Tennessee
Another reason Cutcliffe has remained at Duke
Tom Shanahan Apr 8 2018DURHAM, N.C. – Duke coach David Cutcliffe surveyed the Blue Devils’ recent pro day at Pascal Field House. The pride was palpable. His smile could have bridged the gap that is the school's program before-and-after Cutcliffe’s arrival 10 years ago. Pre-Cutcliffe, Duke won 10 games...
The King of Halloween and Miss Firecracker Queen
Tom Shanahan Mar 12 2018The King of Halloween and Miss Firecracker QueenBy Lori LeachmanClick here: A daughter's tale of family and football* * * Lori Leachman, an economics professor at Duke University, is the daughter of Lamar Leachman, a former NFL assistant coach with the Detroit Lions...
Rick Barnes rebuilding Tennessee with new look
Tom Shanahan Jan 2 2017Former Tennessee coaches Bruce Pearl, Cuonzo Martin and Donnie Tyndall set the bar low enough to buy second-year coach Rick Barnes some time in Knoxville.The sparse crowds at 21,678-seat Thompson-Boling Arena are evidence of that. The Volunteers have averaged only 12,306 entering...
North Carolina needs healthy Joel Berry
Tom Shanahan Dec 11 2016North Carolina knew what it had last year when fourth-year starting point guard Marcus Paige missed the first six contests with a hand injury, or in any game the rest of the way when he needed a breather.The Tar Heels had Joel Berry II. He would have started at most other ACC...
NFF Cutcliffe father and son coaching tree
Tom Shanahan Sep 9 2016David Cutcliffe described himself as a “basket case” on a long ago Friday night. It was the day before his 2003 Ole Miss team he coached faced visiting Alabama at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Ms.At the time Cutcliffe had Ole Miss off to a 2-0 start in SEC play. But it...
James Franklin must be feeling pressure
Tom Shanahan Jul 2 2016James Franklin parlayed three years of success at SEC bottom-feeder Vanderbilt into a brand-name college football job at Penn State. That’s what makes his recent comments expressing frustration with recruiting in the Big Ten so surprising.What could be tougher than recruiting in...
Hatchell remembers dear friend Summitt
Tom Shanahan Jul 1 2016The day after pioneer women’s college basketball coach Pat Summitt died, North Carolina coach Sylvia Hatchell sat in the Chapel Hill office she admits she owes to Summitt’s influence and domineering personality.Summett, who died Tuesday at age 64 after a five-year battle with...
Cutcliffe on the improving state of the ACC
Tom Shanahan Aug 20 2015You only need to listen to Duke coach David Cutcliffe speak to recognize his southern roots are in the deep south and Southeastern Conference rather than his current ACC and Durham, N.C., residences.His accent tells you as much as his bio. ...Click here for the rest of my...