The 8th Maxim

Welcome to the 8th Maxim - a fan site of the Tennessee Vols

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 10:40:00 -0600

Welcome to The 8th Maxim, a forum unlike any other, in that our members are ardent (rabid, even) fans of the Tennessee Volunteers, but we are unlike other forums in that we are neither cheerleaders nor Chicken Little. Instead, we share our thoughts, opinions, hopes, ideas, expectations, and even our frustrations in unflinchingly honest fashion, for well or ill.
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Secondly, we welcome the participation of anyone, regardless of their favorite team, who wishes to respectfully interact with our members, who can bring both valuable and intelligent discussions to the board, and who wish to receive the same, in return.

Perspective on Our Hoops Season

Sat, 10 Mar 2012 12:30:00 -0700

They had a phenomenal run just to be in the conversation, but like most teams who are playing without any margin for error, eventually, you exceed it. You just cannot continue to beat the odds to infinity.

Our self-made hole was so deep that had they not pulled it out against Florida, LSU and Vandy, we would've been going to 'Nawlins with no hope of making the 'AA without winning the whole thing. We've known for over a month that they couldn't afford a single let-down or an "off" game - and unfortunately, that's all that happened last night. It just seems more painful because they were so agonizingly close to pulling it off, which they were, but couldn't. And that's the case in the overwhelming majority of similiar cases, and why it's so

Manning to Jets

Wed, 07 Mar 2012 08:27:00 -0700

He's going to the Jets.

1. Gigantic market with a team that has feels like they've been good enough to win a Super Bowl, but have instead played step-sister to the Giants.

2. Not only do they blame Sanchez's lack of progress, but worse, that he lost control of the team last season - particularly in dealing with Santonio Holmes. And while more evidence shouldn't be necessary, here's another one - Sanchez's work ethic has been called into question. So, when you've got a QB who is neither technically / athletically proficient nor a leader, who is regressing instead of progressing, and who doesn't seem to care to correct it - the writing is on the wall.

3. As the Jets field

The Downtown Grill & Brewery Postgame Report.

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 22:18:00 -0700

1. That's the best win of the season. UT took their best punch and managed to remain standing. Marquette faced the same scenario earlier this season and LSU went on to run them out of the building.
2. Trae Golden would not be denied down the stretch. He exorcised the demons of previous late game failures and made the games biggest plays coming down the stretch.
3. In hindsight, Tennessee should have pursued Anthony Hickey more doggedly. The idea of him at the point with Golden and Jordan McRae on the wings is one with great possibilities.
4. Jarnell Stokes showed how truly talented he is tonight. LSU's frontcourt is big, deep, and talented. Stokes scored at will and held his own against that group. Imagine what he may become once he

The Section 103 Postgame Report.

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 20:25:00 -0700

1. The Birdsongs certainly had a, shall we say, interesting take on the Anthem. It had an old school Partridge Family feel to it.
2. Good to see Mark Griffin do the lead to the introductions. It's always sound business for a program to celebrate the rank and file players who make the thing go. It's easy to forget that and just showcase the big names. It was also a class move by UT to recognize Ben Jobe at the game. It's almost criminal how underappreciated his coaching career is by the mainstream.
3. From the point they trailed 15-2 until the final buzzer, Tennessee played very well. This team is never going to be artistic or efficient. They have to scrape and claw for everything. That happened for the final 35 minutes tonight.
4. It

if it's on the internet, it's true: Jewbaccah's recap GA Edition

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 22:23:00 -0700

It is long ways to the first Wednesday in February. I suspect much of our recruiting future will be tied to wins and losses this year. As such, I am going to take a slow but meticulous approach to the 2013 class. There are literally hundreds of recruits throughout the country we will have interest in. It is such a large group of recruits there is no way to talk about all of them in one snapshot. The Baccah has plan do not fear. We are going to take a tour of football recruiting in America. Certain areas have far more value to Tennessee then others. I will begin with the Territory that is likely more important to UT then any other. Georgia of course. As I go through this it is my motto to only use info from the internet i.e not my opinion. I do however work amongst and around some

Down and Out with Derek - Epilogue

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:13:00 -0700

The smells and sounds of the kitchen downstairs awoke Derek with a yawn. He stretched under his Power T comforter, knocking his stuffed orange dog to the floor. Derek groggily mumbled "Get back up here, Kiffy" as he picked his cherished stuffed animal up and set it back on the bed.

"Derek! Breakfast is ready!" Barbara Dooley called from downstairs. Derek sighed the sigh of frustration any man in his 40's who still lives with his mother knows, and headed down the stairs. It was time to get this day started, and go "water that bamboo." Derek changed out of his orange onesy pajamas and into his Tuesday khakis and custom Tennessee polo. Derek was a detail-oriented type of guy, and couldn't stand wearing the Adidas coach's

Recruiting Class of 2012 Breakdown

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 07:52:00 -0700

National Signing Day has come and gone and now Derek Dooley has signed his third class in Knoxville. Some negative surprises the last few days and a positive one today gave this class a slightly different

If it's on the internet, it's true: Jewbaccah's recap

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 13:52:00 -0700

Can you feel it? Thousands of grown men across the country are waiting for little bits of news that will lead them to jump around like little boys on Christmas or cuss like sailors predicting young men will spend their lives pumping gas because they did not pick the right school. At no other place in the world are the decisions of 17 year old athletes so deeply and far reaching in there effect.

On February 1st players will have their first opportunity to sign a binding letter of intent with their respective schools. Most of the time all of them will sign on that day. On occasion a recruit will withhold signing to give him more time to make a decision. Of the commits we have if they are going to sign with us they should sign on that

If it's on the internet, it's true: Jewbaccah's recap

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 11:46:00 -0700

We have entered the final week of recruiting. Some years the final week of recruiting is calm with a few kids making their final decisions on a school of choice. At UT we know better.

UT has a new tradition of coaching turnover at the end of each season. This creates a recruiting two waved ripple effect. The first ripple is: What recruits do we lose? Sunseri has finished visiting all of our current commits. As of today, we are losing no one but may be telling a few to look around. Of course, there is still a chance a few may go elsewhere. UPDATE: Santos is not longer looking like he will be a VOL.

The second ripple is: What recruits did we gain? Sunseri brings with him