The Official Wright State @ #17 Tennessee Series Thread (Fri. March 6 6:30PM ET) (Sat. March 7 3PM ET) (Sun. March 8 1PM ET) (All games SECNET+)

[feathersax]

I believe Spring Football Practice starts soon. Patience, the complainers will be analyzing the GM vs Brandon battle ..

I certainly recall the 1994 Vols when an element of Tennessee fans clamored for Branndon Stewart to be the starting QB over Peyton Manning. When Peyton did become the starter, Stewart transferred to Texas Tech (or A&M) &....well, dunno what happened to him (but The Sheriff did just fine).

 

[knoxvol52]

We got fans whining but it could be worse.

 

[knoxvol52]

And this..

 

[NighthawkVol]

Another good point is: A lot of the complaining parties weren’t watching Vol baseball when they were absolutely awful.

Or listening on the radio, as I had to do most of the time from about 1991 until the advent of the ESPN app (CWS games and games I could attend being the only exceptions).

Many love Mike Keith, but those of us who followed the baseball team back then have a special bond with him. I can't recall who was calling baseball games before Keith. Wilkerson worked alongside Keith.

 

[WallyBalls]

Or listening on the radio, as I had to do most of the time from about 1991 until the advent of the ESPN app (CWS games and games I could attebnd being the only exceptions).

Many love Mike Keith, but those of us who followed the baseball team back then have a special bond with him. I can't recall who was calling baseball games before Keith. Wilkerson worked alongside Keith.

So, so true. There was something really great about those broadcasts, its hard to explain. Its such an early 90s Knoxville thing in my memories.

They were a great older, more classic style of broadcast (That I think Wilkerson has carried on)...relaxed yet informative, never took themselves or the game too seriously, knew when to let a moment breathe.

 

[WallyBalls]

People would be wise to look around the country and see what else is going on. The game right now seems to be keep your head above water until you get it firing on all cylinders. McKee and Heflin both said 4-1 on that week is something you'd take 10/10 times and I agree with them. You got that while still not playing your best ball...keep moving forward.

Speaking of which, I don't have it in me to wade through what I'm sure is a sewer of post game drive bys so it may have already come up...but Elander and the coaches sent them straight to the clubhouse after the final out yesterday, instead of the normal huddles in RF. They were in there for about 10-15 minutes before the players came back out.

I imagine that was a pretty blistering meeting and hopefully it cleans the carbs so to speak...

 

[volsagain]

Yes I think all things are going to be tougher from now on out. The players that had to be cut have all gone to mid major schools and want to prove the coaches wrong. They can all perform and teams will come back after them and get better checks. That's not to excuse how poor we're hitting which has to pick up by next weekend. We've all seen how well a lot of players just from our team are performing all these good mid major teams got better by a lot this year.

 

[Bigvalley84]

I agree the roster limits has only helped these other teams , Wright State and Kent State were really solid teams with a lot of returning starters , it’s been a while since Tn hasn’t returned some star power with some really good transfers to complete the team , this year our transfers have been pretty good it’s our returning group that’s struggled at the plate

 

[volfan411]

I agree the roster limits has only helped these other teams , Wright State and Kent State were really solid teams with a lot of returning starters , it’s been a while since Tn hasn’t returned some star power with some really good transfers to complete the team , this year our transfers have been pretty good it’s our returning group that’s struggled at the plate

Outside of Manny, who had a great day yesterday, this sophomore class has really let us down so far this season. I personally think this team will be better at the end of the year than they are right now as the coaching staff gels and the every day line up shakes itself out.

 

[rockytop25]

its going to be a rough season. there will be as many highs as lows this year on the way to maybe a little over a .500 record. Elander does not have things right over there at the moment, for his sake he better figure it out real quick

Somebody bookmark this to come back to at a later date

 

[rockytop25]

Outside of Manny, who had a great day yesterday, this sophomore class has really let us down so far this season. I personally think this team will be better at the end of the year than they are right now as the coaching staff gels and the every day line up shakes itself out.

I think at this point Elander just needs to pick 9 guys and put them out there and let them play every single day and figure it out

 

[VolFan_stuck_in_the_901]

Somebody bookmark this to come back to at a later date

Already done

 

[TennesseeFan07]

On a separate note, High Point must be the best mid major program in the nation won the series against Florida and then it took a walk off by the gators to win today 12-11.

I'm curious about that program. Both basketball teams are great, too. They must have some money to spend.

 

[WallyBalls]

Outside of Manny, who had a great day yesterday, this sophomore class has really let us down so far this season. I personally think this team will be better at the end of the year than they are right now as the coaching staff gels and the every day line up shakes itself out.

The year 2 slump is absolutely a real thing in college baseball. That's not a surprise at all.

We've seen it many, many times. How long it lasts is the true question mark. I agree with your thought that they'll eventually find their rhythm and look better in May than they do now.

I want to see someone grab the reins and become their leader, vocal or otherwise. The good thing is I've seen a couple guys take steps toward that, sometimes it just takes time for that to shake out in a clubhouse.

 

[preacherman20]

A leader in the dugout has to have 2 things. Success and the right attitude. I have gotten amused in the past 7 years because the ones that the fans think are leaders are not really leaders to the players. The fans' favorite players who have all the personality are usually not the leaders in the dugout. Many times it is because they are not real leaders and some times it is because they are just jerks. I have learned in sports that most of the time the best players are not the dugout leaders. Pitchers are rarely leaders because they don't get to play enough and spend a lot of time away from the rest of the team. So, it has to be guys who are successful hitting and fielding and have a great personality. That is rare. And they normally have to have been there not a newcomer which makes it tough in today's world. Having an inside to the dugout many times the names that are thrown on here as dugout leaders were or are not leaders to the players. I think there are only a couple of guys who can ultimately be leaders right now.

 

[TechnoVol]

A leader in the dugout has to have 2 things. Success and the right attitude. I have gotten amused in the past 7 years because the ones that the fans think are leaders are not really leaders to the players. The fans' favorite players who have all the personality are usually not the leaders in the dugout. Many times it is because they are not real leaders and some times it is because they are just jerks. I have learned in sports that most of the time the best players are not the dugout leaders. Pitchers are rarely leaders because they don't get to play enough and spend a lot of time away from the rest of the team. So, it has to be guys who are successful hitting and fielding and have a great personality. That is rare. And they normally have to have been there not a newcomer which makes it tough in today's world. Having an inside to the dugout many times the names that are thrown on here as dugout leaders were or are not leaders to the players. I think there are only a couple of guys who can ultimately be leaders right now.

So what you're saying is that we only have a couple of potential alphas could emerge as a team leader? Maybe Ford can be that leader. Admittedly, I know nothing about his personality. We need someone to step up soon.

 

[theroyz71]

Rough weekend offensively, but still managed to win the series.

View attachment 818670

Ouch. Way too many unproductive bats in the lineup. They better start hitting or it's gonna be a very long season.

 

[NighthawkVol]

So, so true. There was something really great about those broadcasts, its hard to explain. Its such an early 90s Knoxville thing in my memories.

They were a great older, more classic style of broadcast (That I think Wilkerson has carried on)...relaxed yet informative, never took themselves or the game too seriously, knew when to let a moment breathe.

The first UT teams I followed featured Doug Hecker, Mike Basse, and Chris Freeman.

 

[chuckiepoo]

I want to see someone grab the reins and become their leader, vocal or otherwise. The good thing is I've seen a couple guys take steps toward that, sometimes it just takes time for that to shake out in a clubhouse.

 

[preacherman20]

So what you're saying is that we only have a couple of potential alphas could emerge as a team leader? Maybe Ford can be that leader. Admittedly, I know nothing about his personality. We need someone to step up soon.

I don't know him either. I know in the past they have never looked to a new guy as their team leader but this is a new world.

 

[Bigvalley84]

I’d like to see our guys take on the Garrett Wright approach , plays wide open and is willing to do whatever it takes to get on base , I know he’s a throw back type but our lack of emotion and grit isn’t a good look , I agree this sophomore class has to be better but I’m for sending Bates out there at second for a few games

 

[TechnoVol]

I’d like to see our guys take on the Garrett Wright approach , plays wide open and is willing to do whatever it takes to get on base , I know he’s a throw back type but our lack of emotion and grit isn’t a good look , I agree this sophomore class has to be better but I’m for sending Bates out there at second for a few games

Wright could be another potential leader, albeit a new member of the team as @preacherman20 said. During games, the only player I seen who has consistently showed some fire is Landon Mack.

 

[Bigvalley84]

Wright could be another potential leader, albeit a new member of the team as @preacherman20 said. During games, the only player I seen who has consistently showed some fire is Landon Mack.

Chapman and Stone are our two most experienced returning players but I’m not sure what kind of leaders they are , last years team was led by several different players I thought even a couple of transfers , I do think our sophomore class is really talented and will be better for their struggles this early season I just hope it doesn’t take too long for at least a couple of em to get it going

 

[bobabuga]

Chapman and Stone are our two most experienced returning players but I’m not sure what kind of leaders they are , last years team was led by several different players I thought even a couple of transfers , I do think our sophomore class is really talented and will be better for their struggles this early season I just hope it doesn’t take too long for at least a couple of em to get it going

I hope so too, but at this point I think we may be what we are and if that is true we will be lucky to break .500 in conference play. We just don't hit, try to do too much all at once. Put the ball in play, home runs are great but you don't go up to bat and try to hit one, hit the ball where its pitched. Don't get me wrong i am not a small ball fan but we got too many players that think they got to hit one all the time.

 

[volsagain]

I’d like to see our guys take on the Garrett Wright approach , plays wide open and is willing to do whatever it takes to get on base , I know he’s a throw back type but our lack of emotion and grit isn’t a good look , I agree this sophomore class has to be better but I’m for sending Bates out there at second for a few games

Wouidnt mind having a half dozen Garrett Wrights ! I really like players like him. That's the type you want for a leader.