UPDATE: Tennessee's Secret Team Meeting
Rumors about a Tennessee team meeting were flying around the internet so fast Sunday, it seemed fans thought the football program would spontaneously combust. After the ugly 24-21 loss to a bad South Carolina team, the Vols football team thought they needed to regroup with a special Sunday night team meeting. All hell broke loose […]
Rumors about a Tennessee team meeting were flying around the internet so fast Sunday, it seemed fans thought the football program would spontaneously combust.
After the ugly 24-21 loss to a bad South Carolina team, the Vols football team thought they needed to regroup with a special Sunday night team meeting.
All hell broke loose on the internet. Butch Jones was resigning, immediately. Then, super star players decided they were quitting the team. Vol Nation was unraveling so fast nothing could save it.
Let's address what we know about this rumors following the team meeting.
Butch Jones resigning rumor
This is the most ridiculous of the rumors, and there shouldn't be much time spent telling you why.
There is no way Butch Jones would decide to walk out on this team after three straight losses. Tennessee (5-3) is still in play to win the SEC East. Florida would have to lose two road games to Arkansas and LSU, which is highly possible.
Even if Butch Jones's job was in jeopardy (which it's not, yet), quitting now would cost him nearly all of his $15 million buyout. Jones resigning wouldn't make any sense, unless of course of some extreme medical emergency.
Players quitting the team
Rumors of players quitting Tennessee's football team sent fans into "freakout mode" Sunday evening and deep into the night. This tweet from Cam Mashburn, a radio host out of Lawernceburg, TN, got everything going.
Now, I've never seen this person tweet in my five years of following Vol news on twitter, but a team meeting did happen.
Jonathan Kongbo
Tennessee's prized junior college defensive end transfer threw about a half dozen prime logs onto the fire with his cryptic tweet about hanging up his cleats.
What in the world does this mean?
First thoughts were that Kongbo is retiring from football. Secondly, people noticed those were soccer cleats, not football cleats. Kongbo is from African decent, and has soccer in his athletic background. Makes sense. But that's not the case, as I learned from a trusted source Sunday night.
A video game. A certain soccer video game. Jonathan Kongbo isn't quitting football at all. This is the perfect example of a young person who's gotten the attention of being a big time college football recruit, taking advantage of his audience and trying to stir the pot. I could do an entire column about the issues behind college football/basketball recruiting in today's age. That column will come, but now is not the time.
Jalen Hurd
Tennessee's most prized possession in the last three years has been the 5-star running back out of Hendersonville, TN. Hurd's signing to the program was a signal of return, and since, he has been placed on a pedestal by Jones.
Drama has filled the junior running back's season. It all began when Hurd fumbled at the goal-line against Georgia when he thought he could coast in for a score but was blindsided by a big hit. Hurd didn't play most of the second half, then missed the game against Texas A&M with an "upper body" injury. Hurd returned to play against Alabama. After the bye week, Hurd was perceived to be ready to roll for the rest of the season. However, something happened in the game against South Carolina when Hurd only got eight carries for just 16 yards. Sophomore John Kelly got most of the carries. Carlin Fils-Aime saw his first action of the season, as Hurd stood on the sidelines.
Someone sent me this message board rumor on Twitter Sunday night claiming it was a post by Hurd's uncle.
I cannot confirm Hurd leaving the team. I can confirm the part about Hurd demanding more of the I-formation during last season's Outback Bowl preparations. Also, I can't confirm that this is Hurd's actual uncle, but people on that message board believe he is tied directly to Hurd.
