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UT hoop practice place
Chuck Cavalaris - Thu, Jan, 26, 2006
Dear Chuck:
I was driving to the basketball game between Tennessee and Florida when I heard your voice on the radio. I thought you had gotten your sports mixed up by predicting the Vols were going to make it a college basketball hat trick. (That is a hockey term, right?)
Then I heard the rest of your comment: Florida was the only undefeated team in men’s Division I basketball because Duke had been upset by Georgetown and Pittsburgh had lost to St. John’s. Before the night was done, UT’s 80-76 victory made it a hat trick of three previously undefeated teams losing for the first time this season. All I can say is, “Way to go, Vols.” Or maybe, “How Sweet It Is.”
Jeff Simpson
Knoxville
It was great to see that type of atmosphere — and sellout — for a men’s game in Thompson-Boling Arena for the first time since the Vols played Kentucky in January of 1991. It’s nice to see this program on track to make the NCAA Tournament field.
While a lot of the credit has to go to first-year head coach Bruce Pearl and his staff and vastly improved players, you’ve also got to thank UT athletic director Mike Hamilton. He made a tough decision regarding Buzz Peterson last year and there hasn’t been much criticism of that decision lately.
What do you think the results would be if UT’s students were asked about the most popular sport on campus today?
There’s also a good chance that a major donation will be announced this week to help begin construction of an indoor practice facility for men’s basketball. Hamilton has said this type of facility is needed for three main reasons:
To make Thompson-Boling fully functional as an “assembly center” that could have more concerts and financially lucrative events for the university, player development and recruiting (every other school in the SEC’s Eastern Division already has this type of facility). It’s hard to argue with Hamilton’s first and third points.
But there could be more at stake than a nice gym with several 10-foot goals. It also could be vitally important in terms of getting Bruce Pearl to make a long-term commitment to stay in Knoxville.
Chuck:
It seems like there was quite a backlash of negative comments about Peyton Manning after the Colts were upset by the Steelers. It seemed kind of pointless to me because the better team clearly won that day. Isn’t that what athletic competition and professional sports are supposed to be all about?
Kenny Singleton
Knoxville
Of course you are right, but there’s also an element of society that likes to see people fail. Don’t forget: The Colts started the season 13-0 and looked virtually unbeatable before things began to unravel for a variety of reasons.
Manning might as well have painted a bulls-eye on his chest with a post-game comment that began, “I am trying to be a team player here, but ...”
It’s always better to praise the opposition and walk away from the microphone as quickly as possible. Manning had every right to be frustrated. It’s difficult to imagine the Colts’ offensive line doing a worse job adjusting to a 3-4 scheme or picking up Pittsburgh’s blitz. Say what you want about football strategy, but it’s hard for a quarterback to make an accurate 30-yard pass from the prone position.
Anyone that knows Peyton Manning knows he is a standup guy and intense competitor. He prepares for games and wants to win as much as any athlete that I’ve ever dealt with. The really disturbing part is that Manning is just 3-6 in playoff games and has yet to win a major title.
Award-winning columnist Chuck Cavalaris writes a twice-monthly column for farragutpress. Send questions or comments you may have to cavgolfer@aol.com. Chuck also hosts a two-hour sports talk show from 3 to 5 p.m., Saturdays on ESPN 1180 AM.
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