LaneTrain’s threads (and then a buddy who referenced Lamarcus Coker) got me thinking… Who are the guys who showed flashes or had one great stretch or good year, and then because of injuries, grades, laziness, dipshittery, coaching, etc. never realized their potential? I was pretty convinced after Coker’s Freshman year that he had a legit shot at stardom.
Coker, wow, that dude was electric. I was at the game he broke that 89 yard run against Marshall. The one time I stepped out into the concourse was during his run, of course. Still pissed about missing it. For me it’s Mr. Whizzinator, Onterrio Smith. I lived out of state at the time and before all the games were on national tv, but what I could see from him was exciting. Always wondered what could have been. And for honorable mention, gotta go with Tyler Smith and Demetrice Morley.
Janzen Jackson was one of the most talented, ruthless safeties I have ever seen wear orange. Shame how his life fell into shambles. I convinced myself pre Notre Dame injury/pre pain pill addiction problems that Erik Ainge was going to be an all-time great Tennessee QB (and to be very fair to him we have had a legion of far worse QB play since him). Nick Saban and the Dolphins choosing Dante Coulpepper over Drew Brews in free agency really sucked. Because of this Alabama will eternally be better at football than us probably. Pete Carrol leaving USC for the NFL right before he knew the hammer was coming haunts me. We all know why. Electing to hire a coach from LA Tech with a career losing record 10 days before signing day instead of just letting Kippy Brown coach 2010 as the interim Head Coach launched us down the shit creek. We could have potentially stopped the bleeding years ago had that step been taken. Likely would have never had to endure Butch Jones or Jeremy Pruitt as the following acts.
Beat LSU in the SECCG in 2001, play for National Championship and extend the dominant era. Feels like all the air was let out of the program after that collapse and cemented Saban's reputation.
Yeah I thought Schaefer was going to be Michael Vick. And Preston Williams was going to be Randy Moss.
At least I understand the Tee statue now. The other three made sense, but I was scratching my head about Tee.
Coker - he had some personal stuff going on and flat out didn't give a shit if he was at Tennessee or not. He was electric though. Da'Rick - Amazing talent, shame he had dipshit Dooley as his coach Ben Martin - Through no fault of his own, poor guy tore both ACLs and an Achilles in Knoxville. He still managed to play a little bit, but he was Jevon Kearse like for a few weeks until injuries started Aaron Douglas - Just sad, guy needed help and didn't get any.
What does the college football landscape look like right now if we take Tajh Boyd? Does Clemson find another QB that puts them on the path to where they are now?
What if we actually played defense against Boo Williams and Anthony Lucas in Fayetteville in 1999. We were up to 2nd in the BCS heading into that game. That win would have given us the Alabama-Tennessee match-up in the SEC Championship game that has managed to allude us almost for 30 years and would have been on track for a rematch with Florida State for the national championship.
Actually Tennessee wouldn’t have made the SEC title game if they had beaten Arkansas. Florida only had one SEC loss and owned the tiebreaker.