This might be getting old. The issue lingers. The mystery won’t go away.
Strange things, some good I suppose, are happening in this wonderful, weird and too often angry world we live in.
Strange things are also happening in a somewhat smaller sphere, Tennessee football. The No. 1 mystery remains Chaz Coleman, top-name transfer as an edge rusher, maybe, possibly but probably not a Volunteer.
While the real Vols were learning to appreciate the rigorous strength and conditioning routine of exciting new coach Derek Owings and bumping into each other in spring practice, Chaz was mostly off to the side for “personal reasons.”
He missed some other less strenuous team activities. He reportedly felt constrained by concussion symptoms from last November (I have not seen the medical report).
After the brief May team vacation, other Volunteers returned to work. Chaz returned a few days late but did not rush into catch-up workouts. There’s no way to know what “being here” means.
Three coaches, three players and support people now at Tennessee knew Chaz at Penn State. They undoubtedly vouched for him as a prime prospect. They now must be somewhere between disappointed and stunned.
Josh Heupel, patient to a fault in this profession, has been stuck with no explanation.
Standard response to questions: “He’s dealing with some things and has to work through those things. When he’s able to do that, he will be back with us.”
Fans have long been jumping to their own conclusions. Some could be accurate. Maybe Coleman is a natural coaster. Owings and defensive line coach Rodney Garner are just too tough, entirely too demanding.
Coleman may really miss his mother’s home and the green, green grass of Warren, Ohio, population 39,201.
Maybe Coleman, superstar there, concluded he can’t live up to college expectations without stress and strain. As a freshman with the Nittany Lions, potential far exceeded production – eight tackles, one sack, one forced fumble and two recoveries in nine games.
Those who think they are in the know say money was once an issue but probably isn’t now. Family or advisors wanted Chaz to go with the high bidder out of high school. He signed with Penn State even though most of his football friends were Ohio State players or advocates.
Some Tennessee fans see it this way: At transfer time, after Heupel hired defensive coordinator Jim Knowles, secondary coach Anthony Poindexter and edge coach Andrew Jackson from Penn State, after they agreed what a great, explosive prospect Coleman was, after UT money people agreed to $2 NIL million or more, Chaz chose the Volunteers.
Ohio State was runner-up. Buckeyes now whisper that they knew all along he wasn’t worth the asking price. LSU was in the auction but Baton Rouge is a long walk from Warren.
Some fans are fretting about how much investment Tennessee may have lost. Apparently, not too much actually changed hands. Tennessee is said to have met with Coleman and his family to restructure the agreement. Payments were suspended until fall.
Chaz understood he erred in posting that infamous flashing-the-cash photo with a car in the background. Fans saw that as a lot of something for nothing. The photo went away.
Tennessee has recently endured two cash, crash and burns, misadventures with Nico Iamaleava and Boo Carter. This is not the same. It is similar only in that the team has been and is preparing for what comes next and a really big name is not on the job.
On a recent Erik Ainge radio program, the former Vol quarterback offered what might have been a mix of inside information, intuition and common sense.
“Chaz, from everything I’ve been told, doesn’t love football. He’s not a wake-up, eat-it, grind-it, need-it guy when it comes to football. Super athletic, but he doesn’t love football.”
Erik surmised Chaz has something else going on. Otherwise, Heupel would have just fired him for not showing up. If there really is a mental health issue, be sure UT will help him out.
Ainge doubts that Chaz has already made the big money. He guessed $25,000 so far.
Make a wish. Tennessee needs edge rushers. Chaz, if fit and interested, probably could be a possibility. Alas, he is the focal point of this lingering drama. Maybe the Vols are cool and composed and not distracted – but how much is too much? How long is too long to wait?
Exactly how patient is Heupel?
Marvin West welcomes comments or questions from readers. His address is marvinwest75@gmail.com
