Talking Points mishmash

by Joel Hollingsworth on Apr 5, 2010 7:18 AM EDT in Rocky Top Talking Points

Matt Simms says Tennessee "just feels right."
Janzen Jackson is still working his way through an image crisis: "I'm trying to show people who I really am, but that will come with time, and me being on the straight and narrow and getting everything done right off the field." I wonder if it's more difficult for him than it is for Melvin Goins, who also had all charges dropped against him, because Jackson plays fewer games.
Riiiiight. It's for the fans! Actually, Adams has a point, but my knee jerk reaction was that it was the media just trying a different angle on their pursuit of greater access to the football program under Derek Dooley.
Sackmaster Chuck Smith is all about stopping the run. Really. I wonder how much of that has to do with the fact that we may need the defensive ends to stay inside more this season due to a serious depth problem at defensive tackle.
John Adams reminds Vol fans why it's a very good thing that Dooley will be heavily involved in special teams:

When you review the mishaps of UT's last five seasons, special teams show up at the crime scene with uncanny regularity.

The 5-6 season of 2005 was the most flagrant example of that. Two of the six losses came on last-minute field goals by opponents; two more included opponents returning punts for touchdowns; and the Florida defeat was synopsized by a quote from former UT coach Phillip Fulmer: " ... we had two special teams plays that were our demise."

Although the annual volume of incidents has since declined, think how many UT games have turned an opponent's way the last few years because of a special-teams disaster. I'll drop a few names to jog your memory: Brandon James, DeSean Jackson and Terrence Cody.

Ouch. Make him stop!

According to one source ($?), Montario Hardesty is projected to be drafted as a third- to fourth-round pick as the #8 running back in this year's class, and Chris Scott is projected to go in round six or seven as the #16 offensive tackle.

Austin Ward has an excellent and in-depth Q&A with athletic director Mike Hamilton. Hamilton's family is also learning to choose their words more carefully when with their adopted Ethiopian children:

As for the parents, "we're learning not be quite as flippant in what we're saying," Beth Hamilton said. Some of the phrases they've used, like "we better clean this up or dad will kill us," the children have taken literally, "which has provided some entertainment, too."

The Hamilton's are hosting an event on April 15 to raise awareness about orphans and adoption. The evening at Thompson-Boling will include a performance by Steven Curtis Chapman, and proceeds will be shared by Show Hope and Blood:Water Mission.

Mike Griffith says the Vols would have beaten Butler had they made it past Michigan State. He also lists the top five moments of the 2009-2010 season.

Bruce Pearl breaks down the players returning for next season.

Incoming men's basketball player Tobias Harris has been named to the Parade All-America Team.

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Comments

I simply want to say:

Screw “Miss Sue.” Screw her with a Zombie Army home-grown in Neyland Stadium!!

Screw Miss Sue!! Screw Her With the Neyland Zombie Army!!

by bobo_the_vol on Apr 5, 2010 8:14 AM EDT reply actions

I'm sure that MSU also believed they would have beaten Butler if they got past Tennessee.

Granted, I liked UT’s chances, but I also liked MSU’s.

by David Hooper on Apr 5, 2010 8:31 AM EDT reply actions

Top 5 moments

I would still rank McBee’s 3 over JP’s block for the #1 moment of the season. Yes, the block took us to our first Elite 8, but the circumstances surrounding that Kansas game will make it memorable for years and years to come. It was the first sign that this team was going to be a special one, and it came at one of the low points in the Bruce Pearl era. Looking back at it, I still don’t know how we pulled off that upset given our roster. I was thrilled that we beat Ohio State, but not surprised. I think we were all shocked when McBee buried that three and iced the upset over Kansas.

So Sayth King Zach I

by kingofzachland on Apr 5, 2010 8:57 AM EDT reply actions

I would as well.

Without that three, I’m not entirely sure that the team recovers as well as they did from the incident. I mean, had they lost, the team still would know that they were competitive using walk-ons, but the win got the fans back into their corner in a big way, and I think that helped carry the team a little further down the road.

by David Hooper on Apr 5, 2010 9:16 AM EDT up reply actions

I have difficulty

ranking that shot as high as Hopson’s or Prince’s block because, well .. we had the lead when McBee shot that ball. Now, granted, the momentum had definately swung away from us and that was the dagger to Kansas — and, as we’ve seen, the best way to beat Kansas this year was to hit a jugular 3, but still..

Screw Miss Sue!! Screw Her With the Neyland Zombie Army!!

by bobo_the_vol on Apr 5, 2010 9:18 AM EDT up reply actions

Where's the love for Hopson's j against Florida?

As mentioned, we weren’t behind on any of the other plays – Hopson’s shot against the Gators was the only true game-winner.

Rocky Top Talk

by Will Shelton on Apr 5, 2010 9:36 AM EDT up reply actions

True

But I think from a fan’s perspective, we feel like we should beat Florida (even if we came perilously close to not doing so this year). The other games were either in the Tourney (OSU, SDSU) or against teams we were the underdog against (Kansas, Kentucky) or struggle against (Ole Miss). For what it’s worth, fans agree with Griffith in the online poll. For me, I think the difference will come years from now, when we have broken through to that next level I will still remember that Kansas upset for what it meant to this team, its fans and university over our first trip to the Elite Eight.

So Sayth King Zach I

by kingofzachland on Apr 5, 2010 10:07 AM EDT up reply actions