Recruiting Forum Football Talk XLIV

[BigZiti09]

There have been coaches whose reps have said they're not interested in the job. And there is concern that the Grumors are driving the market up. The perception is that UT is going to pay top dollar for a coach, and agents are going to leverage some of this false info for favorable terms. It's setting up to be a more challenging search than anticipated.

Hope UT remembers this in the future. Don’t let your program go on a 20 year drought and it won’t be so hard to recover.

 

[LaagerVol]

Neither party doesn't want to acknowledge anything in case the deal falls through. It gives them plausible deniability. Neither party want to come out and look like the loser.

Why does somebody have to be a loser? Sometimes things just don’t work out. Just the way our society is now I guess. Everything has to be dramatic.

 

[highspeed]

Currie walked around ZZ last night in the middle of a bunch of drunk Vol fans. Just walked thru it all unphased carrying his coffee with some moron screaming at him “are you gonna hire Gruden Currie?!?”

He’s either crazy/stupid or he does not give a crap about what we think.

He’s not stupid so my guess is he doesn’t feel the external stuff. This hire is gonna define his era here. He knows that.

I bet Currie felt pretty uncomfortable with that guy following him around yelling at him. I know I felt uncomfortable watching it. It wouldn't have been so bad if the guy had just said it a couple of times, but homeboy was on a mission and would not be deterred.

 

[LaagerVol]

Didn't Hank say that Currie talked to Aranda a long time last night?

People throw out other DC's, but I think Shoop can be good, if we had an offense to help him. We don't know what went on with Butch and last night, they played really hard, but you had Calloway dropping the ball on the 5 yard line last night due to 3000 gallons of water falling on his face. Not much wiggle room.

I really tried to give Shoop the benefit of the doubt but I just can’t anymore.

 

[VolMike16]

There have been coaches whose reps have said they're not interested in the job. And there is concern that the Grumors are driving the market up. The perception is that UT is going to pay top dollar for a coach, and agents are going to leverage some of this false info for favorable terms. It's setting up to be a more challenging search than anticipated.

Are you privy to those names? I don’t even mind overpaying for the right coach if it comes to that. Just not on those lower tier candidates if they are even candidates themselves. Like a few are saying I’m really starting to believe no one knows.

 

[InVOLuntary]

Why does somebody have to be a loser? Sometimes things just don’t work out. Just the way our society is now I guess. Everything has to be dramatic.

It's all about perception.

 

[chargervol]

There have been coaches whose reps have said they're not interested in the job. And there is concern that the Grumors are driving the market up. The perception is that UT is going to pay top dollar for a coach, and agents are going to leverage some of this false info for favorable terms. It's setting up to be a more challenging search than anticipated.

So you believe there is truth to the concerns?
It seemed plausible to me but had a hard time getting any form of real discussion earlier.

 

[Ron Swanson]

Why is that the only thing that makes sense? I'm not saying it's not Gruden, but what part of the timeline makes you believe it's done?

Currie said this coaching search would be his only focus until it was done.

According to Hubbs our AD hasn’t been doing much coach searching the last few days. In fact, Hubbs said it has been “very very quiet” around the offices. Currently Curries planning a trip to the Bahamas next week with his family.

So little to share in fact that Hubbs coaching search update today included info about many schools not named Tennessee. He later said his update on UT was “John Currie is in Knoxville.”

Meanwhile our biggest division rival is hiring Chip Kelly.

Does that sound like a man doing everything he can to find a coach for this great university? Or an AD who’s already filled the position?

 

[FrostyDawg]

I’m starting to get a little worried that the report from Brice and Ramey was inaccurate and we never met with Gruden.

If every poster & lurker on this site understands the serious state of the program currently...so does the university. The have announced a 340 million upgrade to a facility that gets used 6-7 times a year. They need it full and that only happens if we are winning & relevant again. They need a home run hire.

Currie was not a unanimous choice for his position. He NEEDS a home run hire. It would be gross incompetence & sheer stupidity to allow the grumors to reach such a point of focus if there was not something to it. He is setting himself up to disappoint if this is all just smoke. He is crippling any other coaches chances for success to allow this to play out like this. There has been no obvious search for any other candidates...no chatter from agents or search firms. They all know the shortened time table to nail down recruiting this year.

Gruden has done NOTHING to dispel the grumors...instead he has coyly fueled them. Do you think he is sadistically toying with the fan base of his, his wife's and son's Alma mater? Do you think he needs any extra attention?

NFL & ESPN are drying up on the vine. The cushy 6mil job is ending. Pro coaches make less than Butch will next year. No other college would pony up that amount of money for anyone but Saban or Meyer. Tennessee is Gruden's opportunity to make top dollar & showcase his talent...which is questioned by some.

I don't know if Gruden comes or not...I'm sure there are an equal number of reasons not to...but I don't think his desire to come or our interest is in question. I tend to think Gruden is contemplating Tennessee's last offer and there could be some sticky points like Gruden's current endorsement deals. I think it is still being discussed and/or contemplated. I have no inside info and do not know anyone even remotely connected. Just a Vol fan that thinks Gruden could take this program back to the next level. Go Vols...

 

[LA Vol]

Then when he uses the smoke around Gruden to hire another coach then he'll catch the wrath for it. If it truly is a white whale then all will be forgiven. But, if he marches another experiment out there then he'll lose the fan base. UT fans I don't think are going to give another up-and-comer a fair shot. Right or wrong.

I'm not disagreeing with you at all. I'm just saying Currie is doing it his way. Many of us don't agree with it. I didn't agree with him holding on to CBJ as long as he did-- and he would have held on even longer if donors hadn't threatened to pull funding for the reno. He capitulated on that at the last minute, leaving everyone guessing. Why UT hires these lone wolf ADs, I'll never know. And you're right. The expectation now is that UT will make a expensive, explosive hire, and there aren't that many of those guys out there. Currie's idea of a white whale might not please everyone. He might reel in a small whale that some fans will look down on. Creating expectations and meeting them are two different things.

 

[RikidyBones]

Currie said this coaching search would be his only focus until it was done.

According to Hubbs our AD hasn’t been doing much coach searching the last few days. In fact, Hubbs said it has been “very very quiet” around the offices. Currently Curries planning a trip to the Bahamas next week with his family.

So little to share in fact that Hubbs coaching search update today included info about many schools not named Tennessee. He later said his update on UT was “John Currie is in Knoxville.”

Meanwhile our biggest division rival is hiring Chip Kelly.

Does that sound like a man doing everything he can to find a coach for this great university? Or an AD who’s already filled the position?

Yeah the inactivity is bizarre. especially before the holidays when it should be busiest since the holidays are a down time.

 

[JacketVol]

Ah, that. Back to LA for business and the UCLA-SC game. What are the odds that both of one's alma maters could have such supremely sucky football seasons? With simultaneous coaching searches.

Look at my name and see Duke GT game

 

[Kingston Vol]

Currie said this coaching search would be his only focus until it was done.

According to Hubbs our AD hasn’t been doing much coach searching the last few days. In fact, Hubbs said it has been “very very quiet” around the offices. Currently Curries planning a trip to the Bahamas next week with his family.

So little to share in fact that Hubbs coaching search update today included info about many schools not named Tennessee. He later said his update on UT was “John Currie is in Knoxville.”

Meanwhile our biggest division rival is hiring Chip Kelly.

Does that sound like a man doing everything he can to find a coach for this great university? Or an AD who’s already filled the position?

I get it. But to me it's also as likely that he's interview a couple of candidates in Chicago and in Charlotte (that we know about) and more interviews are occurring over the phone/in the upcoming days.

I don't think just because he's in town today that he's not working on the search.

This is just my opinion but it seems they've made their big pitch to Gruden and are awaiting his decision. However, they do have a handful of guys they're interviewing as well.

 

[chargervol]

Yeah the inactivity is bizarre. especially before the holidays when it should be busiest since the holidays are a down time.

If Currie has made trips to Chicago etc.. it's possible he's been talking to the non employed and NFL coaches.

Now he could be following the gentlemens agreement of not talking to active college coaches until season's end. Talking to agents and getting a feel would mostly be phone oriented and Hubbs wouldn't be privy to.

 

[LA Vol]

Hope UT remembers this in the future. Don’t let your program go on a 20 year drought and it won’t be so hard to recover.

Yep. Years of mismanagement inevitably bites you in the butt-- and the longer it goes on, the more it hurts.

 

[GoBigOrangeVols]

Y’all see that college pic of Norvell? He’s def a juggalo right?

 

[LA Vol]

So you believe there is truth to the concerns?
It seemed plausible to me but had a hard time getting any form of real discussion earlier.

I do. Agents are opportunistic, and it makes us vulnerable in negotiations. I think we'll have to pay more to get a good coach-- and even worse, I think we'll have to give in on terms that we adamantly oppose.

 

[BigZiti09]

Yep. Years of mismanagement inevitably bites you in the butt-- and the longer it goes on, the more it hurts.

Yep and I feel a lot of things but sorry for them isn’t one of them.

Feel sorry for the fans though.

 

[InVOLuntary]

I'm not disagreeing with you at all. I'm just saying Currie is doing it his way. Many of us don't agree with it. I didn't agree with him holding on to CBJ as long as he did-- and he would have held on even longer if donors hadn't threatened to pull funding for the reno. He capitulated on that at the last minute, leaving everyone guessing. Why UT hires these lone wolf ADs, I'll never know. And you're right. The expectation now is that UT will make a expensive, explosive hire, and there aren't that many of those guys out there. Currie's idea of a white whale might not please everyone. He might reel in a small whale that some fans will look down on. Creating expectations and meeting them are two different things.

I don't care how he goes about his business, as long as he hires a superstar coach. If he brings in a up-and-comer and tries to sell it as some monstrous hire it will go over just like Butch's best staff in America comment. If his strings are really being pulled by Haslam as I believe, if it's a failure he'll pay the price and Haslem will do it all over again. Football is king at Tennesse, you can survive a bad basketball hire but you can't survive a bad football hire especially if you buck the boosters doing it.

 

[OGbabyaviVol]

I realize that this is a touchy subject, but have you ever considered that Currie's white whale isn't Gruden? That while fans are all caught up in one net, Currie is chasing somebody entirely different?

I am wondering if it is John Harbaugh

 

[LA Vol]

I don't care how he goes about his business, as long as he hires a superstar coach. If he brings in a up-and-comer and tries to sell it as some monstrous hire it will go over just like Butch's best staff in America comment. If his strings are really being pulled by Haslam as I believe, if it's a failure he'll pay the price and Haslem will do it all over again. Football is king at Tennesse, you can survive a bad basketball hire but you can't survive a bad football hire especially if you buck the boosters doing it.

Have I missed something? What are Haslam and the boosters blocking?

 

[chargervol]

I do. Agents are opportunistic, and it makes us vulnerable in negotiations. I think we'll have to pay more to get a good coach-- and even worse, I think we'll have to give in on terms that we adamantly oppose.

Not ideal but understandable.
Hope it doesn't get too out of hand or cost us any good candidates.

And thanks for the info and civil discussion.

 

[OGbabyaviVol]

Frost isn't a white whale. And Patterson isn't either if we're being honest. He's a very good CFB coach but white whale? Nah. Also, Hubbs says he's not interested.

Yet Hubbs has still not said that Gruden is a no go. That and the post from LWS last Wednesday night when all of that stuff was happening and still no change from him saying it is a no go, continues to keep me intrigued.

 

[MetalVolunteer]

Currie said this coaching search would be his only focus until it was done.

According to Hubbs our AD hasn’t been doing much coach searching the last few days. In fact, Hubbs said it has been “very very quiet” around the offices. Currently Curries planning a trip to the Bahamas next week with his family.

So little to share in fact that Hubbs coaching search update today included info about many schools not named Tennessee. He later said his update on UT was “John Currie is in Knoxville.”

Meanwhile our biggest division rival is hiring Chip Kelly.

Does that sound like a man doing everything he can to find a coach for this great university? Or an AD who’s already filled the position?

All speculation. Nobody knew anything about the baseball hire either. Stop getting your panties in a wad. Give the man a chance and stop crucifying the man until he gives you a REAL REASON to do so. Just because he doesn't come out and tell us everything about his day doesn't mean that he's not working.

Damn, seems like it's all doom and gloom if you don't know every little detail. And how do y'all know there isn't any activity? Just because some reporter says there isn't?

Let the man work

 

[RVA Vol]

Currie said this coaching search would be his only focus until it was done.

According to Hubbs our AD hasn’t been doing much coach searching the last few days. In fact, Hubbs said it has been “very very quiet” around the offices. Currently Curries planning a trip to the Bahamas next week with his family.

So little to share in fact that Hubbs coaching search update today included info about many schools not named Tennessee. He later said his update on UT was “John Currie is in Knoxville.”

Meanwhile our biggest division rival is hiring Chip Kelly.

Does that sound like a man doing everything he can to find a coach for this great university? Or an AD who’s already filled the position?

Considering how little he did when it came to firing butch. I'd say he's collecting a paycheck while we are going nuts.