If I were to write about my feelings as a 46 yr tiger football fan this is exactly what i would write.

Geoff has a gift of connecting with the long time tiger football fan in an uncanny way

http://www.commercialappeal.com/columnis...l?d=mobile

I've always liked Caulkins. He has always been rational and reasonable, and attempted to be fair IMHO, if not right.

And you're right - he has a way of bringing in the average Memphian's perspective on sports to articles that not only relate the material to the reader but also to make that reader's viewpoint relevant to the story itself. Good article.

Well written

Who is this "Caulkins" fellow?

That's a great column. Impressive.

Geoff is a really good writer and has been very fair in his coverage of University of Memphis athletics. His perspective and commentary are usually spot on.

I enjoy his human interest stories the most. Have shed a tear more than once after reading one of his poignant columns.

'Sometimes, things work out"

I know he said he was not trying to prepare us-----but now I am worried.

He'll be the first to tweet out empty seats at a Tiger event. He's a phony

Calkins nailed it.

Big 12 will expand by 2: Houston and Cincy.

(08-20-2016 10:12 AM)MemTiger90 Wrote:  He'll be the first to tweet out empty seats at a Tiger event. He's a phony

I totally disagree.

Dude can really write when he wants to. Who can fault him for not always wanting to.

These are phony times we live in. He makes the best of them. Ain't no news or very many real columnists left...just tweets for all of us who don't feel like reading past 10 words....anybody with me here.

(08-20-2016 10:49 AM)CougarRed Wrote:  Calkins nailed it.

Big 12 will expand by 2: Houston and Cincy.

Maybe but when OU and OSU leave you'll be back in the SWC. Congrats.

(08-20-2016 07:36 AM)Smith Wrote:  'Sometimes, things work out"

Yes, they do work out. Patience is often rewarded.

I enjoy his writing style. The main issue I see with this particular piece is the way he cites sources. Otherwise, it's as good a story as any other at this point in time. Dr. Rudd isn't talking and hasn't since the Big12 officially announced expansion. Those quotes were pulled from a May radio interview. Not that the sentiments have changed, but the timing should have been noted as should have Alan Graf's comments. Not that either would make differing comments today (no inside info here), it just should have been noted that both citations are not from a current timeframe. From there, let the readers make of it what they will.

Quote:Q: How long have you been working on this?

A: Coming up on two years. We’ve said from day one, we are making every effort to move this university forward academically, athletically, our integration with this community, and with a national footprint. The only way to do that as a public research university, and to make that kind of progress, and to do it in a timely way, and to do it in a reasonable way, is to do that through the visibility of athletics, and to be a part of what is now called this Power 5 group. It’s critical for us. I’m not alone in that opinion. You’ll find university president after university president that will tell you the same thing.

http://www.commercialappeal.com/columnis...35782.html

Quote:Alan Graf of FedEx told WREG and Glenn Carver that "if they take four teams, I'm 100 percent convinced we'll be in. If they take two, I'm not so sure." The interview was apparently shot earlier this year -- not Tuesday, after the Big 12 conference call. But there's no particular reason to think Graf's assessment of Memphis's chances has changed.

http://www.commercialappeal.com/columnis...62181.html

(08-20-2016 06:43 AM)Latilleon Wrote:  Who is this "Caulkins" fellow?

the giver of the caulk

Calkins' ! Willing to put his neck on the line for the greater good

(08-20-2016 10:49 AM)CougarRed Wrote:  Calkins nailed it.

Big 12 will expand by 2: Houston and Cincy.

I personally don't see the value in Cincy

(08-20-2016 09:38 AM)jsw3ent Wrote:  I know he said he was not trying to prepare us-----but now I am worried.

Geoff is reacting to his numerous attempts last week at the scrimmage to get Rudd to spill the beans. Rudd blew him off with "no comment". That should tell you one of two things. Either we are in or we are out. Rudd knows...Geoff can't get it confirmed. Everyone here has an opinion. At this point, it is a waiting game. My view is that if it was two being added, you would already have it announced.

(08-20-2016 11:48 AM)Strat57 Wrote:  

(08-20-2016 09:38 AM)jsw3ent Wrote:  I know he said he was not trying to prepare us-----but now I am worried.

Geoff is reacting to his numerous attempts last week at the scrimmage to get Rudd to spill the beans. Rudd blew him off with "no comment". That should tell you one of two things. Either we are in or we are out. Rudd knows...Geoff can't get it confirmed. Everyone here has an opinion. At this point, it is a waiting game. My view is that if it was two being added, you would already have it announced.

Thanks Strat57-----makes sense .