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The Kentucky Wildcats get another confidence boost.
Someone please explain to me the sudden confidence in the Wildcats.
Last week, Matt Jones of Kentucky Sports Radio said that the Vols will never have a great football program again. Now, USA Today handicapper Danny Sheridan is preaching his faith in the Cats for 2017.
“Jones, a good coach, good recruiter, last year I thought they would be sensational in preseason,” Sheridan said on the air. “They were a 1-point underdog in Vegas to Alabama, and I thought they’d beat Alabama in preseason… Butch Jones is looking at seven, maybe eight wins. I think that could be considered mediocrity. I really think they’ll lose to Kentucky at Kentucky. If they lay another egg, if you are a Tennessee grad, is seven or eight wins going to get it for him?” - Danny Sheridan, USA Today
The game initially came out as a pick em, according to South Point Casino. But if you have any familiarity with Vegas, they are known for sucker bets every now and then.
Since Butch took over in 2013, the Vols have absolutely throttled the Wildcats in just about every game. Butch is a perfect 4-0 against Kentucky. His teams average 44.5 PPG and 502 total yards of offense per game when they play the Cats.
The Vols have also outscored UK by an average of 23 points during this span. There is also the fact that Tennessee has won 31 of the past 32 meetings between the two teams.
Let’s hope this is just a red herring and the Vols continue their pace against UK come October 28th.
Tennessee AD John Currie told USA Today columnist Dan Wolken at the SEC spring meetings in Destin that he views the Vols’ football program as “on the upswing” and commended Jones for the job he has done thus far.
“What I believe is that when you have a coach who’s taken over a situation with all the things he took over, and you march forward, you get better at all your stuff,” Currie said in the USA Today interview. “It takes a while in this environment to learn how to manage it because so many people want to know stuff.
“He’s earned the right to say less because we’ve won a bunch of football games over the last four years.” - John Currie, UT Athletic Director
It seems that Butch has the right people in the corner. Now he needs to show Currie what he can do on the field this season.
When Tennessee athletics signed on with Nike as their official apparel supplier, everyone had a strong feeling that it would work out well for both parties.
Just two years after donning the first uniforms, the Vols and Nike have overhauled the original agreement.
Check out the report here for all of the details.
Tennessee Football hires new director of communications.
Zach Stipe, a former employee who worked for the Vols from 2008-2011 was just hired on Friday as Tennessee Football’s new director of communications.
Stipe spent the last six years as Florida State’s director of communications. He was there during the Jameis Winston controversy, giving him experience at critical moments during a program’s existence.
Check out all the details on the hire here.
Ignont bringing much-needed mindset to defense.
Will Ignont knows he can play and he isn’t afraid to admit it.
After a stellar high school career which landed him inside the top twenty at his position nationally, Ignont is looking to let that success roll over into the next level of his career.
The 6-3 230lb linebacker committed to the Vols back in October and just showed up on campus this past week to begin his Volunteer career. And he couldn’t have come at a better time.
After losing Jalen Reeves-Maybin and with the questionable health of Darren Kirkland Jr. - Ignont, a four-star recruit, could find himself on the field quicker than expected. Hopefully, he gets on the field due to his play and not necessity.