Why so difficult?

[PEPPERJAX]

Let's cut to the chase. We'll get a coach and the sunshine pumpers will rejoice, the Butch defenders will claim that the hire sucks and the admin should have kept Jones, and the Nega Vols will continue to hate and swear they'll never give another dime to the scalpers outside of Neyland.

So, whoever Currie picks will be our coach so we might as well embrace him and make him feel welcome.

What defenders remain for CBJ?

 

[easleychuck]

Who in your mind is a big name coach?
Saban, already at a prestigious school will retire there.
Meyer: never leaving Ohio st
Dabo: has it pretty good there plus 40 million dollar buyout. Will leave when Saban retires, and he takes bama job.
Harbaugh: at his alma mater, plus no thanks.
Gruden: loves hearing his name mentioned is not coming here. Makes 10 million a year to work 6 months.
I would believe coaches are lining up to get here. They are the next tier of coaches down who will be given everything they need tobecome the next Saban or Meyer. Big name hires normally do not leave big time jobs for another. Remember people in Clemson were furious when Dabo was named head coach. Meyer came from Utah at the time a mountain west school. Just let it play out hopefully this next coach is the one who gets us over the hump.

You are spot on about the Sweeny hire. I live in the Clemson area and when the AD appointed a receivers coach as the interim head coach and made it permanent at the end of the season. A coach who had never been a coordinator, much less a head coach and had been OUT of coaching entirely for a few years before Tommy Bowden brought him in as the receivers coach just 1 1/2 years earlier........well the Clemson faithful about stroked out.

And we are talking about a program that had not won as much as a division in the previous 20 years.

That is why if Clemson can rebound to heights that they have never known.........with the right hire, UT, can, too.

 

[IPleadInsanity]

Let's see....UT has:
Some of the best facilities
Rabid fan base
Humongous athletic budget

So why can't TN attract big name coaches with successful resumes? Seems like coaches would be lining up outside the AD office instead of UT lining up outside a coaches office like a cold calling salesman, waiting to make a pitch.

Because the administration does not want to deal with a big time coach. They don't like all the stuff that comes with it, like winning. They actually use the term neanderthals when discussing the subject.

 

[CA_Vol]

What makes you think it's been difficult? It's only been a little over a week. The hand wringing is out of control

Battered Vol Syndrome is a real thing.

 

[Hubbard]

We need to establish recruiting strongholds in North Georgia, the Western Carolina's and Metro ATL like we once had, and that's very doable.

Recruiting is much more than drawing circles on a map.

I believe we have the fan support, academic support, facilities, and tradition to attract many of the top players.

Two things we are missing (that can be solved with the right hire) are player development and coaching stability.

We are in better shape than when we last searched for a coach. The foundation is there to get back to relevance and beyond.

 

[OriginalCoach]

Just curious. No panic here. Whomever UT hires, that's who they get.I'm only asking because it seems fans want a big name "splash" hire. True, good coaches may be happy where they are, have a good thing going and/or family loves it.

I would just say that if I owned a name brand company, like UT, that was a dream job, it shouldn't be that difficult to have tons of resumes ready to cull out those we want as opposed to those we don't want and start there. Just seems UT is always chasing the groom instead of the other way around and ending up being the proverbial brides-maid instead of the bride.

 

[landscapingvol]

The level of involvment from boosters varies from program to program. From what i have heard, boosters are a turn off at Tennessee. There was a story about a weeknor so ago, a booster calling CBJ during his locker room speech after a loss looking for an explanation.

You assume it is true and that it doesn’t happen elsewhere

 

[VolFanHenry]

Knoxville usually has a player or 2 every year.

...that go to Clemson.

 

[river rat]

Coach O basically said he and Kiffy drew a 5 hour wide circle around Knoxville and was very impressed with the talent possibilities in those areas.

The "hard to recruit here" Is over stated.

Yeah, you could start with Alcoa and Maryville.

 

[landscapingvol]

The level of involvment from boosters varies from program to program. From what i have heard, boosters are a turn off at Tennessee. There was a story about a weeknor so ago, a booster calling CBJ during his locker room speech after a loss looking for an explanation.

Do you think boosters aren’t powerful at Texas, Notre Dame, Alabama, Auburn, USC, Michigan, Ohio State? Boosters at UT aren’t trying to destroy the program and for what purpose?

 

[VolForLife83]

Coach O basically said he and Kiffy drew a 5 hour wide circle around Knoxville and was very impressed with the talent possibilities in those areas.

The "hard to recruit here" Is over stated.

Yeah, all their players were busts and thugs

 

[Jersey Moonshine]

I'm guessing it hasn't been difficult at all. Regular season needs to conclude before we announce a new coach as that person is most likely still coaching a team. Or in the case of the longshot Gruden deal, you have a person who doesn't want to step on the toes of the current interim staff.

 

[Vol4Life2007]

My understanding is boosters are a turn off.
Small instate recruiting base.
Admin shows a lack of dedication to winning.


Im sure coaches see a few things negative about UT.

I wouldn't worry too much, Alabama was a revolving door or failed coaches not too long ago.

Our recruiting base is pretty damn solid. Better than it has been in a LONG time.

 

[volfannbama]

You assume it is true and that it doesn’t happen elsewhere

As i said, boosters have different levels of involvement that various programs. And based off what ive heard, the boosters at Tennessee can be a turn off. I certainly dont know that to be a fact and am open to any knowledge yoy have proving it wrong?

 

[sameolvol]

Boy-oh-boy...whatta' mess some of y'all are! After listening to a sizable lineup of qualified opinions on ESPNU, and from examining other opinions from outside the ones on VN, it makes sense for this ol' Vol to agree with the consensus that concludes UT's either (1) already got their (our) guy, he's coaching his current team right now, and his identity won't be announced 'til season's end...college or maybe NFL....or (2) contracts are being set up and the ink needs to at least dry. Either way, and for the usual negative Nancies: UT's recruiting base ain't what it used to be. No? No! It's much, much better and deeper. Plus, unlike UF, et al, the Vols' roster is solid. The facilities are very impressive, the fan base is strong and game days are top notch. The money's available in gobs and, again unlike the UF's, et al, the last coach was given a full 5 years to succeed, so the Fulmer debacle isn't a factor. I've decided to hold up "the finger" to all the negas; to pump sunshine and believe team 122's gona' be fun-fun-fun to watch. GBO!

 

[OldandStillaVol]

As i said, boosters have different levels of involvement that various programs. And based off what ive heard, the boosters at Tennessee can be a turn off. I certainly dont know that to be a fact and am open to any knowledge yoy have proving it wrong?

I suspect that is true. I can't see Hamilton or Hart having the guts to tell boosters to sit down and shut up. Whereas, Jeremy Foley at UF definitely did so - maybe more than he needed to.

 

[tennesseepride84]

Why do you think it is difficult?

Most of them coaches are happy where they are currently employed.

Just because we want them doesn't mean that they and their families want to leave their current situation. Throwing money at them is nice, but let's face it none of them are hurting for money, money is never an issue when talking about a head coaches salary.

We have a very undereducated fan base. The fans think that they know who the successful coaches are, but the fans have no idea other than a few names that they have heard. There are many successful coaches that the fans know nothing about that are beating Currie's door down to get an interview.

Fans are often mistaken about successful coaches, they go on name recognition, not success. Gruden is a prime example. Great name recognition, mediocre resume.

Time to have faith that Currie will make a solid hire. He hasan't had the opportunity to hire a UT football coach before, but except for Hamilton and Hart, UT ADs have a history of making home run hires.

This all day, everyday.

 

[VolFan..But]

Yeah, you could start with Alcoa and Maryville.

Name all the big time players that are populating college football rosters from those schools. Go ahead. We will wait......There are schools.......individual schools, in Florida, LA., Alabama and Georgia that put more players in college football then this State combined. Recruiting in state has always been the hurdle here and always will be. Every one has facilities. Everyone has fans. Everyone plays on TV. Not everyone runs Hall of Fame legends out of town. And that is why UT will never get that big name coach you all want. But as you can see by the other coaches in the SEC, you don't need that big name coach. What you need are players and this state doesn't make enough of them. That simple. The Legend got them here. He is showing that it is not that easy to win here in this day and age with every passing season.

 

[VolFan..But]

I suspect that is true. I can't see Hamilton or Hart having the guts to tell boosters to sit down and shut up. Whereas, Jeremy Foley at UF definitely did so - maybe more than he needed to.

Boosters control all hiring and firing of football and basketball coaches at this level. At every school including Alabama and Florida. In fact, the AD is put in place at their discretion as well. Those are the facts. Deny if you choose.

 

[DERELICK_MY_VOLS]

Boy-oh-boy...whatta' mess some of y'all are! After listening to a sizable lineup of qualified opinions on ESPNU, and from examining other opinions from outside the ones on VN, it makes sense for this ol' Vol to agree with the consensus that concludes UT's either (1) already got their (our) guy, he's coaching his current team right now, and his identity won't be announced 'til season's end...college or maybe NFL....or (2) contracts are being set up and the ink needs to at least dry. Either way, and for the usual negative Nancies: UT's recruiting base ain't what it used to be. No? No! It's much, much better and deeper. Plus, unlike UF, et al, the Vols' roster is solid. The facilities are very impressive, the fan base is strong and game days are top notch. The money's available in gobs and, again unlike the UF's, et al, the last coach was given a full 5 years to succeed, so the Fulmer debacle isn't a factor. I've decided to hold up "the finger" to all the negas; to pump sunshine and believe team 122's gona' be fun-fun-fun to watch. GBO!

I agree with everything here....but with the fall out of players the last couple of years...Jack Jones career ending early...Jones had to know something was up with him medically but still ran off Bouleware by not giving him playing time...Chance Hall can not make the field for a game....each year...this is the only negative...quality depth.

 

[volfannbama]

Boosters control all hiring and firing of football and basketball coaches at this level. At every school including Alabama and Florida. In fact, the AD is put in place at their discretion as well. Those are the facts. Deny if you choose.

No need to deny, you are just wrong.

 

[Tallman]

Let's cut to the chase. We'll get a coach and the sunshine pumpers will rejoice, the Butch defenders will claim that the hire sucks and the admin should have kept Jones, and the Nega Vols will continue to hate and swear they'll never give another dime to the scalpers outside of Neyland.

So, whoever Currie picks will be our coach so we might as well embrace him and make him feel welcome.

Been there. Done that. And will again.

 

[UtahVol]

Just curious. No panic here. Whomever UT hires, that's who they get.I'm only asking because it seems fans want a big name "splash" hire. True, good coaches may be happy where they are, have a good thing going and/or family loves it.

I would just say that if I owned a name brand company, like UT, that was a dream job, it shouldn't be that difficult to have tons of resumes ready to cull out those we want as opposed to those we don't want and start there. Just seems UT is always chasing the groom instead of the other way around and ending up being the proverbial brides-maid instead of the bride.

Currie has an unenviable job ahead of him. How good a job Tennessee is can be debated. Is it #10? #20? Regardless, assume it is #10. Coaches at schools 1-9 aren't leaving for Tennessee because they are at better jobs. Coaches at 11-128 will be greeted with "we've got a coach from a lesser school. Can he win here? If he was any good he wouldn't be at 'x'". Those outside of coaching--Gruden, Kelly--have really comfortable jobs where they are and can wait for jobs 1-9 to come open. So it's not easy. I imagine Currie has had a ton of interest from a ton of coaches. But choosing the right one, that's the trick.

 

[wtorange]

Coach O basically said he and Kiffy drew a 5 hour wide circle around Knoxville and was very impressed with the talent possibilities in those areas.

The "hard to recruit here" Is over stated.

after being here a while O also said he did not realize how difficult it was to recruit players to Tennessee.

 

[BP4Prez]

Same reason LSU hires Orgeron. Also the fact that there are very few elite coaches and they aren’t leaving. Outside of Saban, Meyer, and Dabo you’d never get everyone to agree