Ron Higgins calls for change

#27
#27
the first of many articles that need to come....it is nice to start with someone that has clout in the business....others will follow, and other will respond...keep reading, they are coming to newspaper near you. well written, everyone on VN needs to read the article...
 
#28
#28
justingroves said:
Bud Ford made reporter leave a media session early because he was being critical of CPF.
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You're not talking about Small Mike are you?......He is a loud mouth punk not a reporter......He used to call SportsTalk back when Mike Keith hosted and went by "Ogre" - nuff said.
 
#31
#31
Fayettevol said:
Correct. He's a very smart fellow. Generally right on, even when I disagree with him.:good!:

What do you think about Caulkins?
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Caulkins thinks he's comedian most of the time although every now and again he will write a column just to piss everybody off. If you want to hear him pontificate verbally, he's on Sports 56 with George Lapides 8:00 til 10:00 AM Mon-Fri...
 
#34
#34
JagerVol01 said:
You're not talking about Small Mike are you?......He is a loud mouth punk not a reporter......He used to call SportsTalk back when Mike Keith hosted and went by "Ogre" - nuff said.
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To Small Mike's credit, he's been pointing out stat after stat after stat and reason after reason why Fulmer should have been gone, and people laughed him off radio.

Now Small Mike/Cattleman/Jim Copeland is smelling like a rose.


But his "Million Fan March" idea is a bit much. Ain't no way he get's a million fans to march for Fulmer to resign. Too many Kool-Aid drinkers are still out there.
 
#35
#35
There was a legion of know it all's back in '94 that were calling for Branndon Stewart (Kids, I know you've never heard of him and it's okay) to start over another fellow freshman QB and current reigning Super Bowl MVP following a close loss at home to Alabama and "Ogre" was the most vocal of these idiots.....I was an undergrad at UT at the time and the one and only time I have ever called a talk show was to rebut one of "Ogre's" (as Mike Keith called him) rants about how Stewart was the future (maybe I should host a show!!!!)....He has bitched long enough to finally be right about something but that doesn't give him any more credibility.
 
#40
#40
hmanvolfan said:
Ron Higgins has covered the SEC for at least 10 years.. I met him at an Octoberfest party at a Catholic church about 5 years ago and we discussed Tennessee football and SEC football at length. He is very knowledgeable on the subject.
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I definitely agree!

I grew up in the hallways of the Commercial Appeal, and I know Higgins very well. He has helped me get some amazing journalist photos (AP and local" throughout the years from Tigers and Vols football) I could tell you why I am so familiar with "Higgy", but none of you would believe me. (Father is on executive board.)

I have been to the employee parties and family gatherings and had a chance to listen to Higgins speak on different issues, of course, his most covered is the hometown game, UM (always be MSU to me), but Higgins has a wealth of knowledge about UT and doesn't slant against them. He has a helluva alot of clout and respect in the Southeast writer's associaton. But, he is expected to lean towards what the the majority of his readers want, it's West Tennessee, more Tigers, less Vols. Readers dictate that. Happens the same way in East Tennessee, you don't hear more concerning UM, than UT; not that there is anything worth printing concerning the Tigers anyway. So, it is unfair to say Higgins is not knowledgable or passionate about SEC / UT football based on what he writes. In journalism, controversy and presuasion is the name of the game.

I personally can prove Higgins is an avid fan of the UT program as well as the Martin program. In order to keep your job, you print what makes your readers more interested to buy a paper and look forward reading what you will print the next day. Higgins, having almost 25 years experience covering "Tennessee" sports, could tell more UT stories and highlights than most of us, and with more passion than some of us in East Tennessee. Don't judge a book by it's cover. He is an SEC enthusiast.

Anyone can read Higgins' blogs on the SEC at The Memphis Edge » SEC Football
 
#41
#41
• Phil Fulmer has lost Memphis, or at least one of the state's flagship newspapers. Respected SEC columnist Ron Higgins of the Memphis Commercial Appeal this week called for a coaching change at Tennessee (1-2 going into Arkansas State).

There's a little bit of what-have-you-done-for-me-lately to this, but Higgins cited 1) five years without a top 10 ranking; 2) five consecutive years with at least three losses; 3) a 2-5 bowl record since 1998.

While those aren't exactly damning numbers, by winning a national championship Fulmer set a standard he is having a hard time living up to.
 
#42
#42
Without the National Championship, people would have been even more disgruntled by now. It is the only thing that has kept Fulmer around this long. What we are getting right now...blowouts to California and Florida, almost 10 years without an SEC championship or major bowl game, this is not Tennessee football, after Fulmer's NC or before it.
 
#43
#43
Godfatha said:
Without the National Championship, people would have been even more disgruntled by now. It is the only thing that has kept Fulmer around this long. What we are getting right now...blowouts to California and Florida, almost 10 years without an SEC championship or major bowl game, this is not Tennessee football, after Fulmer's NC or before it.
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Hmmm I think Im seeing a generation gap here:
- Try going 15 years without a SEC Championship (1970-1984)
-Try a couple of 4-7 seasons sandwiched between a couple of 5-6 seasons
- Try losing to bama 12 years in a row (equilivant to losing to UF)
- Try being relieved the UT finally gets a GARDEN STATE BOWL invite

Oh my, things could be way worse than what they are.
 
#44
#44
JagerVol01 said:
You're not talking about Small Mike are you?......He is a loud mouth punk not a reporter......He used to call SportsTalk back when Mike Keith hosted and went by "Ogre" - nuff said.
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Yes, it was Small Mike. He's an idiot...but I'm on his get rid of PF bandwagon atm.
 
#45
#45
orangeblooded_2 said:
Hmmm I think Im seeing a generation gap here:
- Try going 15 years without a SEC Championship (1970-1984)
-Try a couple of 4-7 seasons sandwiched between a couple of 5-6 seasons
- Try losing to bama 12 years in a row (equilivant to losing to UF)
- Try being relieved the UT finally gets a GARDEN STATE BOWL invite

Oh my, things could be way worse than what they are.
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Wenever want to see that again, and with today's climate, major changes will happen before it gets that bad again.

We're on our way, however...
 
#48
#48
orangetd88 said:
Wenever want to see that again, and with today's climate, major changes will happen before it gets that bad again.

We're on our way, however...
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Also, we fired coaches because of that nonsense. That was the worst era in the history of TN football, hardly the base for a fair comparison of expectations.
 
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