I am glad the disaster of a coaching search is over like everyone else, but I am not completely sold on Pruitt and the staff. From where I am standing, we will have a head coach who has never been in that role before, an offensive coordinator who did not call plays at his last job, and a defensive coordinator who was a position coach last year. What could possibly go wrong with that combination? :crazy: Does the name Larry Scott or Sal Sunseri ring any bells? I can handle hiring a rookie head coach, but the combination of inexperience at all three of the most important positions of the coaching staff is cause for concern. Butch was criticized for hiring his buddies to his own detriment, but what do you call these moves by Pruitt? He got his first opportunity to be a head coach and he put the future of Tennessee football in the hands of his inexperienced buddies. He hopes it will all work out, but if it doesnt he can go back to Bama and Tennessee will continue to suck.
Well, for starters, I don't think his DC needs to have experience at that position so much, because Pruitt (an experienced DC) will have a lot of say so on that side of the ball. You may have a better case on offense.
My optimism comes from the fact that he seems to have a plan, and has so far been able to implement it with very few hickups. He seems to be getting what he has wanted on his staff, and I think recruits are listening to him as well.
He has apparently told two QB's that they can find another place to play. Some may see this as a bad sign, but again, I think he has a plan and is confident that he can make it work.
He appears to be cherry picking staff from other SEC schools, which has it's benefits, including the highly regarded GM from LSU.
He also appears to be laying a foundation of having more support staff than TN is accustomed to having. This is the Alabama model, and if we want to compete with them, we may have to start with mimicking them in this area.
All this may be for naught if he fails to change things with Strength and Conditioning, or if he cannot teach the players or implement a good game plan. However, all we can go on is what he has done in one week, which I think is cause for lots of optimism.