I have watched this stuff unfold, and it pisses me right the hell off..
What I don't understand and the part that is far more frustrating than anything I can remember is the fact that this seems to be becoming a "witch hunt" against the university of Tennessee, and even the state.
Listen, Peyton will be find in this whole deal. He is truly a good dude, and him making a foolish mistake 20 years ago won't taint that legacy. You'll soon see the writer up in Indianapolis coming out to defend him and he has as much of a national voice as these idiots speaking against him..
I know one damn thing, I'm very glad I'm not defined by one event in my life.. I've had several that would have ruined me financially, professionally, personally, in every way imaginable. Peyton and his true colors will shine thru in this..
My real issue, and something I'm struggling with is the obvious heat being brought on my university. Is Tennessee perfect? Nah, none of them are. Has it been a beacon for tennesseeans and the proud heritage there is something that is being attacked. I don't have a voice or platform to express how great Tennessee is. If, I were like many journalists across the state who graduated from UTK, you could bet your ass I'd be writing a column on the great things everyday..
Is there a culture of holding back women at the university of Tennessee?
I think that could be easily answered by all the free loading that went on inside the now disposed lady VOLS AD for many many years. Think about the amount of people who drew a check from that office, and for what, riding the efforts of one pat head summit? I would venture to say, she never felt like the university tried to hold her back, in fact, I think if she could, she would say they promoted her and her brand at EVERY opportunity.
Does Tennessee have a culture of racism?
This one pisses me off the most. Obviously I need to preface this with, I'm not black. I'm whiter than white, but I'm also not a racist, and could not care less if you're black or white, or Hispanic.. If you're a piece of shit, the color of your skin doesn't matter, I won't like you. If you're a good dude, the color of your skin doesn't matter, I'll like you.
Anyway, the university of Tennessee, has a long and storied history with players who were suppressed and being the first major southern university to allow them to play sports.
We all know Lester McClain. I actually wrote a paper about this very subject. It's published and a good read if you're interested. Perry Wallace actually was the first black athlete to play in the SEC, and Kentucky had a guy named northington or something like that. Nat was his name I believe. But, point being the state of Tennessee, and more specifically the university of Tennessee has been instrumental in black athletes getting their opportunity, and in fact, to me, the most tolerant of any southern state is Tennessee..
Yet, these ignorant national writers lump the great state of Tennessee in with the rest of the southern states, and wrongfully claim a racist bias lives in Knoxville, and Tennessee in general. I have a brother in law from Minnesota, and he hates coming here because we are all a bunch of "dumb rednecks, who have no tolerance for any views but our own". I gently remind him that 3 people in his wife's immediate family have FAR more education than does he, and that usually shuts him up, but he refuses to change his mind set. I've asked him before if that isn't ignorant. He usually starts in on our "bible thumping" ways at that point.
This is the greatest state in the Union for many reasons, and the tolerant views with which the majority of tennesseeans live their lives are second to none in my opinion. Oh, sure, we have our ways, and refuse to let go of our morals and our values but we are a tolerant lot, who, for the most part welcome outsiders with a wave, or friendly hello, how ya doing. Tennessee is also the most fiscally responsible state in the country... By a lot!!
I know there are intolerant, racist, hateful people everywhere, but in this great state, they are a minority, and for these national writers to suggest otherwise is foolish. Of course most of the country will believe these lies without so much as a phone call to substantiate the claims that are being made. I'll bet ya what tho. Ask one person from another part of the country who has had to come to Tennessee for any reason where the nicest people on earth live, and they'll tell you it's Tennessee.. Oh, by the way, when you're in trouble, and you need help... Don't worry, Tennessee's got you.. Since Andrew jackson asked for 500 men, and got thousands, tennesseeans have always answered the call.. Always have, always will..
No matter what comes of this, I will always have pride in my state. This is my home, and I'll defend it against any enemy, and today the enemy is the national media.
What I don't understand and the part that is far more frustrating than anything I can remember is the fact that this seems to be becoming a "witch hunt" against the university of Tennessee, and even the state.
Listen, Peyton will be find in this whole deal. He is truly a good dude, and him making a foolish mistake 20 years ago won't taint that legacy. You'll soon see the writer up in Indianapolis coming out to defend him and he has as much of a national voice as these idiots speaking against him..
I know one damn thing, I'm very glad I'm not defined by one event in my life.. I've had several that would have ruined me financially, professionally, personally, in every way imaginable. Peyton and his true colors will shine thru in this..
My real issue, and something I'm struggling with is the obvious heat being brought on my university. Is Tennessee perfect? Nah, none of them are. Has it been a beacon for tennesseeans and the proud heritage there is something that is being attacked. I don't have a voice or platform to express how great Tennessee is. If, I were like many journalists across the state who graduated from UTK, you could bet your ass I'd be writing a column on the great things everyday..
Is there a culture of holding back women at the university of Tennessee?
I think that could be easily answered by all the free loading that went on inside the now disposed lady VOLS AD for many many years. Think about the amount of people who drew a check from that office, and for what, riding the efforts of one pat head summit? I would venture to say, she never felt like the university tried to hold her back, in fact, I think if she could, she would say they promoted her and her brand at EVERY opportunity.
Does Tennessee have a culture of racism?
This one pisses me off the most. Obviously I need to preface this with, I'm not black. I'm whiter than white, but I'm also not a racist, and could not care less if you're black or white, or Hispanic.. If you're a piece of shit, the color of your skin doesn't matter, I won't like you. If you're a good dude, the color of your skin doesn't matter, I'll like you.
Anyway, the university of Tennessee, has a long and storied history with players who were suppressed and being the first major southern university to allow them to play sports.
We all know Lester McClain. I actually wrote a paper about this very subject. It's published and a good read if you're interested. Perry Wallace actually was the first black athlete to play in the SEC, and Kentucky had a guy named northington or something like that. Nat was his name I believe. But, point being the state of Tennessee, and more specifically the university of Tennessee has been instrumental in black athletes getting their opportunity, and in fact, to me, the most tolerant of any southern state is Tennessee..
Yet, these ignorant national writers lump the great state of Tennessee in with the rest of the southern states, and wrongfully claim a racist bias lives in Knoxville, and Tennessee in general. I have a brother in law from Minnesota, and he hates coming here because we are all a bunch of "dumb rednecks, who have no tolerance for any views but our own". I gently remind him that 3 people in his wife's immediate family have FAR more education than does he, and that usually shuts him up, but he refuses to change his mind set. I've asked him before if that isn't ignorant. He usually starts in on our "bible thumping" ways at that point.
This is the greatest state in the Union for many reasons, and the tolerant views with which the majority of tennesseeans live their lives are second to none in my opinion. Oh, sure, we have our ways, and refuse to let go of our morals and our values but we are a tolerant lot, who, for the most part welcome outsiders with a wave, or friendly hello, how ya doing. Tennessee is also the most fiscally responsible state in the country... By a lot!!
I know there are intolerant, racist, hateful people everywhere, but in this great state, they are a minority, and for these national writers to suggest otherwise is foolish. Of course most of the country will believe these lies without so much as a phone call to substantiate the claims that are being made. I'll bet ya what tho. Ask one person from another part of the country who has had to come to Tennessee for any reason where the nicest people on earth live, and they'll tell you it's Tennessee.. Oh, by the way, when you're in trouble, and you need help... Don't worry, Tennessee's got you.. Since Andrew jackson asked for 500 men, and got thousands, tennesseeans have always answered the call.. Always have, always will..
No matter what comes of this, I will always have pride in my state. This is my home, and I'll defend it against any enemy, and today the enemy is the national media.
