Recruiting Forum Football Talk [RIP 9.3.2019]

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#15,081
#15,081
InVOLuntary said:
I'm one of the more "seasoned" posters on this board. I sold cokes in Neyland as a teenager in the 70's primarily to get in the gates. I've been a fan since I knew what football was.

Having said that, I know some people . Some people that give very large sums of money to the program. Part of my cynicism is because I'm privy to some of the stuff that goes on behind closed doors. While I love Coach Fulmer and completely support him the university doesn't really have the fans interest at heart when it comes to decisions. We are where we are because of a couple of things. Back in the early 2000's a decision was made to place the athletic department underneath the UTK chancellor thereby losing it's autonomy. What this did was change the goal of the UTAD from winning to a cash cow. This combined with the new revenue sources made the common ticket buying fan less relavent. We as fans have less influence over our program than ever before. That's why we have been shopping at the dollar general store for our coaches because it was cheaper to pay a coach for four years then his buyout than spend the major money on a huge hire. Now, I agree that other factors have made it hard for us to hire a nationally prominent coach and the longer we go as an irrelevant program the harder it goes. I think Phil would have liked to have hired an established power five head coach but he was behind the eightball. That is not an indictment of Jeremy Pruitt. It says more about the state of our program. The coup that took place last fall while was good but it was one battle in the war. Lots of powerful people with lots of money are vying for control, I'm sure you know who I'm referring to somewhat. That's why I'm very skeptical of anything that the university does. The university has continuously taken advantage of fan loyalty and quite frankly, they're out of free passes from me.

Coach Pruitt may be the best coach we've had since Neyland himself, I don't know. I think Phil will give him everything within his power to make that happen. But, it is a huge undertaking that many would fail at. We better hope and pray that he's a world beater because some in power over there would love to see him fail to advance their own agenda. Thus, this is why I said "i'm not sure he's ready for a job this big". Nothing to do with his ability as a coach. I've seen nothing from him that says he can't do the job but after seeing the lack of players on this roster, his task is even bigger than I thought.

I applaud you and others for your steadfast support. Please don't crucify me for taking a wait and see approach.
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He’s right you know.
 
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#15,084
#15,084
Chief Vol 13 said:
LSU, Auburn, Georgia, Florida and A&M along with of course Alabama make this league way too difficult to have a run like that. We had to compete with Florida back then and that was about it. Realistic expectations would be to win 9 and 10 on the regular, with a run at a conference title every 3-5 years IMO.
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Young gun you've bought into too much revisionist history and SEC West hype if you think all we had to face was Florida. Yes, we were the two powers in the SEC but this conference wasn't slaw. In 98 there were 3 SEC teams that could've won the BCS. We just happened to beat two of them. This year we also have maybe 3 that can too - BAMA, UGA, and AUB.
 
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#15,085
#15,085
InVOLuntary said:
Go look it up before you post things that are blatantly false.
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Didn’t need to but since 98 they had a 3 win season and no season more than 9 wins...Google it. Then they replaced an experienced coach with a guy who’d never even been a coordinator...
 
#15,091
#15,091
BigOrangeTrain said:
Went 3-8 in bowl games and was ranked in the top 25 4 times. Thats not exactly bottom feeder. And again, no losing seasons except maybe 2008 if you want to count that.
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3 win season in 98. I count that. We had 9 win seasons recently. So a 3-8 record in bowl games matched Butch’s bowl win total? Are we reinventing acceptable now?
 
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#15,092
#15,092
Outofmyvolcanmind said:
Why were you a big Taggart guy? I’m a USF alum so I feel I can ask the question without being condescending.
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I actually thought he was just a fantastic program builder. Maybe that is more a perception than reality. However, one game doesn’t sum up the man’s career at FSU so we’ll see where it goes.
 
#15,094
#15,094
engineerVOL said:
Maybe college football SHOULD have a preseason game or shared practices. As someone else said these opening games were terrible products.
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I think the NCAA watering down practices has a lot to do with it. No more 2-a-days, limited # of practices for fall camp, limited use of pads early in camps, etc... It definitely favors the established programs.
 
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#15,096
#15,096
Just a hypothetical here because of an earlier post, but lets say in 4 years we are back competing on a top level with the big dogs. Lets say Fulmer retires at the end of Pruitts first contract. Who is to say that the powers that be wouldnt efuse to pony up and pay to keep Pruitt if he has us where we want to be. I think Pruitt can at least get us to being a consistent top 25 teams I just hope the power struggle doesnt rear its ugly head and bite us
 
#15,097
#15,097
mr.checkerboards said:
Just a hypothetical here because of an earlier post, but lets say in 4 years we are back competing on a top level with the big dogs. Lets say Fulmer retires at the end of Pruitts first contract. Who is to say that the powers that be wouldnt efuse to pony up and pay to keep Pruitt if he has us where we want to be. I think Pruitt can at least get us to being a consistent top 25 teams I just hope the power struggle doesnt rear its ugly head and bite us
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The fans wouldn't tolerate it and they know it. They went cheap when they could get away with it but there would be an absolute riot (not one of those small scale things where people mostly chant and protest) if they tried. Beyond that success make a metric ton more money than losing does.
 
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#15,098
#15,098
mr.checkerboards said:
Just a hypothetical here because of an earlier post, but lets say in 4 years we are back competing on a top level with the big dogs. Lets say Fulmer retires at the end of Pruitts first contract. Who is to say that the powers that be wouldnt efuse to pony up and pay to keep Pruitt if he has us where we want to be. I think Pruitt can at least get us to being a consistent top 25 teams I just hope the power struggle doesnt rear its ugly head and bite us
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Interesting scenario there. I guess it all depends. We know a few things. One, this is the first time little Jimmy Haslam failed to get what he wants. Now, I will assume he will still be around at the end of Pruitts contract. So, that means I cannot see him putting up with not getting what he wants twice in a row. Given our history, here is a very realistic, unfortunate scenario.

Fulmer retires and Pruitt as us say in the top 10. We need a new AD. Little Jimmy will likely tell TN who he wants and if they dont get him, then him and his money walks. UT at thatbpoint, will be completely scared out of their minds and will cave to his demands. Then we hure whatever brain dead AD he wants yet again. Then at that point the coaching search will be yet another cluster **** that would likely set us back another 5-7 years. Us fans will complain but it will do no good. I dont think the administration will tolerate another uprising by the fans.
 
#15,099
#15,099
SugarCC said:
NEVER, not one single day that they were here, and that includes the days they were hired. Now, did I support them, absolutely...right up to the point where I could no longer. But, to answer your question, no. This is why I just now joined VolNation, because I'm fully bought into Fulmer and Pruitt; and the last 8 years, I really had nothing good or positive to say about the direction the program was heading.
I now understand you guys that "like to keep it real" a little bit better. If you are young, like Chief, you guys have no idea what a dominate UT program looks like, just like my nephew's. I hate that for them, and for you all. Because some of us has witnessed it, in those days, we NEVER would have said UT was going to lose to anybody. It had nothing to do with "keeping it real".
Yes, a lot of the things that you and Chief and some of the others have said are dead on, you just won't ever hear me say them, especially tripping over myself like some of you, just to shove it down everyone's throats. I understand now, it's just a different generation of fan. I'll give you an example: last year I was working up north with a bunch of Bama fans. They asked me my prediction of the UT-Bama game. Yes, I kept it real in my own head, but I will take an ass kicking before I ever say aloud Bama, or ANYONE, is going to beat us. I prefer to stay silent. Did I think we could beat WV, absolutely...I was wrong. But even if I thought WV would win, I'd never feel proud (like it seems some do) to say it.
I've been reading you guys since Sat. As I said, I now understand better the differences between the ones who have experienced it, and those that haven't. To those in their early 20's, imo, except for 2001, it has been mostly failure after failure, so I can understand the need to push and push our shortcomings, it's all you've ever really seen.
If we ever do turn it around, and you guys get to experience UT as a top 5-7 program, you all will understand where some of us are coming from, if those that come after you are maybe saying the same things, if we fall again.
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Biggest difference is that the Internet was in its infancy when we were dominant. To the extent forums like this existed, the connection was slow, there were far fewer members, and smart phones did not exist. Discussions about the program were limited to Sunday morning at church, and the water cooler at work. You might have heard some back and forth on sports talk radio or in the stands and parking lots at the games. Sports journalists and coaches held a lot more sway over public opinion because they were the only people who had a platform to reach the masses. I don't think the genie is going back in the bottle.
 
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#15,100
#15,100
Regarding turnaround

They aren't turning it around this year and while next years schedule is favorable, they won't have a full stable of talent. 2016 and 17 classes have a lot of guys who will never play.
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- Price

Then

Go look at that 2017 class and tell me outside of about 8 guys in a class of 28 that will be factors???
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I wasn't here for transition from Dooley to Butch but I thought Pruitt inherited so-so talent ... but some of that was on this new staff's ability to get the most out of previously underdeveloped talent. Granted, it's a super small sample size, but I didnt see any changes out of Richmond, Kongbo, Taylor, etc.
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-- Simonton

Pruitt has the support of the donor base. Donors want stability and evidence things are going in a positive direction. I spoke with a couple of what I would consider significant level donors before the game and they were hopeful the Vols could make it a 4 quarter game and afterwards they acknowledged the talent concerns on the roster.
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--Hubbs


Jamir Johnson
Curious if he gets a real look at RT anytime over the next two weeks. I think UT has more options at guard, and if Vols really like JJ physicality, then bump him out to tackle and insert Carvin or Calbert
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- Simonton

Jamir is 270-275. I think with weight and strength he could be a good tackle because he's really athletic. Right now not sure he's heavy enough to hold up out alone in space, but they may look at him some at tackle the next two weeks.
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- Hubbs


TKjr
Idk if he gets back. His knee is struggling to respond
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--Hubbs
Don't see it. Just too banged up. Not sure he ever gets back close to 100 percent.
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--Simonton

Labruzza
Not a factor at all.
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