'27 TX LB Cooper Witten

#253
#253
tnvolfan16 said:
im not real sure i ever viewed jason witten as a hardcore VFL. desnt seem like he has ever really been engaged with UT. maybe showed up a time or two at games, but you dont really ear much about him supporting UT. Not ragging on him, not everyone has that 'Ol School Spirit
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Darryl Hardy's son plays safety for OU. Hardy was in Knoxville for most recent game. He didn't have a speck of orange on. It doesn't mean he's a bad person or we throw him out with the bath water, but this is an example of the last sentence above.
 
#254
#254
BreatheUT said:
Darryl Hardy's son plays safety for OU. Hardy was in Knoxville for most recent game. He didn't have a speck of orange on. It doesn't mean he's a bad person or we throw him out with the bath water, but this is an example of the last sentence above.
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Sometimes ex players just seem to forget their roots That got them where they are today. At least Witten said he wanted Tennessee to still recruit Cooper, That is a lot of pressure to put on your son. However, one does not know how long He will be coaching @ Oklahoma Not being a coach, I do not know how I would handle the recruitment of my son, except that I would not force him to go to any school, as long as it’s a school where he can get a good education. I think the manning family handled Peyton’s recruitment very well. Things worked out pretty well in that case.
 
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#256
#256
SpringBokVol said:
It's interesting that Jason has never really been that big of an ambassador for Tennessee.
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Didn't he mildly show interest in the job when either Cornbread or Heupel was hired? Not suggesting he was a serious candidate, nor did he try to make himself one, but it seemed like he noted personal interest and that he'd take the call if Tennessee were interested.
 
#258
#258
cncchris33 said:
Didn't he mildly show interest in the job when either Cornbread or Heupel was hired? Not suggesting he was a serious candidate, nor did he try to make himself one, but it seemed like he noted personal interest and that he'd take the call if Tennessee were interested.
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Yep he did. That was definitely in the rumor mill
 
#259
#259
i will say that i think i am of the idea that when it comes to Peyton's son, i dont think i even want Tennessee to pursue him, unless he just says that this where he wants to be, or it is a case like heath shular's son. Im not sure anyone could live up to the expectations that will be placed on him if he were here and came in as a five star. and it would be a shame for Peyton to have to take sides against the UT fanbase when he had a bad stretch and started getting dogged. sometimes i think it may just be best to have the son of the legend makes his mark somewhere else
 
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#262
#262
GUNTERSVOL said:
We need to keep an eye on Jason’s housing solution in OK. Might indicate transience potential in the near future.

Maybe he sends his kid to play for Baylor or IMG type this year to avoid local pressure. Not a clue if he has an anti-sooner mindset with his Texas upbringing, Possible.
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Argyle, TX is 40 mins from OK border and smidge over 2 hours to Norman. Lot of OU fans in the northern section of DFW Metroplex. There's a bigger OU alumni chapter in Dallas than Tulsa, for example...
 
#263
#263
GUNTERSVOL said:
We need to keep an eye on Jason’s housing solution in OK. Might indicate transience potential in the near future.

Maybe he sends his kid to play for Baylor or IMG type this year to avoid local pressure. Not a clue if he has an anti-sooner mindset with his Texas upbringing, Possible.
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Dallas is as much OU country as it is Texas. Of course Witten wants Heupel to keep recruiting his son. Last thing JW wants is his son to feel denied the entire experience. Portal recruiting isn’t as intense or drawn out as it is in high school.

If I’m Heupel, I slowly move on. No need to waste a lot of time & money here. Tennessee’s success rate on Texas kids has been bad anyway.
 
#265
#265
Peyton loves Tennessee but I’d bet he will be cheering for his nephew when we play. It’s just a game but family is forever.
 
#267
#267
tnvolfan16 said:
i will say that i think i am of the idea that when it comes to Peyton's son, i dont think i even want Tennessee to pursue him, unless he just says that this where he wants to be, or it is a case like heath shular's son. Im not sure anyone could live up to the expectations that will be placed on him if he were here and came in as a five star. and it would be a shame for Peyton to have to take sides against the UT fanbase when he had a bad stretch and started getting dogged. sometimes i think it may just be best to have the son of the legend makes his mark somewhere else
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I have been saying it for years. I’d rather the kid go make his own decision. I don’t want to see him get eaten alive because those are impossible expectations on his shoulders.

I’m not saying I wouldn’t love to have him if that was his decision; just that his father was put on more of a pedestal so high by one fanbase in college football unlike any other I have witnessed. Lots of schools have favorites sons or whatever, but I’ve never witnessed the utter devotion to a college football player at any other school that matches the hero worship Vols have for Peyton.

I love the guy, but the fact that it’s been 30 years since he first took the field for us and he is still rarely leaves the first page of discussion on Vol message boards is kind of disturbing. How every open coaching position always brings in a hire Peyton comment.

Arch has a walk in the park compared to what Marshall will feel if he comes to Tennessee.
 
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#268
#268

Tennessee considered the biggest challenger to Oklahoma for Cooper Witten​

While the Sooners are considered the one to beat heading into spring for the top-ranked linebacker in the country, the Vols are still very much in the equation.

A source thought it was 80-20 in OU’s favor.

Obviously the Sooners hired Witten’s father, future NFL Hall of Famer Jason to coach tight ends. Brent Venables and his staff were already doing a great job recruiting the younger Witten. Venables history, and the Sooners defense this past fall, along with the relationships and now the family dynamic have put OU in prime position.

With that being written, the younger Witten has always loved Tennessee. The family connections to the program and the state, the relationship with the staff and trajectory of the football team still have the Checkered Orange in the middle of it. As I’ve written in the past, the elder Witten called Heupel before the news broke to tell him to keep recruiting his son and said Cooper is going through his own process.

I think the decision for Witten to remain at Liberty Christian for his senior year is big for Tennessee. Had he moved to Norman, he’d already be starting the process of getting engrained with that football team with the ability to be around so much.

Georgia, Texas A&M and others are still swinging at Witten but Oklahoma or Tennessee look like the most likely destination.
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-on3
 
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#274
#274
tnvolfan16 said:
i will say that i think i am of the idea that when it comes to Peyton's son, i dont think i even want Tennessee to pursue him, unless he just says that this where he wants to be, or it is a case like heath shular's son. Im not sure anyone could live up to the expectations that will be placed on him if he were here and came in as a five star. and it would be a shame for Peyton to have to take sides against the UT fanbase when he had a bad stretch and started getting dogged. sometimes i think it may just be best to have the son of the legend makes his mark somewhere else
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Maybe fans shouldn't be $hitty to players. That way no one has to take sides.
 
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#275
#275
I just want to win games. I'm not going to worry about perceived pressure from fan expectations for legacy players. That sword cuts both ways. It can be really good or really bad depending on circumstances we can't yet possibly know. Whoever helps us win games is who I want on the team regardless of legacy status or anyone's personal concerns on behalf of other people's future PR.
 
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