Recruiting Forum Football Talk II

[HankHill]

I have a family member on a ACC staff that employs a former UT coach. That former coach still has relationships in Knoxville and the word I heard before the season started is the majority of the holdovers from Butch hate Pruitt and don’t trust him. I think it’s pretty clear to see the ones going through the motions.

On the flip side, the freshman love him and will run through a wall. But having upper class man second guessing coaching and lacking trust is a recipe for split locker room disaster.

It’s going to be a long fall and until we flush out the duds/dead weight things aren’t going to get better.

As hard as it is going to be to watch, I’m onboard of giving Pruitt another year to get more of his guys in. Now that is with assumption recruiting doesn’t totally tank. At that point you have to make a tough decision.

Also,

Which ones specifically do you think are going through the motions? Since it’s pretty clear

 

[justwatch123]

I have a family member on a ACC staff that employs a former UT coach. That former coach still has relationships in Knoxville and the word I’m heard before the season started is the majority of the holdovers from Butch hate Pruitt and don’t trust him. I think it’s pretty clear to see the ones going through the motions.

On the flip side, the freshman love him and will run through a wall. But having upper class man second guessing coaching and lacking trust is a recipe for split locker room disaster.

It’s going to be a long fall and until we flush out the duds/dead weight things aren’t going to get better.

As hard as it is going to be to watch, I’m onboard of giving Pruitt another year to get more of his guys in.

This is the easy route. Not saying your wrong I just have a hard time believing that kids that are on the field playing don’t like Pruitt. As a coach it’s HIS job to hold ppl accountable and to get them ALL to buy in. If guys aren’t buying in or giving effort GET RID of them. That’s have you change the CULTURE not by putting guys on the field that could care less. Butch has been gone for 2 yrs. None of this is on Butch. This is ALL Pruitt. He has to get better his staff has to get better. And right now I see no hope of that happening.

 

[AppStVol]

Is it only the freshman that will run through a wall for him or do the sophomores feel the same way? Trying to figure out where we draw the line at

You get the message you Butchie boy.

 

[Dooby15]

Ok we know we’re not making a bowl game...

What do you want to see the rest of the year to make you semi enjoy what’s left of this season?

Hope. Guys like Crouch, Harrison, Toto, Burrell, Taylor, Flowers, Gray and so on. See improvement from those guys so their ready to go game 1 next season. We don’t need to hear that they’re still learning at this point next year. Throw them in now and let’s go.
*they’re

 

[Kingston Vol]

I have a family member on a ACC staff that employs a former UT coach. That former coach still has relationships in Knoxville and the word I heard before the season started is the majority of the holdovers from Butch hate Pruitt and don’t trust him. I think it’s pretty clear to see the ones going through the motions.

On the flip side, the freshman love him and will run through a wall. But having upper class man second guessing coaching and lacking trust is a recipe for split locker room disaster.

It’s going to be a long fall and until we flush out the duds/dead weight things aren’t going to get better.

As hard as it is going to be to watch, I’m onboard of giving Pruitt another year to get more of his guys in. Now that is with assumption recruiting doesn’t totally tank. At that point you have to make a tough decision.

The Kiffin players hated Dooley and the Dooley players hated Butch.

It is incumbent upon the head coach to gain the majority of those players trust and respect in order move toward one goal of winning football games. I know the old Cool Hand Luke line, “some men you just can’t reach.” And I agree. But it isn’t the majority. Take those few and encourage them to leave.

Also, it’s pretty telling that “Butch recruit” is a code word for something. “Soft, dramatic, lazy” is the insinuation. Some may be, sure. But be careful here: because you’re talking about Trey Smith, Jauan Jennings, and all the players that came before them.

If it’s true that the large majority of upperclassmen don’t trust this guy then there’s a reason for it. They’re not all wrong. It’s been my experience that football players can smell **** before the fanbase can.

 

[volatil]

Ok we know we’re not making a bowl game...

What do you want to see the rest of the year to make you semi enjoy what’s left of this season?

Beat Bama or GTFO

 

[HankHill]

You get the message you Butchie boy.

No i don’t and it’s kiffins boy first of all*. But you’re making accusations about players not buying it and not playing hard. You also said it’s clear.

So clear it up for me. Name those specific players and situations you are seeing that. Don’t tuck tail now.

 

[awaitingawin]

Ok we know we’re not making a bowl game...

What do you want to see the rest of the year to make you semi enjoy what’s left of this season?

Put all the freshman in you can...let them bond as unit....at least we will see some improvement by years end
Play BM or Shrout the rest of the way
Play for the years 3 and 4 today....if you don't next year may be unbearable for the fans, the University, Fulmer, Pruitt and the team and recruiting............

 

[AppStVol]

Also,

Which ones specifically do you think are going through the motions? Since it’s pretty clear

Not here to call out kids individually. Just skim the JR end SR class and look at the lack of contribution.

Obviously you work in the business so you have good insight, but this no different than a shift in leadership in the corporate world lots of us have experienced.

New individual comes in and elevates his people. Former guard questions decisions at every turn as the change can make people uncomfortable.

 

[HankHill]

Not here to call out kids individually. Just skim the JR end SR class and look at the lack of contribution.

Obviously you work in the business so you have good insight, but this no different than a shift in leadership in the corporate world lots of us have experienced.

New individual comes in and elevates his people. Former guard questions decisions at every turn as the change can make people uncomfortable.

Why not call out kids individually? You’re calling out entire classes.....

So why not do the ones who are playing hard from them to be known.

 

[butchna]

Well it’s not just us that’s having an existential crisis after yesterday. I can imagine you’d find similar postings on Michigan boards as well.

View attachment 226777

Thought we had it patented.

 

[AppStVol]

This is the easy route. Not saying your wrong I just have a hard time believing that kids that are on the field playing don’t like Pruitt. As a coach it’s HIS job to hold ppl accountable and to get them ALL to buy in. If guys aren’t buying in or giving effort GET RID of them. That’s have you change the CULTURE not by putting guys on the field that could care less. Butch has been gone for 2 yrs. None of this is on Butch. This is ALL Pruitt. He has to get better his staff has to get better. And right now I see no hope of that happening.

Agree with a lot of what you’re are saying.

Still believe the culture is fragile and our coach’s communication ability to reach some on the team is a work in progress.

 

[awaitingawin]

No i don’t and it’s kiffins boy first of all*. But you’re making accusations about players not buying it and not playing hard. You also said it’s clear.

So clear it up for me. Name those specific players and situations you are seeing that. Don’t tuck tail now.

People seeing players that do not have the abilities to perform well at their position could be the reason people believe a player isn't playing hard when in fact the player could be giving his all but just unable to execute

 

[InVOLuntary]

As evidenced by the coaching searches. Coaches are beating down our door to work here and deal with impatient and irrational fans. Yep that's the ticket hoss.

I don't think expecting a win over GA State is being unreasonable. I don't think looking like a low level bcs team (When we look like a low level fcs team) against Florida is unreasonable. I don't think expecting the team to look like a well coached team in a loss is unreasonable. I don't think most fans expected much better than 6-6 on the year is unreasonable. I don't think fans being skeptical of a head coach when the team is staring down the barrel at a 2-10 season is unreasonable.

 

[McGeesPub]

Ok we know we’re not making a bowl game...

What do you want to see the rest of the year to make you semi enjoy what’s left of this season?

Pruitt giving pregame motivation speeches to the rest of our opponents.

 

[Big Gucci Sosa]

Full of apathy this morning

 

[rjd970]

I started checking out a few weeks ago, and honestly, it’s been the best thing. I’m less stressed, getting things done on the weekend, the weather is starting to get nice, I’m doing more with my kid.

This is a dumpster fire fellas, and it isn’t changing any time soon no matter how much we argue about blame. We’re going to lose a whole lot more. A lot more. This season will be the worst ever.

My advice is to just write the season off and check out for awhile. It’s done wonders for my sanity.

 

[JCP201]

Why not call out kids individually? You’re calling out entire classes.....

So why not do the ones who are playing hard from them to be known.

Obviously, Jennings has bought in. He's not perfect, but plays hard. Obviously he and Butch weren't on the same page. Hoke got rid of him. Pruitt and Fulmer gave him a chance.

 

[chargervol]

The number of "if it's true", and "what ifs" I've already read this morning..
Guys, I strongly urge use of the ignore feature. TN fans shouldn't have to sit thru the crap happening on the field, definitely shouldn't come here and deal with those feasting on and wallowing in the opportunity.

Anyone that's offended by this, good.

 

[McGeesPub]

As evidenced by the coaching searches. Coaches are beating down our door to work here and deal with impatient and irrational fans. Yep that's the ticket hoss.

I really think we need to have a coaching search when Gruden isn’t a possibility. That guy has put a stain on the last two. I’m not saying it will definitely make a tangible difference, but it would be interesting to see how it would go.

 

[ChattaTNVol]

Good stuff.

I think the hardest part now is how do you find or build confidence?

I would imagine, though I'd never expect to hear it publicly, doubt has set in at some level for players and coaches.... And at athletic director.

And your right... There are several contributors for other sec teams that were coming here had CBJ not flamed out, or at least not been fired, so I can see this class at least staying put for the most part, even falling well short of what was expected. May lose out on some of the big names still uncommitted..

Pruitt hasn't done himself any favors with the fans and the reaction from them is just gonna be what it is.

Anyway... We're not good again and the road back to being decent at least looks to still be as long as it did 3 years ago, which actually means it's longer now.

We are in the unfortunate position of not having a choice but to be patient whether we keep or fire Pruitt.

There’s one thing that I’ve been thinking about that we haven’t really discussed here. The new board. I watched Fulmer’s presentation to the board I think a few months ago now and no way do I think he prepared them for what we’re seeing right now. I did think he was trying to set the bar sort of low but there’s no way our current performance comes anywhere close to the expectations he presented.

I know the board shuffle was orchestrated by the Haslams. What I don’t know is whether or not the Haslams will try to make a move in our current circumstances.

I was thinking about Ed Orgeron’s path to success at LSU. He had 3 seasons at Ole Miss where he won 10 games and lost 25 (3-21 in conference play). Then he took over for the fired Kiffin and went 6-2 as the interim HC at USC. He took over for Les Miles at LSU and finished that season with a 6-2 record. The next year he went 9-4 then last year 10-3 and is sitting at 4-0 so far this year. He said his first gig at Ole Miss he was a micromanager, my words not his. He said he learned a lot from that experience and apparently now hires good people and lets them do their jobs.

Derek Dooley said he learned a lot about himself and the job in looking back on his experience at Tennessee. Lane has said similar things. Butch appears to still be a bit vindictive. Pruitt is in his first job as a head coach and if history is any guide, he may not really learn the things he needs to learn until after we fire him and only then if he chooses not to be vindictive. jmo.

 

[revjayp]

The most concerning issue to me is the regression of the entire team. They are making mistakes that most JR high teams are working on. Whether it’s Butch’s boys or Pruitts boys doesn’t matter, they are all sucking. The exception are the actual freshmen and I’m beginning to think it’s because they haven’t been here long enough to get confused. I don’t want to fire Pruitt this year or even next but this is bigger than who’s buying in and who’s not. Something is getting lost in translation.

 

[InVOLuntary]

I have a family member on a ACC staff that employs a former UT coach. That former coach still has relationships in Knoxville and the word I heard before the season started is the majority of the holdovers from Butch hate Pruitt and don’t trust him. I think it’s pretty clear to see the ones going through the motions.

On the flip side, the freshman love him and will run through a wall. But having upper class man second guessing coaching and lacking trust is a recipe for split locker room disaster.

It’s going to be a long fall and until we flush out the duds/dead weight things aren’t going to get better.

As hard as it is going to be to watch, I’m onboard of giving Pruitt another year to get more of his guys in. Now that is with assumption recruiting doesn’t totally tank. At that point you have to make a tough decision.

He needs to sit them then. He needs to have a with us or against us policy. Allowing them to play sends the wrong message to the newcomers. It's not like we're winning anything anyway. Sit their asses on the bench.

 

[InVOLuntary]

There’s one thing that I’ve been thinking about that we haven’t really discussed here. The new board. I watched Fulmer’s presentation to the board I think a few months ago now and no way do I think he prepared them for what we’re seeing right now. I did think he was trying to set the bar sort of low but there’s no way our current performance comes anywhere close to the expectations he presented.

I know the board shuffle was orchestrated by the Haslams. What I don’t know is whether or not the Haslams will try to make a move in our current circumstances.

I was thinking about Ed Orgeron’s path to success at LSU. He had 3 seasons at Ole Miss where he won 10 games and lost 25 (3-21 in conference play). Then he took over for the fired Kiffin and went 6-2 as the interim HC at USC. He took over for Les Miles at LSU and finished that season with a 6-2 record. The next year he went 9-4 then last year 10-3 and is sitting at 4-0 so far this year. He said his first gig at Ole Miss he was a micromanager, my words not his. He said he learned a lot from that experience and apparently now hires good people and lets them do their jobs.

Derek Dooley said he learned a lot about himself and the job in looking back on his experience at Tennessee. Lane has said similar things. Butch appears to still be a bit vindictive. Pruitt is in his first job as a head coach and if history is any guide, he may not really learn the things he needs to learn until after we fire him and only then if he chooses not to be vindictive. jmo.

So the Tennessee job really is where coaches come to learn how to be head coaches?

 

[awaitingawin]

The most concerning issue to me is the regression of the entire team. They are making mistakes that most JR high teams are working on. Whether it’s Butch’s boys or Pruitts boys doesn’t matter, they are all sucking. The exception are the actual freshmen and I’m beginning to think it’s because they haven’t been here long enough to get confused. I don’t want to fire Pruitt this year or even next but this is bigger than who’s buying in and who’s not. Something is getting lost in translation.

A lot of people feel that "Something is getting lost in translation" is the real problem