Why does Tennessee have such bad in-state talent?

#1
S

swiperboyfan

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#1
I mean in tennessee we LOVE football, why is there very little top notch talent coming out of this state? The university should pump some cash into the bigger high schools in the state to try and bump up the talent a notch. Part of the problem is most schools might still be stuck in the stone ages running the wing T like my alma mater Hendersonville High School. What is the deal?
 
#3
#3
There are a number of reasons, too many to get into in fact. We see so many option and run oriented offenses for a number of reasons, I once had a guy who trains athletes that one reason we don't see many passing offenses in this area is that so many of the best arms play baseball in this state.....not really sure if I buy into that one though.
 
#4
#4
That is a lie When i played High School Football in Memphis Every other team play 4 wides all the time especially Melrose High
 
#6
#6
If I had to give the top reasons, they would include the poor quality of youth leagues especially in areas where the athletes are more abundant and also the lack of consolidation of TN HS's in the past. Both of these will be improving over the next several years if I'm not mistaken.

The problem for UT is that Memphis will still be a world away and Nashville will still have Bama/Auburn pipelines.

UT's near and intermediate future is primarily dependent on recruiting GA and upstate SC well.
 
#7
#7
The problem for UT is that Memphis will still be a world away and Nashville will still have Bama/Auburn pipelines.

UT's near and intermediate future is primarily dependent on recruiting GA and upstate SC well.
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UT has to do better in that regard! No memphis talent should want to go anywhere but UT and to be real with u Arkansas,Kentucky, and all of UT should want to be a Vol and Nothern Mississippi
 
#9
#9
Tennessee high school football is not as much a part of the culture as a Florida, Texas, or Ohio. IMHO that is where the answer lies
 
#12
#12
we may not be as deep in talent as other states, but we have some pretty good talent in this state and have had alot of good players go to schools in other states because our coach at the time "put a fence up around this state....with a huge hole in it" cough, cough (Fulmer and Kiffin). Pennington, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Randall Cobb to name a few
 
#14
#14
Tennessee high school football is not as much a part of the culture as a Florida, Texas, or Ohio. IMHO that is where the answer lies
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although in some parts of the state of Tennessee;high school football have packed stadiums,but if u looked at the other states high school u (Texas,Florida, and Georgia) would think your playing a Juco team. It doesn't mean as much as the Texas,Florida, and Georgia in Tenneessee
 
#15
#15
golfballs03 said:
the answer isn't very politically correct
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Well said but also look at the population of football "hot beds"

California 37 million
Texas 24 million
Florida 18 million
Georgia 10 million
TN 6 million
AL 5 million

It is a numbers game excluding AL.
 
#17
#17
I am no expert by any stretch.....I've heard that part of the reason is that Tennessee's high school coaches are only part time coaches and part time teachers. Could that have any bearing on building talent?
 
#19
#19
Quote:
TN 6 million
AL 5 million

I think u lost your argument


Not really if you look at my disclaimer....
 
#20
#20
Vol Catdaddy said:
UT has to do better in that regard! No memphis talent should want to go anywhere but UT and to be real with u Arkansas,Kentucky, and all of UT should want to be a Vol and Nothern Mississippi
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I've been watching this awhile now and Memphis kids just don't seem to have any special attraction to UT by and large. A few do but most are just as likely to be LSU or Ole Miss fans.

Personally however, I think Marlon Brown would have been a Vol if he were being recruited this year instead of last. He and grandma were turned off by the last staff but probably would have loved Dooley.

Arkansas kids are much more homer than you seem to know. It is the only major school in the state and they have alot of state pride from border to border. UT and Auburn have alternately done OK in Arkansas but the Hogs definitely have the inside track.

Kentucky is the only SEC state that has worse talent than Tn... and that by a fairly wide margin.
 
#21
#21
Part of it is marketing and perception. Many of the other states' coaches do a better job promoting their players. Many of the in-state players compare favorably to those in other states but they are not marketed (for lack of a better word) as well. Given the same opportunities the Tennessee players would be on par with their peers from other states.
 
#22
#22
AL is got a lot of talent because Sabin just came to town, they overrate players when a big name comes...
 
#23
#23
JR has a good point, its about population and ethnic background. I mean its no secret that the majority of great College and Pro players are African American and Tennessee does not have alot of African Americans in its state. I believe the state as of 2008 census was about 80% white, 16% African American and 4% other.

California is broken down 77% White and 6% African American (Thats about 2.2 million African Americans living in Cali) This makes a huge difference.

Most of the great players (both football and basketball) come out of Memphis, this is for the same reason. Memphis has a 61% to 38% blacks to whites ratio. Unfortunately like someone said its on the other end of the state. If Tennessee wants to develop a "Pipeline" from Memphis they are going to have to promote UT sports better there.

Folks this isn't being racist its being truthful. There's a reason most of the great NHL players come from Europe or Canada and not Florida or Georgia.

I hate to make this analogy but its the truth, so instead of snot bubbling lets get the Tennessee kids to come to Knoxville and also get some non-Tennessee kids in here as well.
 
#24
#24
It's a combo between weather and population size (particularly the black population).

Alabama has a similar black and overall population to tennesee, but has better football weather- less ice, less cold, more humidity (which is a key part of training)
 
#25
#25
BigHodgie said:
i'll agree with that. just too much of the year nobody want's to be outside ballin'. basketball or the dreaded video game gets too many potential football players.
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Ohio, Michigan, Penn, Illinois, and Virginia all have weather worse than Tn. All produce more talent.

I live in MO... Tn weather is VERY mild.
 
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