From the ones I know, it’s mixed feelings. People say something needed to change, I’m not sure they ever really give a clear answer as to why. He was still signing good classes, with great talent (even ones that get arrested). It was sad the way he went. Sadder that once Kiffin left, the veil that was hiding the obvious truth (we were not elite anymore) came open and blinded a lot of fans. Now it’s just a collection of anger and why us?

Which reminds me: for all the angst over the team’s struggles and the push to can Fulmer, do you think most UT fans wish they could go back and keep him, in hindsight with the coaching flux since then?

Have for a while lawya. It was his fumbling. Dude could not hold onto the ball, no coop, and in big situations.

Bad Moves: Although Whitner has loads of talent, I have a problem with how general manager Marv Levy approached his first pick. First of all, he passed on Matt Leinart, the premier quarterback in the 2006 Draft. Secondly, Levy could have secured Whitner around the middle of the first round. He should have traded down.

http://walterfootball.com/draft2006G.php

By draft day the “best QB prospect since Elway” wasn’t that far ahead of some guy most people had never heard of at the 2011 draft (though not in danger of slipping).

Then something happened.

UT sucked.

Seems like usually guys whose draft stock falls precipitously have character issues or injuries and don’t turn out well.

Gotcha… as far as guys that fell a lot, I don’t know. Locker and Leinert were two consensus #1′s who went back to school. Brady Quinn, too, maybe? Extra scouting time leads to over-analysis and nit-picking, but those three cases suggest it’s not unfair.

He was regarded at the beginning of his Sr. year as a late third/fourth round guy. Not great, but at least potential. Then something happened.

Grade given on 5/1/06: C+
Grade given on 7/3/07: A+
Good Moves: Punt returner Bobby Wade was brutal in 2005, so the Bears responded by choosing University of Miami receiver Devin Hester in the second round. Defensive tackle Dusty Dvoracek, selected in the third round, will provide quality depth at his position. And finally, defensive end Mark Anderson, taken with the 159th pick of the draft, will prove to be a quality player for Chicago.

Bad Moves: Going into the draft, I liked safety Danieal Manning. I liked him as a late-third-round prospect. The Bears chose him at No. 42 overall, which was much too early for the Abilene Christian graduate. And aside from the Anderson selection, all of Chicago’s day-two picks baffled me. The Bears failed to provide Rex Grossman with a quality tight end. Why didn’t they draft Leonard Pope, Dominique Byrd, Anthony Fasano or Joe Klopfenstein?

July 3, 2007 Update: Although the Bears didn’t have a first-round pick, they still managed to land three outstanding players: Danieal Manning (2nd round), Devin Hester (2nd) and Mark Anderson (5th). All three played a crucial role in Chicago’s Super Bowl appearance. Manning was the starting free safety, Hester had five returns for touchdowns and Anderson recorded a team-high 12 sacks. … Defensive tackle Dusty Dvoracek (3rd) missed the entire season with an injury, so we have no idea what to expect from him. … Jamar Williams (4th) didn’t see much action in 2006, but he will this season if Lance Briggs holds out. The Bears seem to like Williams.

Emmitt Smith was supposed to be a top 5-10 pick but nobody wanted an RB except the Jets (Blair Thomas) at #2. Also, Emmitt ran a glacial 40 time. Jimmy Johnson traded up to get Emmitt at #17 and suddenly the Cowboys o-line was magically transformed into a murderer’s row

You didn’t read my question correctly. Tom Brady was not a consensus top 5 pick in the year leading up to the draft only to fall to the 6th round. I don’t think Arian Foster was in the green room either.

Do we consider Carmelo one of the two franchise players?

You do if you want to at least sound like you know what you’re talking about.

Are there any other guys like that?

Too many… especially in NFL/MLB. Tom Brady obviously comes to mind, Arian Foster was undrafted etc etc. And with MLB, signability/college commitment just screws it up too much.

Again – if you think he’s good, get him,

Sanchez!!!!!!!!!!!!!