Recruiting West Tennessee (mostly for East Tennesseans)

#27
#27
Good post and I agree with most everything you said. I grew up in West Tn and have lived in Memphis. Rural West TN is pure orange. Memphis is just different from the rest of the state. I think the reason is that a lot of people from the rural areas of West TN, MS, and Arkansas move to Memphis. Memphis is kind of a hybrid of 3 states. There are very avid UT fans in Memphis, but there are also a lot of graduates from OL Miss, MS State, Memphis State, Univ of Arkansas, ect. that live in Memphis after college and go to work. And then there are native Memphians that don't have a lot of loyalty to anything and generally claim to be fans of whoever happens to be winning. And then you have people like the Rhodes graduates and I don't think they understand football at all. It is just a strange hybrid melting pot place.:ermm:
 
#28
#28
crusse10 said:
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?
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It wasn't "set up this way intentionally, UTK was founded in 1794 when Memphis didn't exist yet. Memphis became the largest city due to it's importance as a river port, mainly for the cotton trade.
 
#29
#29
Here's my theroy:

Memphis is a corrupt cesspool. Kickbacks and threats are the culturally accepted way of doing business there. UTK's modern era coaching staffs have been too ethical and/or afraid to risk severe NCAA sanctions by playing ball with Memphis area HS head coaches.
 
#30
#30
Hey why did you leave out Bruceton when you said Camden and Huntingdon? I agree they love Tiger basketball. I don't think they know there is a football team or an NBA team. The only thing I heard about P Willis going to Ole Miss and not UT. Size of UT and playing time.
 
#31
#31
I agree with this post 100%. I was born and raised in memphis and have noticed this for years. I don't believe that over time. CLK will be able to get just about whoever he wants out of Memphis ( which may be just a couple of people per year. ( in other words his fence will have a gate)

Great original post
 
#32
#32
jwells said:
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.
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IIRC, those signs were the product of the Windfield Dunn administration.

No matter who approved the signs, they (the signs) did not properly reflect our state...it should have said "Welcome to the State of Tennessee...and also Memphis."

It's just different. Memphis folk never heard of Cas Walker. Knoxville fold never heard of the Crump machine politics.
 
#33
#33
VolunteerHillbilly said:
Here's my theroy:

Memphis is a corrupt cesspool. Kickbacks and threats are the culturally accepted way of doing business there. UTK's modern era coaching staffs have been too ethical and/or afraid to risk severe NCAA sanctions by playing ball with Memphis area HS head coaches.
Click to expand...
Good one.. :eek:lol:
 
#34
#34
I dug this thread up simply to vent alittle and ask a question bout Patrick Willis. I to grew up in West Tennessee(Dresden, Weakley County) and I remember watching PW play for Bruceton. Granted a A school, but the dude was a beast and I just knew one day he would play for Tennessee. We all know he played for ole miss and has been doing the dam thing ever since he stepped off the plane in San Fran. This was pre Volnation, so allow me to ask the question that I was wondering all those years ago. Why in the hell did we pass on this guy.
 
#35
#35
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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You forgot one of the all time greats in UT history...Doug Atkins from Humboldt :hi:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doug_Atkins
 
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#36
#36
Jabari Greer played for South Side High in Jackson, TN.

Chad Clifton played for Martin Westview.
 
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