ROCKY TOP BEAT: It is only 78 days until it is "football time in Tennessee"

Area Sports

June 18, 2009

By Frank Gale / Chronicle columnist The Crossville Chronicle Thu Jun 18, 2009, 03:11 PM CDT

Here we are just a few days from the official start of summer but more importantly only 78 days until it is “football time in Tennessee."

Well, at least we are within three months and the summertime distractions of vacations and other activities will help ease the pain of another few months without Vol football.

I hoped by now that perhaps at least one quarterback for the 2010 recruiting class would be on board but no such luck. This week saw another quarterback recruit, Memphis area’s Barry Brunetti, commit to West Virginia.

If that wasn’t bad enough, another recruited quarterback, Richard Hendrix from Moeller High School in Cincinnati, Ohio is gushing superlatives about Notre Dame. If that plays out in the Fighting Irish’s favor, then we can then start looking to Jesse Scroggins from Lakewood, CA and Munchie Legaux (I don’t make up these names, really) from New Orleans, LA as the targets for the 2010 class. Maybe in a few weeks the situation will be clearer following the next high school football camp at UT.

The big news out of Knoxville this past week didn’t revolve around football but rather Coach Pearl’s basketball team.

Tyler Smith has decided to return to UT for his senior season. Tyler removed his name from the upcoming NBA draft and also decided that his heart was not into taking his talents overseas at this point in his career.

With Tyler returning, Coach Pearl should have the experience and talent to make a serious run at another SEC title and take the Vols to new heights in the post season. Time will tell.

Thanks to the Vanderbilt fans that assured me that they had a spring game over in Nashville and that it was attended by a couple of thousand rabid Commodore fans. Unfortunately no one remembers seeing our Jim Butler there. (Can’t blame you Jim, it probably wasn’t worth the gas to get there.)

With less than three months until we hear "Rocky Top" live again, I hope all Vol fans are as anxious as I am for Sept. 5 to get here. I must admit though that not all loyal Big Orange supporters are in the Kiffin camp yet. That too is OK, because I still feel that his success at UT will ultimately be tied to the coaching staff he has assembled. No matter what your feelings are for the head coach, he has surrounded himself with a great staff. Is it September yet? Go Vols!!

Frank Gale is a Chronicle correspondent, and his column appears regularly.

Text Only

Area Sports

Hook, line and sinker
May 24, 2012 1 Photo
Cole signs with Bryan College
Another Stone Memorial basketball player will be calling Bryan College home for the 2012-'13 school year, as senior Brandon Cole signed scholarship players to play for the Lions and join his former Panther teammate Robert Troino at the Dayton school.

May 24, 2012 1 Photo
Lady Jets softball team closes season with banquet
The Cumberland County High School Lady Jet softball team was honored with a banquet Tuesday night at Mitch's in Lake Tansi.

May 24, 2012 1 Photo
Jet soccer team honored for great season
The Cumberland County High School Jet soccer team was recognized May 22 at their annual banquet, after finishing third in the district and posting a school-record 11 wins. The team finished with an 11-7-1 record, after losing 4-3 to Coffee County in the district tournament.

May 24, 2012 1 Photo
Volleyball tryouts set
Tryouts for the 2012 Cumberland County High School Lady Jet volleyball team will be May 30-June 1 from noon to 2 p.m. in the CCHS gym.

May 24, 2012
Taylor, Green co-champs of Tennessee Senior State Open
Professional Harry Taylor and amateur Danny Green were declared co-champions of the third annual Tennessee Senior State Open presented by the City of Crossville May 21-22 at Stonehenge Golf Club. The 36-hole tournament was shortened to 18, as the second round was canceled due to unplayable course conditions, according to the TPGA.

May 24, 2012
Iles, teammates win AAU Div. I state title
May 22, 2012 1 Photo
Diamond Scores
May 22, 2012
McNeely named CCHS wrestling coach
Cumberland County High School didn't have go far to find a wrestling coach for 2012-'13, as former assistant and Phoenix School teacher Wes McNeely will replace retiring coach James Brady.

May 21, 2012 1 Photo
Nelson signs to play tennis at Cumberland
Stone Memorial senior tennis player Dylan Nelson recently signed to play tennis with Cumberland University in Lebanon.

May 21, 2012 2 Photos
More Area Sports Headlines

Area Sports

Search Results

ROCKY TOP BEAT: It is only 78 days until it is "football time in Tennessee"

Site Map

Contact Us