Brian Rice Twitter

[DC_Vol]

Has nothing to do with game. It is the process of giving players a chance, but when they do not give their best effort you move on. We need players to compete for playing time. Players to push one another.
He used this year to set a standard. Obviously many are not willing to meet that standard so it is time to move on for some of them and bring in players who will give their all for Tennessee.

I am curious as to why you said you weren’t a supporter of Pruitt’s until just now.

That implies you did not support him until today - the day we were embarrassed by Vandy.

 

[Ace]

Is so much I know but I be holding back..U be suprise how these players really feel..U think those kids want to waist there time and play in a lousy ass bowl game or go home and relax and spend xmas break wit family?

We need to get rid of the ones who do not want to play football. This is obviously the problem at UT.

 

[vol-un-tear]

3 years 75 new kids. Let it begin in December!

 

[Ace]

I am curious as to why you said you weren’t a supporter of Pruitt’s until just now.

That implies you did not support him until today - the day we were embarrassed by Vandy.

I believed it would be better to hire an experienced HC. I did not say I did not support him. I said I did not support his hire.

 

[awaitingawin]

He never bad-mouthed them. He said that we're an elite program, but that we don't have an elite team. He said that we'll only get better through recruiting. He said that they didn't even know how to practice, but that they had learned and were making a great effort to get better in practice. He has said that we continue to make many mistakes that are hard to overcome. He said that you cannot be a good defense when you don't win your 1-on-1 assignments. He took responsibility for every loss himself. He said that Mizzou outplayed us and out-coached us.

Just how in the hell can you change all of those statements of facts into CJP throwing all of the players under the bus? f

Good grief--you guys just pick an excuse and run with it instead of actually LISTENING and WATCHING the games. PATHETIC!

O
Its strange Mike that you see it differently when there are so many who watch and listen several times a week and many many more than me know it happened, but just go on believing what you want. We know what we hear when we hear it. I would say the players did also. I remember when he first did it. Lots and lots of posters posted that day about it.

 

[MikeVol44]

Mike I simply am saying he could have moved players out without calling them out publicly. Especially if he needed them for that one year and I'll let it go at that.

And I am just saying to NAME ONE player he called out publicly! He had several opportunities on the JP show, but didn't. I never heard him call one player out by name. He just said that we have too many guys missing blocks, blowing coverages, etc..etc... which is normal coach speak.

And I'm waiting for you to quote just ONE CJP quote calling a specific player out--and include what he said.

 

[Exiled]

Did Saban ever bad-mouth his players during his first season?

Neither did Pruitt.

 

[DC_Vol]

I believed it would be better to hire an experienced HC. I did not say I did not support him. I did not support his hire.

Ok I can rephrase it if we’re parsing words.

I’m curious why you did not support his hire until now. Now implies you did not support the hire until the day we got embarrassed by Vandy. Why today?

 

[greazy1722]

We need to get rid of the ones who do not want to play football. This is obviously the problem at UT.

If u havent played sports in college then u dont understand..Most kids would rather go home then playing in a BS low tier bowl game..Trust me..Im not saying that was the case tonight but I can guarantee they would rather go home

 

[KBVol]

Actually, Pruitt has repeatedly said coaching needs to be better. It has been one of the refreshing things during his tenure.

Correct. He says it every time I hear him, in literally every single interview. I’ve never heard a coach be so accountable and talk about he himself needing to be better. (Btw, he’s right).

That said, people only wanna hear what they think validates their opinion.

Pruitt has to be better, much better, cause he stunk it up his first year. And it ended so badly, I don’t think he’ll ever be the guy to get it turned around. But to give as the reason was his lack of accountability? That’s just 100% wrong.

 

[awaitingawin]

And I am just saying to NAME ONE player he called out publicly! He had several opportunities on the JP show, but didn't. I never heard him call one player out by name. He just said that we have too many guys missing blocks, blowing coverages, etc..etc... which is normal coach speak.

And I'm waiting for you to quote just ONE CJP quote calling a specific player out--and include what he said.

Mike you know he said "some players". What is important is that THEY know who they are and THEY know he was talking about THEM. That is the important part. THEY know he threw them under the bus. Have you ever been on a team where something like this happened. When this happens you don't have your coaches nor the teams best interest at heart. It's just the way it is.

 

[VolsAgainstTheWorld15]

Saban’s first Bama team never lost a game by more than 7 points. That included close losses to eventual national champions LSU and #2 UGA. That shows they were well coached and fought hard, even after losses and never gave up.

This tweet shows that players have quit on Pruitt. After listening to him bad mouth them on camera every chance he got they finally decided to say “screw this” and quit trying. It’s Pruitt’s job to get this team playing their best. Instead he just talks about how we won’t be good until we get better players.

Pruitt chose to walk on thin ice when he came out and basically said "our players suck". Even if it is true (which it 100% is tbh), that is something that is better left unsaid by the head coach. Coach players, hold them accountable, don't publicly degrade them. Handle any effort issues behind closed doors.

With that being said, quitting isn't a new thing for many of these guys. Many checked out at Vandy in 2016 as well as at Missouri last season, so I don't think Pruitt's comments are the reason so many guys quit these last two weeks. Butch, unfortunately for us, recruited a lot of guys who loved being recruited but don't really love playing football.

 

[Smokey X]

Is so much I know but I be holding back..U be suprise how these players really feel..U think those kids want to waist there time and play in a lousy ass bowl game or go home and relax and spend xmas break wit family?

if they are that damn short sighted, selfish and unmotivated, then I hope every one of them that feel that way don't come back from XMAS break

 

[MikeVol44]

O
Its strange Mike that you see it differently when there are so many who watch and listen several times a week and many many more than me know it happened, but just go on believing what you want. We know what we hear when we hear it. I would say the players did also. I remember when he first did it. Lots and lots of posters posted that day about it.

Well, birds of a feather flock together.

I am sure that CJP coaches 'em hard during the week. I'm sure that his staff coaches 'em hard during the week.

But MANY on here didn't like what CJP said at half-time of the BAMA game where he said that he'd recruit 25 players who would do it right. He said that there were very few guys who were doing it right, and he promised to recruit players who would join them and give them the help they needed.
But he NEVER called anyone out by NAME...even the ones who were doing it right. He just made that promise.

Mike Ditka told his FIRST Chicago Bears team that he had good news and bad news. He said that they would go to the Super Bowl in 3-4 years--that was the good news. He also told them the bad news--half of them would NOT BE ON that team! Steve McMichael said that comment scared the hell out of them--but they already knew the guys who wouldn't be around.

This VOL team already KNEW the half-ass players on the team. They usually exist and stay on mediocre teams and in mediocre programs. And coaches have to play them because they don't have any players better than those guys when they inherit trash masquerading as an SEC football team.

You guys who keep bitching about CJP and his truth-telling are just like those half-ass players who occupy mediocre FB teams.

There, sir--now maybe you understand where I stand and why I will NEVER stand with guys like you who call out the coach for actually COACHING his team!

That is all!

 

[utvolpj]

If u havent played sports in college then u dont understand..Most kids would rather go home then playing in a BS low tier bowl game..Trust me..Im not saying that was the case tonight but I can guarantee they would rather go home

All those vandy players looked like they were playing hard for a BS low tier bowl game. Maybe the ones you're talking to need some perspective

 

[GoVols15]

You cannot just bench 10-15 starters with 2 games left in the season. If you read the whole Twitter feed of Rice’s, you would understand that the players started loafing after the KY game because they did not want to go to a bowl and practice in December because they know they are gone after the season.
I am sorry we lost today, but Pruitt is cleaning house. He gave everyone the benefit of the doubt this year, but IMO the purge has begun. He knows what he is doing and BTW I was not a supporter of his hire until now.

Interesting perspective! I hope you are correct! We will know shortly!

 

[greazy1722]

if they are that damn short sighted, selfish and unmotivated, then I hope every one of them that feel that way don't come back from XMAS break

Thats how alot of guys feel im not saying on this team..These kids been grinding all year they ready to go home

 

[awaitingawin]

All those vandy players looked like they were playing hard for a BS low tier bowl game. Maybe the ones you're talking to need some perspective

Then again they may not have been caring about a bowl game at all. Maybe they really do care about Mason though and maybe they just hated Tennessee Vols so much they just wanted to throttle them and it wasn't about a bowl game at all. From my perspective Mason is a good coach considering the talent he has.

 

[utvolpj]

Thats how alot of guys feel im not saying on this team..These kids been grinding all year they ready to go home

They should probably just stay there if that's all they have to offer. Explains a lot about the season

 

[greazy1722]

All those vandy players looked like they were playing hard for a BS low tier bowl game. Maybe the ones you're talking to need some perspective

I will take Mason would be a good hire for Tennesssee..His teams always play hard

 

[NWGVol]

All those vandy players looked like they were playing hard for a BS low tier bowl game. Maybe the ones you're talking to need some perspective

Damn skippy. Not wanting to go to a lower tier bowl sounds like someone who doesn’t play for the guys lined up next him and doesn’t give 2 ish if he improves or not.

 

[rocketskates]

Brian Randolph was actually talking about his fear that some players had packed it in much like the 2011 Kentucky game.

 

[zjcvols]

So according to Rice, Pruitt can’t motivate his guys to get to a bowl game.

Then why should we keep a guy who can’t motivate his players to make a bowl then Brian?

So stupid. And not true.

 

[MikeVol44]

Correct. He says it every time I hear him, in literally every single interview. I’ve never heard a coach be so accountable and talk about he himself needing to be better. (Btw, he’s right).

That said, people only wanna hear what they think validates their opinion.

Pruitt has to be better, much better, cause he stunk it up his first year. And it ended so badly, I don’t think he’ll ever be the guy to get it turned around. But to give as the reason was his lack of accountability? That’s just 100% wrong.

I'd say that going 5-7 and winning 2 SEC games against ranked teams does not qualify as stinking it up.

He beat a ranked SEC West team on the road for the first time since Fulmer was coaching. And with the worst talent I've seen on the field since the '70s.

KB--you must be a drinker because your posts just keep sinking down further and further into the mire.

CJP is the guy to get us to compete for the East Title and the SEC Title. It looks so bad this year because the players are actually that bad. It's a miracle that CJP was able to coach them to a 5-7 record--and was a play or two away from being 6-6 (we could have won that USCe game IMO).

Just what do you guys actually think our record would've been with CBJ and crew? I'm betting we would've been 2-10 or 3-9.

CJP and crew got two MAJOR bad breaks on the OL--losing Kennedy and Smith. He lost Flowers to a shoulder injury when he was showing some major improvement at the position of greatest need in our secondary--Safety.

This is as bad as it's gonna get under CJP. I am looking optimistically at recruiting--and yes, hoping that we actually sign a very good class if all of those committed stay committed.

WE NEED a QB--something that you cannot seem to understand. And I'm not saying that KC is better than JG---just that JG is absolutely terrible. I don't know ONE other SEC team who would have JG as their starting QB--NOT even KENTUCKY!

 

[KBVol]

3 years 75 new kids. Let it begin in December!

And what do you think Pruitt is gonna do with 75 players? Couldn’t do **** with what he had this year, got worse as they went along. Hell, OL and RBs still has no earthly idea who to block in game 12. Defense was horrific all throughout the year, never got better. It’s incredibly naive and pollyanish to believe that Pruitt will do **** with any marginal new players he may bring in. I’m 100% out on him until he 100% proves me wrong. The last 2 weeks completely erased any good will he might have earned for the Auburn and Kentucky wins for me. Zero faith that he’s the guy.