Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, right, is greeted by Tennessee head coach Butch Jones, left, during NCAA college football practice Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2013, in Knoxville, Tenn. Spoelstra and Jones are friends and Spoelstra was scheduled to speak to the team later in the day. (AP Photo/University of Tennessee Athletics, Donald Page)
Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, right, talks withTennessee head coach Butch Jones, during NCAA college football practice Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2013, in Knoxville, Tenn. Spoelstra and Jones are friends and Spoelstra was scheduled to speak to the team later in the day. (AP Photo/University of Tennessee Athletics, Donald Page)
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra is pulling for Butch Jones and the Volunteers, so he dropped by Knoxville to talk with the team.
Spoelstra and Jones are friends and the Heat coach visited Tennessee's training camp Wednesday. Jones believes his Volunteers can take inspiration from the coach of the defending NBA champions.
"He's a great friend, and I'm really indebted," Jones said. "He doesn't have much time off. For him to come to Knoxville and spend an entire day with our football program means a lot."
Spoelstra arrived on campus in time to watch the final stages of Wednesday morning's practice, but did not speak with reporters. He spoke to the team Wednesday afternoon and also attended a second practice session that evening. Players left the morning practice wearing T-shirts with the message "Championship Wednesday" and logos of Tennessee and the Heat.
"My first reaction was he's taller than I thought he was," linebacker Dontavis Sapp said. "I guess when you're around 7-footers, you don't look as tall as you really are."
Jones said his friendship with Spoelstra goes back two years, but this marked the first time the Heat coach had visited one of his teams. They got to know each other by having the same agent, Trace Armstrong.
"He's been a great resource for me, to be able to watch him really have the success he's had," Jones said. "I'll tell you this, there's nobody more deserving than Erik Spoelstra. The work that he's done, he's always tried to be different, always has tried to stay one step ahead of the game. I think that's what makes him special."
But even after Jones attended Game 7 of the NBA Finals in June, some Tennessee players figured he was exaggerating the extent of his friendship with Spoelstra. Sapp and wide receiver Jacob Carter said Jones often mentions Spoelstra while talking to his team.
"Everybody was peeking and whispering like, 'He (doesn't) know Erik Spoelstra. You're just Coach Jones,' " Sapp said.
They don't doubt him anymore.
"I kind of didn't believe it, but he put it in stone," wide receiver Devrin Young said. "The man's here, so you'd better believe" coach Jones.
Jones believes Spoelstra's ability to help the Heat win back-to-back championships should serve as an example for the Vols as they attempt to bounce back from three straight losing seasons.
"There are so many similarities," Jones said. "The building of the Miami Heat, everyone remembers right now. Everyone remembers the last two years. But a lot of people forget the building process that went (into) that. Prior to his first year with the Miami Heat, they won 15 games. He's going to talk about the building process, building it brick by brick and building the culture and structure it takes to be successful like they have at Miami."
Recruiting plays a factor in both cases.
The Heat started contending for championships under Spoelstra after signing LeBron James and Chris Bosh and re-signing Dwyane Wade. Jones has inherited a roster with enough holes at key spots to force freshmen into major roles.
Jones has attempted to restock Tennessee's roster by putting together a 2014 recruiting class that is considered among the nation's best thus far. Tennessee's current players believe Jones' ability to bring an NBA championship coach to campus should help those recruiting efforts even more.
"I see it as bragging rights," Young said. "I feel like my coach is cooler than yours."
Bruce Pearl through the years
Tennessee 82, Auburn 54
Tennessee 70, Missouri 75
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 33
oldvol59 writes:
Motivational Tactics like this WORK! These are young men, not cynical old timers like many of those that post on here. This is excellent for them.
volfan73120#211815 writes:
I'm 80 years old, That makes me an old timer, and I am impressed. GO VOLS.
bUTch_please writes:
"My coach is cooler than your coach" - Devrin Young.
Olddogsrule writes:
This!
Olddogsrule writes:
IS COOL!!!
Rumblefish writes:
1. I bet the football team loved to hear/see Spoelstra...a guy who coaches the likes of Lebron, Bosh, and Wade--3 athletes that a lot of these players look up to. Not to mention the athletes he coaches against (Bryant, Durant, etc.)
2. Me, or anyone else on this site, could have won the NBA championship with those 3 on the team :)
Rumblefish writes:
3. Wonder if he spent time with coach Zo?
CantStandCantStandSaban writes:
Maybe Coach Spoelstra will ask LBJ, Wade and Bosh to call some of our recruits to talk us up a little bit.
DawgDayAfternoon writes:
The Heat sign LeBron James and that's supposed to make Spoelstra a great coach? I guess it works the same way for Butchie Boy, with Vol fans. Butchie inherits teams that Brian Kelly built, turns in a mediocre 50-27 record in those two bush leagues, and now he's a great coach. As for this charade being a motivational tool, one need only remember that Vol fans are also given to believing in the power of ceramic dogs too. It's 4-8 or 5-7 for the Vols this year. Enjoy the band and learn to accept it.
Rumblefish writes:
Your schtick of 4-8/5-7 is already old. How about you talk some actual football?
Oh...and I already stated in a previous post that anybody on this site could win with those 3 players. DawgDayAfternoon...more like JohnyComeLately.
If TN is so bad...how come we almost hung half a 100 on you in your own house? Yeah, I thought so....
Rumblefish writes:
And one more thing DawgDayAfternoon....at least our dog can hack it through an entire game without having to lay on a bed of ice.
Is your precious bulldog that fat and lazy? I guess he is. Just like every UGA team that is picked to do well....
HAHAHAHA!!!! Can't wait to see UGA lay another egg!
Rumblefish writes:
I wonder...who won a National Championship more recently...TN or UGA???
HAHAHAHAHA!!!! Winner Winner DawgDayDinner!
Get lost clown.
Rumblefish writes:
Tennessee vs Georgia
21-19-2
You're on the losing end Mr DawgDay. Come back and talk your smack when your "dawgs" are on the winning side of the series. Or, just rely on your recent victories and continue to show how stupid/naive you are.
antonio14313 writes:
coach jones is definitely cooler than most!
go vols!
t
FearTheVols1252 writes:
He's no dawg fan and knows nothing about football. Just a troll who changes his handle over and over again so he can repeat the same boring diatribe in hopes of getting a rise out of people.
I was hoping he could at least provide some good trash talk, but he's too stupid to generate anything new. This troll = boring. It's hard to fail at trolling, but he's managed to find a way.
VolunteerLifer writes:
What has your coach won?
dvols writes:
that's pretty cool, and running the weave playing sweet Georgia Brown to teach ball security is pretty cool too.....
volinlouisvilleky writes:
Rumblefish keep up the troll watch! You are a funny dude.
Rock_E_Topp88 writes:
Rumble....just so you know, the scumbag troll you responded to is NOT a UGA fan. Its none other than little Jeffy Flowers the most vile despicable troll to ever disgrace this site. I guess wearing Richmond's hand-me-down jockstrap all those years warped him. He is here for attention only. Please don't give him any. I did not even want to mention his slimy name but I had to let you and everyone else know.
Witch_Doctors writes:
Witch Doctor told by source named "toe thumbs" too look past that smoke screen, the truth lies deeper..
lol.
Bones never lie.
Rock_E_Topp88 writes:
What a miserable life old Jeffy must have...not that I give a flying ****. He was a washout at UT and has been a washout in life. So he comes here with his multiple personas just to get a little attention. Someone needs to stomp a Big Orange mud puddle in his....well you get the picture.
GO VOLS!
mikethehistorystudent writes:
That would just about be amazing. This guys is a good friend to have.
Giverny writes:
I caught a portion of an interview with the local 'Sports Talk' radio program and it went something like this...
Sports Talk: how long have you known coach Spoelstra?
Jones: You can't teach effort
Sports Talk: What similarities do you think Tennessee and Miami have coach Jones?
Jones: Its a process
Sports Talk: Coach Jones will coach Spoelstra be addressing the team?
Jones: You gotta play em one game at a time...
grandtad#1402265 writes:
Not as old but respect your comment. I'm only 67 but still impressed with Coach Jones. GO VOLS!
mloaks#222092 writes:
maybe, but WE_GOT_OVER_IT_...:
awesome.....!!!!!!!!!!
Chappy writes:
Every post you make is a slam against Coach Jones. Did he not ask you to the prom or something?
Olddogsrule writes:
Witchy alluded .."the truth lies deeper" ...
WE know by It's (won't designate humanity by using the word 'his') S.O.S. diatribe style the multiple user name jerk we continue to hear folks say is Jeff Flowers.
How does anyone know that? Is it truly Jeff Flowers?
John Adams ... hey johnnyboy! Is that you?
SewaneeVolFan writes:
I get the impression you believe Coach Jones stays on message.
Giverny writes:
Hummm, noooo...I think that when it comes to critical and creative thought Coach Jones is a cartoon character who almost exclusively touts tired old cliches in interviews ...but maybe just maybe he can coach some football, time will see...
bUTch_please writes:
Coach Jones has more critical and creative thought before 9 am than most folks have in a lifetime. Discipline and focus can look look shallow to people unaware as to the workings of situational management. This team is raw in the basics of cohesive effort, but learning quickly because Coach Jones is staying on point at the high level of instruction that they need now. In a couple years as the system matures and recruits that match it fill-in, his "style" of communication will change.
Team #102 has been celebrated. Time to allow it to rest in the lore of tradition. The most important team for UT will take the field in 16 days Team #117. They are getting everything they need from their coach...and more than they ever knew they would.
proudvolfan61 writes:
What a great day for our players! Go team 117!!!
johnlg00 writes:
Me too! I'm not even a Heat fan, but I recognize the great job Spoelstra has done. It's not as easy as some think to win with great talent; it often comes with great egos that must be carefully managed. Besides, one rap on a lot of kids these days is that NOTHING impresses them; even at relatively tender ages, they like to imagine that they have seen everything. The ability to be enthusiastic about anything is not necessarily related to age.
RashaadSalabeb writes:
Exciting times! Work hard team. We need your A-Game. I think the Coach is doing about everything humanly possible to get these guys ready.
Go Vols!
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