Recruiting Forum Football Talk XLII

Status
Not open for further replies.
Here is my take, I typically don’t play the lottery. I have went out before a record setting power ball drawing, bought a ticket and spent some time day dreaming how I would give away and spend all that money, it’s fun to dream.

For me and this coaching hire. The season has really not been fun, so I have allowed myself for entertainment and a little fun to dream about Gruden. I hope it happens, man it would be fun. I am fully prepared for it not though.

If the man wanted to be our coach, he wouldn’t need all of this time to figure it out.

I want a great football coach that wants to be at UT.

Go Vols!
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
Again, I disagree. Kiffin was a bad hire but it was an "all in" move to create a spark and win big.

Dooley was a terrible hire, but it wasn't for lack of trying. They just rushed it and made a bad pick.

Butch was a bad hire, but if you'll remember it was praised nationally as UT finally finding a guy who will work hard for the program. We got turned down by everyone ahead of him. It wasn't about money - we offered the top guys a ton.

Tennessee spends more than any other program in support and recruiting budget. There has not been a lack of trying to win. We just have not had good coaches.

I'm sorry, man. I just don't believe an institution that was putting eveything into winning and prioritizing championships would have ever hired Derek Dooley and Butch Jones. I could be wrong, but a bunch of people I trust on here seem to think that we are JUST NOW starting to refocus on winning football.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
BTW, Hubbs said yesterday on the radio Cade Mays told Tennessee a month ago to leave him alone and Butch has completely stopped recruiting him.

Sounded like he's going to Georgia.

Wow! It is hard to believe that we can’t get the best players who grew up Tennessee fans to come to Tennessee. Really let you in on the sad state of affairs with our program. 2017 and 2018 in-state classes were the ones we were pointing to that would really bring us back to the elite in the country, and instead they are all going to other programs. Please hire Gruden ASAP!
 
Since people keep bringing up recruting, let’s play this out.

17 year old qb recruit - Hey coach, how do I know I’m making the right decision to be a Vol?

Mullen - I coached up Alex Smith, Tim Tebow, and Dak Prescott

17 year old qb recruit - I’m in!

Second scenario....

17 year old qb recruit - Hey coach, how do I know I’m making the right decision to be a Vol?

Gruden- I coached Brad Johnson in the Super Bowl

17 year old qb recruit - Who?

So now you're saying Gruden wouldn't be able to recruit???
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
I'm sorry, man. I just don't believe an institution that was putting eveything into winning and prioritizing championships would have ever hired Derek Dooley and Butch Jones. I could be wrong, but a bunch of people I trust on here seem to think that we are JUST NOW starting to refocus on winning football.

I'm going to let you in on a little secret. They said the same things in 2010 and 2012. It's only after the shine wears off and a coach starts to fail that the insiders come back around and say UT didn't try very hard last time - but they will this time!
 
Wow! It is hard to believe that we can’t get the best players who grew up Tennessee fans to come to Tennessee. Really let you in on the sad state of affairs with our program. 2017 and 2018 in-state classes were the ones we were pointing to that would really bring us back to the elite in the country, and instead they are all going to other programs. Please hire Gruden ASAP!

Swain said he feels very confident that when we hire another coach (doesn't have to be Gruden) UT will have a very good chance with Cade.
 
So now you're saying Gruden wouldn't be able to recruit???

4155497.png
 
  • Like
Reactions: 4 people
I'm going to let you in on a little secret. They said the same things in 2010 and 2012. It's only after the shine wears off and a coach starts to fail that the insiders come back around and say UT didn't try very hard last time - but they will this time!

I've been on this board since 2009; I'm aware some of our "insiders" are a bit fickle. And that's ok; people want to believe we're doing the right things until it becomes impossible to deny that they were mistaken (that includes myself). That's when you usually get people to admit the truth and recognize red flags that would have rather ignored during the honeymoon period.

However, the people I'm talking about (LWS, LA Vol, et al) have been saying what I'm saying for a long time. LA Vol just the other day stated that we're in the process of fighting 3 decades of a philosophy that we can win big hiring on the cheap.

I'd love to believe that UT has been "giving it's all" to winning football. It would make me feel better about the future of our program. But the evidence just isn't there.
 
Last edited:
I appreciate your post and pay attention when you do. I know Jones has told players that Haslam wants him back next year. I know this 100 percent. We know Butch could be lying. Would not be the first time but may get the players on his side to continue to play hard to try to win. Or it could be true and he's trying to get Gruden himself. Just wanted to know your opinion on what your thinking is with Butch saying that and where Haslam is with Gruden.

If you believe what I say, you're the only one on this board! Yes, CBJ is telling players (and recruits) that he has UT's full support and they need to block out the noise and finish strong to get to a bowl. I haven't heard any mention of Haslam specifically, but he has claimed to have Currie's support and Currie has reiterated that to the players.

IDT the Haslams are focused on UT football right now. Their attention is on their business, the trial and the Browns, though they are involved with the stadium reno. Outwardly, that is UTAD's focus ATP. Anything to do with the HC is behind-the-scenes.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
Wow! It is hard to believe that we can’t get the best players who grew up Tennessee fans to come to Tennessee. Really let you in on the sad state of affairs with our program. 2017 and 2018 in-state classes were the ones we were pointing to that would really bring us back to the elite in the country, and instead they are all going to other programs. Please hire Gruden ASAP!

Yep. Wasn’t it Hayden’s dad that was saying this week legacy kids see Tennessee as Vanderbilt - not much difference. And they aren’t wrong. We are 2-3 against Vandy the last five seasons and may drop another this year.

One day the bleeding will stop. It sounds like folks inside the program realize it can’t keep going like this if the administration is hell bent on $350M facilities improvements. UT will officially be Vandy when we get down to 30k fans per game. They need a real coach to get us back and I think they will get us one.
 
This program has not been committed to winning big. I think all this is changing. I think Currie and company wants to win and I think Gruden or not, we will hire a good coach that can get us back to our winning ways. I also fail to see how in the last 10 years give or take that this program has been committed to winning.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
This program has not been committed to winning big. I think all this is changing. I think Currie and company wants to win and I think Gruden or not, we will hire a good coach that can get us back to our winning ways. I also fail to see how in the last 10 years give or take that this program has been committed to winning.

Agreed.
 
What if, and it’s a big what if, Mullen has a good showing against bama this weekend? Not necessarily beating bama, but moves the ball and scores some points while keeping the game semi close. How would that change the opinion of him as a coach?

One game should not matter either way when compared to his body of work.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
After the VQ podcast this morning, I'm relatively convinced of several things:

1) Butch has not been told outright that he is fired. While I'm certain Butch will be fired, I also think Currie has strung him along a bit to make him think he has a shot at staying, probably with the hope that Butch can at least rally the team to a bowl and keep the recruiting class somewhat together.

2) My Grudometer is back to less than 1%. Apparently, Currie likes the fanbase to be distracted by a particular candidate while he lays the groundwork for another. Apparently, Currie played a big role in getting Bruce Pearl, while the fanbase was clamoring for Bob Knight.

3) We will get an extremely good coach, but it is likely not be someone we're talking about a lot at the moment. That is just Currie's MO.

I don’t think Currie is stringing him along. I think they probably say down before the season and said anything less than 8-4 or maybe 7-5 and you’re gone. I think letting people and recruits think Gruden is coming for as long as possible is good.
 
I looked up MSU players in NFL draft, and I'm pretty sure it's something like 22 or 23 over the course of Mullen's 9 years there. I know it was one less than UT has put in the draft over the same period despite finishing ranked probably 10-15 spots higher than MSU on average.

If you counted MSU players drafted in 2009, your numbers are inflated. 2009 was his first SEASON. The 2009 draftees go on Sylvester Croom’s tally.

Edit: Mea culpa found another database that validated your count of 22. Still nowhere near double Butch’s count, and considering that 6 of Butch’s 11 seasons of FBS headcoaching were mid-major, whilst all 8 of Mullen’s were in the SEC? I thought the original argument was regarding COACHES NFL count not schools. :hi:
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Advertisement





Back
Top