It confuses me how many of the people that comment on this website call themselves VOL fans. You say that the reason that you are bitter towards Rod Delmonico is because that you want to see the team win and you fell that the team isnt winning. Everyone cries about how Rod doesn't recruit in-state, and that he recruits from Miami and California. If I am not mistaken, Miami, USC, and Cal-State-Fullerton went to the world series. Which means 3 of 8 teams were from California and Miami leaving 0 of 8 from Tennesee. The University of Tennessee is a major institution, weather academically or athletically, which means that they must compete nationally. Therefore, they have to go nationally to recruit big time players. And honestly, Tennesee doesn't have that many, if one or two major recruits, that come from the state in one year. And most of the time these major recruits are from west Tennessee which is closer to Ole Miss and Mississippi State. It isn't a mistake that the University of Tennsessee is the only college that is in the SEC from the state. So, a true VOL fan would stick by the team through thickor thin, (in-state or not instate players). Loook at the football team. Hony many key players are actually from Tennessee...... BasicallyNONE!!!! And the football team is a powerhouse. So quitm whining and crying about the team because NO ONE on this website acutally plays, and I'm sure the players want to make it to Ohmaha MUCH more than the people on this website do.
Maybe Nashville has been annexed by Alabama. Or Knoxville! No, wait-Knoxville would still be in Tennessee. And Mayor Ashe is gone so the annexing may slow down.
I'm sure Orange1 is one of those that got the memo that Vanderbilt was leaving the SEC. The last time I checked Tennessee still finishes the year hosting Vandy, and it even shows it as an SEC game!
Orange1: Only one or two "major recruits" a year from the state? The definition of that is subject to debate, but I think information already provided in another thread answers that statement. Especially the last 2-3 years recruiting classes!
Oh, well. Orange1, continue to support the Vols wholeheartedly. I always have before, but things do have a way of changing in unexpected ways. Just don't knock the many excellent players in the state who have chosen to attend schools other than UT.
Welcome to the site. It's always nice to get an opinion exchange. Your passion for the Vols is very clear.
I can understand why you might wonder about the alleged Vol loyalty professed by some of us ..... I guess the years of being close cause a frustration. That gets compounded when you watch the best years of high school baseball talent in the state go to waste, as far as the UT program is concerned.
Let me clear up a few inaccuracies in your post:
1) 25 in state players were on SEC rosters (other than Tennessee) last year. The count will be 21 this year. Regardless of the math used that equates to more than 2 or 3 per year.
That does not include the Tennessee kids at Georgia Tech, Clemson, Notre Dame, MTSU, etc.
2)Most Tennessee baseball knowledgeable folks would agree that it might be difficult to compete on a national level with only players from inside the state. What's curious is that even with the players from Cali and Florida the UT program is not getting over the hump. Is the UT staff not recruiting the right players, from those states, or are they not developing once they get here?
The 2001 team was dominated by in state players having great seasons. Only two of the main "stars" of the team were from out-of-state. Herrera (ended up hurt) and Burke, a Kentucky kid. Where would that team have been without Crowe, Christenson, Hicklen, Bibee, Bennett, Daniel, Johnson, Allen, Curtiss and Hopkins.
The 1995 team had a mix of Tennessee kids and those from other states. I have not met any UT fans that would claim to have a problem with that team's make-up.
Tennessee in-state players in '95 that contributed - Todd Helton, R.A. Dickey, Baker Moore, Ryan Meyers, Lance Smith, Travis Copley and Brad Greene. Some of the out-of-staters that were key players - Scott Schroeffel (Pa-FSU transfer), Ed Lewis (NC), Scott Vieira (Ca), Bryce Chrsitensen (Ca), and possibly my all time favorite Vol baseball player, Eduardo Figueroa (PR).
3) As for the UT football team .... It is difficult to argue that Fulmer and staff aren't doing the right thing by not recruiting more in-state kids. The football program is winning. I also think that the in-state football talent is a bit down the past few years. Whenever possible the UT football staff will recruit a Tennessee player over any other. When a suitable in-state player is not available they must go elsewhere. I would expect Coach D. to do the same.
4) As others have already pointed out .... Vanderbilt is located in Nashville, which is inside the boundaries of the state of Tennessee, and is a member of the SEC.
Bob, "Doing nothing is still a course of action"
Posts: 1507 | Location: Tennessee | Registered: December 22, 2002
Everyone seems to have a very good argument on this point. Myself being from West Tn. the whole state of baseball throughout Tn. is on the upswing. This would include ages of 8 thru 18. Tennesse has a great baseball reputation of producing very talented young men. Although UT seems to be missing the boat there are many colleges that have bought a ticket for a ride. Lest we forget this is all about the kids and getting that free education anything after that is just icing on the cake.
Play Hard but practice Harder and achieve your goals
Posts: 9 | Location: Arlington,Tn. | Registered: December 23, 2003
Orange 1, Solid post, with a passionate tone. I would reclassify this message board as an "information" board and their are a lot of informed people on it. Although I would view many opinions as skewed, everyone is entitled to have one.
Yes we are stuck on the recruiting element, (has anyone read the insiders post again?)
A program can be successful recruiting one of two ways because evaluation of talent is a crapshoot.
Posts: 56 | Location: usa | Registered: November 01, 2003
Spidey, I have read all of "TheInsiders" post again. I believe that this is the post that you refer:
quote: posted December 08, 2003 06:22 PM I have followed almost every post on this board for the past 6 months. I have played enough baseball in my day to know what good talent is. By no means I am not trying to take away anything from any guys in this years senior class or the classes of the past few years. Because I feel like UT has missed out on some good ones(especially Farragut catcher, now a freshman Blue Raider) But here is something to think about...maybe "Ray-Bans" does a great job of recruiting and gets some of the nation's top talent. Talent that is equal or greater of the kids in Tennessee. But when these kids get to his program that talent they have is not stretched or utitlized properly. So the kids turn out to be a bust, the same kid in another system could be a star. So I think that should be something new to think about...the use of the talent in the program...not the recruiting aspect.
I'll post it again for everyone to see and maybe get a few more responses.
"If you make every game a life and death proposition, you're going to have problems. For one thing, you'll be dead a lot."
Didn't that other SEC school from Tennessee bring out the broom and kinda sweep the Vols last season?
What was there name........AH, Vanderbilt! Who made the SEC Tournament last season? Vandy Who didn't? The Vols Who has a nice new stadium? Vanderbilt Who doesn't? The Vols
My hat is off to other SEC school Vanderbilt who seems to be holding there own in baseball!
Ahh.... Nashville
Orange1 thinks we hate the Vols! We have never said anything bad about the team or players! We never said anthing bad about the fine coach Larry Simcox either!
We have said a few things about the late pitching coaches and Rod's thinking in recruiting!
Does this make us hate the Vols? I don't think so!
Posts: 717 | Location: Paris Tennessee | Registered: December 26, 2002
No, wait-Knoxville would still be in Tennessee. And Mayor Ashe is gone so the annexing may slow down.
The last time I checked Tennessee still finishes the year hosting Vandy, and it even shows it as an SEC game! 
