Recruiting Forum Football Talk XXXI

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#9,177
#9,177
Here's a few tidbits from Jerry Haskew who's brother was on sports talk in Chattanooga until his untimely death last year.

The Situation with Butch Jones et al at UT

Butch, Shoop and few tidbits ..

There has been a lot of chatter, mostly by people at UT and some media members about unhappiness within coaching staff that lead to a failure of 2016. Here are few things that are being said by some reporters and people at UT. (No insider information here. Just compilation of stuff from Podcasts, informal talks with local media members and UTK students who claim to have heard similar rumblings)

a) Butch is reportedly very unhappy with the lack of AD situation. He has been telling people it has been hurting recruiting and OC hire. The internal promotion is not by choice for Butch, rather outsider big candidates' unwillingness to join the staff without some assurance from AD on stability. Butch has been telling local media members during informal communications to look at staff other SEC teams have assembled. His situation is like he is almost taking a knife to a gun fight against Alabama, comparing the supporting staff.

b) Shoop never fully got support from Martinez, Thigpen or Stripling. The three reportedly felt like Shoop undermined their authority with micromanaging things. Things got worse as the season progressed. Stripling will retire, Martinez will be let go. Thigpen might look elsewhere but Shoop and Butch have tried to convince him to stay due to his recruiting powers.

c) After season Butch did look for other options as he was uncertain about his status once new AD was hired. UT higher-ups assured him that he won't be let go upon hire of new AD.

d) Don Mahoney will be let go after signing day. Azzanni is looking elsewhere and will leave after signing day. Larry Scott will be new OC. Butch has tried to do a CO-OC thing with both but Azzanni wants full control of the offense. Funny as Butch wanted to bring a name but he couldn't land one.

e) The media reports of Butch not willing to relinquish control of offense are wrong.
 
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#9,178
#9,178
jason3713 said:
Here's a few tidbits from Jerry Haskew who's brother was on sports talk in Chattanooga until his untimely death last year.

The Situation with Butch Jones et al at UT

Butch, Shoop and few tidbits ..

There has been a lot of chatter, mostly by people at UT and some media members about unhappiness within coaching staff that lead to a failure of 2016. Here are few things that are being said by some reporters and people at UT. (No insider information here. Just compilation of stuff from Podcasts, informal talks with local media members and UTK students who claim to have heard similar rumblings)

a) Butch is reportedly very unhappy with the lack of AD situation. He has been telling people it has been hurting recruiting and OC hire. The internal promotion is not by choice for Butch, rather outsider big candidates' unwillingness to join the staff without some assurance from AD on stability. Butch has been telling local media members during informal communications to look at staff other SEC teams have assembled. His situation is like he is almost taking a knife to a gun fight against Alabama, comparing the supporting staff.

b) Shoop never fully got support from Martinez, Thigpen or Stripling. The three reportedly felt like Shoop undermined their authority with micromanaging things. Things got worse as the season progressed. Stripling will retire, Martinez will be let go. Thigpen might look elsewhere but Shoop and Butch have tried to convince him to stay due to his recruiting powers.

c) After season Butch did look for other options as he was uncertain about his status once new AD was hired. UT higher-ups assured him that he won't be let go upon hire of new AD.

d) Don Mahoney will be let go after signing day. Azzanni is looking elsewhere and will leave after signing day. Larry Scott will be new OC. Butch has tried to do a CO-OC thing with both but Azzanni wants full control of the offense. Funny as Butch wanted to bring a name but he couldn't land one.

e) The media reports of Butch not willing to relinquish control of offense are wrong.
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A is garbage. His current staff was all his doing with a an AD in place and plenty of momentum. Is it a problem now? Probably but he can't blame them for his past hires. Also I think it's a typical Butch excuse so he can hire his buddies.

B is expected when it's a group of guys from another DC picks vs none of his guys.

C again sounds like this is Butch blaming others for his own choices. He did look other places but it was because of the media scrutiny and high expectations. He choked it away by losing to Vandy and now has to save face. He does love TN though so not that he hates his current job he just doesn't want to have fired on resume so there could be half truths to it that he got some assurances to make him fee better along with nobody wanting him elsewhere.

D is prob right

E sounds like excuses
 
#9,179
#9,179
Nashvegas31 said:
A is garbage. His current staff was all his doing with a an AD in place and plenty of momentum. Is it a problem now? Probably but he can't blame them for his past hires. Also I think it's a typical Butch excuse so he can hire his buddies.

B is expected when it's a group of guys from another DC picks vs none of his guys.

C again sounds like this is Butch blaming others for his own choices. He did look other places but it was because of the media scrutiny and high expectations. He choked it away by losing to Vandy and now has to save face. He does love TN though so not that he hates his current job he just doesn't want to have fired on resume so there could be half truths to it that he got some assurances to make him fee better along with nobody wanting him elsewhere.

D is prob right

E sounds like excuses
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A is probably exactly right. He's said OC and support staff. Look at who bama hires to work as off field support staff. A bunch of former coaches and even head coaches. Butches support staff is a bunch of grad assistants. It's not even close when you match them up.
 
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#9,181
#9,181
Nashvegas31 said:
A is garbage. His current staff was all his doing with a an AD in place and plenty of momentum. Is it a problem now? Probably but he can't blame them for his past hires. Also I think it's a typical Butch excuse so he can hire his buddies.

B is expected when it's a group of guys from another DC picks vs none of his guys.

C again sounds like this is Butch blaming others for his own choices. He did look other places but it was because of the media scrutiny and high expectations. He choked it away by losing to Vandy and now has to save face. He does love TN though so not that he hates his current job he just doesn't want to have fired on resume so there could be half truths to it that he got some assurances to make him fee better along with nobody wanting him elsewhere.

D is prob right

E sounds like excuses
Click to expand...

... how is e an excuse?
 
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#9,185
#9,185
BigZiti09 said:
Who is the Wells guy? I know nothing about him.
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Hey Ziti, I think it was you who said something the other day about having a theory as to why the AD hire is delaying so long...I have a though too and wonder if it matches up with your theory.

I wonder if the powers that be are holding off on the AD hire, because they don't want Butch to close strong recruiting and they don't want him to make any good hires, that may help him win enough games next year, which would make firing him look bad. Maybe the power hitters know the new AD (hopefully Blackburn) has the connections to make a homerun hire, and they know after this past year that Butch isn't the guy to take us where we want to go? Just some thoughts I've had.
 
#9,186
#9,186
OGbabyaviVol said:
Hey Ziti, I think it was you who said something the other day about having a theory as to why the AD hire is delaying so long...I have a though too and wonder if it matches up with your theory.

I wonder if the powers that be are holding off on the AD hire, because they don't want Butch to close strong recruiting and they don't want him to make any good hires, that may help him win enough games next year, which would make firing him look bad. Maybe the power hitters know the new AD (hopefully Blackburn) has the connections to make a homerun hire, and they know after this past year that Butch isn't the guy to take us where we want to go? Just some thoughts I've had.
Click to expand...

That is some long lengths to go to get rid of a coach, sabotage a season? Take off the tinfoil. Also what makes these power hitters know Blackburn can make a home run hire? Connections? Please describe his track record of past home runs for us.
 
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#9,187
#9,187
OGbabyaviVol said:
Hey Ziti, I think it was you who said something the other day about having a theory as to why the AD hire is delaying so long...I have a though too and wonder if it matches up with your theory.

I wonder if the powers that be are holding off on the AD hire, because they don't want Butch to close strong recruiting and they don't want him to make any good hires, that may help him win enough games next year, which would make firing him look bad. Maybe the power hitters know the new AD (hopefully Blackburn) has the connections to make a homerun hire, and they know after this past year that Butch isn't the guy to take us where we want to go? Just some thoughts I've had.
Click to expand...

Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.

I don't think there's any grand conspiracy behind the feet dragging of the AD hire. It's just the usual suspects on the Hill screwing up as is tradition.

Also, I don't think anyone with even the faintest knowledge of college football would intentionally sabotage a coach's recruiting efforts, even if they hated his guts. That's the lifeblood of a program and can affect a team's on the field results for 4-5 years, long after the hated coach is gone.
 
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#9,188
#9,188
Aesius said:
Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.

I don't think there's any grand conspiracy behind the feet dragging of the AD hire. It's just the usual suspects on the Hill screwing up as is tradition.

Also, I don't think anyone with even the faintest knowledge of college football would intentionally sabotage a coach's recruiting efforts, even if they hated his guts. That's the lifeblood of a program and can affect a team's on the field results for 4-5 years, long after the hated coach is gone.
Click to expand...

They did Dooley. Cut off a lot of his "resources".
 
#9,189
#9,189
bignewt said:
That is some long lengths to go to get rid of a coach, sabotage a season? Take off the tinfoil. Also what makes these power hitters know Blackburn can make a home run hire? Connections? Please describe his track record of past home runs for us.
Click to expand...

Was simply some thoughts, that I was curious if Ziti had any thinking along the same lines.
 
#9,190
#9,190
OGbabyaviVol said:
Hey Ziti, I think it was you who said something the other day about having a theory as to why the AD hire is delaying so long...I have a though too and wonder if it matches up with your theory.

I wonder if the powers that be are holding off on the AD hire, because they don't want Butch to close strong recruiting and they don't want him to make any good hires, that may help him win enough games next year, which would make firing him look bad. Maybe the power hitters know the new AD (hopefully Blackburn) has the connections to make a homerun hire, and they know after this past year that Butch isn't the guy to take us where we want to go? Just some thoughts I've had.
Click to expand...

They would never not want us to finish strong in recruiting.

My theory does touch on some things you listed but I don't believe they would sabotage him. We are only saving $2.5 if we let him go next year vs this year. They wouldn't sabotage him for a couple mil.

But I am starting to wonder if they want to bring in the new AD after the hires have been made and maybe that limits who CBJ can hire somewhat. Gives the new AD a clean slate and it will have given the new chancellor the perception of having guided the search that ultimately ends up being the guy everyone wanted all along.

Here's the other thing I wonder.... Take a look at what Cal did. They fired Sonny Dykes in the middle of January and it seems like they did it because he was shopping himself around to other schools. I bet it doesn't set too well with our power players that our head coach is shopping himself around a few months after he got a raise and an extension. That won't be forgotten.
 
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#9,192
#9,192
OGbabyaviVol said:
Hey Ziti, I think it was you who said something the other day about having a theory as to why the AD hire is delaying so long...I have a though too and wonder if it matches up with your theory.

I wonder if the powers that be are holding off on the AD hire, because they don't want Butch to close strong recruiting and they don't want him to make any good hires, that may help him win enough games next year, which would make firing him look bad. Maybe the power hitters know the new AD (hopefully Blackburn) has the connections to make a homerun hire, and they know after this past year that Butch isn't the guy to take us where we want to go? Just some thoughts I've had.
Click to expand...

Oh boy:birgits_giggle:
 
#9,196
#9,196
Aesius said:
Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.

I don't think there's any grand conspiracy behind the feet dragging of the AD hire. It's just the usual suspects on the Hill screwing up as is tradition.

Also, I don't think anyone with even the faintest knowledge of college football would intentionally sabotage a coach's recruiting efforts, even if they hated his guts. That's the lifeblood of a program and can affect a team's on the field results for 4-5 years, long after the hated coach is gone.
Click to expand...

This program says hello
 

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#9,197
#9,197
The University of Tennessee has zeroed in on the search firm it intends to use to find its replacement for outgoing Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics Dave Hart, and it is line to be a bit of an upset over the firm that widely had been expected to be in place for the search.

Although Tennessee has a five-year contract in place with Parker Executive Search, sources this weekend and into today, both on the Knoxville campus and in state government in Nashville, indicated to 247Sports that UT, under new Chancellor Beverly J. Davenport, is expected to use Todd Turner’s Collegiate Sports Associates.

A former Vanderbilt administrator, among other stops, Turner helped grow the company since he left intercollegiate athletics in 2008. Among their employees includes Dave Odom, the former ACC and SEC basketball coach.
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-Brice
 
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