Mike Leach describes conversations with Tennessee in 2017: 'It was like something out of Shakespeare'

The fact that Currie didn't speak to Leach until after his ridiculous attempt at hiring Schiano was blocked by the Vol faithful, and after going after Dave Doeren also shows how bad he was.

I still cannot believe we almost had Schiano as a head coach. It's embarrassing

Is the guy even coaching anywhere now? Seems like Currie had plans to get an ill equipped coach PAID.
I hate to break it to ya but Vol fans did not stop the Schiano hire. Lot of people here like to pat themselves on the back for that but if if some high placed people wouldn’t have got involved, a lot of people would be crying for him to be fired right now.
 
Individual positions have improved. The team as a whole, and likely the coaching staff has not. The worst part is after this year we will be back to playing a much harder OOC schedule. We already play 3 to 5 ranked teams in conference every year it seems. We need to stop scheduling ourselves extra losses lol...

With this staff I don't think there are any easy wins. We can't even roll up a W on a 2-10 Sunbelt squad. Heaven forbid we play a marginal team from a marginal conference than went 7-6 the previous year.

I mean, you're not one of those fools that expect Tennessee to win games they're forking over $1mil to win, are you?

Also, we can pay Ga State to bully us but we can't afford $15mil to get Pruitt to stop calling us the Titanic.
 
Oh, Schiano "resigned" his position in the NFL to spend more time on "faith and family."

Michael Bennett bashed the eff out of him too - said he has little man syndrome and that the locker room has no respect for him.

LOL.

The Greg Schiano coup d'état was like the Vols' 9/11 moment - we ALL came together and agreed on that one.

Pruitt may not be the guy, but I KNOW Schiano was not the guy. We at least have hope (eh) that Jeremy can surprise us. Schiano was guaranteed to extend the Decade+ of Darkness.

Agree, and Schiano was a fix with Currie and Haslam from day one with Peyton's blessing too... :(

There was no real search until we all stood up as one.

I'd rather have Fulmer as AD with patience for Pruitt, then putting Big Jim back in total control.

JMO...
 
BLUF: Leach is a good coach but is a nightmare for an AD/BoT/Boosters to deal with. That's why he isn't getting looks, not because of his coaching ability.

Regardless, most of those programs currently have an alum with a good record (UGA (no HC record, but an alum), Mich, Miami, Neb) or an internal hire (Ohio State, Oregon, Oklahoma) with no HC experience. Well, Cristobal was HC at FIU and his record was pretty bad.

FSU, Penn State and LSU didn't hire an alum, but they did hire a local guy whose dream job is that school and had adequate/good HC track records... but all did have some level of HC experience. Orgeron is really the only one who didn't have an excellent record, but it was Ole Miss where everyone fails at unless they commit a massive amount of violations.

Arizona isn't a big time program, nor is Mississippi State. Good lord you really put those in there with the other programs?

LA and a weakened PAC-12 hired Chip Kelly, not UCLA.

TAMU is above having to look at Leach, even if he isn't a PITA. A&M is probably one of the best jobs in the country and that school has unbelievable funding and recruiting ability. We're nowhere even close to A&Ms stratosphere right now.

Nothing but excuses. If s guy is a great coach, the university will put up with a ton. The mental gymnastics some will resort to in order to pump this guy up is insane. He has never won anything if significance. Yet to hear some talk, he belongs in the upper tier of coaches. Absolutely laughable.

You crack on Arizona and MSU but even those schools wouldn’t hire him. Just stop with the Leach is a nightmare for an AD. So Leach is good and could win right? That would appease a fan base which equates to more ticket sales along with merchandise right? Therefore more money for everyone. I guess boosters, ADs and BoTs don’t care about any of that huh? The fact is Leach is exactly where he belongs.
 
Individual positions have improved. The team as a whole, and likely the coaching staff has not. The worst part is after this year we will be back to playing a much harder OOC schedule. We already play 3 to 5 ranked teams in conference every year it seems. We need to stop scheduling ourselves extra losses lol...

Let’s just drop down to FCS then. You know, for the win.
 
The fact that Currie didn't speak to Leach until after his ridiculous attempt at hiring Schiano was blocked by the Vol faithful, and after going after Dave Doeren also shows how bad he was.

I still cannot believe we almost had Schiano as a head coach. It's embarrassing

Is the guy even coaching anywhere now? Seems like Currie had plans to get an ill equipped coach PAID.

So Pruitt is an upgrade?
 
I hate to break it to ya but Vol fans did not stop the Schiano hire. Lot of people here like to pat themselves on the back for that but if if some high placed people wouldn’t have got involved, a lot of people would be crying for him to be fired right now.

You "hate to break it to me" ?

You mean to tell me there were ACTUALLY people involved with the school the stopped the hire?! No way. I call BS.

Get over yourself, dude.
 
Yet in an easier conference......

Once again, why is there any suggestion or proof that he would rebuild Tennessee faster given the scheme/system change he would have to do?
Its not like the East is all that good the last 10+ years...
 
Get back with me when he wins the PAC 12.

That’s your bar?

Winning the pac 12 at a school thst is basically their Vandy?

How bout u get back to me when Pruitt makes a bowl game....any bowl game.....something even Dooley and Jones did.
 
That’s your bar?

Winning the pac 12 at a school thst is basically their Vandy?

How bout u get back to me when Pruitt makes a bowl game....any bowl game.....something even Dooley and Jones did.
Well, he has only had one year to try so far. Your hero has had 19 years to be successful and has been mediocre in a mediocre power 5 conference.
 
I'm surprised people would want Leach considering he went 3-9, 6-7, 3-9 in first 3 years in the PAC 12.......

I mean people are already wanting to boot Pruitt after 14 games.

Don't be dense. Leach was rebuilding at WA State. Unlike Pruitt, he absolutely had no talent.
 
Why so many think Leach would be the answer to our problems I have no idea

1. The last 3 hires have been either under qualified or completely inexperienced. Everyone was hoping we’d get lucky.

2. I like what Leach does with QB’s, he finds guys who work for what he does and he’s tops in the country most years with his passing numbers. He’s kinda a poor mans Cutcliffe imo, people at the next level like his QB’s.

3. He lost to Washington in the final game of the season, guy he lost to, pretty respected coach...otherwise they would have played in the championship against a team they beat earlier. As it ended up, he went 11-2, best record in the conference.

4. Once he gets it rolling he’s consistent in making bowl games, and I miss those.
 
  • Like
Reactions: VolunteerHillbilly
Well, he has only had one year to try so far. Your hero has had 19 years to be successful and has been mediocre in a mediocre power 5 conference.

My hero is not mike leach.

Only heroes I personally have in my life our my parents.
 
So Pruitt is an upgrade?
On paper, yes I think he is. Schiano had his stint as a HC at Rutgers, but I'd trade that for Pruitt's recent experience with our biggest rival and the best team in CFB over the last decade.

There was nothing to suggest Schiano would get to that high level of success that we all want - if you're gonna gamble with a coach...
 
On paper, yes I think he is. Schiano had his stint as a HC at Rutgers, but I'd trade that for Pruitt's recent experience with our biggest rival and the best team in CFB over the last decade.

There was nothing to suggest Schiano would get to that high level of success that we all want - if you're gonna gamble with a coach...
I'm starting to think Pruitt was nothing more than a conduit to Hoover for Saban. Nick and Kirby built the Bama defense. Pruitt wasn't at FSU long enough to be credited or faulted for anything that happened there. The only thing on Pruitt's resume that I can really state that he owns is 2015 at UGA, the year that Butch Jones beat Pruitt's defense.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Gatorsec
So you're not on the Fulmer for AD bandwagon.

Were you a fan of Hamilton/Hart/Currie?

Doug Dickey, sort of. Didn't like the way he did us when he left decades ago but, I have to state as long as he was here we were never on major probation, were winning and were able to support campus!
 
  • Like
Reactions: VolunteerHillbilly
I don't know if any of the Mike Leach JS chasers have looked at his record at Washington State, but you might want to. He was 3-9, 6-7 and 3-9 in his first three years. Do you think he would be given three years at a 12-25 clip with your butterfly mentality? He was 4-10 in his first 14 games, but some of you think he is better. He has only had TWO (2) double digit win seasons since 2000. Not exactly National Championship material.
Pruitt is on pace to do much worse!!!
 
This was an interesting read. I read Currie's rext messages. Wow! Amateur hour. I never believed in those private firms that conduct the coaching searches until now. Interesting text that said if asked Fulmer would take the HC job. Wonder why he accepted AD rather than HC?
 
Advertisement



Back
Top