Take everything you read with a grain of salt now

by rustytanton on Oct 28, 2008 7:46 AM EDT

A coach who has spent almost two decades as head coach at a big-money program like the University of Tennessee possibly losing his job is a big-time story. A lot of people are going to try to make a name for themselves breaking this story. Now more than ever, you need to be skeptical of what you read and demand proof.

Some people will be led along by sources who have an agenda to promote and report incorrect information.

Some people will make logical guesses and report them as facts from anonymous sources so that if their guesses are right they can later claim some insider access they don't really have. If it turns out to wrong? Oh well, the "source" had their facts wrong.*

Some people will run with single-sourced information without confirming it with other sources.

Some people will just lie because they like to mess with people or as an exercise of wishful thinking.

Some people will not disclose conflicts of interest.

So, don't believe everything you read or hear without doing some due diligence first. Even in the newspaper. Even on TV. Even on your friends' blogs. Even on this site.

* - Note: The first two items are NOT intended as a passive-agressive accusation of malfeasance on Ghost's part in this post. He may very well have a source who may very well have pegged this story, time will tell. But this is something I have seen happen over and over again in other places.

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Very true.

Ghost has been very reliable with previous insider tips, and I’m willing to believe he wouldn’t run this if he didn’t feel confident in it. But this is something that should be taken with a high degree of skepticism simply because of its magnitude.

And either way, breaking the story doesn’t affect the events at the end of the season. Fulmer will either stay or go, and we’ll all know that in due time. I’m really more interested in the remainder of the season right now than in the coaching issue.

Actually, I really hate this whole coaching issue. It’s nothing but badness.

by David Hooper on Oct 28, 2008 8:16 AM EDT reply actions

Good advice

You’d be amazed at some of the emails and IMs I’m getting. They’ve been coming for weeks. I’m not a reporter and so have no desire (or time) to fact-check sources or otherwise determine their credibility. Suffice it to say, you’re unlikely to find any scoops from either hooper or myself.

Like hooper said, though, Ghost has a bit of a track record. And really, who doesn’t believe that that’s probably right?

The guy to watch, though, is Chris Low of ESPN. He is widely known as the best-sourced Tennessee journalist.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Oct 28, 2008 9:36 AM EDT reply actions

I can't rec this post enough

Things are going to get crazy in and around Knoxville for the next 6-7 weeks at minimum. Stay skeptical until we know for sure – and we won’t know for 6-7 weeks at minimum, unless things really get crazy. Like, dogs and cats living together crazy.

by Chris Pendley on Oct 28, 2008 6:54 PM EDT reply actions

Agreed

And thanks for the reminder to rec. Just added mine.

Go Vols!

by Joel Hollingsworth on Oct 28, 2008 9:25 PM EDT up reply actions

I added one, too.

by David Hooper on Oct 28, 2008 9:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Awesome, thanks for the recs

"Florida didnt win their first SEC title until 1991 and now they think they invented football."
-Ron Zook

by rustytanton on Oct 28, 2008 11:12 PM EDT up reply actions

All good points.

Common sense stuff.

“Don’t wait for it to happen, don’t even want it to happen. Just watch what does happen.”

Deferring is for p_ssies. Make a decision!

by wvvol on Oct 28, 2008 11:56 PM EDT reply actions

Mixed feelings

What ever happens with the coaching issue, if the fans decide not to show up at all to watch the games, boo at the announcement of the coach before the start of the game so loud that regardless of how you feel about Fulmer, it makes us look ridiculous to our opponent and the media. It will be the decision of many VIP’s as to the future of Phil Fulmer. Until then, never forget what it felt like to support the players that go out there and give their all whether we feel they do or not. There are many players on the team that believe they play to win and play for all UT Fan enjoyment. Those players deserve our full support each week. For me, every time I sit in the stadium, watch the band and Smokey on the field, I still get goose bumps and remember just how special it feels on any given Saturday watching a Tennessee football game. Until the decision, give 100% as a good fan.

S.R.Hayes

by skye41 on Oct 29, 2008 6:40 PM EDT reply actions