I'm hoping Pruitt can have a similar run to what Saban had at LSU. Sounds crazy, but part of me is hoping Saban stays at Alabama long enough for Pruitt to get a program built here before he leaves for Alabama.The stars are really aligning for him to replace Saban. Beating Auburn was by far better than beating Florida or Georgia in that department for Pruitt.
Butch was never a "football" coach, he was a figure head that if he happened to hire the right assistants who recruited and coached well he would have a bit of success. He road that for as long as he could. He might get an FCS head coaching gig at some point riding the Bama coattails. I'm so glad he is gone, and that we now have a "Football" coach and an AD that knows what it takes to win as a high level. I just hope that Fulmer will not meddle to much and let Pruitt and his coaches do their thing.
Fulmer more than likely has already hired the only football coach he's going to in his tenure as AD. He's going to retire in four or five years. I'm just hoping Haslam won't be hiring the next AD and head football coach.If Pruitt has enough success here that Bama comes calling when Saban retires then I'll be one happy MFer. As long as Fulmer is still AD then we'll be in a situation to go after a big time replacement because this would mean UT is back to national relevance and a roster full of top talent. We'll have big time coaches knocking down the door. This would be several years down the road though. 1. CJP has nowhere near proven himself enough to be considered taking over for the best coach in college football history if Saban were to retire in the next couple years. 2. Saban probably has at least 5 more years left in him. Didn't he just sign an extension until 2024?
I don't think anyone was discussing when to fire Pruitt last week. If they were, I'd like to fight whoever that is.This. Last week it was how soon to fire Pruitt, this week it is will Alabama take our coach because he is just that good.
Be happy for once, or at least talk about football not administrative nonsense. Our team looks good and on the upswing. If you want to look into the future, we have a surprisingly good defensive line that will need to be replaced next year.
I'd bet good money if Pruitt gets it going at Tennessee, they'd go after him before they would Dabo. He's younger, would likely kill to be the head coach at Alabama, and knows the Saban way. A few close to him have said he legitimately believes he's the best coach in the country. He wouldn't bat an eye at being Saban's successor.Vince Dooley was offered the HC job at Auburn and opted not to leave UGA. Not all coaches return to their alma mater when they've built a successful program at another school. Would be interesting to see what Dabo would do if offered the Bama job down the road.
Picture this pre-game juxtaposition on Saturday:
Pruitt almost immediately gets surrounded by former players with an abundance of hugs, laughs, and even tears of joy.
Butch paces indignantly around the field with one or two random people coming up to reluctantly shake his hand. Former players don’t give him much more than the time of day.
I know who my coach is.
It was said by someone close to the situation at Tennessee when Jones was here that he was seriously a bad coach when it came to X's and O's and coaching guys on the field. He knew his offensive system like the back of his hand but he had no idea how to tweak or adjust it when necessary. With this, he was a control freak when it came to his offense. This is why he brings in Debord, promotes Scott, Utah State running back coach Mike Canales to coach QB's, etc.Butch was never a "football" coach, he was a figure head that if he happened to hire the right assistants who recruited and coached well he would have a bit of success. He road that for as long as he could. He might get an FCS head coaching gig at some point riding the Bama coattails. I'm so glad he is gone, and that we now have a "Football" coach and an AD that knows what it takes to win as a high level. I just hope that Fulmer will not meddle to much and let Pruitt and his coaches do their thing.
Let's say after Pruitt's third year, he just went 10-2, won the east, won a New Year's Six bowl game, and has a top 5 recruiting class coming in. All of which are legitimate possibilities in my eyes. I guarantee you if he wasn't at the very top of Bama's list, he's phone call number two or three.If I were in a similar situation Pruitt was in and lets say I was coaching Bama who had been just wallowing in mediocrity and Tennessee had won 5 titles in 10 years or whatever it is and the coach retired or left for NFL. I don't know if I would want to follow that said coach. The only way to go is down. You will never be as successful as him. I would let somebody else come in and get run out of town and then if I had been successful enough leave if offered and be viewed as a savior to the program. Following Saban is going to be awful for whoever does it.
That said I'm no even sure Pruitt would be in their top 10. I mean guys like Dabo, Dantonio, and Fisher would surely be higher on any list they have. Pruitt's only thing right now is that he was a former player.