Mike Leach accepted the UT Job, then we withdrew the offer... Let that sink in

#501
#501
I formed my initial view of Pruitt by the quality of assistants who were willing come to work with him, at a program that wasn't doing that well. So far, I've had no reason to change that view.

Recruiting is better than might have been expected, considering where he started from. Kids are now buying in, and team is doing better. I think we're only a QB upgrade away from taking the next step up in the SEC, and we've got HB coming in, as well as some other good players; and we're not done yet. Ceiling is a lot higher for the Vols than it's been for a while, especially with Phil here, too.
 
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#502
#502
rocketskates said:
I’d be willing to bet UCLA would give us a hell of a game, if not beat us.
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Players to the NFL, UCLA=338, UT=340, UCLA isn't a crap program nor is USC, we don't play the west coast teams; therefore, some think they are crap. I'd like to see bowls games where east vs west is part of their criteria, it would expose a lot of players to SEC football.
 
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#503
#503
Our team is bought in and winning and you find tike to bring up another coaching what if. ....
 
#505
#505
You like Leach? Go root for Wazzu. Pruitt is our coach until he isn't.

Leach is an offensive guru, but he couldn't stop an SEC power offense if you let him put 15 players on defense. In the SEC, you have to play both offense and defense. Ask Bama. They scored 41 and 45...and lost. You think they miss Pruitt on the sideline?

Pruitt has made his mistakes, and more will likely come. But he is learning as he goes, and he is turning UT Football back into the tough out that it used to be. From a 1-4 start, this team went 6-1 down the stretch, including Bama. In the SEC. All tough wins, and no blowouts, but they won. Tough football wins tough games. If Pruitt and the staff get the heat for Ga State and BYU...and they should...then they also get the credit for what they did from that point forward. UT Football is on it's way back.

There once was, and there will be again under this staff, a time when no one looks forward to playing UT. No one. Once Pruitt gets a full roster, and one full of his recruits, look out.

Wazzu? Yes, Leach does wonders with 2 and 3 star players. That's his ceiling. Pruitt is still on an elevator going up. I'll take what we've got. Mike Leach is a really good coach, but he has hit his peak. Pruitt's trajectory is still rising.

Go Vols.
 
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#507
#507
KarnsTownVol said:
I hope they dont. Would be nice if they gave Dooley the reigns!
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I do not. The further dooley is from the SEC the better! There are still some guys (many on this very board) that long for even a glimpse of one of their heros (dooley and boy butch)! If he goes to Alaska, or Hawaii, maybe the spell he has over his man-crush fans in Tennessee could be broken. He did not help UT, and he can only hurt the SEC-one of the most toxic coaches around.
 
#508
#508
I40flyer said:
I do not. The further dooley is from the SEC the better! There are still some guys (many on this very board) that long for even a glimpse of one of their heros (dooley and boy butch)! If he goes to Alaska, or Hawaii, maybe the spell he has over his man-crush fans in Tennessee could be broken. He did not help UT, and he can only hurt the SEC-one of the most toxic coaches around.
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Given the fact he never beat a team with more talent at UT i would feel pretty good about having to see him once a year.
 
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#510
#510
I40flyer said:
Players to the NFL, UCLA=338, UT=340, UCLA isn't a crap program nor is USC, we don't play the west coast teams; therefore, some think they are crap. I'd like to see bowls games where east vs west is part of their criteria, it would expose a lot of players to SEC football.
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I think Tennessee has lost 5 straight to PAC 12 teams.
 
#514
#514
'Boro-vol said:
I want to be the team that we were in the late 80’s-early 90’s again. We were feared...might not beat you, but were just as likely to ruin your season. Our home field advantage was legendary. JUCO mercenaries all over the field trying to get to the league. And most importantly, fun to watch. Those years early in the decade of dominance were the most fun I remember as a Vol fan. We are so far from that now.

I think Leach could have brought that spirit back. When a team can find a way to score 50+ it can quickly take a better team out of its game plan. Sure would have loved to see it. I can deal with the record, if we are just competitive. Right now, we’re not.
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I doubt Leach could have any sustained success here but I sure do miss those days. My children who are sixteen and fourteen think we just perennially stink, sad state of affairs all around. However, things are looking up as we are getting a D again.
 
#517
#517
Despite some of our fans, who think being a jerk and a gimmick coach, makes him a good hire, that would have been a disaster. From a coaching, win-loss, and PR standpoint. This is why football coaches should make football decisions instead of bean-counters.
 
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#520
#520
Just a capping-off for this lovely thread:

Washington State Cougars -- Head Coach Mike Leach -- 6-7, closed out by a loss to Air Force Academy in the illustrious Cheez-It Bowl. Went 3-6 in conference, and finished 5th (of 6) in the PAC-12-North.

So with that as the landscape, let's look at just a few of the more beautiful posts:
Nationdom said:
...hes doing it at poverty programs. You give him Neyland, a better athlete, a faster athlete, and the Power T, I dont see how he wouldn't win 10 games every year here
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Nationdom, dude, he can't even win 10 games every year in the PAC; it doesn't get easier in the SEC.
UTwild82 said:
Yep, pisses me off every time I think about it. Then I have to read comments from the dips*it section of the fanbase "He can't do that here 'cause SEC, SEC, SEC".
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Heh. He can't do it there, much less here.
Jaws said:
Steve Spurrier quoted today: “someone is going to hire Mike Leach soon, let’s just hope it ain’t FSU.”
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No, let's hope it is Bama, Florida, Georgia, or USCe instead, haha. Someone we play every year.
Booker512 said:
Yep. Dude is just putting up the points and yards. His offense clicks so dang well it’s beautiful really. Like art.
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Like art. Hmm. Maybe Munch's The Scream.
1577545743450.jpeg
orchidvol said:
Pruitt may be well on his way to going 10-27 his first three years, maybe worse.
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Since CJP's already at 12 wins, maybe going to 13, after just two seasons, I'm thinking your prediction will be a little off.
JoAllan said:
I don’t know can you tell me?
But I know he is 3-1 and went 11-2 last year. I also know Tennessee is 1-3.

I know while Pruitt is making excuses Leach is winning.
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Bet you wish you could take that back, there, Jo.

...

It's a little fun, and a little sad, to remember how badly we were collectively mouth-breathing early in the season, and consequently panting over a middling coach who is quirky fun to listen to but not championship caliber.

We need championship caliber. Do we have it now? Maybe, maybe not, the 2020 season will tell us a lot. But one thing's for certain; we're better off with Pruitt than we would've been with Leach. Much more potential on the up side.

Go Vols!
 
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#521
#521
Can I double-like the post above? I never understood the hype surrounding Leach. He’s never...NEVER won a conference championship in a couple of soft conferences yet people insisted he could come here and instantly turn us around. He’s a joke. Funny at times to listen to, but a joke. And I can’t even imagine the hate that would spew from the mouths of the people begging for him to be our coach after two losing seasons...though I’d be entertained by it.
 
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#522
#522
FLVOL_79 said:
Pruitt lost to Ga St.
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And beat MissSt (a SECw team) SCar, Mizz, Ky and Vandy.....first time that’s happened in how long? Let go of the GaState loss, it was an outlier, an anomaly, and given how the season played out, should not necessarily be forgotten, but certainly forgiven imo.
 
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#523
#523
VFL-82-JP said:
Just a capping-off for this lovely thread:

Washington State Cougars -- 6-7, closed out by a loss to Air Force Academy in the illustrious Cheez-It Bowl. Went 3-6 in conference, and finished 5th in the PAC-12-North [total of 6 teams in the PAC-12-North].

So with that as the landscape, let's look at just a few of the more beautiful posts:

Nationdom, dude, he can't even win 10 games every year in the PAC; it doesn't get easier in the SEC.

Heh. He can't do it there, much less here.

No, let's hope it is Bama, Florida, Georgia, or USCe instead, haha. Someone we play every year.

Like art. Hmm. Maybe Munch's The Scream.
View attachment 249631

Since CJP's already at 12 wins, maybe going to 13, after just two seasons, I'm thinking your prediction will be a little off.

Bet you wish you could take that back, there, Jo.

...

It's a little fun, and a little sad, to remember how badly we were collectively mouth-breathing early in the season, and consequently panting over a middling coach who is quirky fun to listen to but not championship caliber.

We need championship caliber. Do we have it now? Maybe, maybe not, the 2020 season will tell us a lot. But one thing's for certain; we're better off with Pruitt than we would've been with Leach. Much more potential on the up side.

Go Vols!
Click to expand...


He lost to Air Force last night. Do I think he would be an improvement over who we got now? Not dumb enough to say that. But on the hypothetical upside, IMO?. I think boring Bob would retire in two years being forced to work with him. And the Vol network would improve instantly...Finally. And if he succeeded (and that is a big IF), imagine how the fan experience would evolve. I think taking him would be a huge gamble. But a much smaller one than Kiffin, Dooley, or Jones.
 
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#524
#524
VFL-82-JP said:
Just a capping-off for this lovely thread:

Washington State Cougars -- 6-7, closed out by a loss to Air Force Academy in the illustrious Cheez-It Bowl. Went 3-6 in conference, and finished 5th in the PAC-12-North [total of 6 teams in the PAC-12-North].

So with that as the landscape, let's look at just a few of the more beautiful posts:

Nationdom, dude, he can't even win 10 games every year in the PAC; it doesn't get easier in the SEC.

Heh. He can't do it there, much less here.

No, let's hope it is Bama, Florida, Georgia, or USCe instead, haha. Someone we play every year.

Like art. Hmm. Maybe Munch's The Scream.
View attachment 249631

Since CJP's already at 12 wins, maybe going to 13, after just two seasons, I'm thinking your prediction will be a little off.

Bet you wish you could take that back, there, Jo.

...

It's a little fun, and a little sad, to remember how badly we were collectively mouth-breathing early in the season, and consequently panting over a middling coach who is quirky fun to listen to but not championship caliber.

We need championship caliber. Do we have it now? Maybe, maybe not, the 2020 season will tell us a lot. But one thing's for certain; we're better off with Pruitt than we would've been with Leach. Much more potential on the up side.

Go Vols!
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Well done JP. Might I add that in the bowl loss to AirForce, Wash St opened the game by allowing a 20 play 98 yard touchdown drive.

Leach would’ve been an entertaining personality and his offense, at times, would’ve no doubt been fun to watch. Might’ve had the occasional 8 or even 9-win season here and there, but would’ve been offset with some 4 and 5 win ones too. I just don’t believe, on balance, that his brand of football, exciting offense but little to (at times) no defense, would’ve worked in the SEC. Pruitt was the better hire/fit for Tennessee imo.
 
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