Recruiting West Tennessee (mostly for East Tennesseans)

#1
Voltillyafall

Voltillyafall

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#1
In living in both ends of this state for significant periods during my lifetime, I think, generally, East Tennesseans don't understand the "lay of the land" in regards to recruiting West Tennessee. This is no flame or shot at East Tennesseans...I'm proud of all of our state. However, my time there taught me that many East Tennesseans didn't understand West Tennessee...primarily, they thought that it wasn't as "Orange" as East Tennessee. These are my thoughts on the subject of recruiting West Tennessee.

Lane, in his first day on the job, said that he "wanted to build a fence around Memphis." Well, my opinion is that a fence just isn't going to be built, but that is no reflection on Lane or this staff. I think this staff felt they could swoop in and get Marlon Brown out of Memphis...and they got surprised. Memphis is a whole different world than the rest of our state. Memphis is NOT a Tennessee Vols town. I think most people who live in East Tennessee don't understand the dynamic in Memphis. Having lived in both places, I can attest to the disconnect.

To try to get a recruiting foothold in West Tennessee, we have played, at various times, both Ole Miss and Mississippi State at the Liberty Bowl in Memphis. Heck, the only reason we play Memphis today is to recruit that area. However, its just not going to happen on a consistent basis, even from this staff.

First, let me be clear that EVERYWHERE in West Tennessee--other than Memphis-- is all Vol. Small towns like Paris, Martin, Camden, Huntingdon, Milan, Humboldt are all Orange. The biggest town outside Memphis in West Tennessee, Jackson, is also UT territory.

Memphis, however, is not even in the state of Tennessee when it comes to its sports alliances. In basketball, it is all Tiger High, with a sprinkle of Arkansas and Ole Miss basketball fans. In football, Knoxville is almost 400 miles away. Memphis high school kids identify more with schools that are closer--Ole Miss, Alabama, and Arkansas--than they do with UT. Of course, there are kids that go to the University of Memphis, but due to lack of ability we wouldn't be recruiting them anyway.

Its great that we have gotten some kids out of Memphis over the years in basketball (Tony Harris, Michael Brooks) and football (Dan Williams, Will Overstreet...OK, really Mississippi). However, I don't see a UT "fence" ever being built around Memphis. PFP got sick of beating his head against the wall ..all the $$/Logan Young/Tim Thompson garbage involved in recruiting Memphis. Bottom line, because of payola, the distance, and other factors, don't expect us to be able to cherry pick Memphis. Kids don't grow up there wanting to play for the Big Orange.

I think that sometimes East and Middle Tennessee Vol fans sell West Tennessee short when it comes to their loyalty to the Vols. Nothing could be further from the truth. Its all Big Orange...however, once you cross into Shelby County, everything--and I mean everything--changes.

JMO
 
#3
#3
Voltillyafall said:
In living in both ends of this state for significant periods during my lifetime, I think, generally, East Tennesseans don't understand the "lay of the land" in regards to recruiting West Tennessee. This is no flame or shot at East Tennesseans...I'm proud of all of our state. However, my time there taught me that many East Tennesseans didn't understand West Tennessee...primarily, they thought that it wasn't as "Orange" as East Tennessee. These are my thoughts on the subject of recruiting West Tennessee.

Lane, in his first day on the job, said that he "wanted to build a fence around Memphis." Well, my opinion is that a fence just isn't going to be built, but that is no reflection on Lane or this staff. I think this staff felt they could swoop in and get Marlon Brown out of Memphis...and they got surprised. Memphis is a whole different world than the rest of our state. Memphis is NOT a Tennessee Vols town. I think most people who live in East Tennessee don't understand the dynamic in Memphis. Having lived in both places, I can attest to the disconnect.

To try to get a recruiting foothold in West Tennessee, we have played, at various times, both Ole Miss and Mississippi State at the Liberty Bowl in Memphis. Heck, the only reason we play Memphis today is to recruit that area. However, its just not going to happen on a consistent basis, even from this staff.

First, let me be clear that EVERYWHERE in West Tennessee--other than Memphis-- is all Vol. Small towns like Paris, Martin, Camden, Huntingdon, Milan, Humboldt are all Orange. The biggest town outside Memphis in West Tennessee, Jackson, is also UT territory.

Memphis, however, is not even in the state of Tennessee when it comes to its sports alliances. In basketball, it is all Tiger High, with a sprinkle of Arkansas and Ole Miss basketball fans. In football, Knoxville is almost 400 miles away. Memphis high school kids identify more with schools that are closer--Ole Miss, Alabama, and Arkansas--than they do with UT. Of course, there are kids that go to the University of Memphis, but due to lack of ability we wouldn't be recruiting them anyway.

Its great that we have gotten some kids out of Memphis over the years in basketball (Tony Harris, Michael Brooks) and football (Dan Williams, Will Overstreet...OK, really Mississippi). However, I don't see a UT "fence" ever being built around Memphis. PFP got sick of beating his head against the wall ..all the $$/Logan Young/Tim Thompson garbage involved in recruiting Memphis. Bottom line, because of payola, the distance, and other factors, don't expect us to be able to cherry pick Memphis. Kids don't grow up there wanting to play for the Big Orange.

I think that sometimes East and Middle Tennessee Vol fans sell West Tennessee short when it comes to their loyalty to the Vols. Nothing could be further from the truth. Its all Big Orange...however, once you cross into Shelby County, everything--and I mean everything--changes.

JMO
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While I generally agree with most of your post I cannot agree that things change as dramatic as all that when you cross the Shelby County line. I have observed up close for 35 + years and believe me there are plenty of kids here who dream of playing for the BO....Melrose HS for one has sent more than its share alone to UT....I think if one where to look at it very closely over the years we would be surprise at how many kids came from Shelby county to Knoxville.....I started to list a few and realized i didnt have the time or space to do that...that being said...it is a challenge...I know personally a 5 or so of the high profile players who chose not to attend UT...and in every case there were other circumstances that led them to different schools...not away from UT because they didnt like the UT....Keep recruiting Memphis but be very selective...it can be a futile gig...
 
#4
#4
Lived in Memphis for 22 years and Knoxville for 8 and I agree totally. If it isn't Tiger high basketball they don't care, period.

I also agree with the rest of West TN being all Vol. I had co-workers from Jackson that were HUGE UT fans. Also visited Savannah a lot and it was all UT.
 
#5
#5
sometimes i think that the u.t. fans in west tennessee are more dedicated than the middle and eastern counterparts. we drive 300 to 350 miles one way to watch a footballl game and need to rent a motel room as well...unless its a noon kick off then we can leave home at 3 am and get back home at midnight...some of the problem here in recruiting is that several other s.e.c. schools are lots closer than u.t. is....but the players will stilll be interested in u.t. but they need to start the recruiting process as early as is allowed
 
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#6
#6
Thanks for the insights, Voltillyafall. I'm definitely more informed on East Tenn, but am not lacking respect for the West, from whence came Joe Thompson, Johnny Jones, Eric Still, Al Wilson (!) and many many other good Vols. :good!:
 
#7
#7
VOLALUM said:
Lived in Memphis for 22 years and Knoxville for 8 and I agree totally. If it isn't Tiger high basketball they don't care, period.

I also agree with the rest of West TN being all Vol. I had co-workers from Jackson that were HUGE UT fans. Also visited Savannah a lot and it was all UT.
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I agree, there is alot of Tennessee pride in West Tennessee but there is also alot of Memphis, Alabama, Ole Miss, and State fans around, mostly because there is a large number of graduates around here. The comment on Memphis is 100% correct, I was looking at their message board earlier and they are about half the threads talking about their new football coach and the other half wishing they could play basketball year around. In football, if they are good they dont really care, if they are bad, 1000 people show up at the game.
 
#8
#8
In living in both ends of this state for significant periods during my lifetime, I think, generally, East Tennesseans don't understand the "lay of the land" in regards to recruiting West Tennessee. This is no flame or shot at East Tennesseans...I'm proud of all of our state. However, my time there taught me that many East Tennesseans didn't understand West Tennessee...primarily, they thought that it wasn't as "Orange" as East Tennessee. These are my thoughts on the subject of recruiting West Tennessee.

Lane, in his first day on the job, said that he "wanted to build a fence around Memphis." Well, my opinion is that a fence just isn't going to be built, but that is no reflection on Lane or this staff. I think this staff felt they could swoop in and get Marlon Brown out of Memphis...and they got surprised. Memphis is a whole different world than the rest of our state. Memphis is NOT a Tennessee Vols town. I think most people who live in East Tennessee don't understand the dynamic in Memphis. Having lived in both places, I can attest to the disconnect.

To try to get a recruiting foothold in West Tennessee, we have played, at various times, both Ole Miss and Mississippi State at the Liberty Bowl in Memphis. Heck, the only reason we play Memphis today is to recruit that area. However, its just not going to happen on a consistent basis, even from this staff.

First, let me be clear that EVERYWHERE in West Tennessee--other than Memphis-- is all Vol. Small towns like Paris, Martin, Camden, Huntingdon, Milan, Humboldt are all Orange. The biggest town outside Memphis in West Tennessee, Jackson, is also UT territory.

Memphis, however, is not even in the state of Tennessee when it comes to its sports alliances. In basketball, it is all Tiger High, with a sprinkle of Arkansas and Ole Miss basketball fans. In football, Knoxville is almost 400 miles away. Memphis high school kids identify more with schools that are closer--Ole Miss, Alabama, and Arkansas--than they do with UT. Of course, there are kids that go to the University of Memphis, but due to lack of ability we wouldn't be recruiting them anyway.

Its great that we have gotten some kids out of Memphis over the years in basketball (Tony Harris, Michael Brooks) and football (Dan Williams, Will Overstreet...OK, really Mississippi). However, I don't see a UT "fence" ever being built around Memphis. PFP got sick of beating his head against the wall ..all the $$/Logan Young/Tim Thompson garbage involved in recruiting Memphis. Bottom line, because of payola, the distance, and other factors, don't expect us to be able to cherry pick Memphis. Kids don't grow up there wanting to play for the Big Orange.

I think that sometimes East and Middle Tennessee Vol fans sell West Tennessee short when it comes to their loyalty to the Vols. Nothing could be further from the truth. Its all Big Orange...however, once you cross into Shelby County, everything--and I mean everything--changes.
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B.S. (not totally) I graduated in 97 from memphis I played football and ran track at Craigmont High School I wanted to play for UT! didn't have the grades but another story. We scrimmaged Melrose every year I had gotten close to Cedric Wilson. UT wasn't presented in Memphis what i mean is coaching staff! God Bless Fulmer,but the only time he was around was in Tim Thompson office at Melrose High hence that why i got close to cedric wilson. I had to go to Juco but i gotten way more stuff from Ole Miss and Miss State. I love UTK
 
#9
#9
I was born in Middle Tennessee and have lived in East Tennessee and Memphis. Note I don't call Memphis part of Tennessee. I generally have referred to it is the largest single city in the entire state of Mississippi (that doesn't make Memphians happy either), but its largely true from a general attitude perspective in my opinion. That's not to say I didn't really enjoy Memphis when I lived there, I really did, but it just has a different feel to it than anywhere else I've lived in our Great State. When it comes to college sports in general, football comes in a distant second to Tiger High BBall I agree. Football athletes are as likely to go to AK, al, of MS as anywhere.
 
#11
#11
kbutler said:
I was born in Middle Tennessee and have lived in East Tennessee and Memphis. Note I don't call Memphis part of Tennessee. I generally have referred to it is the largest single city in the entire state of Mississippi (that doesn't make Memphians happy either), but its largely true from a general attitude perspective in my opinion. That's not to say I didn't really enjoy Memphis when I lived there, I really did, but it just has a different feel to it than anywhere else I've lived in our Great State. When it comes to college sports in general, football comes in a distant second to Tiger High BBall I agree. Football athletes are as likely to go to AR, al, or MS as anywhere.
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fyp
 
#12
#12
The two West Tennesseeans I wish we would have gotten were Patrick Willis and Graig Cooper. I am sure there are many more, but those instantly come to my mind.
 
#13
#13
orangebloodgmc said:
Thanks for the insights, Voltillyafall. I'm definitely more informed on East Tenn, but am not lacking respect for the West, from whence came Joe Thompson, Johnny Jones, Eric Still, Al Wilson (!) and many many other good Vols. :good!:
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I thought Big Al was from Atlanta ?
 
#17
#17
The idea that East and West do not identify with each other is not a new one. The signs at the border when travelers entered used to say "Welcome to the three great states of Tennessee" or something to that effect.
 
#18
#18
The city of Memphis is an island totally separate from the rest of the state. The city just doesn't identify as a part of the state of Tennessee. How many other states are set up where the city with the largest population is approximately 400 miles away from the state's land grant university?
 
#19
#19
Voltillyafall said:
In living in both ends of this state for significant periods during my lifetime, I think, generally, East Tennesseans don't understand the "lay of the land" in regards to recruiting West Tennessee. This is no flame or shot at East Tennesseans...I'm proud of all of our state. However, my time there taught me that many East Tennesseans didn't understand West Tennessee...primarily, they thought that it wasn't as "Orange" as East Tennessee. These are my thoughts on the subject of recruiting West Tennessee.

Lane, in his first day on the job, said that he "wanted to build a fence around Memphis." Well, my opinion is that a fence just isn't going to be built, but that is no reflection on Lane or this staff. I think this staff felt they could swoop in and get Marlon Brown out of Memphis...and they got surprised. Memphis is a whole different world than the rest of our state. Memphis is NOT a Tennessee Vols town. I think most people who live in East Tennessee don't understand the dynamic in Memphis. Having lived in both places, I can attest to the disconnect.

To try to get a recruiting foothold in West Tennessee, we have played, at various times, both Ole Miss and Mississippi State at the Liberty Bowl in Memphis. Heck, the only reason we play Memphis today is to recruit that area. However, its just not going to happen on a consistent basis, even from this staff.

First, let me be clear that EVERYWHERE in West Tennessee--other than Memphis-- is all Vol. Small towns like Paris, Martin, Camden, Huntingdon, Milan, Humboldt are all Orange. The biggest town outside Memphis in West Tennessee, Jackson, is also UT territory.

Memphis, however, is not even in the state of Tennessee when it comes to its sports alliances. In basketball, it is all Tiger High, with a sprinkle of Arkansas and Ole Miss basketball fans. In football, Knoxville is almost 400 miles away. Memphis high school kids identify more with schools that are closer--Ole Miss, Alabama, and Arkansas--than they do with UT. Of course, there are kids that go to the University of Memphis, but due to lack of ability we wouldn't be recruiting them anyway.

Its great that we have gotten some kids out of Memphis over the years in basketball (Tony Harris, Michael Brooks) and football (Dan Williams, Will Overstreet...OK, really Mississippi). However, I don't see a UT "fence" ever being built around Memphis. PFP got sick of beating his head against the wall ..all the $$/Logan Young/Tim Thompson garbage involved in recruiting Memphis. Bottom line, because of payola, the distance, and other factors, don't expect us to be able to cherry pick Memphis. Kids don't grow up there wanting to play for the Big Orange.

I think that sometimes East and Middle Tennessee Vol fans sell West Tennessee short when it comes to their loyalty to the Vols. Nothing could be further from the truth. Its all Big Orange...however, once you cross into Shelby County, everything--and I mean everything--changes.

JMO
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great post..good to see my home town Huntingdon getting represented on here...Sure wish Donald would step it up..I loved watching him destroy others back in HS. granted it was against WT AA talent

I agree with people not understanding WT. Its a different world than the rest of the state, but I would say its just as orange as the rest of the state...
 
#20
#20
I agree with the OP. I am from Knoxville and lived in Memphis for a few years. When I first moved there, I was shocked to hear of this concept called the "Mid-South". (Wtf--I thought this was West Tennessee?) And the first time I heard someone refer to her son attending Ole Miss by saying "he goes to Oxford" . . . well--needless to say, it was an awkward conversation when I found out she WASN'T talking about England.

I've had a few beers and am digressing, but suffice to say, I feel like the MAJORITY of Memphians identify more with Northern Mississippi ("Oxford"), Alabama, and Arkansas than they do with East TN. And I don't think you need go much further than the sports reports on the local news in Memphis to support that assertion.
 
#21
#21
I agree with the OP. I am from Knoxville and lived in Memphis for a few years. When I first moved there, I was shocked to hear of this concept called the "Mid-South". (Wtf--I thought this was West Tennessee?) And the first time I heard someone refer to her son attending Ole Miss by saying "he goes to Oxford" . . . well--needless to say, it was an awkward conversation when I found out she WASN'T talking about England.

I've had a few beers and am digressing, but suffice to say, I feel like the MAJORITY of Memphians identify more with Northern Mississippi ("Oxford"), Alabama, and Arkansas than they do with East TN. And I don't think you need go much further than the sports reports on the local news in Memphis to support that assertion.
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This is True! we have commericals that say this is the Mid-South I don't know where it came from.and we did (because i live in phoenix now) refer to Ole Piss as Oxford. I hate to admit this because I am as Orange as I can be on the inside and I am from Memphis! I have to say the more the power T wins the more Memphians will want to rep. the Power T hate to say it but its true
 
#22
#22
Grew up in Memphis, went to school at UT. Totally different worlds! Also, it's a long drive.

Memphis is not loyal to one school. If CLK can start working Memphis hard, which I know he is; UT will become more of a priority in Memphis. Just give him time!
 
#23
#23
Hey Guys Memphis born and lived here most my life, lived in Texas for about 4-5 years outside Dallas. Ok here it goes i've been flamed bout this before so here is my take on how a Memphis (West Tennessee) boy became a Tennessee Volunteer fan. Ok guys you remember when you guys were growing up either you had parents, grandparents or some type of family representing that particular school or your traditional ties like my grandfather is from Georgia and rooted for the Bulldogs, im just so happy i didnt follow that path. Anyways what im saying was how i became a fan was when i was in Texas and when i did come back home from Memphis when i was a kid this was like from age 8 i had to pick a team being from Memphis i wasnt going to go with Memphis Tigers who was always like 1-10 or like 0-11. So i became a Tennessee Vol and afterwards had a cousin who went there and we went up to beautiful East Tennesee for Thanksgiving as a family in Gatlinburgh and during that time went to Neyland as a 10 year old to watch Vanderbilt and the Vols after that I was hooked. But i do have a side some of you guys dont like is that i love Memphis Tiger basketball, the Memphis Tiger 85 team made me a fan as a 9 year old kid. You guys can say im all mixed up but i do love My Vol football, this is probably a West Tennessee view or just maybe a Memphis kids view on Tennessee Football. Happy Thanksgiving to all and Go Vols beat Kentucky!
 
#24
#24
Well then to all Memphis area folks we say welcome to the great Volunteer state! But more seriously, how does this fabulous trifecta of coaches we have pull Memphis closer to us? BTW this is a great thread.
 
#25
#25
VOLALUM said:
Lived in Memphis for 22 years and Knoxville for 8 and I agree totally. If it isn't Tiger high basketball they don't care, period.

I also agree with the rest of West TN being all Vol. I had co-workers from Jackson that were HUGE UT fans. Also visited Savannah a lot and it was all UT.
Click to expand...

Damn right!
 
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