Re: Inside the Failing of Tennessee Program Under Butch Jones
I agree that there are pockets of areas with pretty good athletes up here but I am always amazed at how horrible the football is here. I went to watch Shades Valley play one of the supposedly better teams in 7A football up here and I was shocked that Shades Valley beat them. Shades Valley had a couple of ballers at LB and RB that ran all over the Tennessee team. Tennessee high schools just don't have great athletes at the lineman postions more than anything from what I have seen. I don't believe there are enough good players to sustain a major college at the level that TN would like to be at.Gallatin, Murfreesboro, Jackson, Chattanooga, Oak Ridge, Nashville, and Memphis all have high schools with good football programs year in and year out. The town I live in, Milan, has produced several good athletes one, Avery Williamson, plays linebacker for the Titans. But he went to Kentucky.
The point is if the Vols do lock down the state, recruit nationally with success, and hire the right coach, perennial success is not out of reach.
Personally, I think they're on the right track with Botch and should offer him a big raise and an extension.:wink: