SB Nation User Blog: VolBrian

Ebay Item Of The Day - 07/06/2009

VolBrian — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 13:58:58 -0000

Ebay Item Of The Day - 07/06/2009

I have a feeling you wouldn't see this on a nice looking co-ed, more like someone who doesn't need to have their belly out at all.

Plus, the picture is just disturbing to me for some reason...

I think he's upset....

VolBrian — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 15:45:54 -0000

I think he's upset....

I would go over there and respond, but that means I would have to join that blog and I don't want that nonsense sitting on my profile.

Florida Newspapers Take Note

VolBrian — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:41:25 -0000

Florida Newspapers Take Note

Might come in handy down around Gainesville. I hear it gets tough reporting these things so often.....

Failure In The NFL But Success In College? It IS Possible...

VolBrian — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:23:16 -0000

Unfortunately, I feel the necessity to revisit this topic given the comments in the post by PETER_GRIFFIN-BBrown-bammer found here. Go ahead and groan, you know you want to. This time around, however, I'm going to throw out all aspects of the argument including recruiting, schemes, assistant coaches, and everything else except for one key thing: Motivation.

Picture if you can, you're 24 years old and making millions as a first round draft pick of the Raiders. Now, suppose you have a game where you've thrown 4 int's, fumbled thrice, or been beat all day on the line. You go to practice the next week, and, lo-and-behold, someone just 6 years older than you who actually looks 6 years younger is in your face screaming. What is your response?

Mine would probably be somewhat along the lines of: "Who does this guy think he is? I'M the star! Not him! I make more money, I play the game, I'M the first round pick in the NFL by God!! He's just a former CO-Offensive Coordinator!!"

Egotistical? Absolutely. No, MY ego isn't that inflated, but we all know professional athletes get them as part of their multi-million dollar contracts right?

Therein lies the reason Lane Kiffin could not succeed with the Raiders. He wasn't responsible for the talent level on the team, didn't really control who started and who didn't, and couldn't even make the team practice. But, most of all, he had NO ABILITY to motivate the players based on the fact everyone on the team made more than he did, and most of the players were the same age if not older. Now, you may say "yeah, but that's no excuse, coaches should be able to motivate their players". Absolutely, and we have seen that at Tennessee already. No games have been played, but by all accounts the players are most certainly motivated. There have been no arrests, their team-GPA has improved, and they love to practice.

Terdell Sands is a defensive lineman for the Raiders and Chattanooga native. Once a year, he does a show on the local sports talk radio program and had this to say about Lane Kiffin:

“I think he’ll do a good job at Tennessee because his personality will fit better at that level,” Sands said. “You can’t cuss and fuss at grown men and persuade them to do things the way you can a college kid. But he’ll be a good recruiter of young players because he’s a good salesman.

This is the crux of my argument for the disingenuous comparison of Kiffin's ability in the NFL relating to his potential for success at the college level. Talent is talent, you either have it or you don't, but if you refuse to be motivated to buy into a system and maximize that talent, you aren't going to play. See Lennon Creer.

In order for Lane Kiffin to be able to succeed at any level given his apparent designs for success, he's going to need to control most, if not all, aspects of the program. At Tennessee he can. For the Raiders, with Al Davis and multi-million dollar players the same age, he could not.

This isn't the first time a coach with any amount or no amount of college success has failed at the pro level. For further examples, see Steve Spurrier, Nick Saban, and Rick Pitino. All three were highly successful college coaches who did not succeed in the pros mainly because they could not control the program in a manner that maximized their own documented ability to win.

As an aside, I submit that Bruce Pearl would most likely not succeed in the NBA as a head coach for the same reasons.

So, there it is for your contemplation and discussion.

Ebay Item Of The Day - 07/03/2009

VolBrian — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:38:50 -0000

Ebay Item Of The Day - 07/03/2009

I chose this one because the pictures make the thing look the size of a two story house...

Ebay Item Of The Day - 07/02/2009

VolBrian — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:53:23 -0000

Ebay Item Of The Day - 07/02/2009

In honor of today's topics, get your Jonathon Crompton jersey now!!!

XXXXL?!? I thought those sizes were reserved for Alabama fans...

My RTT Create-A-Uni Entry [UPDATED]

VolBrian — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:25:12 -0000

EDIT: I think I figured out a way around the horrendous color EA uses for Tennessee. I also changed one or two things I liked better, so THIS is my final entry....

For some reason, the color EA has designated for Tennessee does not match the color in the Power-T logo they also have provided for Tennessee. So, with that disclaimer about the colors matching, here is my entry:

Well, apparently I need 38 more words, so I'll go ahead and say that these would look a whole lot better if EA had matching colors for the jersey and the logo, but it just doesn't allow it. I also toyed with the idea of a black Power T on the helmet with orange stripes, but that was not allowed either.

There, I think that should do it...

NEW ENTRY FOR VOTE:

This one below was my original:

Some serious vintage football right here....

VolBrian — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 02:07:17 -0000

Some serious vintage football right here....

Check it Hoop, you'll love it! And anybody else that wants to see Lou Groza kick the ball....

Come On 'Bama!!

VolBrian — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:20:01 -0000

Come On 'Bama!!

Roll Tide! I bet you could cheat on into the top slot if you really tried!

Ebay Item Of The Day - 07/01/2009

VolBrian — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:07:54 -0000

Ebay Item Of The Day - 07/01/2009

You MIGHT just see me in this shirt this season. Pretty funny...