The really funny thing is that I doubt there is anybody in the USA pumping gas anymore. Everybody pumps their own, even Lane Kiffin I'll bet.
That's true, Terry, and has led some in Big Orange Nation to believe that maybe the whole story has been fabricated by the kid's high school coach.
Lane needs to learn something about Southern recruiting. You can pay a player, you just can't call him out for being 'on the take.' Trust me, it took me years to figure this out but there is more wisdom in that statement than you realize. Its multi-layered truth and Lane needs to invest in it. The recruiting battles of the Pac10 are personal and nasty... but other than USC, no one is cheating because they'd get turned in. So they refrain by and large from the $100 handshakes..but there is a whole lot of bad mouthing (who hasn't banged Belotti's wife?) that goes by unreported. In the South, even the most hardened SEC supporters treat 'cheating' with a wink and a nod... That isn't to say all of them, or even at this moment ANY of them are doing it... But it is more acceptable... 'if you aint cheatin, you aint trying' is a favorite line here of many. The kids lie to you, the coaches lie to you.. all in the name of recruiting. But if you CALL that kid a liar, you're a sunnuvabitch. There's just no point in whining about it, people here like it that way so just move on....
I read on Rivals that Bryce Brown, who will announce soon, has taken to fasting and prayer in looking for guidance in making his decision. That has to be a first. Brown Prays and Fasts I believe this a free article.
I have been reading about this kid for a while now and I think he may be an OK kid that has just been caught up in all this hype because of all the people that surround him. I think you have to admire anyone who fasts from food for any reason. However, I think making it known on a nationally known forum sort of defeats the purpose. Butler says in the article that from a Biblical standpoint you're not supposed to advertise when you're fasting (which is true, read Matthew 6:16), but he makes it known to a widely read website. I understand the reasoning behind it if he wants to make his spirituality known but it seems kind of oximoronic to say you're not supposed to publicize it and then you publicize it but whatever.... The chatter on the Tennessee boards has Brown and his family coming to Knoxville this weekend for an unofficial. Many are still expecting Brown to sign with the Vols especially if the rumors are true that he's going to be on campus this weekend before announcing his decision on Monday.
Supposedly when asked whether Oku choosing Tennessee would affect his decision, Brown replied that no player's choice would affect his decision unless it was an offensive lineman.
It appears Bryce Brown is in Knoxville this weekend for the open practice that took place tonight. This certainly looks as though Tennessee is the frontrunner to land the Rivals #1 recruit for 2009. He is set to announce on Monday from the Kansas sports hall of fame. While I along with many others in Vol Nation have some doubts about this kid, you would have to tip your hat to the coaching staff for landing him after getting in so late on his recruitment. Of course, how late they got in depends on how you look at it I guess. Although the rumors started circulating heavily that Tennessee was gaining consideration from Brown in January, he delayed his signing more than a month after the majority of the class. If nothing else, if Tenn. could land him it would be a statement about how strong Tennessee is going to be as a recruiting power with this class if there was any doubt. On a different note, WR Ahmad Paige was injured, carted off the field, and taken to the hospital in an ambulance during the practice. He was running out of the back of the endzone and ran into a brick wall. Initial reports say that he has movement in his arms and legs. I hope and pray that this kid makes it out OK. It would be a real shame to sustain a serious injury at this stage.
Lane Kiffin just reeled in Bryce Brown. I wasn't 100% sure how I felt about this kid and I'm still not totally convinced that he won't bring some headaches to the Hill with him but he also brings a TON of talent. Check out this Youtube link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AW2EUbSFYyk
Another article on the Brown issue. I read in one article that he was at the Tennessee practice wearing an orange jacket with a big white power T on it. Nobody could give him this jacket so he had to buy it himself. Why would he do that if Tennessee was not his choice. Hope he is not a cancer if he does come to Tennessee. As for the Ahmad Paige incident, they are closing the barn door after the horse already fled the stall. Padding is now going up on that wall.
He is coming. He just announced a few minutes ago. http://www.govolsxtra.com/news/2009/mar/16/brown-coming-ut/
I hope that LK can control egos as well as it appears he can recruit. This is a heck of a coup in the late stages of the game. Somebody send clips of Kelly Washington to LK to show him what we do not want to see from Oku and Brown. :wink:
Would that be Florida Orange or Tenn Orange? :wink: While this may signal a change, for the last few years he seems to prefer Florida Orange!
Yeah good luck to you too...With only a few weeks to recruit after assembling his first staff Kiffin finishes his recruiting class ranked in the top 10 in the nation. Could this be a sign of things to come? http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/20...l/01/29/tennessee-salaries/index.html?eref=T1 I understand that some fans will anticipate NCAA violations related to the whole Brown situation. However, given the fact that Butler has already been under investigation and apparently has been found to be clean, I think this situation has probably been one of the most watched cases in recruiting ever by the NCAA. We'll see what happens. I hope nothing does but I won't be surprised if something rears its head before he's gone. It'll be up to Kiffin and staff to do a good job of keeping the kid on the right track.