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
Saint Simons
August 21st, 2009
9:02 am
45 – 42 !!!!!!!! hahahahahahahahahahahahaha
Chris
August 21st, 2009
9:15 am
Tony,
The Auburn thing strikes me as a take off on HBO’s Hard Knocks. I personally find that type thing fascinating and will look forward to watching but I have to assume they have control over final editing? If they had filmed last year with some of the things Tony Franklin has discussed, I have to believe it would have been quite a soap opera.
Frank
August 21st, 2009
9:17 am
45-42 was an aberation!Even a blind hog finds an acorn every now and then! kkkkkkkkkkkkkkk
Walk-On
August 21st, 2009
9:19 am
Tony,
Not trying to stir the pot but from what I understand, isn’t the real issue is if Butler was sharing his revenue with Brown?
Phiuk Yu
August 21st, 2009
9:20 am
Why is everyone making such a big deal about Bowden’s comment re Tebow vs Ward? Clearly, he’s biased, he coached Ward. I’m not saying Bowden is right or wrong. I’m simply saying Bowden is old school, and his comments should be taken with a grain of salt. The media (ESPN) has run with the comments, and have manufactured it into some kind of major news story. I’m not an FSU fan but respect & admire what Bowden has accomplished at FSU. The media love to take these stories to the extreme – disappointing.
joe
August 21st, 2009
9:20 am
Concerning Bryce Brown, this is what happens when you have a desperate program that wants to get back to the top too quickly. They tend to cut corners. They knew what they were getting into.
After Brown’s visit to Baton Rouge, LSU did a quicker backstroke than Michael Phelps to get away from this guy.
Additionally, anyone else find it odd that a 5 star homegrown player from La. that had been committed to LSU for over a year at the very last minute & a day after national signing day with barely a relationship with their coaches switches his committment to Tennessee.
JWalker
August 21st, 2009
9:22 am
I’d be shocked if Fulmer still possessed the drive to guide a program to sustained success. I’m talking about putting in 12-14 hour days for 3-5 years. No doubt the guy still knows football and how to structure a team, but you also gotta grind out the hours to make it all happen. I predict that if he gets back in, he fizzles out by the 2nd season. Is his ego bruised enough that he sucks it up for 6 months or maybe even a year and works hard? Maybe. But this is still all about that bruised ego. Guy is in his late fifties and has made millions, he aint got the stomach for work anymore. I’m sure Fulmer or someone close to him said, “Hey, Tony, do us a favor and float this trial balloon.” Obviously, Tony obliged.
Jim
August 21st, 2009
9:24 am
I wonder how Mike Slive feels about Brown signing with Tennessee after he explicitly told Kiffin not to sign the kid (and he told LSU the same thing, which is why they backed off right before signing day). Good job, Kiffy.
GeoffDawg
August 21st, 2009
9:24 am
Auburn will probably get some good and some bad out of it. In their disadvantageous situation in the state, they can certainly use the exposure. At the same time though, to make the show compelling and interesting for the average viewer, negative issues and incidents will likely be shown out of context or given too much exposure in an effort to create drama. Overall, it’s probably worth a shot.
utfaninga
August 21st, 2009
9:25 am
Joe, wake up and READ the article. TN cut NO corners in recruiting Bryce Brown. This is an accusation that happened between his sophomore and junior years and is yet another example of the NCAA attempting to wield power. What is NOT mentioned is that numerous other athletes were involved in this trip, and NONE of them are being invesitgated. The NCAA picks and chooses its battles and often goes after high profile recruits. Again, UT did NOTHING wrong in this situation. At MOST he gets a 2 game suspension and this is all over with.
JB
August 21st, 2009
9:27 am
NO one cares about TECH…..please go back your blog and talk about your up coming struggles with Duke, Virginia, Gardner Webb Etc and the problem of how loud you band sounds with only 30,000 nerds sitting in the stands with tweed sport coats on sweating in that heat wishing you had a cross word puzzle to work at half time about load structures in a high rise, eating your free pizza and bragging about how easy it is to get tickets and park and No traffic getting out after the game, but pretty bored because there are no women to look at, but how you’ve come to admire Muslim game day wear.
Whiny Dan Magill
August 21st, 2009
9:31 am
eraseeraseeraseeraseeraseeraseerase…….
Not Disappointed
August 21st, 2009
9:32 am
Fulmer deserves a second chance but Louisville? What if they have a real good season? Oy!
Time will tell for Auburn. The jury is still out!
I feel for Bobby Bowden. It maybe time to go to the dog track or race track and watch horses.
The UT has enough aggravation with it’s “Head Coach” than deal with Byrce Brown problems.
Tim Tebow is a God of College Quarterback, but not the World. “And Yes Virginia there is a Santa Claus. He’s quarterback for the Florida Gators!” Sorry Charlie Ward can compete. Good weekend all and “Mr. College Football’s mom in Union Point.
Ramblin Wreck!
Volman
August 21st, 2009
9:37 am
Joe, you are STILL bitter about losing Janzen Jackson to Tennessee? Get over it.
This whole “I told you so” stuff has got to end. It all happened Brown’s SOPHOMORE year of high school. Tennessee wasn’t in the picture then. They aren’t “taking chances”. He’s been able to practice. If he gets in trouble at all, it’ll be one or two games.
We’re not talking Reggie Bush problems. Let’s not blow this out of proportion.
JB Fool
August 21st, 2009
9:41 am
NO one cares about UGAY! Get your butt off this blog if you can’t take the heat son. Please tell me how the Mutts are going to “Destroy” the cowboys in stillwater. That’s hilarious. Keep the jokes coming. Esp how your going to whipe the floor with the Gators and Jackets. Give me a break. Take a breather and put down the red bull. UGA sucks, past, present, future.
Denny Moore
August 21st, 2009
9:42 am
First off, I am looking forward to a new coaching era at Auburn. I feel an intensity there that I have not felt since the Pat Dye era. I am a little skeptical of the Auburn TV show – hopefully it will have that serious overtone to it that the old Auburn Review with Pat Dye used to have. War Eagle!
Howard
August 21st, 2009
9:46 am
It seems that so many people out there in the media community, like the over-rated NFL analyst Mel Kiper want this guy to fail…and I cannot stand it! I’m no Gator fan but I am a Tebow fan and I hope he makes all these gloomy gus folks eat crow. Charlie Ward was a great QB but he wasn’t a Tebow. And yes, Mel Kiper, you boring, bad hairstyle dolt, Tebow can play QB in the NFL!!! You don’t like him or Colt McCoy because they’re good Christian kids. Kiper probably put out this latest rumor that Ward was better than Tebow!
Saint Simons
August 21st, 2009
9:49 am
(((((45-42)))))hahaha and we had a great Tickle Pile on their Campus!!!!!!!
Jack G.
August 21st, 2009
9:50 am
Hey JB—what got your panties in a wad?
Go Gators
August 21st, 2009
9:50 am
The U.S. News & World Report college ratings are out today, and Georgia schools retained their rankings from last year for the most part.
I think the rankings influence where students go to college. (I also think many students are influenced by the “Colleges that Change Lives” franchise.)
Many people dismiss college status as a factor, but there’s evidence that where you go to school impacts how much you earn.
PayScale Inc., which compiles compensation data, says the median starting salary for Ivy League graduates is about 30 percent higher than that of liberal-arts college graduates. However, the study doesn’t address whether that pay differential is the result of a better education, or simply because the Ivies attract higher-achieving students in the first place. (I would also ask whether the Ivies attract better connected kids; it’s easier to end up at Goldman Sachs if your mother worked there.)
In its 2009 report, PayScale says the median starting salary for a University of Georgia graduate was $43,900, compared to $60,00 for a Harvard grad, $58,900 for a Georgia Tech grad, and $50,600 for an Emory grad.
I am sorry to report that PayScale also lists degrees that pay you back and teaching and journalism offer some of the lowest returns. The big money is in the STEM fields; science, technology, engineering and math.
UT96
August 21st, 2009
9:52 am
Walk-On, yes, that’s part of the issue (it’s my understanding). The thing about this case is that Butler took a van full of prep athletes around the country to visit colleges> They earned money to finance the trips by doing fund raisers.I’m puzzled that the NCAA seem to be only focusing on Brown even though all the kids Butler was taking from town to town was involved in fundraising activities. In any case, it appears Brown will miss no more than one game, if that and pay back what ever “extra benefits.
Demi Moore
August 21st, 2009
9:53 am
Denny,
Did Pat Dye ever find his pants?
JB
August 21st, 2009
9:55 am
Ok Fool…………..Tech had a good year….lot of good stuff happening……But for the life of me why can’t ya’ll sell ( or have to refund) out of season ticket packages. Where is the demand for this product…All we hear is how much MONEY Tech folks have , but won’t support the program by buying tickets and filling that place up. Where is the proof you are back…..a 3 point garbage win over Richt’s worst team in 5 or 6 years. Typical ACC type team support, luke warm at best. Walk up at game day to buy tickets. Hell, look at Carolina the couple of years before Spurrier came, losing 6 to 8 games a year, but SELLING THE PLACE OUT ! They’re called FANS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You guys are pathetic.
Otto
August 21st, 2009
9:56 am
Tony is correct even if UT did nothing wrong they do not need the Brown media circus. If Slive did tell schools to back off Brown it will come back around from the SEC in some way. Lane can make enemies with coaches and fans from other schools but the SEC front office is another matter.
mightyKC
August 21st, 2009
9:59 am
who cares, it’s bowden’s opinion! what if herschel only played on season, but in that season ran for 40 TDs and 200 yards? say he never played again due to injury. is the guy who played 4 years that had 3K yards and 50 TDs automatically better?
same can be said about how stats don’t translate between eras. spurrier was probably a better QB than jared lorenzen, but maybe lorenzen had better stats (i have no idea, but you get the point)
of course the subjective “who’s the best” usually comes down to objective stats, but there are other ways to determine this.
in next week’s AJC, “charle ward’s dad thinks charlie is better than tebow!”
UT96
August 21st, 2009
10:02 am
Otto, Ut looked into the Brown matter extensively prior to offering Him a scholly and they were confident he did nothing wrong. Slive has no business telling UT or any other SEC school who to recruit and who not to recruit.
JB
August 21st, 2009
10:03 am
ok, I took my medicine….should kick in in 10 minutes or so. I hope you guys a Tech have a good year.
Top Dawg
August 21st, 2009
10:05 am
Two items:
1. I think South Carolina may/should take a look at Fulmer.
2. Charlie Ward was nowhere near as good as Tim Tebow. To even suggest the comparison is laughable.
FactuAll
August 21st, 2009
10:05 am
Bama fan here, but have to agree with the Auburn decision. Chizik inherited a tough situation (reminds me of Shula’s first year at UA). I think that virtually anything he can do to keep Auburn’s program in the public eye will have more positive consequences than not.
I don’t see that he has many other options if he is to steal some of Saban’s thunder in recruiting.
UT96
August 21st, 2009
10:06 am
NCAA, a question, why aren’t you looking into Worlwide Wes and Nike and UT lost Josh Selby becuse we’re an Addidas school instead of a Nike school?
UT96
August 21st, 2009
10:08 am
Top Dawg, Fulmer is done. He had is run in the nineties and ran UT’s program into the ground after that. Cutcliffe is not around to bail him out anymore. Any school that takes even a passing glance at Fulmer is nuts.
Macon
August 21st, 2009
10:11 am
Dont know the football coaching situation at Memphis, but that would seem like a pretty good fit for Fulmer.
He’d still be coaching for another program in the state of Tenn, (maybe even help really build up the Memphis program) where, of course, he has lots of recognition, and would get lots of statewide fan support because Memphis and UT are not really state rivals. Kind of like how GA fans became big Ga Southern fans when Erk left GA to go to Statesboro.
Plus, if Fulmer is recruiting from Memphis, its even easier to go to the states of Ark, Miss, Ky, and Alabama to get recruits, which wont be helpful for teams the compete with UT in the SEC…like KY, Ole Miss, Miss State, Ark, Ky, etc.
If Fulmer went to Memphis, it would seem to be a really strong Win-Win scenario for UT, Memphis, and the whole state of Tenn.
JB
August 21st, 2009
10:11 am
I think Charlie Strong ends up at Carolina. Coached there, well liked, good coach, but more than anything, can bring a ton of that talent and speed to Columbia with all those high school connections he’s made in Florida. That would make Carolina very tough in a couple of years.
Also , he’s overdue for a shot.
getthepicturenow
August 21st, 2009
10:12 am
“slive has no business telling UT or any other SEC school who to recruit and who not to recruit”. its getting comical ut fan. oh let me guess, the NCAA is out to get you? puh-lease! this kid was close to a profesional athlete in HS. don’t you find it odd that the “#1 recruit” would choose to go to a 5-7 team?? kids options dwindled down the stretch as more info came out on him. but congrats ut, he’ll fit right in with the other mis-fits you’ve welcomed with open arms…see convicted rapist Daniel Hood.
JB
August 21st, 2009
10:14 am
But, as a Dawg fan, i would hope for Fulmer at Carolina over Strong.
DawginLex
August 21st, 2009
10:15 am
Fulmer to UVA.
Last time anybody did an inside look at a program was UK basketball with Billy G. Look how that turned out.
UT is not going to get into trouble over BB. Miss a couple of games at most and it’s over.
Tebow is florida’s Herschel. Ward won a Heisman and a questionable NT. There is no comparison really.
Mac
August 21st, 2009
10:15 am
Bryce Brown = Maurice Clarett. Good luck with that, Vols.
By the way, I think mama is preferable to momma, but that’s just me.
Smarter than you
August 21st, 2009
10:18 am
By the by, UGA fans did not become Ga. Southern fans. They stayed Erk fans. Big difference there, gnat eaters.
jumbeauxtiger
August 21st, 2009
10:19 am
1. I knew LSU had backed off on Bryce Brown. He may be a great player but he’s a distraction and this is a team game. LSU didn’t need another problem like Perrilloux. Agree or not that had an impact on LSU’s season last year.
2. First the limo and nowe this. No doubt Chizik is doing this for publicity(recruiting). Whether it pays off remains to be seen.
3. I’m glad the NCAA lost that ruling.
4. Fulmer will be coaching somewhere in 2010. I agree it may be Louisville but he cold wind up in the ACC at Virginia. I don’t see him venturing too far out of the south.
5. A factor not mentioned but certainly has been by Tony before is his leadership. Ward was a great player but I give Tebow the edge.
Geaux Tigers
Go SEC
SimpleDawg
August 21st, 2009
10:22 am
Beam me up, Scotty….there’s no intelligent life here….just stoopids.
Gen Neyland
August 21st, 2009
10:22 am
IMO, Kiffin and Tennessee did good for taking a chance with Brown. If the punishment for the high crimes committed are but a 1-2 game pine ride, that will be the price paid. This sounds more likely as if meant to punish Brown for the acts of adults some years ago. My interest is also raised on the ‘others’ mentioned but not named. If one really wants to read up on high crimes in college athletics, see (Tony Russell, Miami 1989-1994).
Barnhart sucks
August 21st, 2009
10:25 am
Another drive by posting for the laziest blogger at the AJC.
Bama Aaron
August 21st, 2009
10:26 am
1) UT doesn’t need the Brown headache, but as a Bama man I’m laughing at their whole situation right now. Karma bites…
2) AU’s decision to do the reality show is stupid. And it will not reach that many people…show of hands how many people actually watch CSS???? The distraction will do more harm than the exposure will do good.
3) Once again Karma bites…. Bowden has run a successful program, but never a clean program. It had to bite him eventually.
4) I could care less if Fulmer coaches again…he’s not relevant anymore.
5) Tebow is probably in the top 3 all time college football players. that debate is over.
Barnhart sucks
August 21st, 2009
10:27 am
Barnhart is awesome at posting the obvious. UT doesn’t want the Bryce Brown distraction? NO WAY! What great insight Tony!
Ron Mexico
August 21st, 2009
10:28 am
Ward was a better QB. Andre Ware was a better QB. David Klingler was a better QB. John Elway was a better QB. Tebow is a great PLAYER, and a winner. But I could come up with 10 other QBs I’d rather have slinging the pigskin if I needed a last minute 80 yd drive. No disrespect, but I’d definitely take Ward down 24-20 with 38 seconds on the clock and no time outs.
Steve Spurrier
August 21st, 2009
10:36 am
I’m here to tell you Tim Tebow is the best quarterback in the SEC this year … much better than Jevan Sneed. And, he’s the second best quarterback ever at Florida.
gatorman770
August 21st, 2009
10:36 am
1) Most teams with commonsense knew Bryce Brown would be disruptive to their teams.
2) It’s reality that I won’t be watching Auburn Tiger reality show anymore than I watch any other asinine reality show.
3) Too bad we can’t get full disclosure and openness in the Obama Whitehouse and administration that was a campaign promise.
4) Fulmer should work for Nutri-Systems while he’s waiting for a new coaching position.
5) Bobby Bowden’s lucky he took up coaching because he’s dumber than a 5th grader in statistics and simple math!
71 Dawg
August 21st, 2009
10:37 am
Tebow was only a sub on the UF National Champs as a freshman – please don’t give him credit for winning that one too!!! That belittles the rest of the UF team from that year.
ricardo
August 21st, 2009
10:39 am
Fulmer got into coaching by stabbing the previous coach in the back while in a hospital. He took his eye off the ball due to his OBSESSION with Bama and the NCAA issue. Remember that Fulmer was THE REASON that Bama was discovered to have made violations in Memphis. Along with Kramer, they both belong in the nut house.
dantheman
August 21st, 2009
10:39 am
Tony, last Saturday on CBSs College Football Preview show their Top 10 poll had Oklahoma #2, but when you 4 on the panel picked your BCS title game 3 of you did not have the Sooners in it? Why were they #2 then? It was a great show by the way. Really liked Danielson’s unique title game scenario.
sj
August 21st, 2009
10:44 am
Lane Kiffin = Bill Battle except Battle at least had some character and class.
One thing that has bothered me since Kiffin started acting the clown and claiming his adolescent behavior was all ‘engineered’; if it was all planned to get ‘godd publicity’ how come no other coach has behaved this way? All programs want publicity and success, right? The guy is a monkey…
Headbangers Vol
August 21st, 2009
10:46 am
It’s funny you know….The Gators didn’t even win so much as a conference championship till the mid nineties, and now they think they invented football….
WifeCallsMeAss
August 21st, 2009
10:50 am
Wouldn’t Tebows numbers look even better if they got some high school teams added to their schedule. Praising the greatness of the gators with the schedule they got is a joke.
CharlotteGator
August 21st, 2009
10:50 am
71 Dawg,
We wouldn’t have beat TN that year if Tebow didn’t play in that game. He was also the short yardage back the entire season. In the MNC game he threw the TD that iced the game right before the half. I’m not sure if by ’sub’ you meant he was a ‘bit player’. If so, I’d argue he was more than that and actually had a role on the team that he deserves credit for. Similar to the wideouts, weak side corners, and backup DT’s that gave us depth on a dominant line. Was he a star on that team? Absolutely not. Percy showed more flashes his freshman year than Tebow did. Would we have won the championship that year w/o Chris Leak? Absolutely not. I would argue, however, that Tebow was a sizable contributor on that squad. Just my 2 cents…
Paddy
August 21st, 2009
10:53 am
Fulmer to UVA, I like the sound of that. Good Southern boy going to the Capitol of the South!
CharlotteGator
August 21st, 2009
11:01 am
Headbangers Vol,
First official SEC title was in 1991. When do the mid-90’s start?
I don’t know what you want UF fans to say? Yeah we sucked for a long time. Won games once in a while against our rivals, but were not a consistent quality program for a long time. Father in law’s senior year squad was 0′fer/defeated. Only ‘perfect’ record in UF history. We started to win some conference titles in the 80’s later stripped due to blatant cheating. Any UF fans that don’t know or acknowledge this stuff would clearly be either misinformed or practicing winner’s history.
How should we act about our team after things turned around? We won the majority of the SEC titles in the 90’s w/ a MNC snuck in for good measure. The middle/latter part of this decade have been good to us. I’m not sure how the “Hey UF fans, football wasn’t invented in the 1990″ crowd wants us to act about our team. I’m not trying to be that guy or start a flamefest, I’m seriously curious as to how that crowd wants us to act? Aside from the idiot UF fans (which every other fanbase also has), I think most UF fans realize that our tradition/success is recent when compared to the Bama’s, ND’s, Mich’s, OSU’s, USC’s of the world.
Someone managed ot get Bryce Brown and Fulmer into the same article - VolNation
August 21st, 2009
11:01 am
[...] managed ot get Bryce Brown and Fulmer into the same article Tennessee does not need Bryce Brown aggravation | Mr. College Football Brown probably not an issue, but will it be worth the hassle? Maybe, maybe not. But probably. [...]
Atlanta Gator
August 21st, 2009
11:05 am
Headbangers Vol—-Actually, that would be the early nineties (1991, to be precise) for the Gators’ first SEC championship. No, the Gators did not invent football, but Steve Spurrier and Urban Meyer sure as heck did change the way football is played in in the SEC. The days of winning the conference with a good defense and 250 yards of total offense per game are over.
Atlanta Gator
August 21st, 2009
11:06 am
Charlotte Gator—–That’s “sneaked.” There ain’t no such word as “snuck.”
gatorhead1013
August 21st, 2009
11:08 am
The only thing Charlie Ward is better at than Tebow is basketball.
gatorhead1013
August 21st, 2009
11:10 am
Nevermind the ‘84 and ‘90 titles that UF won on the field….eh Headbanger.
Florida = Dynasty
Otto
August 21st, 2009
11:18 am
UT96, I am not saying Slive has the right but he is in a place of influence. If Lane makes enemies with Slive due to this and other actions there will be consequences even if they are not obvious to those not working in the program every day.
Keep in mind one of Slive’s goals was to have every team in the SEC free from probation which he has done a very good job at. UT risking that may result in not getting the full amount of help from the SEC in dealing with the NCAA. Right or wrong life is politics and the more money involved the more politics.
Wally Gator
August 21st, 2009
11:19 am
I sure remember the old days.
Me & Grandpa would listen to the Gator games on the radio. John Reaves to Carlos Alvarez, Nat Moore and BEAUCOUP LOSSES!
Then we would sit out on his front porch & marvel at his bug-zapper, the first in town! Those were the days…
AtlantaTruth
August 21st, 2009
11:20 am
JB Fool…Go away little boy!…..You no nothing about college football. Who cares what you think…its clear that you like to see yourself in print…you probably look at yourself in the mirror all day long to.Isn’t a Bull Gator the same as a Bull Dyke?…..Hey Go Gators…isn’t doesn’t matter where you graduated from as long as your willing to work hard. I graduated from UGA and I’ve got five Tech graduates working for me. All they do all day long is wait to go home….no ambition at all.I’ve started replacing them with N.C.State grads….they work much harder and seem to be better prepared for the work place than Tech grads.
Caniac
August 21st, 2009
11:20 am
There is a reason Miami did not re-extend their scholarship offer to Bryce Brown despite the fact his brother is a current ‘Cane. Mainly, they were tired of his crap, tired of his handler and decided that they did not need to fawn over some 18-year old kid like groupie at a rock show. The kid’s bad news.
Matt
August 21st, 2009
11:24 am
By the way, some of you guys might have been right about Storm Johnson, RB Buford/Loganville/wherever else. Les Miles did not accept his commitment last month for whatever reason. Then a couple weeks later, Les accepts a commit from an Ohio Ath/RB and now, Storm has named a new top 10. It also looks like LSU is in the running with Auburn for Lache Seastrunk.
Les has been very smart with his recruits since comeing to LSU and after being burned by Perrilloux. He quickly cut the mis-fits Saban brought in and now LSU has had a pretty decent run without problems from the players. Hats off to Les for backing away from this potentially troubled player.
CharlotteGator
August 21st, 2009
11:26 am
Atlanta Gator – What? Ain’t no such word? Impossible. I can’t envision a scenario where entire populations of people use words that don’t actually exist. Your Merriam-Webster must be outdated, cuz they done snuck in a bunch of words you ain’t ne’er been esposed too.
NASCAR land is really starting to get to me…
FU Barnhart
August 21st, 2009
11:26 am
Eat a big one Barnhart!
Eric
August 21st, 2009
11:27 am
1. WGAS.
2. I think it’s a good idea. We’ll see. WDE!!
3. WGAS.
4. WGAS.
5. WGAS.
6. It’s time to stop drinking the Fox koolaid and support the President. We need healthcare reform now.
murfdawg
August 21st, 2009
11:31 am
To Go Gators:
I guess since Stafford and Moreno did not graduate, their millions will not be counted in the Payscale article.
Eric is a moron
August 21st, 2009
11:31 am
Eric, you’re an idiot. Anyone who thinks we should just mindlessly support the president is an incredibly vapid individual that clearly isn’t capable of meaningful thinking. Furthermore, anyone who thinks that the government is capable of running health care in an efficient and effective manner is too stupid to vote or procreate.
Atlanta Gator
August 21st, 2009
11:33 am
Comments in response to Tony —-
(1) No, Tennessee clearly does not need anymore distractions, no matter how small. When you recruit a player that has the baggage of a Bryce Brown, well, you know that there may be complications. If the complications are as Tony described them, it’s a small price to pay for needed talent on a team that is rebuilding. Frankly, I would be more concerned about the kid’s ego getting in the way of good team dynamics than I would about the present problem. He has a history of being a “me first” type.
(2) Doing a reality show in the midst of rebuilding a top-20 Division I football program? Really? Talk about your potential distractions. I guess someone decided the potential publicity upside out-weighed the potential distraction downside. I wouldn’t do it, but I don’t have Gene Chizik’s job, either.
(3) Actually, FSU officials were only allowed to view the documents on a secure website, without saving or printing them. This is a closer case under the Florida sunshine law than has been reported. It turns on the legal meanings of “delivered,” “recevied” and “possessed,” which frankly aren’t crystal clear in context. Florida case law errs on the side of disclosure, however.
(4) Louisville would not be a bad match, but Fulmer would need a good offensive coordinator to help satisfy the expectations of Cardinal fans. They’ve had good offenses under Petrino and Schnellenberger, and they expect better.
(5) Sorry, Bobby Bowden, but Ward vs. Tebow is not a real debate. Tebow has more passing yardage (6,390 vs. 5,747), twice the rushing yards (2,037 vs. 889), a higher completion percentage (65.8% vs 63.0%), more passing and rushing touchdowns (110 vs 59), and half the interceptions (11 vs 22) than those stats produced by Charlie Ward. Both won the Heisman and a national championship as the starter. Bottom line: Ward was a great quarterback and athlete, but his production does not equal that of Tim Tebow.
David
August 21st, 2009
11:34 am
Tony, please tell me Fulmer didn’t blow up your skirt and went to your head? Louisville has been down and doesn’t need to hire someone just to help out a bruised ego. He got fired for a reason. Is that title of “Mr Football” self proclaimed?
Barnhart sucks
August 21st, 2009
11:42 am
David – Barnhart is the definition of a lazy “journalist” that simply states the obvious. I have yet to read anything from him that is insightful.
Atlanta Gator
August 21st, 2009
11:43 am
Just found what I was looking for—-the pass efficiency ratings for Charlie Ward and Tim Tebow.
During the 1993 season in which Ward won the Heisman and his Seminoles won the national championship, his efficiency rating was 157.84. I haven’t found previous years yet, but I assume his senior year was his best.
Tebow’s pass efficiency ratings have been 201.71 in 2006 (back-up and special plays QB), 172.47 in 2007 (sophomore starter, won the Heisman), and 172.37 in 2008 (junior starter, won the national championship).
Ward was very good; Tebow is better.
Pago Flyer
August 21st, 2009
11:45 am
Word on the street…..Michigan may be looking for a coach in 2-3 years, so Fulmer may have a chance to get back into football.
Bill E. Goat
August 21st, 2009
11:51 am
Headbangers Vol-
So what if UF won their first conference title in 91? You trying talk smack about it just so show’s how jealous you are of their current success.
WifeCallsMeAss-
Another pathetic attempt to belittle someone you are jealous of accomplishments. Granted Uf’s schedule is lighter than usual this season but it hasn’t even been played yet.
Last season Tebow put numbers up against Miami, FSU, UGA, LSU, Bama and Oklahoma etc… and barely played beyond halftime vs. the scrub teams. In fact he played against NINE teams ranked in the top 35 in total defense last year.
In FACT there isn’t but ONE season in the PAST 10 you can say UGA had a better OOC schedule than UF did.
Got 12?
August 21st, 2009
11:52 am
In my opinion, filming Auburn’s reality TV show will be a huge distraction for the team during the most critical time of the year. But what do I care? If I had CSS, I’d watch the show.
War Eagle — original or extra crispy?
BS Patrol
August 21st, 2009
11:57 am
AtlantaTruth,
Riiight! You have 5 Tech Grads working for YOU? And I’m about to change the moon into green cheese.
wareagle
August 21st, 2009
11:58 am
I think MTV’s show on Hoover High was pretty successful and Friday Night Lights also; this could be good for recruiting.
jumbeauxtiger
August 21st, 2009
12:00 pm
Rich Rod is a solid coach and will turn Michigan around. Ohio State better enjoy their Big Ten ride while they can.
Bama certainly thought very highly of him.
Geaux Tigers
Go SEC
SANTA DAWG
August 21st, 2009
12:09 pm
HEY SAINT SIMONS, WHO WAS IT THAT PLAYED IN THE PEACH BOWL LAST YEAR AND WHAT WAS THE FINAL SCORE. PUT THAT BETWEEN 2 PIECES OF BREAD AND CHEW ON IT FOR A WHILE. MAYBE EVEN A YEAR. I BELIEVE IT WAS LSU. WHAT WAS THE SCORE ?
m
August 21st, 2009
12:19 pm
Simpledawg….the most dedundant internet handle in history.
Santadawg…we have been enjoying kicking your sorry arses so much that for some reason we didn’t mind the peach bowl that much…imagine that.
45-42…glad it STILL hurts so very much….and it is only the beginning..
m is a DA
August 21st, 2009
12:21 pm
dedundant
What a moron, yeah m really went to college
Big time?? Not
August 21st, 2009
12:26 pm
Four tickets, four hot dogs, four cokes
jacketbacker
August 21st, 2009
12:27 pm
keep at it saint simons!!….you’re getting to ‘em!!
45-42!!!!
THWG
Tide Rising
August 21st, 2009
12:35 pm
1) Bryce Brown- Every other year there seems to be a top recruit like Fred Rouse(#2 rated nationally) and Willie Williams(# 1 nationally) in previous recruiting years that becomes such an incredible distraction that they get booted as these 2 did because its just not worth their talent. The way the recruiting process played out with Brown it seems he’s just another kid with an outsized ego and narcissistic personality. I hope for his sake and UT that I’m wrong.
2) Auburn- I think the CSS Sports show is a great idea for Auburn. Auburn needs every advantage it can get. They have fallen way behind UGA, UF, LSU, Bama, and even UT in the recruiting wars and the talent level has slipped dramatically.
3) NCAA- Seems the NCAA is constantly losing lawsuit wars. Jerry Tarkanian took them for millions in a successful defamation suit, Rick Neuheisel took em down, Bama lawyers got them exposed for all their “secret witness” and secret documents that showed what a sleazy, corrupt organization the NCAA really is. And now FSU beats them in court. Bravo
4) Phillip Fulmer- Louisville may not be high enough profile for him but ND certainly is.
5) Tim Tebow vs Charlie Ward. Based on stats and championships Tebow wins hands down. Aint even close. He is truly one of the greatest qbs of all time as we at Bama found out in the seccg.
But then Tony gets carried away and asks rhetorically if Tebow is the greatest college player of all time? Nope. He’s not even the greatest qb of all time and his overall passing stats pale in comparison to a lot of qbs. How quickly people tend to forget that he plays with a supporting cast that is superior to just about any other team he will play in terms of pure talent. Still a great player though. Just not the greatest ever.
BP
August 21st, 2009
12:36 pm
MAC… I don’t understand the stupidity of some folks..
” Brown = Clarett”… are you a freaking IDIOT? Brown actually goes to class and currently has a 3.7GPA, Clarett what classroom?. Also I can assure you that you will not find Brown driving around k-town with illegal firearms in is car trunk…
Alphare
August 21st, 2009
12:42 pm
I am not UF fan, but the TBow comment is just insane. He shoulda won Heisman last year. So to me he is a 2-time Heisman winner already.
Heisman should never be given to an OK or Texas QB.
UT96
August 21st, 2009
12:45 pm
Tide Rising, I can’t believe I’m agreeing with a Bammer but you are spot on regarding your point #3 about the NCAA. Brian Bosworth said it best: NCAA stands for National Communists Against Athletes.
59bulldawg
August 21st, 2009
12:52 pm
1. Don’t care about Bryce Brown.
2. Don’t care about Auburn reality tv.
3. Care even less about the ruling in the Florida State case.
4. Finally something interesting. Fulmer will coach again and other
schools in search of coaches will kick themselves for not offering
him first. Fulmer’s a good coach and a decent man.
5. Ward better than Tebow? Are you kidding me . . . with another whole
year left for Tebow to add to his stats . . . stats I might add
which are already better than Ward’s. Tony the argument’s already
over! Ward was good but he’s not in Tebow’s league.
UT96
August 21st, 2009
12:59 pm
59BullDawg, Fulmer has done a major league snow job on you. He became a joke the last ten years at UT running our program in the ground. Any major program would be foolish to hire him.
David
August 21st, 2009
1:12 pm
Joe,
You’re an idiot. Janzen Jackson, who was born and raised and thought to be going to LSU, didn’t switch last minute to UT with no relationship in place. He’d actually been recruited for several months, from the time Lane Kiffin got on campus.
Futhermore, he went because he said he wanted to play for Monte Kiffin, and because he’s thought of himself for many years as a similar player to Ronde Barber, who plays cornerback for the Bucs, who was taught by the guy that is the new defensive coordinator for UT, Monte Kiffin.
And lastly, he said his ultimate goal isn’t necessarily to play in the NFL (even though he was the second ranked CB out of high school). He said his ultimate goal is to one day be a coach in the NFL — and he said after sitting down and talking about defense for five minutes with Monte Kiffin, one of the best DC’s to ever grace the game, he was completely sold on him.
So, yeah, I’m sure UT paid the guy. You’re a UGA fan, yes? Guessing that’s the case, since that would help explain your stupidity.
Afternoon Grab Bag | MrSEC.com
August 21st, 2009
1:24 pm
[...] of The Mobile Press-Register lays out the biggest games on the SEC football schedule, week by week.Tony Barnhart of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution chimes in on Bryce Brown, Auburn’s reality television show, the Charlie Ward-Tim Tebow debate, and the [...]
59bulldawg
August 21st, 2009
1:30 pm
UT96, Well one of us will find out who is right if someone gives him another chance, won’t we? I understand what Tennessee fans are saying about Fulmer and his reliance on Chavis and Cutcliffe. I know the view from the outside is always different but I stand by my comments. If I’m wrong I’ll admit it but hey man he recruited well and won you a championship . . . doesn’t that earn him at least a little respect?
Tide Rising
August 21st, 2009
1:31 pm
UT96,
I also forgot to mention that Jackie Sherrill filed a couple different lawsuits against the NCAA. He was completely exonerated against the NCAA in one case and I think that as of March of this year he still has a lawsuit pending against the NCAA.
Turns out the same investigator Johanningmeir who was proven to have fabricated evidence in the case against Bama also had lied to witnesses in the Jackie Sherrill case. He and the NCAA had also used private investigators to dig up dirt on Sherrill in his private life which of course should have had nothing to do with ncaa investigations into the MSU program.
In the Tarkanian case the NCAA had threatened a Sudanese player with deportation for his entire family back to war torn Sudan if he didn’t go along with fabricated evidence against Tarkanian. In Tark’s lawsuit he whipped the NCAA badly in one suit and in the other the NCAA had to pay him 2.5 million for a pattern of harassment spanning 20 years. You cannot make this stuff up.
Bosworth was right on and if they have a chance they will torpedo someone just because they can and because this organization has no accountability. They are answerable to no one and that is the problem.
athensdawg
August 21st, 2009
1:36 pm
If this works for Auburn, it will give us just what we need….reality shows for all NCAA programs.
More mindless drivel that the zombies can fret about….
“Wow….did you see that tape job that so and so had on his hand? Does that mean that we will win a national championship?”
Before too long, we’ll be voting for starters via an american idol like format.
Somewhere, Edward Gibbon must be enjoying the modern day Roman Circus that is the internet.
LONG DAWG
August 21st, 2009
1:41 pm
M what hurts is supporting a perennially mediocre football program that never wins 10 games in a season, never goes to a BCS bowl, never wins a conference championship, can’t fill a small stadium and has fans like you. So you must be in a lot of pain all the time. Our pain wa only temporary. UGA had 531 yards of offense aginst a teck team with three guys who went to the pros. They are gone and so is your defense. You will have lost at least 3 before we visit and by then you’ll be back in the hole you craweled out of.
UT96
August 21st, 2009
1:58 pm
59BullDawg, Honestly, he deserves no respect for three reason(s): 1)The way he got the UT job to begin with 2)Playing the whole cloak and dagger bit with the NCAA (and trust me I’m no Bama fan but he should have stayed out of it) and 3) he refuses take any responsibilty for the last ten years (if you listen to him, he always blames someone else).
Sure, we won a national title in ‘98 but I contend it wasn’t because he was any kind of great gameday coach. We won because (with the exception of Florida) we simply had more talent than the other teams we played. He could recruit early on at UT, I would argue because in the nineties, we were catching some major programs in a down period for most of the decade. Bama, UGA, LSU, etc. and because of that we were able to go into those states get some damn good players: Jamal Lewis, Deion Grant, Peyton Manning, etc. Also, we had Rodney Garner for a couple of years which helped. When that talent was equall, more often than not we lost.
So what happened: Fulmer got complacent and lazy. We were running the same offense since the 80’s, the above schools upgraded their talent and coaching while we (UT stayed the same). Fulmer also refused to hire the best staff members he could find choosing loyalty over talent. He started missing on a bunch of recruits. In any case, if Fulmer takes over any program, he will have a very average record nothing more.
Mac
August 21st, 2009
2:03 pm
Bryce Brown = Maurice Clarett/Lawrence Phillips
BP = Big P#$$&