I'll always cheer on the Vols but a dyed in the wool bammer brought in as HC...just excuse me, I need some time to swallow that.
JP, I remember one thread you made, something about what it would take for Vol fans to be satisfied and I replied "winning takes care of everything". I have a different perspective on that now. Satisfaction is on a continuum and winning will swing the needle a long way but winning with UT connected blood at the top is the pinnacle.
Haha, yeah, man, I get that--the part about our lads being led by a Bammer. I really do get that. But as long as he's wearing orange, doing things in an orange way, respecting General Neyland and Smokey and the Pride and the Hill and the Vol Navy and the T ... well, as long as he embraces us, I'll embrace him.
Plus, in the world of football loyalties, a person really can have two homes. I know that from personal experience, being deeply tied to both Tennessee and Army. Think about this: Tennessee will forever, no matter what else happens,
forever be Jeremy Pruitt's first head coaching job. Sure, he may compete with Jimbo Fisher, Will Muschamp, Kirby Smart and others for the Bama vacancy if Saban ever finally retires, but that doesn't mean he'll leave.
Being here, this being his first head coaching stint, will forever change Jeremy as it has so many others--starting with Texan Robert Neyland.
So I'm okay with that, as long as he embraces this university and its history and traditions and excellence, and restores us to our rightful place among the very best teams in the college game.
When all is said and done, it is one possible future that we could be farewelling long-time Tennessee hall of fame and multiple-championship coach Jeremy Pruitt in the year 2040 as he heads into retirement. That is one possible future, among many.
So, he's my guy now. As long as he is, he is.
Go Vols!