From Johnny Vols Fan #7
Did you see what Butch said about Peyton Manning coming to UT as a possible assistant? Man please tell me you think this could happen?
P.S. — I could not be more excited for this season. This may be the most amped I have been for a Vols football season since ’97.
JVF 7 –
Here’s the brief blurb some dude from Bleacher Report put out that said he has heard from NFL people (not-named NFL people mind you) that Manning wants to coach at Tennessee.
Here’s Butch Jones’ recent reaction to that proposition, which is a very well-stated and polite non-denial denial while speaking up the positives of having Peyton around the program.
Internet ramblings and coach speak aside, here are some realities:
Peyton Manning has retired from football.
Peyton Manning has made it clear he is not going to be an analyst this fall. (Side note: When/if he decides to become an analyst, we believe his knowledge and preparation will make him far and away the best in the game.)
Peyton Manning loves the game and his alma mater.
Peyton Manning is a supreme competitor.
Here are some assumed facts on history:
Peyton Manning has little or no chance of being able to just sit back and watch daytime TV. (No offense Price is Right, but you get the gist.)
It’s very easy to believe Peyton Manning will get real antsy come early August when football camps and practice start to dominate the storylines of the sports spectrum.
What does it mean?
Who knows?
I don’t think Peyton will be an on-staff coach at any college anytime soon. He could very well be around the Vols program a bunch this summer. He may volunteer (see what we did there) his time there or who knows where else.
Heck, who knows which NFL team may come calling before training camp wondering if he wants to give it one more shot.
(And you should be very excited about this fall, JFV7, because it is shaping up to potentially be very special for your Vols.)
Tiger Woods hits from the fifth tee during the final round of The Players championship golf tournament at TPC Sawgrass, Sunday, May 12, 2013, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.From Drew A.
Watching Sawgrass it looks as good as Augusta, right? That got me thinking, what’s the best course you’ve played?
Thanks and enjoy your work.
Drew –
Sawgrass looks great on TV, no doubt. But it’s not really even in the discussion with Augusta National in my view. And it’s not so much about the grounds – each course is as dazzling and impressive as you can imagine – as it is the history around the home of the Masters.
Yes, 17 is special at Sawgrass, but where would that iconic hole rank on the 18 at Augusta? No better than top 7 and by some accounts it wouldn’t make the top 10. (OK all three of Amen Corner are there. No. 16 is clearly there. The view of 1 and 10 are staggering. Nine coming back up the hill toward the clubhouse. And that’s not even mentioning 15 or 8 or the thrills at 2. And 7 will always have a personal seal of approval because I made a birdie there three years ago.)
As for the best courses, well, we have been blessed beyond all measure in that regard. We have played Augusta twice and Sawgrass once (many, many moons ago during college with a fraternity brother who lived down there; made par on 17).
Also have played East Lake, and almost all of the glorious tracks around these parts such as the Honors and The Farm.
From PP
Have been a long time reader of your work and just started listening to you guys on the radio. Very entertaining. My wife and I are curious about which sports movie motivational speeches make your Rushmore.
Thanks, and have a Co-Cola on me this weekend.
PP –
Thanks for the kind words, and we’ll take your advice on those Co-Colas. We have heard good things.
OK, to be fair we normally get one question a week that we spend way too much time pondering. This one met that criteria this week.
Amazingly, Coach Norman Dale of the pint-sized, barely-big-enough-for-three-syllables Hickory Huskers did not make the cut, in an upset almost as big as his team toppling the mighty Bears of South Bend Central.
As for the checklist, you have to have at least one, bona fide goose bump moment where the hairs on your arm go vertical. You also need an adrenaline moment, meaning you are about to jump from your seat and strap on your helmet.
Here’s our four, and yes, this was tougher than we expected:
Herb Brooks (Kurt Russell) in Miracle before the U.S.-Russia hockey game in “Miracle” was amazing. And his intermission diatribe in a previous game was awesome too.
Al Pacino in “Any Given Sunday” talking about inches and life.
Gary Gaines (Billy Bob Thornton) talking about being perfect at halftime of “Friday Night Lights.”
And in the surprise upset of the category, the “One time speech” at halftime of “Little Giants.”
This is such a great category. (And Ram’s soliloquy at the end of “The Wrestler” is amazing, too, but that feels like a different category somehow.)
From Josh
Was listening (Monday) and was wondering what made the Rushmore of movies that suck you in every time.
Josh –
It was more of a mini-Rushmore (a Press Row version of a Rushmore that Paschall and I discuss but don’t really open up for callers; it’s more of a quick-hit version rather than a true topic).
It’s still a great question, and one that we’d have to have a sports and non-sports version of, to be honest.
Sports – Hoosiers, Bull Durham, Field of Dreams (man this one is big, and talk about the soliloquies, man) and Miracle.
Less famous sports movies that suck me in – Friday Night Lights, Little Giants, The Replacements, Bad News Bears (both). (Heck, is Kevin Costner the Babe Ruth of this category, because add in Draft Day to our list as well as For Love of the Game and Tin Cup to name but three more.)
Non-sports category – A Few Good Men, Caddyshack, A River Runs Through It and of course Godfather
From Terry
This week we have a Friday the 13th, so I have two questions:
Are there any superstitions you really have and when someone says Friday the 13th do you think unlucky day or the slasher movie?
Terry –
Interesting question, and as for the last part, it’s kind of a toss up.
Maybe a little more toward the day being bad luck but it’s close. And man how many of those did they make, 100? Crazy.
Not really on the ‘old-school’ superstitions, but the Mrs. 5-at-10 makes three X’s every time she sees a black cat. Now we’re not purposely walking under ladders or breaking mirrors for kicks and giggles, but not really on superstitions.
Now for corny sports superstitions, well, we’re a big believer in lucky shirts and sitting in the same place while your team is finding success and all the rest.
As Crash told us, “A player on a streak has to respect the streak. You know why? Because they don’t happen very often If you believe you’re playing well because you’re getting laid or because you’re not getting laid or because you are wearing women’s underwear, then you ARE, and you should know that. C’mon Annie, think of something to clever to say. Something full of magic, religion, BS. C’mon, dazzle me.”
Have a great week – Co-Colas optional.