The best argument for the hometown school.

#1
V

Vfl2407

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 11, 2015
Messages
12,132
Likes
21,685
#1
I’ve been thinking about Mays leaving after we’ve lost two other Knox area guys lately to Clemson.
It’s been talked to death about why he might leave Knoxville.
But, something that doesn’t get enuf talk imho is the impact on the local city and the impact on the athlete and family during and after they are out of school.

Of course, the athlete’s number one priority should be to go where they feel most comfortable and think they would be happiest. But, they should also realize that turning down the hometown school really hurts the hometown. Rival coaches will use it saying that players that know a school the best don’t want to go there. Hurting UT, hurts Knoxville’s economy.

And what about after school. Say the athlete doesn’t make it to the NFL due to injury or whatever reason. Say that athlete wants to move back home to be around family. Will the local businesses be reaching out to help the guy that spurned the local school. Whereas, a VFL will get much more help from the locals after school.

Combine this with the disappointment and travel expenses of the athletes family and friends of not be able to see the athlete play in person without traveling.

Anyway, all things being equal, I think the local athlete knows these things as the local school would be committing recruiting malpractice not to point it out.
So, with Mays, he must think that things are no longer equal as far as UT goes to the 3 schools he will choose from. Let’s hope that the Pruitt administration will change that and in the future any superstar locals will be clamoring to stay at home and play for UT.

If you read this Cade, good luck to you wherever you go and Gods speed.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
#2
#2
I agree. I am still cautiously optimistic he may be in play especially now with Fulmer at AD. Fingers crossed.

Just to piggy back on this thread because I do not have the privileges to start one is anyone else upset Trey Smith did not make an AP All American team? The kid is a baller and will probably end up playing tackle in the NFL when he is done at Tennessee. He was the only player on this year's team who I thought had a decent shot. Trey, if you are reading this, you are an All American to all of us!
 
  • Like
Reactions: 6 people
#3
#3
Hawkeye4588 said:
I agree. I am still cautiously optimistic he may be in play especially now with Fulmer at AD. Fingers crossed.

Just to piggy back on this thread because I do not have the privileges to start one is anyone else upset Trey Smith did not make an AP All American team? The kid is a baller and will probably end up playing tackle in the NFL when he is done at Tennessee. He was the only player on this year's team who I thought had a decent shot. Trey, if you are reading this, you are an All American to all of us!
Click to expand...

I think those Awards Teams are all pretty political.
It probably hurt Smith that he played for a very unpopular Coach as far as national perspective.
That will soon change.
I think that a lot of media will like the fact that Pruitt is a no nonsense tell it like it is guy. He may not be a jokester and quick with a pun, but we’ve had enuf of those types.
Just win, Jeremy. Just win and the team and individual awards will come.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 3 people
#4
#4
Vfl2407 said:
I’ve been thinking about Mays leaving after we’ve lost two other Knox area guys lately to Clemson.
It’s been talked to death about why he might leave Knoxville.
But, something that doesn’t get enuf talk imho is the impact on the local city and the impact on the athlete and family during and after they are out of school.

Of course, the athlete’s number one priority should be to go where they feel most comfortable and think they would be happiest. But, they should also realize that turning down the hometown school really hurts the hometown. Rival coaches will use it saying that players that know a school the best don’t want to go there. Hurting UT, hurts Knoxville’s economy.

And what about after school. Say the athlete doesn’t make it to the NFL due to injury or whatever reason. Say that athlete wants to move back home to be around family. Will the local businesses be reaching out to help the guy that spurned the local school. Whereas, a VFL will get much more help from the locals after school.

Combine this with the disappointment and travel expenses of the athletes family and friends of not be able to see the athlete play in person without traveling.

Anyway, all things being equal, I think the local athlete knows these things as the local school would be committing recruiting malpractice not to point it out.
So, with Mays, he must think that things are no longer equal as far as UT goes to the 3 schools he will choose from. Let’s hope that the Pruitt administration will change that and in the future any superstar locals will be clamoring to stay at home and play for UT.

If you read this Cade, good luck to you wherever you go and Gods speed.
Click to expand...

Most of us go away to school.. why should football players by looked at differently?
 
  • Like
Reactions: 3 people
#5
#5
If their family stayed in knox and he went to nfl there would be lots of $ inserted into local economy. If you want knox to win make a case for his parents to stay in knox.
 
#6
#6
If Tennessee, or any school, tried to guilt me into coming like that, I’d be gone in 60 seconds. I hope Cade winds up a Vol, but let’s not over dramatize this or act like his future isn’t at least as bright by going to a proven winner.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 6 people
#7
#7
Cade has busted his butt and has been blessed with a God given talent. He should go where he can maximize that talent the most. I'm hopeful he takes a deep look at UT now but I don't blame him for being jaded given the administrative/coaching malpractice shown by Butch/Wells/Currie.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 4 people
#8
#8
Hawkeye4588 said:
I agree. I am still cautiously optimistic he may be in play especially now with Fulmer at AD. Fingers crossed.

Just to piggy back on this thread because I do not have the privileges to start one is anyone else upset Trey Smith did not make an AP All American team? The kid is a baller and will probably end up playing tackle in the NFL when he is done at Tennessee. He was the only player on this year's team who I thought had a decent shot. Trey, if you are reading this, you are an All American to all of us!
Click to expand...

Trey was a very good (not yet great) player on a team that went 0-8 in the SEC, was not competitive in November, and went most of October without scoring an offensive TD. No reason to be upset about him being "snubbed"
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#11
#11
BigOrangeMojo said:
Trey was a very good (not yet great) player on a team that went 0-8 in the SEC, was not competitive in November, and went most of October without scoring an offensive TD. No reason to be upset about him being "snubbed"
Click to expand...

Yeah, that is a good point. I am still adjusting to Tennessee not having All American players and 1st round draft picks. Hopefully we get back there someday.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#12
#12
BTW, since I just mentioned that it has been awhile since UT routinely had high round draft picks and All Americans I wanted to float a theory here. Has Clemson stole our glory? I guess what I am saying is we are so close together and our recruiting territories overlap so much is the fact Dabo has turned Clemson into a perennial favorite occurred at the expense of Tennessee. It seems like a lot of top players from our state choose Clemson now over Tennessee. If Tennessee rebuilds it would have to come at the expense of Clemson I think.
 
#13
#13
Vfl2407 said:
I’ve been thinking about Mays leaving after we’ve lost two other Knox area guys lately to Clemson.
It’s been talked to death about why he might leave Knoxville.
But, something that doesn’t get enuf talk imho is the impact on the local city and the impact on the athlete and family during and after they are out of school.

Of course, the athlete’s number one priority should be to go where they feel most comfortable and think they would be happiest. But, they should also realize that turning down the hometown school really hurts the hometown. Rival coaches will use it saying that players that know a school the best don’t want to go there. Hurting UT, hurts Knoxville’s economy.

And what about after school. Say the athlete doesn’t make it to the NFL due to injury or whatever reason. Say that athlete wants to move back home to be around family. Will the local businesses be reaching out to help the guy that spurned the local school. Whereas, a VFL will get much more help from the locals after school.

Combine this with the disappointment and travel expenses of the athletes family and friends of not be able to see the athlete play in person without traveling.

Anyway, all things being equal, I think the local athlete knows these things as the local school would be committing recruiting malpractice not to point it out.
So, with Mays, he must think that things are no longer equal as far as UT goes to the 3 schools he will choose from. Let’s hope that the Pruitt administration will change that and in the future any superstar locals will be clamoring to stay at home and play for UT.

If you read this Cade, good luck to you wherever you go and Gods speed.
Click to expand...


You are going to hang the Knoxville economy on a local kid's neck? C'mon man. Cut the BS.

Plenty of guys from Atlanta and Birmingham have ended up at Ole Miss or LSU. Plenty of guys from Florida and North Carolina come here. That doesn't break the economies of their towns. And parents will make the trip to see their son play elsewhere, so cut the guilt trip.

I don't think we have ever had a player from here in Greenback get a scholarship at Tennessee, but a handful have walked on. But I am just as proud of our guys that went somewhere else. And though a few business people around might prefer to help a former Vol, that is nothing to base a college choice on. For me, five years later, I care the same for all our boys.

And for some, getting away from the locals is the best thing in the world for them. Ever tried to write a term paper when a friend from school shows up thinking you have time to just hang out?

I want these guys too, but they need to make the choice best for them, not out of some half witted loyalty to the home town or civic responsibility. Screw that crap.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 3 people
#14
#14
Kids are all over the place as to why they select the schools they do. Some are very detailed and do a deep dive others are impulsive and just flip a coin in their heads and go with one. Leroy Thompson going to Paterno's Penn State, how the heck did that happen?? Yet his hometown did not fold up and die. same for the WR out of Goodpasture that was all world and he ended up at USC Trojans. If Mays goes elsewhere East Tennessee will somehow survive. <blue font> It will be difficult but somehow you'll push through and weather those hard times.
 
#15
#15
just like ya'll sure would like to see him at UT but...gotta go with what you think is best...so, good luck Cade whatever you do...MAKE THE VOLS GREAT AGAIN...:thumbsup:

GO VOLS!
 
#16
#16
Of course, the athlete’s number one priority should be to go where they feel most comfortable and think they would be happiest. But, they should also realize that turning down the hometown school really hurts the hometown. Rival coaches will use it saying that players that know a school the best don’t want to go there. Hurting UT, hurts Knoxville’s economy.

Yeah, ever since Reggie White chose to go to UT instead of the local community college, Chattanooga has never been the same.
 
#17
#17
Hawkeye4588 said:
BTW, since I just mentioned that it has been awhile since UT routinely had high round draft picks and All Americans I wanted to float a theory here. Has Clemson stole our glory? I guess what I am saying is we are so close together and our recruiting territories overlap so much is the fact Dabo has turned Clemson into a perennial favorite occurred at the expense of Tennessee. It seems like a lot of top players from our state choose Clemson now over Tennessee. If Tennessee rebuilds it would have to come at the expense of Clemson I think.
Click to expand...

I think it has more to do with Dooley being arguably the worst coach in SEC history and Butch entrusting 4* and 5* prospects to his "assistant buddy system".
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#18
#18
ESPN has GA in the mix for Mays. Guess what, they have big TV exposure coming up. Clemson too, for that matter. Hope all you want, but be realistic.
 
#19
#19
Posts are exaggerated to the extreme.

I never said that Cade is responsible for the Knoxville economy.
I did say that what hurts UT, hurts Knoxville.
I stand by that.
A successful UT football program helps the Knoxville economy. Ask any Knoxville businessman.

A five star Knoxvillian that grew up a Vol fan whose father played for UT changing a two year commitment from UT hurts.
It doesn’t devastate.
But, it hurts more than losing most recruits would.

You are living in a fantasy world if you don’t believe that rival coaches will say something like this to those considering UT:
“Yea, I know you’re also considering UT. Did you happen to see where Cade Mays just turned them down. Yeah, he was a lifelong Vol fan and Knoxvillian. In fact, his Dad played for UT a long time ago when they were any good. But, Cade said after seeing that program up close that it’s just a Train wreck”.

Still doesn’t mean Cade should go to UT.
Still doesn’t mean that we can’t replace him.
Still doesn’t mean that the Vols won’t be great under Pruitt.

But, it is a big temporary loss for our program.
It just is.
 
#20
#20
Pathetic coaching and player development are the primary reason we have lost recruits. Lower chances of winning a championship is a smaller factor.

I think CJP brings a lot of passion and energy to the program and the promise of better player development. I also think there will be much better trust with the parents of recruits as well.

This should help to restore faith in our program but it won't be totally fixed overnight.

I still feel like Mays and Taylor will come home to Tennessee!
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#21
#21
Biopsyman said:
Most of us go away to school.. why should football players by looked at differently?
Click to expand...

I was just telling somebody the exact same thing. I completely understand a Knoxville native wanting to get out of town like a lot of other people do for college.
 
#23
#23
You have to focus on the kids that want to be here, not the ones you have to beg and cajole into signing. Maybe, like many HS kids, he wants to be away from home for a while.
 
#24
#24
Dont understand why Kids go elsewhere? I know they do. But I am a culmination of how I was raised and my life experiences. Where you play has no bearing on your draft status in the NFL.A Shot at a Natty on your way there? Maybe I guess. College years are priceless memories for players. The experience the friendships forged with players Coaches and faculty.Its a game of pickup ball on the way. Now I'd pick my friends and neighbors. Win loose or draw. Id protect my turf before anothers. Unless my school did not want me. Now that I'd understand. BTJM!
 
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.
Advertisement



Back
Top