VFL-82-JP
Bleedin' Orange...
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To understand Gruden's interview this morning, you have to construct it from his perspective.
1. He can't announce anything this morning by telephone on a TV/radio program. That event can only happen on the UT campus in a press conference together with John Currie. So...he can't tell the truth about going to Tennessee.
2. He can't avoid the question. Mike and Mike would be flamed terribly as investigative journalists (which is a big part of who they are) if they didn't ask the question. They clearly HAVE to ask the question. Gruden acknowledges that requirement.
3. He can't outright lie. So as he avoids telling the truth, he has to be creative with his wording.
4. Saying things like "I haven't talked with anyone" can work, if put in the right place. Like, right after the question is asked. Because then, it can be construed as, "I haven't talked with anyone in the media prior to you, you're the first to ask me this." Which, afaik, is true. So he's being honest all while not going to the place he can't yet go.
5. He needs to be positive about ESPN, MNF, and his co-workers. They depend on him still, and he can't sell them short. So he is sure to put in some very positive plugs on their behalf.
6. He's a former coach, a future coach, and a friend to coaches. He's not going to hurt Brady Hoke, the other assistant coaches, or for that matter Butch Jones if he can help it. Speculating on HIS future role at Tennessee hurts them as they continue to try to find new jobs, or maybe hold out hope to stay on with the Vols.
...
Point is, once you start looking at this morning's Q&A from JG's perspective, preparing in advance for the question so to speak, the walls around what he can and can't say start to become obvious. And you get him having to say certain things, in certain ways, to avoid hurting people or breaking a commitment.
I think he did the job masterfully, whether he has already agreed to be the Vols' next coach or not.
1. He can't announce anything this morning by telephone on a TV/radio program. That event can only happen on the UT campus in a press conference together with John Currie. So...he can't tell the truth about going to Tennessee.
2. He can't avoid the question. Mike and Mike would be flamed terribly as investigative journalists (which is a big part of who they are) if they didn't ask the question. They clearly HAVE to ask the question. Gruden acknowledges that requirement.
3. He can't outright lie. So as he avoids telling the truth, he has to be creative with his wording.
4. Saying things like "I haven't talked with anyone" can work, if put in the right place. Like, right after the question is asked. Because then, it can be construed as, "I haven't talked with anyone in the media prior to you, you're the first to ask me this." Which, afaik, is true. So he's being honest all while not going to the place he can't yet go.
5. He needs to be positive about ESPN, MNF, and his co-workers. They depend on him still, and he can't sell them short. So he is sure to put in some very positive plugs on their behalf.
6. He's a former coach, a future coach, and a friend to coaches. He's not going to hurt Brady Hoke, the other assistant coaches, or for that matter Butch Jones if he can help it. Speculating on HIS future role at Tennessee hurts them as they continue to try to find new jobs, or maybe hold out hope to stay on with the Vols.
...
Point is, once you start looking at this morning's Q&A from JG's perspective, preparing in advance for the question so to speak, the walls around what he can and can't say start to become obvious. And you get him having to say certain things, in certain ways, to avoid hurting people or breaking a commitment.
I think he did the job masterfully, whether he has already agreed to be the Vols' next coach or not.