Bob Shoop’s covfefe oops, cocky wide receivers, and recovering former quarterbacks, all in today’s Vols link roundup.
Football
Tennessee defensive coordinator has apparently out-covfefe’d Donald Trump. I vote ei.
New Vols wide receivers coach likes his receivers to be cocky and knows how to handle ’em that way:
“I love ‘em cocky,’’ Beard said. “I love ‘em. Why? That’s who you are. That’s all the great receivers.
“It’s not about, `Oh, you can’t handle those guys because they’re cocky.’ No, you’ve got to explain to them when and when not to exercise those actions. Once you learn how to cultivate them and coach them up on when should and shouldn’t, you’ve got a great football player. So I like them cocky.’’
One of his other quirky qualifications is “juice,” meaning a guy whose actions prove that he just loves to play.
And Tennessee coaches are pleased that the offensive line is taking on a leadership role this year. It’s important, says offensive coordinator Larry Scott:
“You always want your guys up front to set the tone, no matter how experience or how skilled you are everywhere else,” he said. “Football games are won, especially in the SEC, up front. It’s a line-of-scrimmage league. With that being said, you always want that to kind of be the strength, even though they may be young or whatever.
“It’s the mentality and the mindset that you’ve got to have from those guys up front that’s more important than anything else.”
Vince Ferrara ranks the SEC’s toughest stretches in the 2017 schedule. The Vols’ schedule ranks 12th, from October 14-28, which is South Carolina, at Alabama, and at Kentucky. That really doesn’t sound all that bad, as far as gauntlets go.
VFLs
It’s a shame that former quarterback Jonathan Crompton does not look back at his Tennessee days fondly. I don’t blame him, as too many folks were too ugly during that tough time and, as the quarterback, he was often the target.
What would have happened if Peyton Manning had left Tennessee early for the NFL? Surprisingly, the answer is not, “The world would have come to a screeching halt.” Maybe there would be fewer folks named “Peyton” or “Payton” in East Tennessee right now. Or maybe not.
Baseball
Get to know new baseball coach Tony Vitello a little bit:
If five minutes isn’t enough and you’d rather have 40, here’s the entire presser:
Hoops
Three players — James Daniel III, Lamonte Turner, and John Fulkerson — are not playing in the Rocky Top League, which holds its draft this Wednesday.
Recruiting
New offers:
- Class of 2019 athlete/wide receiver Ja’markis Weston
- Class of 2020 wide receiver Jacobi Bellazin