Tennessee does not need Bryce Brown aggravation
It’s Friday. Mercifully, the season is only two weeks away. And this is your day to talk about anything that is on your mind, even if it’s not college football. And as I’ve said before, please keep it clean because my momma reads this blog.
I’ll get things rolling.
1. Tennessee does not need the Bryce Brown aggravation. But you had to know that some aggravation was coming: Bryce Brown, Tennessee’s highly-recruited freshman running back, had a messy recruitment from the beginning with his “advisor” Brian Butler. For a while, you’ll recall, Butler was selling recruiting updates on Brown from a dedicated website. He had to back away from that. Now the NCAA is sniffing around some fundraising Butler and others did to help Brown and other students take a number of “educational” trips to Southern colleges. Now it may turn out that no NCAA rules were violated here. If some were, Brown may have to sit a couple of games.
This much is clear and this is important: Tennessee’s recruitment of Brown is not the issue. So the institution and the football program don’t appear to be at risk. But everybody in the recruiting process knew that Brown, because of Butler, had some potential baggage. There were schools that backed off Brown because of it. Tennessee felt it was worth the risk and, in the final analysis, Lane Kiffin and his staff will probably be right. But this is an aggravation Tennessee does not need with the first game of the Kiffin era two weeks away.
2. Should Auburn be doing a reality TV show? In the interest of full disclosure I need to tell you that I work for CSS on a show called “Talkin’ Football.” They are incredibly professional people who have done a lot for me. Having said all that, I question the wisdom of Auburn’s decision to do a reality show for CSS called “Auburn Football: Every Day.” The idea is to give the cameras unprecedented access to the football program on a daily basis. The cameras will show both the good and the bad. Originally, Ole Miss had agreed to do the show. The Rebels are picked to have a big, big season. But in the final days before shooting was scheduled to start, coach Houston Nutt had a change of heart. I understand Auburn’s rationale. When you’re recruiting in the same state with Nick Saban, you need every advantage that you can get. This show will be watched by a lot of people, including recruits. If it makes a handful of top high school players take a second look at Auburn, then it’s probably worth the risk involved. Football teams can be very volatile families. I’m going to try to keep an open mind on this one. What do you guys think?
3. The recent ruling in the Florida State case is the right one, but it will have an impact on future NCAA cases. Florida Circuit Judge John Cooper ruled yesterday that if a state institution, in this case Florida State, receives documents in any form, those documents are public records. The documents in question dealt with the ongoing NCAA investigation into the academic cheating scandal at Florida State, which would strip coach Bobby Bowden of 14 of his 382 career victories. The NCAA’s records in the case were sent to Florida State on line in a “read only” format. The NCAA’s claim was the public had no right to the documents because Florida State had not received them in paper form and did not physically possess them. Media agencies sued, claiming that the NCAA’s claim violated the state’s open records laws. The court agreed. In a digital age, if a state body gets a document, no matter how it is transmitted, it is subject to open records. The NCAA claims it will be tougher to get people to testify in future cases. That may be true. But full disclosure of how the NCAA conducts its business overrides that concern.
4. Who will call Phillip Fulmer first? How about Louisville? After a posting on my recent meeting with Phillip Fulmer, the former Tennessee coach, several peopled asked where he could potentially land if he gets back into coaching. Fulmer made it clear that he wants to go somewhere that has made a commitment to compete for conference championships. I would suggest that you keep an eye on Louisville, where Steve Kragthorpe has really been struggling (11-23) since he took over for Bobby Petrino. The Cardinals have a chance to get off to a rocky start with road games to Kentucky and Utah followed by a home game with Pittsburgh in the first five weeks. If Kragthorpe doesn’t show some improvement early, don’t be surprised if Fulmer gets a call. Would he take it? I don’t know. But he could certainly win that league in 2-3 years.
5. Was Charlie Ward better than Tim Tebow? This comes from our friends at the Orlando Sentinel and it is a fascinating debate. Florida State coach Bobby Bowden, like most coaches in the South, has been asked if Florida’s Tim Tebow has a chance to be called the greatest football player of all time. Bowden told the Sentinel that he thought Charlie Ward, his 1993 Heisman Trophy winner, might have been better than Tebow. First of all, Coach Bowden is always going to stick up for Ward, who he really admires and likes.
Here are the stats:
CHARLIE WARD: 473-of-750 passing (63 percent), 5,747passing yards, 49 TDs, 22 INTs, 889 rushing yards, 10 rushing TDs
TIM TEBOW: 448-of-681 passing (65.8 percent), 6,390 passing yards, 67 TDs, 11 INTs, 2,037 rushing yards, 43 rushing TDs
It is a great argument today. But if Tebow plays on his third national championship team and/or wins a second Heisman Trophy, the argument is over. It’s Tebow.
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191 comments Add your comment
dawghater
August 22nd, 2009
10:13 am
Dirtydawg is the biggest inbred idiot UGA fan in history. Fool.
Bama fan
August 22nd, 2009
10:13 am
Neutral perspective. Tim Tebow is truly a great player but for my money the greatest SEC player of all time is Herschel. Herschel is the only player ever that scouts have talked about could have gone straight from high school to pro football. Tebow the scouts say will be anywhere from a 3rd to 5th round draft pick if they even draft him to play qb. They’re talking fullback or tight end since he doesn’t have the arm strength and zip on the ball that other qbs have. He is accurate but just doesn’t throw the bullet that you need to be able to throw in the pros for the deep out.
You can’t say that about Tebow who only played spot duty as a freshman. Tebow is not even one of the greatest qbs of all time. His passing stats are average compared to lots of great qbs. Granted that he also runs the ball a lot but there have also been other great spread qbs and option qbs like some of the great OU qbs from yesteryear that were much better rushing qbs than Tebow.
Tebow is neither a great passer nor a great runner. He is a good passer and a good runner playing on the most talent laden team in the country. That helps too of course.
So Gator fans don’t think I’m being negative. Tebow still a great player but I just don’t see him being up there with Herschel.
jw
August 22nd, 2009
10:19 am
UT96 – You are the first person who I have heard that views Phil Fulmer EXACTLY how I see him! I also commend the fact that a UT fan can see things CLEARLY. Way to go.. Are you sure you are not a GA fan in disguise? joking.
Saint Simons
August 22nd, 2009
10:32 am
I love it when m mounts me from behind.
He’s a backdoor man.
Gene
August 22nd, 2009
10:34 am
The HBO special on the Bengals is pretty interesting. I was surprised to see Tank Johnson back in Cinci. Can Odell Thurman be far behind? Does anyone know when the Auburn program will air?
Denver Dog
August 22nd, 2009
10:36 am
UT took a chance, I hope the kid is OK and turns out to be a good person, we know he is a good ball player.
Court rulings, I think that it is wonderful to start showing the items on these reports and that they should be public records, I agree with the judge.
Reality show, who cares?
Ward vs Tebow, toss up now, Tebow is set to go in a league by himself where great players have gone. Walker, Butkus, Nigurski, Namath,
I hope that Fulmer get a job if he wants to coach. 4 million, not going to happen, major school, may happen, think about it this way; Jimbo or Phil, that is a way to think. There are many smaller schools that would love him.
Timboy6
August 22nd, 2009
10:53 am
I’m a GA fan, but what in the world does Tech vs Ga have to do with this blog? There was nothing in the article concerning that!
Ryan
August 22nd, 2009
10:57 am
Barnhart is a freiken idiot.
1. Bryce Brown is not aggravating anything here in Knoxville, Barnhart, you consistenly bash the Vols because your so UGA bias, I am sick of tired of hearing you, along with your ajc boyfriends, talking about how Tennessee is going to be so horrible, only a max 3 or 4 win season, what are you all smokin I really want some. If you think UGA is going to finish second in the east like you have said recently in other articles, again you need to stay off the drugs, sorry but no way in hades does Joe Cox come in and play superman.
2. The Auburn reality show, I don’t see one problem with it, they are a struggling program, opening up the doors to camera coverage could really turn on the recruiting for the Tigers or War Eagles, or whatever you wanna call them.
3. Florida States ruling, I feel was not the right one, and even if it was, there’s no way you can take away the legend Bowden’s wins, he has worked hard for them, and I, myself respect him, a great coach that honestly knows his football that once again get screwed by the liberal NCAA, just like Joe Pa said, Give Bowden his wins!!!
4. Being a lifelong Volunteer, obviously it was sad to see, well let’s just say Phil get screwed, but once again, people keep looking past us and we will blast the SEC this year, be ready. As far as Phil’s career goes beyond Tennessee, I honestly don’t see Louisville on the list, they may be a flat contender but I see Phil making a nation wide shock, can you say Notre Dame, since, supposively Urban Meyer isn’t going there anymore after this year.
5. Is Charlie Ward better than Tim Tebow? Well, in one aspect, he is, and that is Charlie Ward is a quiet hard worker that keeps to himself, instead of being propelled to greatness by the media as they do to Tebow, like he is the godson of the SEC, Tebow is pathetic in my eyes, yeah they may win games, and he may win a heisman, but it is truly pathetic how in love the media is with this kid, why don’t they go ahead and get down on one knee and propose to the kid, haha, hope you have fun, Florida will not win the National Title this year my friends.
dawes
August 22nd, 2009
11:20 am
saint simon are you going to answer my question or you scare
dawes
August 22nd, 2009
11:22 am
Enter your comments here
Nachos
August 22nd, 2009
11:57 am
Mark it down… ALLBARN will lose to Miss State in week 2.
Crue Fest 2: Party or die!
Duluth Gator
August 22nd, 2009
12:12 pm
I had to laugh on this one, Charlie Ward Better than Tim Tebow. From the numbers that were posted up top, Tebow has 25 less passes completed, 2.8% better completion, 643 more yards passing, 18 more TD passes, 1/2 the interceptions, 1,148 more rushing yards, and 33 more rushing TD, with one more year to play. From a Gator point of view, with decisions and comments like that I for one hope that Bowden stays at that school out in the panhandle of Florida for as long as he wants.
Gen Neyland
August 22nd, 2009
12:39 pm
Ryan : To be fair, Barnhart doesn’t bash. I don’t read him saying something negative if it isn’t deemed to be so and if he were to do so, he usually does it in a nice way…Now if you want Tennessee bias and bashing from the ajc, read some Bradley, King and Schultz. They’ll give you reason to pop your cork if your cork needs popping…
Angry Black Man
August 22nd, 2009
1:20 pm
BRING BACK TERRANCE MOORE!
Teboner
August 22nd, 2009
3:55 pm
You guys are all idiots. Tim Tebow is the greatest human being who ever lived. I can’t wait until Tebow season starts up as I’m sure there has to be something announcers haven’t rambled on about endlessly I can add to the tack board in my shrine.
Ray Goff
August 22nd, 2009
5:34 pm
Tebow is a great player but no way he is better than Ward…I cant believe people say that Tebow is a better passer..all he throws is screen passes..Ward ran a pro style offense and could make all the throws…I would say Tebow is a better runner though…what he does in the SEC is amazing considering the punishment that he takes…
DirtyDawg
August 22nd, 2009
6:24 pm
Gee dawghater…inbred, idiot, fool? If you would let me know just what breed of dawghater you are, I’ll show you some idiocy and foolishness that even you won’t believe.
Fact is, my comments were more directed at Barnhart and his assessment that UT wouldn’t bear any responsibility for the aggravation associated with young Mr. Brown’s recruiting even though they are the ones that decided to ‘risk’ going after the young man despite the ‘cloud’ surrounding him. Point being I’d just like to know if you’re upset that I’ve questioned Tony, Tennessee, or both.
ugablows
August 23rd, 2009
12:09 am
jb sucks my hariy balls
Gen Neyland
August 23rd, 2009
12:44 am
Besides trying to get Brown’s sentence reduced, what in George Dickels name should UT not do to try to help him..? At this point, Brown has done nothing wrong except trust adults…
p
August 23rd, 2009
9:47 am
Only a moron would believe there was even an argument who was better, Ward or Tebow. I cannot stand Tebow, but right there in your column, Tebow totally dominates rushing by over a thousand yards– it is not even close to being close, and he has far superior passing stats, and a year to go!
A fascinating argument? You are an incredible suck-up. Oh yeah, remember when Ward was drafted in the first round of the NFL draft? What???? He wasn’t even drafted??? LOL
dawghater
August 23rd, 2009
10:25 am
Because after 30 years you still have your head squarely planted up Herschel’s backside. Plus it’s just a joke dude. Maybe the fool part was a little harsh. My apologies.
Al Gore
August 23rd, 2009
10:58 am
Bring back PHILLIP FULMER
joel
August 23rd, 2009
11:14 am
ut96 jamal(drugdealer)lewis never beat uga.the main reason for the vols drop is because of rodney garner
ray ray
August 23rd, 2009
11:20 am
fla state in the panhandle? what an idiot
DirtyDawg
August 23rd, 2009
12:19 pm
dawghater…I suppose you expect me to accept your apology for the ‘fool’ thing, and live with the ‘inbred and idiot’ stuff. Sure why not, after all I still have that memory of ‘that (my God a) freshman’, as you say, ’squarely’ planting Bill Bates on ‘his’ backside (in case you didn’t realize it, when it comes to Tennessee and Hershel I wouldn’t use the term ‘backside’). Yes, I was there and it will remain my all time favorite Ga/Tenn event…way ahead of the fake punt (was there too) that gave the ‘vols’ an excuse to shoot Bill Battle’s dog and send a moving van to his house and slightly ahead of John Lastinger calling time out (there three) with ten seconds left in the ‘81 game so Georgia could score ‘one more time’ to make the final 44-0…that one really chaps my UT friends butts. So you see, I have a wealth of memories when it comes to whipping the ‘orange’ – by the way, do you know that Auburn claims that the difference in their orange and your orange is that yours was left out in the sun too long? – but Hershel will, indeed, remain forever – oh yeah, it won’t be thirty years until next season, which if the conference and UT are lucky will be Mr. Kiffin’s second and final one. He’ll prove to be an embarrassment and will be lucky if his wife doesn’t end up joining Bruce Pearl’s in that ‘Alimony’ (the salon) joint venture.
How’s that for idiocy?
Paul The Vol
August 23rd, 2009
12:26 pm
After watching Bryce Brown run in the scrimmage yesterday, we definitely need the aggravation. We haven’t had a back with that much speed and power since Jamal Lewis. When he hits you, you go backward. He is the real deal.
Atlanta Gator
August 23rd, 2009
12:48 pm
“p”—-In fairness to Charlie Ward, he was not selected in the NFL draft because it was well known that he intended to play NBA basketball after graduation, not NFL football. Given the value of high draft picks, would you wast a first, second, or third-round pick if you knew you would never sign the guy?
Notwithstanding that Tebow’s quarterback numbers are better, Ward was an outrageously good athlete. He’s one of those guys who could pick up a tennis racket, golf club or lacrosse stick and be competitive in a few weeks.
Atlanta Gator
August 23rd, 2009
12:52 pm
ray ray—-Uh, Florida State is located in Tallahassee, and Tallahassee is in the Florida panhandle. Please check Google, Mapquest or Yahoo on-line maps if you aren’t certain, but you can take my word for it—-FSU is in the panhandle. I’ve been there.
Duluth Gator
August 23rd, 2009
3:44 pm
Thank you Atlanta Gator for educating ray ray on a basic geography lesson.
Bulldog Joe
August 23rd, 2009
7:08 pm
Maybe if we can get Joe Cox to wear Bible verses on his cheeks like Brother Tim God will smile on us too.
I say its gay to be a Georgia Bulldog
August 23rd, 2009
10:09 pm
I just reserved my tickets to the 2010 Music City Bowl! Gooooooooooooooo dogs!
djawjuh
August 24th, 2009
12:12 am
I’m wondering how the AP voters settled on Alabama and Ole Miss in the Top 10? Bama lost its QB and three OL that were top notch players. Ole Miss is an unproven entity, hasn’t been this high since Johnny Vaught coached. Bama’s lofty rating is, IMO, because of its coach, Nick Saban, not its talent. And I could make the same argument for Ole Miss except for the fact that they have a genuine NFLer in their QB and they beat the gators at florida field. Look for both to finish out of the top ten.
Jake
August 24th, 2009
7:18 am
Brilliant move by Auburn.
Joel Green
August 24th, 2009
7:20 am
Fulmer was good when Alabama was on probation and Georgia had Goff and Auburn was in trouble, but he was way second fiddle to a Florida program that lost a lot to FSU. His true ability was to recruit and simply outflank lesser talented teams. He was Jim Donnan but with a couple of lucky breaks.
» SEC links: Stallings helped pay Vandy’s trip to Australia John Clay’s Sidelines
August 24th, 2009
7:50 am
[...] Tony Barnhart of the AJC writes that Tennessee does not need the Bryce Brown aggravation. [...]
dawghater
August 24th, 2009
9:08 am
Proving my point. You really are a typical idiot dawg. Par for the course. Some of my favorites were watching Jamal Lewis run all over your chihuahuas in Knoxville as a freshman. Yes. I was there. Aren’t you glad y’all decided to recruit Jasper Sanks? Morons! Hanging 51 in that dump of a stadium. Yes. I was there. The following year in Knoxville when it was 21-0 before the puppies even got their second first down. I was there too. The 9 consecutive wins, and the all-time series lead. Oh yeah and the year Robert Edwards was running wild in Knoxville only to get his wittle footy hurt and Dax Langley missed the field goal. Still have that ticket stubb too. In ‘96 watching Peyton teach Mike Bozo how to play quarterback. Yep. There too. Herschel running over Bates was classic. I’ll give you that, but you’re still just little ol’ Georgia. And that ain’t much my friend. Come back when you can stake a claim.
bcs stinks
August 24th, 2009
3:34 pm
Unless there is more to the story, the Bryce Brown is a non-story. It is not a distraction to the team, with the program as it is now, I don’t think they have time to be distracted. So far he has not shown his ego, he’s worked hard, and even keeping a 3.5+ GPA (OK, I know he probably wasn’t taking real difficult classe, but he’s still making his grades). If he missed the entire season it would still be worth the risk. This kid has all the tools to be something special.
Cards Fan
August 24th, 2009
4:25 pm
Carey- “11-23 at louisville he’s only been a coach there for 2 years . 17 games a year?” Good math, bad information- it should have been 11-13; 6-6 followed by 5-7. What makes it so hard to swallow is that those two mediocre years followed a 12-1 season topped off with an Orange Bowl championship that could have been better if we hadn’t sleep-walked through the second half at Rutgers to lose by 3. Like it or not, without that one bad half, a basketball school could have been playing Ohio State for the national championship (and given how OSU played in two straight butt- whoopin’s in national title games, the Cards might have won that game!).
Miles- “I’d prefer to see Fulmer in the Big 12 (Texas A&M, the ACC (Virginia), or at Notre Dame…coaching at Louisville would be a step down relative to his competency”- Sorry, Bud. Howard Schnellenberger came here to coach after leaving Miami- a team he had led to a national title or two- under a lot less duress than Fulmer was under when he left UT. He probably kept UL from dropping to D-II football and turned the program around 180 degrees. Fulmer is not too big to come to UofL, at least not figuratively speaking. (And with what our current coach has done, he’d sure have an easy act to follow!)
Frank
August 25th, 2009
10:23 am
Check that, Kragthorpe is 11-13 (not 11-23) in his two years at Louisville.
DirtyDawg
August 25th, 2009
11:25 am
dawghater,,,I had to come back, just one more time. The thing that has amazed me is that folks like you – obvious, long-time, UT fans – that know and appreciate the classy, winning, tradition at Tennessee – Neyland, Dickey, Battle, and Majors and Fulmer…SEC Championships, National Championships, All-Americans, All-Pros…all that, and you seem perfectly willing to go along with a young, smart-mouth, with nothing on his resume that should have qualified him for this job in the first place, that comes in there and decides that he’s got to act the fool in order to get people, and recruits, to pay attention. The thing about a company, an institution or a program is that you need to know what you stand for and, and assuming it’s of quality, stick to it. Instead Kiffin has come in and acted like the court jester and you folks have gone along with it. My question is how could you have allowed that, or, indeed, be proud of it?
Now you can resort back to the name calling…by the way, my Tennessee friends – and a couple of them are my all-time best – and I refrain from that particular form of ‘ribbing’ because we have too much respect for one another, our friendship and our respective institutions. But since I don’t know you, it doesn’t really matter now, does it? If you’ll bother to check back, you’ll note that I haven’t resorted to that particular form of banter – must be because I’m an inbred idiot and fool – maybe in the next life, or after the next UT/GA game, I’ll come around. I can always refer back to some of the language our Gator friends use on you guys – those are particularly derogatory.
dawghater
August 27th, 2009
2:41 pm
You are right DirtyDawg. I do apologize for the silliness I started. Totally uncalled for. We don’t have to see eye to eye but I should be able to at least carry on a civil conversation. I am sorry.
After the shape Coach Fulmer left our program in I’d say most folks were just ready for a big change. I’d say Coach Kiffin is just about as much of a polar opposite from Coach Fulmer as Mike Hamilton could’ve possibly found. Do I agree with everything Kiffin has said and done? Absolutely not. I just know that the aw shucks mentality of Coach Fulmer had lost its appeal. The cupboard was just about bare in Knoxville when he was told his services were no longer needed. UT football had become dang near irrelevant. Losing to Wyoming was just the icing on the cake. Years of police ride alongs and drunk punters were also part of his downfall. There is an excitement back in Knoxville with Kiffin. I know it’s a case of a new shiny toy, but if he doesn’t get the job done then we’ll go from there. Tennessee does have a great tradition just like your dogs. I hope he(Kiffin) hasn’t bit off more than he can chew. There will be a few bumps this year. Anyone who doesn’t think so is delusional or just plain silly. I just hope now that the season is starting he will hush and focus on winning games. We shall see. The time is upon us.