Aw, Bruce, Say It Ain't So!!!

Well, file this under "How could he be so stupid?". Coach Bruce Pearl & his assistants were penalized by UT today for misleading the NCAA in an investigation into improper phone contact with recruits.

Rumor: S1 said they were using throw-away cell phones to contact recruits - no records, no limit on calls. etc.

Here's a summary of the penalties. Pearl loses a cool $1.5 million over the next five years & a $500,000 retention bonus due in 2012 is delayed to 2015. I am sure he has a few bucks in the bank, but that's a sizable amount of money. The salary reductions will hit his assistants harder because they don't make as much. Also, and this is a biggie, he can't recruit off-campus for A YEAR. How can you recruit a kid if you can't visit his parents??? The NCAA may impose more penalties. Major sports @ UTK are swirling the drain.

Photo by Michael Patrick.

Ready for the new year!

Sweet Boy & I planted this amaryllis bulb a few weeks ago. It has bloomed beautifully. It was a kit from Walmart...

Christmas has come & gone ...my favorite time of year. Wish it lasted longer!

The Vols lost to VA. Tech - can't say I was surprised. They are better but not great yet. Not sorry we skipped the game now.

Tooo bad about the UT basketball players. Scuttlebutt from S1: the car was not their car - so they claim the gun was not theirs either. Police are testing the gun & bullets (!) for fingerprints. Hope they didn't touch it...Still, very stupid behavior.

It is cold, cold, cold in Middle Tennessee! My toes cannot get warm! It will be cold here till April...

Orange & White Game 2009

We took a quick trip to Knoxville this past weekend for the Orange & White Game. We went with S1 & DIL1 & all four grandkids. They all did so well! Sweet Boy really liked the crane working on the addition to the stadium. It was warm but thankfully we were able to sit in the shade. Smart Girl & Sweet Girl wore their cheerleading outfits - soo cute! Sweet Baby drifted off to sleep. It was kinda funny to see Coach Kiffin on the field during the game reading his play chart. Attendance was great (51,000). Go Vols!!

Bummer

Oklahoma State ends Vols' season, 77-75.

A Good Game...

We went to Knoxville to see our kids & Jim Bob went to the game with S1 & DIL1.

The Vols FINALLY mounted an offense that looked good. Too bad it came so late. The Vol Walk was jam-packed with people & Coach Fulmer seemed to enjoy the recognition. The crowd was smaller but it was cold & rainy & the game didn't really count. There were many supportive signs for Coach Fulmer in the crowd & video highlights of his career flashed on the Jumbotron. It was great to end on a win.

Those are some strong guys!


Photo: Michael Patrick/govolsxtra.com

Rocky Bottom..

That's what the Knoxville News-Sentinel called it.

Jim Bob went to the game & said it was the worst UT game he has ever seen & he has been going since he was a child - his dad is an Alabama grad & they always went to the UT-Bama game. We were in college through the lean years of the '70s - we love you, Condredge, too bad you were a man without a team.

Anyway, this is awful!

It's Official...

Or it will be @ 5pm EST when changes in the Vols football program will be announced.Phillip Fulmer will not return next year as the coach of the Tennessee Vols. Read about it here, here, or here.

It's Sad...

Jim Bob went to the UT-Bama game this weekend in K-town. S1 left early, which he NEVER EVER does. S1 says he doesn't expect a national championship every year, but UT should be competitive in the SEC title race, which they are not - year after year. Has the game passed Coach Fulmer by? It is sad...& the next guy could be worse.






Photo: Amy Smotherman-Burgess/govolsxtra.com

Check Out the Sweatshirt...

News reports said this poor confused girl is from Texas..apparently she's a Vols fan. I hope she gets the help she needs.

This Is Better...UT 34 - Miss. State 3

Things are looking up in Big Orange Country. The Vols won one...yeah!! S1 said the team played better, etc. Jim Bob is going to the game next week in K-town.

ESPN has decided to broadcast the UT-Bama game @ 7:45PM EDT next Saturday (Oct. 25, 2008), but I am sure that is more about Bama (#2 in the BCS) & Saban than our boys in orange. :)








Photo: Saul Young/govolsxtra.com

UT Basketball is 100

Ok, forget football, on to basketball!!

The UT Vols (men) open their season Nov. 3 against Indianapolis. Also, this year UT celebrates 100 years on the basketball court. Check out utsports.com for more info.

The UT LadyVols open with an exhibition game against Carson-Newman on Nov.6.

NOTE: S1 has not missed the Georgia game since he came to UTK in Fall 1996. However, this year, after much soul-searching, he sold his tickets & skipped the game. VOLS, you are in trouble!! S1 is one of the Vols biggest fans ever!! He settled in Knoxville, has had season tickets since he graduated, goes to games home & away, is a contributor to the University & has encouraged friends & family to financially support UT (when he calls the Development Office, they know him). Too bad. He does intend to keep his Bama steak alive, however. :)

Even Smokey Is Ashamed...

Florida 30, Vols 6.
Call it a travesty, but not a rivalry.

Bummer

Probably no National Championship run for the Vols this year. Like a thousand other UT games, they almost pulled it out, but in the end, no cigar. S1 went to the game - I'm sure he is fuming.

It's almost Football Time in Tennessee!

The Vols had seven players named to the preseason All-SEC list. Story here.

The season kicks off Sept. 1, 2008, against UCLA in the Rose Bowl - 8pm ET on ESPN.