Tennessee football fan hopes for sustained success. Basketball fan not sold on transfers

I love it when my literary contributors take risks with their prose. Where else in the News Sentinel can you find the word “expatiate?”

Vols Mark writes: I know some of your contributors submit poetry; alas, I can only quote it from Alexander Pope's ‘An Essay on Man’ addressed to a ‘St. John’.

Dear St. John-

I’ve had a lot of spring practices too; the practice of the old adage (from the above-mentioned poem) ‘hope Springs eternal’ only to get dashed upon a hard ‘Rocky Top’.

We need to put a couple of great seasons in football back to back before my ‘hope’ will truly ‘spring eternal’.

But for now, let’s ‘....expatiate in a life to come’ but in the fall:

It’s football ya’all! (that's my best rhyme)

My response: Vols Mark could be accused of throwing into coverage, but I applaud his effort.

He had me at “St. John.” I also can relate to “An Essay on Man,” since I once wrote “An Essay on Dan,” a tribute to my friend and former colleague Dan Fleser.

If you want to know the meaning of "expatiate," email fellow columnist Blake Toppmeyer.

Terry writes: Blake has popped another big word in an article. He used “disincentivized” in an article. Why don’t you use big, sophisticated words like this John?

My response: I’m a product of the Louisiana public school system and graduated from LSU.

Sorry, I can’t give a more detailed explanation but I’m devoting all my extra time to deciphering the email from Vols Mark. Fortunately, Blake told me what “expatiate” means.

Don writes: John, is there anything that you can do to get the obituaries off the sports page?

My response: For the past year, I’ve collaborated with a group of deep thinkers on that very topic: “How to Prevent Death.”

I will let you know how that turns out.

David writes: Although your suggested strategy to clear Jeremy Pruitt probably won’t work completely to his advantage, it would bring the spotlight on Phillip Fulmer’s actions/inactions.

Tennessee’s defense is extremely vulnerable to what their former AD knew and 'when he knew it. Only one of Fulmer’s blindly loyal fans (there are still a few around), could not see or suspect Fulmer’s knowledge if not participation.

I’m a huge fan of Chancellor Donde Plowman. I expect she and her advisors knew Fulmer was culpable, and to fire him would essentially admit Tennessee “lacked institutional control”. Her only choice was to retire him, aggressively cooperate with the NCAA and hope for the best.

In the end, Fulmer - as he often has - cost Tennessee a lot.

My response: This time, he might have cost the Vols more than money.

ADAMS How could you make a case for Jeremy Pruitt vs NCAA? With a big imagination

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Mike writes: Is it possible that Phil Fulmer outsmarted you, John? Did he perhaps plan ahead? The coach he hired could not maintain a diary if he didn't know how to write.

Just kidding, of course...

My response: You might be on to something. For future reference, there’s no kidding allowed in this column.

Glenn writes: If the NCAA Infractions Committee penalizes UT for a lack of institutional control, whatever funds that have yet to be paid to former AD Fulmer should be withheld. And who is foolish enough to believe Jeremy Pruitt’s finger pointing at his assistants, wife included, all while Fulmer was apparently asleep at the wheel?

Chancellor Donde Plowman was much too generous in the golden parachute she gave Fulmer.

My response: I guess you aren’t in favor of Fulmer watching UT football from a luxury suite, either.

Jerry writes: In the last five years, Barne$ has signed five or six 5-Star recruits. With two 5-Star recruits on the roster this past season, they were 196th in scoring. To solve his team's offensive woes Barne$ is bringing in transfers from Harvard, Northern Colorado and South Carolina Upstate. Maybe, this is what is referred to as "thinking outside of the box?"

But, do not foreclose the possibility that it is just plain stupid.

My response: I welcome “thinking outside the box” for UT’s offense. After all what’s inside the box hasn’t worked well enough.

Let’s wait until next season to evaluate Rick Barnes’ off-season moves. But you have to be happy that Santiago Vescovi will be returning for another season.

That will help the offense.

John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or john.adams@knoxnews.com. Follow him at: twitter.com/johnadamskns.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: One Tennessee football fan needs back-to-back success to lift hopes