So, if you feel this way, then it should all balance out. Personally, I don't think anyone should have hard feelings about an 18 year old recruit making their own decision.
 
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#5
#5
I believe Randy Moss said it a couple of months ago. Mentioned that he would have been better off if he went to UT. Obviously we had Peyton on the roster at that time. I would imagine that is why he said it, but there will be some guys who look in retrospect and find they may have made a mistake.
 
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#6
#6
I don't have hard feelings toward those who choose to go somewhere other than Tennessee. UT is not for everyone. If a kids ultimate goal is the NFL, ALOT of schools can help get you there. ALOT of schools provide a quality education. VB was ripped for picking osu over our Vols this past recruiting class. We are 3-3 and osu is rolling along at 6-0. Who knows how the next 2-4 years go for the kid. I fully understand why some kids choose to go elsewhere.
 
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#7
#7
Volunteer_Kirby said:
They are 18 years old. Really doubt most adult fans care to hold a grudge against an 18 year old prospect for choosing another university. Unless, of course, that recruit goes by the name Vonn Bell - then the grudge is eternal.
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How much playing time is Vonn Bell getting with Urban and Ohio St? He should of went to UT. :banghead2:
 
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#8
#8
rickyyrs said:
How much playing time is Vonn Bell getting with Urban and Ohio St? He should of went to UT. :banghead2:
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He said he wanted to go to a winning program. He did not want to wait to see if UT would start winning. While I have no idea if he is getting much PT as a true freshman, they are winning.
 
#9
#9
Life is way too short to carry such anger and misery that you're still harboring animosity months after an event, that has no tangible effect on you, has passed.
 
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#10
#10
BigOrangeLoyalist said:
Obviously, this class is going to be great, and the 2015 class is shaping up very nicely as well. Butch gets it, and we have a definite chance of being a strong SEC and national power within the next few years.

I can't wait for recruits that left the Tennessee hat on the table (Derrick Green, Berrios), or that decommitted from us (Lauderdale, Powell), to look at our rise to the top, and think "Damn, that's where I should have gone." Hopefully we'll see some 'Man, I really made a mistake,' tweets on down the road.

I don't care if it's a heartless way of thinking, but I'm going to take joy in seeing those that passed up on the Vols regret their decisions later on. Sure, I appreciate that they considered Tennessee, but consideration doesn't do anything for me, or for us. You're either a VFL, or you're not.
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That will never happen. It's just something that disgruntled fans like you wish upon 18 year old kids when your feelings are hurt because they didn't choose your school. Kind of sad really.

What most true Vol fans hope is that those recruits don't regret their decision, excel at their school of choice and make something out of their opportunity. Whatever reason a recruit has for not choosing us, it's his personal decision and his right to do so. Move on and celebrate the ones that choose us rather than obsess about 18 year old kids that don't.
 
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#11
#11
rickyyrs said:
How much playing time is Vonn Bell getting with Urban and Ohio St? He should of went to UT. :banghead2:
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In a few years when he gets a great view of Evan Berry's backside "over the middle"....that's when he'll regret his decision.
 
#12
#12
I think the whole hat on table is played out. Is there anything more unoriginal? I'd like to see a kid announce his choice by showing up in full uniform (helmet and all) of the team he chooses.
 
#14
#14
If someone tried to commit and we wouldn't let him, he just put a hat on the table to make it look like he could come if he wanted to
 
#15
#15
BigOrangeLoyalist said:
Obviously, this class is going to be great, and the 2015 class is shaping up very nicely as well. Butch gets it, and we have a definite chance of being a strong SEC and national power within the next few years.

I can't wait for recruits that left the Tennessee hat on the table (Derrick Green, Berrios), or that decommitted from us (Lauderdale, Powell), to look at our rise to the top, and think "Damn, that's where I should have gone." Hopefully we'll see some 'Man, I really made a mistake,' tweets on down the road.

I don't care if it's a heartless way of thinking, but I'm going to take joy in seeing those that passed up on the Vols regret their decisions later on. Sure, I appreciate that they considered Tennessee, but consideration doesn't do anything for me, or for us. You're either a VFL, or you're not.
Click to expand...

So what's your feeling on those kids that get "encouraged" to look elsewhere? Loyalty = two way street
 
#16
#16
It serve you well, OP, to remember that a kid that chooses to go elsewhere is not trying to stick it to UT. They're making the best choice for their future as they see it. Nothing more.
 
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#17
#17
LebanonVolunteer said:
He said he wanted to go to a winning program. He did not want to wait to see if UT would start winning. While I have no idea if he is getting much PT as a true freshman, they are winning.
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Fair enough...but the line of bull about him growing up a Tennessee fan wasn't a good move if he wanted his decision to fly under the radar of the locals. Nobody ever harbored bitterness toward Harrison Smith for picking Notre Dame because unlike Bell he never pretended to be one of us in the first place. I also want to add that safety is one of the easiest positions to recruit to and that losing Bell is really not that big a deal...I think TK Jr is almost as good anyway and we know his loyalties aren't just words.
 
#19
#19
BowlBrother85 said:
Fair enough...but the line of bull about him growing up a Tennessee fan wasn't a good move if he wanted his decision to fly under the radar of the locals. Nobody ever harbored bitterness toward Harrison Smith for picking Notre Dame because unlike Bell he never pretended to be one of us in the first place. I also want to add that safety is one of the easiest positions to recruit to and that losing Bell is really not that big a deal...I think TK Jr is almost as good anyway and we know his loyalties aren't just words.
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Maybe I'm remembering wrong, but I thought the main reason Bell went to OSU was Dooley dropping the ball and opening the door for Meyer and company. Sure, Butch tried to win him back, but by that time the ship had sailed too far down river.
 
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#21
#21
Weezer said:
Maybe I'm remembering wrong, but I thought the main reason Bell went to OSU was Dooley dropping the ball and opening the door for Meyer and company. Sure, Butch tried to win him back, but by that time the ship had sailed too far down river.
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I believe that was Bell's spin but I think he really just wanted a guarantee that he would be playing for a good team and didn't want to take a chance on helping to rebuild here as other in state players are doing. Dooley was fired over two months before NSD and Butch spent a ton of time with Bell and his family. What more could Tennessee have done to Dooley than fire him?
 
#23
#23
If all the good athletes picked UT then the games would be very boring. Gotta spread a little of the wealth.
 
#25
#25
Without the orange shades and the UT bias... Would you (as a player) want to play for our garbage staff the last 3 years?

Was Dooley as the HC more appealing than a Jimbo Fisher, Dabo, or even Richt?

We were a very poorly coached team. Our coaches (Dooley and Sal... Only knows who else) had no desire to recruit.

We couldn't even land Andrew Jelks for God sakes. A UT legacy who ends up with the instate rival. We couldn't win over instate kids. I don't blame recruits one bit for not coming here, because I truthfully know, I definitely wouldn't have signed to play for Dooley either.

That's just being honest. Our staff handicapped us and frankly, they sabotaged us on the recruiting trail.
 
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