I'm only responding in reference to my son, and thank you for recognizing my family's committment.
I knew that you all would be extremely critical of recent decisions of some of the team members. UNFAIR! Not that, that's anything unexpected from some of our fan base.
I'll start by saying this, and I've said it to y'all a million times prior to today. OUR SONS are your entertainment, but at the end of the day, WE have to pick up the pieces and carryon as a family before, during, and after their time at UTK , or any other college. I want you guys to put yourselves in ANY college athletes position for a moment and apply this scenario:
-I commit to the University of Tennessee on Football scholarship.
-The understanding of this partnership is UTK will pay for my education for up to 5 years for the use of my athletism. *(OUR ATHLETES don't go to school to play football. They go there to get an education by way of their sport) It's a trade off, but the education is 100% on the ATHLETE
-And within this agreement, the responsibility to maintain a 2.5 gpa or higher to remain eligible to play whatever sport.
-Doesn't matter that I have two practices a day
-Doesn't matter that I have a team meeting
-Doesn't matter that I have to go watch film
-Doesn't matter that I have to take my books on the road with me
-Doesn't matter that I have to get ready to play on Saturday
-Doesn't matter that a 15k word essay do Monday after workouts
-Doesn't matter that I have to check-in for therapy/rehab
-Doesn't matter that I have 12-14 hour days, homework gotta get done
-Doesn't matter that my family lives 4, 10, 24 hours away and some families only get to FACETIME for a few minutes once a week; if that!
This is honestly a typical day in this life.
I said all that to say this. You guys ridicule, disrespect, and strip our boys of there dignity as fans. One day you love us.... next day you won't. So where is your loyalty? Because our guys give so much more than what you see on Saturday for 13 weeks out of the year.
Adversity is a part of life. You take and use as your motivator. My son has done exactly that. It hasn't always been easy here at UTK. In fact some of y'all have left a bitter taste in my spirit. I get on here and read some times and I just punch some of y'all in the throat for the ignorance you portray. Then I have to remind myself that you really don't know any better because you don't realize that there's a fence being covered by that wall of vines.
Players giving everything they have to stay on the field:
-my son 2 knee surgies
-my son broke nose
-my son broke wrist
-my son shoulders knocked out......
-----These are only things that are publicly known-, but he's played with ALL OF THIS---
But you call weak
But you call him stone hands
but you call him soft
But you will say "it's just a part of the game"
Wellllllll..... let me see one of cyber coaches take on ONE (1) day in any of these guys shoes.
I'll leave y'all with this. Be mindful that OUR SONS and FAMILIES sometimes have to just do what's best within our own environment, and although we live in the public eye doesn't make you privy to any decision that has been made privately.
VOLS FOR LIFE truly means something to the Croom Family. It took on a new meaning when Croomster graduated last year.
Luv Y'all
