So this is nothing new, but it’s a fascinating look at how paranoid college coaching staffs are nowadays. Barrett Sallee tweeted out this email (I assume) of what the Tennessee coaching staff expects out of the media in attendance. Seriously, read through all these.
Tennessee asking media to not report on players that media members observe as injured during viewing portion of practice pic.twitter.com/XYq5cYYWtL
— Barrett Sallee (@BarrettSallee) July 24, 2017
The one that amazes me the most is the restriction on reporting personnel, formations and trick plays. Call me skeptical, but I don’t think Kirby Smart and Jim McElwain are patrolling twitter checking for the latest twitter update on Tennessee’s practice.
While I understand (somewhat) the need for secrecy, this seems excessive.
The media also can’t report any injured players that they may see rehabbing or not participating. They are to wait on official word from Butch Jones. This part goes along with how Butch has been during his time in Knoxville. We often are left in the dark on injuries. Remember Jalen Hurd’s “injury” from last season during the Georgia game? That entire situation was mishandled and made worse by Tennessee’s refusal to shed any light.
College coaches, I promise you, media members (me included) aren't smart enough to wreck your gameplan based on team stretching periods.
— Barrett Sallee (@BarrettSallee) July 24, 2017
Like I said before, I somewhat get the need for secrecy, but it’s dumb to pretend like these media members are going to leak out information that is going to cost you a win. This doesn’t do much for Butch’s insecure image that he’s seemed to create with his poor handling of the media in the past, either.
There’s nothing wrong with wanting an advantage, but fans want some transparency with Butch. They want to be let in. With Jones, it seems like every press conference is filled with the same robotic answers and positive spin. I just want to see a real Butch, for once. Just shoot it straight. It doesn’t look like we’re ever going to get that, however.