Retire VolCalls

[Chartervol]

Uh.....No. And why? "What a turn of events." To Hell with your idea of professionalism, DonDiego. You are forgetting one of the reasons all of us guys that grew up listening to John Ward loved him so well; he was the original homer to the extreme. That is what made his few mistakes forgivable and even endearing. Bob has never gotten that and never will. He is still the same boring guy from Jefferson Pilot that caused me to turn down the TV and tune in John Ward. And when his time comes, for me at least, it will be ABOUT time.

We need to clear up the definition of homer. There was never any doubt Ward was Tennessee’s announcer, but he never referred to the Vols as “we,” he never whined about being behind, he did not rag the officials, he did not taunt the opponents. That dogass Larry Munson did all those things all the time. Lookup homer in the dictionary and you’ll see Munson’s mugshot.

 

[MWAVolfan]

The continued existence of Vol Calls I still understand. Kind of. You know how politicians, celebrities, etc. have events where people send them questions via Reddit and they answer them in front of a crowd at a venue? Vol Calls is basically a lower-tech version of that. I get the appeal of wanting to ask a player, coach, celebrity, etc. your question and seeing what they say. People want opinions and color from the coaches; nobody is calling in to say "Hey coach, did we beat Vandy the other night?" It's an older demographic not as adept at using the internet/smartphones/social media that listens to it.

The coaches shows had relevance in the days before all the games were on television, or when some creampuff games were on pay-per-view (which believe it or not wasn't that long ago). If you wanted to see footage from the game, that was your only chance. With immediate highlights on the internet, and with every game on TV, the only possible reason you'd want to watch that show is if the coach is a character and might say something funny. Purely for comedic/entertainment value, not informational. There are clips of Spurrier out there appearing to be drunk on his show at South Carolina, and it is comedic gold:

These shows are as softball as it gets. literally no compelling answer is ever given to a question and why would it be, these coaches arent dumb? You might as well have a weekly meet-and-greet at the local Golden Corral and you'll attract and make happy the same demographic for a heck of a lot less money. Nothing has ever been learned listening to the coaches show.

 

[05_never_again]

These shows are as softball as it gets. literally no compelling answer is ever given to a question and why would it be, these coaches arent dumb? You might as well have a weekly meet-and-greet at the local Golden Corral and you'll attract and make happy the same demographic for a heck of a lot less money. Nothing has ever been learned listening to the coaches show.

They are meant to be softball - they air on state-run media, in effect. It's to allow the fans to see and get exposure to the coach, nothing more, nothing less.

Vol Calls, more or less, is a weekly meet and greet at the Golden Corral. Doesn't the show consist of Barnes/Pruitt and Kesling answering questions and taking calls from a table at Calhoun's?

 

[Chartervol]

I blame the producer(s) for the caller/questioner quality. When I've listened, they are super picky and wont allow any hard questions or passionate fans speak, imo.

This. People with nothing to say is about all who can get past the screeners. It’s sanitized for our protection.

 

[MWAVolfan]

They are meant to be softball - they air on state-run media, in effect. It's to allow the fans to see and get exposure to the coach, nothing more, nothing less.

Vol Calls, more or less, is a weekly meet and greet at the Golden Corral. Doesn't the show consist of Barnes/Pruitt and Kesling answering questions and taking calls from a table at Calhoun's?

Yeah I know its all planned out that way from the beginning which is why you have to question the value of it. Money is being spent to accomplish basically nothing. The coach gives his own press conferences where you can get marginally better info and just as much exposure. If you're going to call in to ask how the coach is doing when you darn well know the canned answer already just seems silly in this day and age.

 

[05_never_again]

Yeah I know its all planned out that way from the beginning which is why you have to question the value of it. Money is being spent to accomplish basically nothing. The coach gives his own press conferences where you can get marginally better info and just as much exposure. If you're going to call in to ask how the coach is doing when you darn well know the canned answer already just seems silly in this day and age.

If people want to call in and sound funny on the radio, I'm all for it

 

[05_never_again]

This. People with nothing to say is about all who can get past the screeners. It’s sanitized for our protection.

It's state-run media. Did the Soviet Union let anti-Communist editorials run in Pravda?

 

[SmokyRiverDog]

If you are really from Coalfield, you miss the heck outta him. I used to run into him at the games vs. Greenback. Good guy, but I always laughed when he started about the weather up there. You could hear Hyams getting frustrated. But to heck with him if he can't take a joke.

I enjoyed the guy on radio. Miss him there. I'm not from Coalfield. Pure speculation that it was cold. I'm also assuming traffic is light.

 

[bbeacham]

Although I have never been a Bob Kesling fan, I don't have any idea, who the University would ever pick to replace him. So, he is the "Voice of the Vols'' until he retires, quits, takes another job or whatever. I miss John Ward just as much as anybody. Like a lot of people, I used to turn the TV sound down just to listen to John Ward on the radio. I even tried that with Bob Kesling, but, I noticed a serious delay between Bob's play-by-play on the radio and the actual on the field action. That delay may have been there with John Ward, but, I just never noticed it.

 

[05_never_again]

Although I have never been a Bob Kesling fan, I don't have any idea, who the University would ever pick to replace him. So, he is the "Voice of the Vols'' until he retires, quits, takes another job or whatever. I miss John Ward just as much as anybody. Like a lot of people, I used to turn the TV sound down just to listen to John Ward on the radio. I even tried that with Bob Kesling, but, I noticed a serious delay between Bob's play-by-play on the radio and the actual on the field action. That delay may have been there with John Ward, but, I just never noticed it.

The delay wasn't there when John Ward was broadcasting. TV broadcasts started putting 7-second delays (or more) en masse after the infamous Janet Jackson/Justin Timberlake halftime show at the Super Bowl. Kesling's call (or any radio call) is no delay; the TV broadcast is delayed.

 

[tennbjj]

Although I have never been a Bob Kesling fan, I don't have any idea, who the University would ever pick to replace him. So, he is the "Voice of the Vols'' until he retires, quits, takes another job or whatever. I miss John Ward just as much as anybody. Like a lot of people, I used to turn the TV sound down just to listen to John Ward on the radio. I even tried that with Bob Kesling, but, I noticed a serious delay between Bob's play-by-play on the radio and the actual on the field action. That delay may have been there with John Ward, but, I just never noticed it.

The same issue we have with John Ward we have with Peyton. We were absolutely spoiled by their greatness, and every other person after will always be compared to them, fair or not. Not to say Kesling is great, but I think he is passable. Volnation deserves better than Kesling, but John Ward set the bar so high that Kesling, or any other announcer will have a hard time jumping over it (both literally and figuratively )

 

[The Ron Mexico]

At least once every time Vol calls comes on during football season:

“Hey Bob, how’s it going? Yeah, I’d just like to see the coach open up the offense. I’ll hang up and listen. Go Vols.”

 

[photovol]

This is exactly what’s wrong with America, instead of just worrying about yourself and not listening, you all want to take it away from people like Jerry from Bulls Gap , who probably lives to call and listen. Maybe if you don’t like it don’t listen, I don’t. If Jerry enjoys it why try to take it away. It doesn’t effect you. JMO

 

[molsen81]

This. People with nothing to say is about all who can get past the screeners. It’s sanitized for our protection.

I’ve been calling off and on for years but can never get through. Is it possible they don’t answer calls from the West Coast?

 

[Offset Eye]

"Natur-aal Gasss"

 

[BreatheUT]

Oh gawd...Warlick is/was just on the air.