Tennessee football had an open date last week. But my literary contributors never take a week off.
Gary writes: All of this “pay-for play” garbage is just that, a bunch of garbage. Another reason among others that I no longer purchase tickets to UT events. I know you’ll say, no big deal, others will and that’s fine with me, but they won’t be getting any $$$$ from me.
Danny White is revered by so many UT fans, but he doesn’t have the courtesy or integrity to answer an email from me, so there’s no respect from me for him. Obviously, he couldn’t care less about a “mere fan” like me, but that’s okay. I couldn’t care less about an AD like him.
This “talent fee”, NIL, revenue-sharing garbage will kill college sports. Greed, greed, and more greed by all concerned.
My response: White is a busy man. He must come up with more money-making ideas to handle the fast-rising costs of college football. That alone is a full-time job.
So, don’t be too hard on him for not responding to your email.
But since I work only about 12 hours a week, feel free to email me about anything. Not only will I likely respond. I will publish your email.
Shemp writes: Playing teams the caliber of Kent State is a disgrace. However, Tennessee has a habit of scheduling teams that have given up and returned to football as well as schools that have only started FBS programs, all of which are pretty weak − such as Charlotte, Georgia State, Austin Peay, etc.
White didn’t schedule any of these although he got rid of Army. He is a pragmatist and knows that down the road people will only remember the W’s and L’s and not who they were against.
My response: There’s little incentive to schedule prominent programs for nonconference games. Life is tough enough in the SEC.
LSU lost its opener to Southern Cal. Texas A&M lost its opener to Notre Dame. Had they scheduled more strategically, both would be unbeaten.
I recommend scheduling lower-echelon MAC teams and one terribly infirm Power Four nonconference opponent. That’s in keeping with my philosophy on selecting column topics: Always choose the easiest one.
Mike writes: Thoughts after this weekend’s games:
During the first half, Alabama played like perhaps the best college team I have ever seen. I was actually surprised that Georgia was able to get back into that game.
If Lane Kiffin was a better coach, he wouldn’t need to have his players fake injuries.
My response: Even the best coaches – except Tennessee’s Josh Heupel, of course – fake injuries.
Some people believe Heupel’s offensive linemen fake injuries after UT’s extra-points kicks to give his offensive players a break. That’s ridiculous.
Everybody knows blocking on an extra-point kick is one of the most dangerous assignments in all of sports. Even a daredevil like Evel Knievel was afraid to try it.
Fortunately for Tennessee, its training staff is so competent that those “seriously injured” players are always able to return for the next extra-point try.
Colorado Mark writes: As a longtime detractor of Korntucky, uhh, make that Kentucky, I personally want to thank coach Mark Stoops for his team’s victory over Ole Miss, and that so-called coaching genius, Lane Kiffin.
And for those who still think Kiffin is a coaching genius, let me remind you, he has never won a title or championship. He is really good at beating overmatched teams from the little leagues.
ADAMS:Why play-for-pay college sports play to Tennessee athletics advantage
My response: I hate to spoil your out-of-character lovefest for Stoops, but he also has a history of beating lesser opponents. How else do you think his Kentucky teams have qualified for so many bowls.
When Florida finally gets around to dismissing Billy Napier from its premises, it will pursue Kiffin, not Stoops.
Check that. Given Florida’s hiring history, perhaps it would prefer Stoops to Kiffin.
John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or john.adams@knoxnews.com. Follow him at: twitter.com/johnadamkns.
