Do Vols need national title to be a success? Grading Vandy, Titans stadium impact: Mailbag (2024)

Before getting to the questions you wanted me to answer, an unsolicited observation from the Tennessee Titans’ OTA session on Wednesday, which was open to media: JC Latham is quite impressive.

Disclaimers abound, of course. It’s the spring. It’s voluntary team activities. These guys aren’t in full pads. They’ll be able to complete Dynasty mode of EA Sports’ College Football 25 several times before they take part in an actual football game. The first-round pick’s success at transitioning from right to left tackle and blocking NFL pass rushers are subjects of pure guesswork at this point, and at this point, it’s wise to be wary of proclamations.

For example: Calvin Ridley used Julio Jones, Terrell Owens and A.J. Brown as comparisons when asked about third-year/No. 4 or 5 receiver Treylon Burks. What does that make Ridley? Some combination of Jerry Rice, Randy Moss and Calvin Johnson? Yay, spring football.

But yes, Latham is impressive, in the limited ways that are possible right now. He has an enormous body with explosiveness and flexibility, a rookie’s enthusiasm and a veteran’s presence. Those things are apparent and should translate into something helpful this fall.

“Strong, powerful guy — you can tell why he’s a top-10 pick,” Lloyd Cushenberry, the Titans’ new center, said of Latham after Wednesday’s session.

“He doesn’t carry himself like a rookie, which is always a good thing,” Titans coach Brian Callahan said of Latham. “He’s very intentional about his work. He works really hard. He spends a lot of time on this. I think he understands, which not all rookies understand, that it is a job. And there’s an expectation, especially when you’re drafted where he was drafted, that you’ve got to come perform. And I think he’s aware of that. Not everybody always is. He’s got some maturity to him, but he also has a youthful wonder that’s kind of fun to be around.”

What’s that, the sound of a spring take validated? Now on to what you actually wanted me to address:

I know the Vols are the No. 1 overall seed, but shouldn’t the season be deemed a success if they are one of the last four standing in Omaha? It will mean they made further progress, reaching a milestone they haven’t reached in around 30 years, but more importantly, would signify the program’s success is sustainable and built to last. — Grant B.

Will you be happy with that, Grant? Knowing this team has the goods to win a national championship? Look, I can make the case it’s already a success, and I definitely don’t think they need success in Omaha — or even a trip to Omaha — to signify sustainable program success. That’s established under Tony Vitello.

But how about a team from the state of Tennessee actually closes the deal on a major championship? The last team to do it was Vanderbilt baseball, five years ago. We’ve seen the Preds get within two wins, the Titans within two wins, Rick Barnes’ UT men’s basketball team within three. Vitello’s bunch does not have nearly the pressure of two years ago, when it was the No. 1 overall seed but also the overwhelming favorite — and a team with every box checked. This one is loaded but has one true starter on the mound, Drew Beam, so we will see how that plays out in the postseason format. It’s been a great season, but no one should be satisfied without the natty. That’s how it should be for a great program.

Has UT men’s athletics collectively ever been in a better spot coaches and performance-wise? — Thomas T.

I know the Tennessee softball team came up just short of the WCWS, but that’s an awfully strong program that won the SEC. UT just won the SEC All-Sports Trophy for the third straight year, the second school to achieve that feat. And that’s men’s and women’s sports contributing — UT ranked first in men’s sports and second in women’s sports. But obviously, the school’s flagship program, women’s basketball, just underwent a coaching change and continues to search for a return to the (impossible to recapture) standard set under the late, great Pat Summitt.

On the men’s side, baseball and basketball are stronger than they’ve been under the best coaches they’ve had. Can Vitello win it all? Can Rick Barnes earn the program’s first Final Four (his transfer portal work gives him another legit shot next season)? Can Josh Heupel and Nico Iamaleava lead Vols football into the first 12-team playoff? If any of those three are answered affirmatively, the answer to your question is “no.”

What grade would you give Vandy’s athletic department? Based on the performance of banner sports, coach hires, facilities and fundraising. — Neil B.

For starters, I’m giving an A-plus for the fundraising and history hurdling required to address F-minus facilities. Facilities have lost some importance in the NIL era of college athletics, but F-minus facilities will kill you, and they’re about to be B facilities overall. And that will matter. Banner sports performance right now is a C-minus, especially with Vandy baseball having a down year (which still results in an SEC record 18th straight NCAA bid). Women’s basketball saved the year, at least until Tim Corbin’s team makes a surprise run to Omaha. And I’m giving an A right now for Candice Lee’s hire of Shea Ralph, a C for Clark Lea (again, historical context must be considered) and an incomplete on Mark Byington. Let’s give him a season first, eh?

What does the recent NCAA settlement mean for UT, Vandy and MTSU? My take is private universities and non-Power 5 schools are out unless the Vanderbilts, Dukes, Stanfords and Northwesterns want to reallocate funds currently used for other things (e.g. medical schools) for athletics. As an avid sports fan, it seems like our priorities are woefully skewed. I think Vanderbilt has some hard choices to make regarding whether it’s worth keeping up with the Joneses, and the timing couldn’t be worse having committed $300 million-plus to facilities upgrades. — Clay G.

The first question is a bit too big to tackle right now — so many questions spin out of the settlement for college athletics at large, and courts and lawmakers are going to be necessary to help answer them all. But I strongly disagree with your take on Vanderbilt and other private schools in Power 5 leagues. Those are Power 5 athletic departments, too, and they’ve all got tremendous donor resources. Vanderbilt is all in — those upgrades will end up costing a few hundred million more than your figure, and the collective is competitive. The choice is made. Now it’s time to start winning in football and men’s basketball.

How much pressure does the new stadium put on Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk and her management team? Is there a correlation between new stadiums and team performance? Will they possibly do things that have been uncharacteristic for this team to make sure that they have an early winner in 2027 when the new Nissan Stadium is christened, or is that of no real consequence? — Doug P.

Doug, it’s hard enough for NFL teams to win right now, let alone try to hit a target a few years from now or have any idea what they’ll be at that time. Granted, if you have a Patrick Mahomes or a Lamar Jackson or a Joe Burrow, you have some level of certainty about being competitive for a stretch. So if Will Levis does pan out as a franchise quarterback, the Titans should be in good position in their new digs in 2027.

I suppose you could look at this past offseason, in which the Titans spent heavily on free agents, and correlate that with the selling of personal seat licenses that is now in full swing. A good product on the field in 2024 will no doubt help sell future years of the product. But I’d hope Adams Strunk would have greenlighted that spending regardless.

Should we expect the next Titans move(s) after the post-June cuts from other teams? How seriously are they looking at safeties (particularly Justin Simmons)? — George R.

Yes and quite, in general, based on what they’ve said multiple times. A veteran safety is an obvious move and Simmons and Quandre Diggs are the best of the bunch of 30-somethings available, in my mind. I’d also keep an eye out for possible signings at tight end and defensive line.

Who do you think steps up to become the starting RT for the Titans? — Andy R.

I’m sticking with Nicholas Petit-Frere, though his inability to participate so far on the field is a bit concerning after a shoulder injury cut his 2023 season short. He’s rehabbing in the facility, so we’ll see if he can get out there next week for mandatory minicamp. Jaelyn Duncan also is dealing with something, so don’t count out LeRoy Watson, who was with Bill Callahan in Cleveland, as a player who can give himself a shot. In the end, I think it’s Petit-Frere, who needs a major bounceback in his third NFL season.

Titans over/under 6.5 wins. I took the over. You? We improved the worst position groups of a team that won six games last year. — Tyler F.

I would go over as well. I think this team ends up in the 7-9 win range. Which may not sound all that promising. But it’s better than the 3-5 range that seems to be the prevailing expectation among NFL media.

Is there an internal deadline to get a Juuse Saros deal done before the Preds just ship him out to the highest bidder? Or would Barry Trotz be willing to roll this year with a pending UFA Saros and risk losing him for nothing like Ryan Suter? — Jason J.

I wouldn’t discount Saros playing on the final year of his deal next season, as Filip Forsberg did before he signed his current deal. That’s not ideal and that’s not the plan, but I can’t say for certain that these sides will come to an agreement. I think the highest likelihood is that they do over the summer. Next most likely would be a summer trade after a deal can’t get done. Then I’d go with Saros playing on his last year and ultimately re-signing next summer. Then I’d go Saros being moved at the trading deadline to a goalie-deficient contender. And I’d give maybe a 2 percent chance that he plays on the last year and signs elsewhere as a free agent. That would obviously be a bad deal for Trotz and the Preds.

What players do you expect the Predators to target during free agency this summer? Also, do you think the Predators will swing a big trade for a top-six forward at the draft, or will they be more conservative and count on players from Milwaukee to boost the offense next season? — Steve V.

Joe, with the departure of Ryan McDonagh and Tyson Barrie … what does the defensive corps look like in ’24-25? Does Trotz keep both Alex Carrier/Dante Fabbro, and Spencer Stastney stays in the top six, and add a free agent vet? — Ray G.

Under any reasonable analysis, the Preds D got worse with the McDonagh trade, arguably significantly so. Do you see them filling the hole via acquisition or cobbling something together with promising but untested AHLers? — Peter O.

I’m not good at predicting NHL offseasons, and this one coming up for the Preds is especially tough to call — it could go a number of ways. Big trade? Sure. Major free-agent forward? I can see it. There are some interesting Carolina Hurricanes out there. A defenseman signing to fill the McDonagh hole? I’d call that likely, along with Stastney being penciled in as a key guy moving forward. I’m probably a prisoner of the moment on this one, but I love the idea of Nikita Zadorov to bring size and grit to the back end. Either way, expect a few of these kids making a playoff run with the Milwaukee Admirals to have a real shot to be in Nashville next season.

Two speculative questions about the near and extended future of the SEC:

1) Near term … looking at this year’s NCAA college baseball bracket, is there any chance that the conference breaks this season’s record of 11 teams in, next year? Long term, probably not sustainable to hit 12 or more, but next year?

2) Long-term question … er, maybe? How long do you think the new 16-team SEC will last as currently constituted? — Lee W.

On baseball, sure, that could happen. Hoops and other sports are going to have their bid numbers juiced up by Texas and Oklahoma as well. As for the SEC, I imagine it will be a few years before the next shift must take place. I’m not sure exactly what that will look like. But I wouldn’t get too many sweaters with the current configuration stitched into them. Unless you’re into retro clothing.

(Top photo of Vols pitcher Kirby Connell, left, and second baseman Christian Moore celebrating after winning the SEC title: Vasha Hunt / USA Today)

Joe Rexrode is a senior staff writer for The Athletic covering all things Nashville and some things outside Nashville. He previously worked at The Tennessean, the Detroit Free Press and the Lansing State Journal, spending the past three years as sports columnist at The Tennessean. Follow Joe on Twitter @joerexrode