So I'm in grad school, which means I read. I read a lot. I read all the time. My name is Reading Johnson. I'm not joking this is what I do.
This week alone. I've read 4 journal articles, 2 + book chapters, and I have three more articles I'm supposed to read for tonight.
I wouldn't mind reading so damn much if we were talking about it all. And this week has been nice, we've actually talked about a lot of it, but not all of it. Which annoys the shit out of me. Oh well, most of it is interesting so I shouldn't complain to much.
Back to reading.
Zac
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
"So I guess comparisons to the 1998 National Championship team were a little far fetched"
Well, at least no one got hurt physically. That's all I can really say about the abismal performance of the University of Tennessee Football team last night.
Last night the Vols squared off against UCLA, and the better team and coaching staff prevailed.
First off, let me start by saying that I am not a football scholar. I am simply a fan, a well informed fan, who enjoys the game. And as a member of the University of Tennessee in two ways - both as an alumnus and a current graduate student- as well as a member of the football program in two ways - now a paying member of the audience that gathers on Saturdays and a fan - I have some criticisms to offer.
Before I begin, let me offer yet another preface: I can criticize all I want, it's my right as a fan and I'm not saying that I've got the answers , just as it's every citizen's right and duty to criticize the government. Now with that being said, let us begin.
Phil, seriously what happened? The team looked sluggish, Crompton fell apart, Crompton was erratic, Lincoln was bad (granted two of his three missed field goals were more than 50 yards, which would have been a personal best for him) but still. Fumbles. Mistakes. In my humble opinion poor play calling. But you know what I'm willing to chalk all of that (less Lincoln) up to nerves. It was the first game of a season that had the highest expectations for UT football in quite a while. It was also Crompton's first time to really lead the team, finally out from the shadow of Ainge. And it was also Clawson's first night to really call the plays. So I'll let all that slide. Lincoln on the other hand, is a pro, he started all last year, he could have done better. He has done better, and I know he will do better. And I'll get back to this thought that he and the team can do better in a moment.
Secondly and most importantly I'd like to address Mike Hamilton. I know he wasn't on the field. He wasn't calling plays. But I'll guarentee he was there. If we students are having to suck up the costs to renovate Neyland Stadium, increase Phil's salary to a number much higher than any state employee including both Pat Summit, who win's Championships, and the Governer - then I want a program I can be proud of. So far this season, I've not seen the $90 I spent on a student season ticket go to anything that is supposed to keep our team competitive.
Third and this is to all of us, myself included. The men that stepped on that field last night, Crompton, Lincoln, Foster, Berry on down the line all deserve our respect. While it might not seem like we, the commoners, recieve that same respect from them (i.e. lack of discipline) those men played as best they could. And they are in all actuallity kids. 18 -21 year olds that have the hopes and dreams of an entire state riding upon their shoulders. They practice everyday, sometimes twice a day, sometimes without breaks. Last night, they simply were outplayed and outcoached. Don't be to hard on them, what were most of us doing at that age? Not competing on a national level in front of 70,000 people plus a couple million more on television. So cut them some slack.
And finally I want to say this. And this goes to everyone who gets up in arms everytime something happens involving UT sports. First off, UT Sports. Let's look at that phrase. Univesity of Tennessee Sports. The first word in that phrase is University. This is a learning institution, not a sports machine. So as long as those players lasat night learned something. Hopefully about themselves and the world around them and how they fit into it, then I'll consider it a victory. But that's just the educator in me.
I hope that Mike Hamilton and Phil Fulmer realize that UT is an institue of higher learning, not just a training ground for pro athletes. Because from the cheap seats it doesn't always look like it.
Go Vols.
Last night the Vols squared off against UCLA, and the better team and coaching staff prevailed.
First off, let me start by saying that I am not a football scholar. I am simply a fan, a well informed fan, who enjoys the game. And as a member of the University of Tennessee in two ways - both as an alumnus and a current graduate student- as well as a member of the football program in two ways - now a paying member of the audience that gathers on Saturdays and a fan - I have some criticisms to offer.
Before I begin, let me offer yet another preface: I can criticize all I want, it's my right as a fan and I'm not saying that I've got the answers , just as it's every citizen's right and duty to criticize the government. Now with that being said, let us begin.
Phil, seriously what happened? The team looked sluggish, Crompton fell apart, Crompton was erratic, Lincoln was bad (granted two of his three missed field goals were more than 50 yards, which would have been a personal best for him) but still. Fumbles. Mistakes. In my humble opinion poor play calling. But you know what I'm willing to chalk all of that (less Lincoln) up to nerves. It was the first game of a season that had the highest expectations for UT football in quite a while. It was also Crompton's first time to really lead the team, finally out from the shadow of Ainge. And it was also Clawson's first night to really call the plays. So I'll let all that slide. Lincoln on the other hand, is a pro, he started all last year, he could have done better. He has done better, and I know he will do better. And I'll get back to this thought that he and the team can do better in a moment.
Secondly and most importantly I'd like to address Mike Hamilton. I know he wasn't on the field. He wasn't calling plays. But I'll guarentee he was there. If we students are having to suck up the costs to renovate Neyland Stadium, increase Phil's salary to a number much higher than any state employee including both Pat Summit, who win's Championships, and the Governer - then I want a program I can be proud of. So far this season, I've not seen the $90 I spent on a student season ticket go to anything that is supposed to keep our team competitive.
Third and this is to all of us, myself included. The men that stepped on that field last night, Crompton, Lincoln, Foster, Berry on down the line all deserve our respect. While it might not seem like we, the commoners, recieve that same respect from them (i.e. lack of discipline) those men played as best they could. And they are in all actuallity kids. 18 -21 year olds that have the hopes and dreams of an entire state riding upon their shoulders. They practice everyday, sometimes twice a day, sometimes without breaks. Last night, they simply were outplayed and outcoached. Don't be to hard on them, what were most of us doing at that age? Not competing on a national level in front of 70,000 people plus a couple million more on television. So cut them some slack.
And finally I want to say this. And this goes to everyone who gets up in arms everytime something happens involving UT sports. First off, UT Sports. Let's look at that phrase. Univesity of Tennessee Sports. The first word in that phrase is University. This is a learning institution, not a sports machine. So as long as those players lasat night learned something. Hopefully about themselves and the world around them and how they fit into it, then I'll consider it a victory. But that's just the educator in me.
I hope that Mike Hamilton and Phil Fulmer realize that UT is an institue of higher learning, not just a training ground for pro athletes. Because from the cheap seats it doesn't always look like it.
Go Vols.
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