Just sent:
Mrs. Davenport... you dont know me from Adam but I attended my daughters orientation and you spoke at that orientation. You spoke of all the great things going on on campus including athletics. Are athletics great? Lets look at football.
I have sat in Neyland Stadium when it was sleeting so hard you couldnt see the field. I have been at Shield Watkins field when it was so hot our mascot Smokie died from heat exhaustion. I have sat in overflow seats on the field that I thought were awesome even though at eye level you cant see anything. I was at Neyland when QB Clint Stoerner from Arkansas fumbled the ball and Travis Henry had 4 runs and scored...propelling us towards a National Championship. Do you know how many times Ive laughed at opponents complain about the ramps and thought if they only knew about the hill... pre walkway. I say all this to implore you to rethink the hiring of John Currie and his choices before Neyland becomes just a monument to the past. I would wager he doesnt even know the Maxims. I will remind you of what I am following:
3) If at first the game, or the breaks, go against you, dont let up...put on more steam.
Mrs. Davenport I talked my daughter into attending the University of Tennessee as a legacy student and she has thrived there. She was offered membership into 4 academic honor societies this past semester. I am sure like you she has chosen the teaching field and is in UTs 5yr Masters program because she feels the need to give back. I talked her into UT over The University of Alabama, The University of Arkansas, Mississippi State and The University of Mississippi. She has expressed to me many times that she would love to have pictures like her other sorority friends at those other schools. They are posting pictures at their games of good times...winning. I apologize to her and her friends for not being able to give them the awesome game day experience that I enjoyed and loved. Well I think that is is going to change or she will not be attending any longer.
My family are past season ticket holders and I went online two weeks ago to check on club level season tickets again trusting that you and John Currie would deliver as promised the coach that could get us back to the glory days.
I feel that the only way that you, Mr. Currie and the president will listen is if I and many others stop attending games, not purchasing merchandise, not spending my very hard earned money on high priced hot dogs and cokes and though it pains me, not on any of the fine businesses in Knoxville, my second home.
I am proud my parents helped me with my tuition at the University of Tennessee. I was also sure that my daughter will appreciate her diploma from UT but every bit of that is in jeopardy.
This email is being blind copied to many others including: Marsha Blackburn, Mark White, David Kustoff, Bill Haslam, Lamar Alexander, Bob Corker, Joe DiPietro, John Currie and Madeline Rogero. My wife and I and every fan I know and can influence will quit....its in yours and the Board of Trustees court.