Recruiting Forum Football Talk III

[Ron Swanson]

Latest this morning from JC Shurburtt on cocks coaching search...

Based on the latest intel from multiple contacts, here are the updated odds for the South Carolina football coaching search as of Dec. 1, 2020 at 8:25 a.m. eastern.

Shane Beamer, Oklahoma assistant head coach 3-1
Scott Satterfield, Louisville head coach 5-1
Billy Napier, Louisiana head coach 6-1
Hugh Freeze, Liberty head coach 40-1
Neal Brown, West Virginia head coach 200-1
Jamey Chadwell, Coastal Carolina head coach 500-1

FIELD 750-1

 

[Smyrna ATL Vol]

If McElwain didn't make up death threats, there's a really good chance Mullen is our coach right now. I don't know how good we'd be, but I bet you we'd have a good QB, whether it be JG or someone else.

So you are putting down other coaches and talking about McElwain. Come on man.

 

[Jackcrevol]

Hard for head coach with next to zero success in the SEC to do. Not much to sell. We'll get a share but I expect it to be very similar to the past few years. Most of the best go elsewhere, we get a few pieces.

Relationships. Agree to an extent with what youre saying. But, Jeremy put us in this situation by fielding an uncompetitive team. Got to show improvement to sell.

 

[Bassmaster_Vol]

Texas has unreasonable expectations. He has a 70% winning percentage. He is 4-1 in bowl games and beat Georgia under Smart. The man can coach. We need to get back to winning 8-9 games a year and he brings that. If you keep nitpicking every coach, you end up with coach google because we are trying to find the next Saban/Meyer.

You’ve convinced me. I’m fine with Herman if we can’t get Freeze. Who knows, maybe he does better here because of lessons he learned there. I just want relevancy

 

[05_never_again]

So you are putting down other coaches and talking about McElwain. Come on man.

Huh? I simply stated a fact about McElwain.

 

[Smyrna ATL Vol]

He still would be the epitome of a "prove it" coach if he came here. He's had some success at the Division II and FCS level, and he's in the midst of having one really good season at a G5 school. Coastal is a good team but they've played only one decent opponent all year (Napier). It's hilarious how people will favor one coach over another for the Tennessee job on the basis of a single game; there are people on here who like Chadwell over Napier because he beat Napier earlier this year.

I think people need to pump the brakes on these really good seasons Napier, Chadwell, and even Freeze are having at these G5 schools this year. Freeze is enticing for the Tennessee job because of what he did at Ole Miss; I don't read too much into what he's done at Liberty outside of it rehabilitating his image.

I would rather take a chance on those three than hire McElwain that you mentioned.

 

[Volsfaninva917]

Latest this morning from JC Shurburtt on cocks coaching search...

I think Beamer all but has that job wrapped up, he's going to be a good hire. He learned from his dad, he's not an X's and O's guy he's a program CEO guy.

 

[05_never_again]

I would rather take a chance on those three than hire McElwain that you mentioned.

What are you talking about? I never said we should hire McElwain. I said that if McElwain didn't fabricate death threats that allowed UF to fire him more cheaply, there's a good chance Mullen would have become our coach because the UF job wouldn't have been open.

McElwain isn't a good coach who would be a worse option than any other coach we've discussed in this thread.

 

[Aesius]

I’m with ya
Are fans are part of the recruiting problem for this class also
Running around with pitchforks and burning sticks is not helping right now at all

Pruitt should try winning, heard that helps with recruiting more than fans complaining hurts it

 

[RiotVol]

I like the mindset, I really do, but how does he go about doing that with nothing to sell? How are you going to get the best '22 class with your program 'ishing the bed on the reg, and looking like you don't know how to run a football program? Tell me why a recruit, other than growing up being a die-hard Vol fan, would want to come here now? I am being serious.

If I had a kid that is an elite player, and was being recruited by elite programs and Tennessee called, I’m not sure what I’d say other than “your family is from there, I went to school there and loved it.”

Continuing to trot JG and running off your best on-the-field coaches for recruiters has really damaged the perception that Pruitt is an elite football guy. It’s hard to see what he’s done here and not wonder if he isn’t just an above average DC with access to elite talent, and we are just another program that bought the fool’s gold that is Saban’s coaching tree. Yet, we are the ones that did it twice if you count Dooley.

So, right now, I don’t know what we sell that others can’t other than “well, you won’t have to live in Tuscaloosa” or “our baseball players won’t shout racial slurs at you” or “our basketball team can beat their basketball team.”

 

[BruinVol]

Looks like Vols hoops is going to going to play next midweek vs ut Martin

Per vq

 

[UTK]

What specifically makes you believe Pruitt is a good X and O coach?

Salter is project who won't be ready until at least his second year in the system.

Pruitt couldn't coach his way out of a paper bag lmao

 

[snowvols]

They expect to win the Big 12, which is not unreasonable given their resources. He's really only had 1 good season there in 4 years, and that good season didn't result in a conference title.

Don't get me wrong - Herman would be better than Pruitt by orders of magnitude, and we'd probably win most of the games we're supposed to. But after a few years of not being able to beat the Big 3 plus occasionally dropping another game, we'd run him off too.

Mack Brown didn't win the Big 12 to year 8. He only won it twice in 16 years. Herman took over a team coming off of three straight losing seasons.

 

[HoleInTheRoof]

Wes Rucker said on the 247 Podcast that Florida is 127 out of 127 D1 teams in punts per game. They are punting less than twice a game this season.

I don’t know what his draft stock is, but Trask is having a Burrow like season.

Not saying Mullen is a bad coach - but I expect them to crash back to earth some next year. Especially if some of those big name former 5 star transfers declare early.

 

[UTK]

My one good reason is actually two things:

JG won’t be the starter.
Pruitt is a great Xs and Os coach - don’t laugh, he is. He will figure this out.

Bonus: Salter is going to be legit elite.

Only way things will be okay is if Pruitt is fired. Period. Deep down, you know it to be true.

 

[Volsfaninva917]

I really think FL is last game played. Especially if Ohio St plays this weekend. OSU wins one more game, A&M is most likely out of playoff. No need to play TN. SEC doesn't want Vandy game played.

I'm actually shocked Tennessee is playing this weekend

 

[Bassmaster_Vol]

Mack Brown didn't win the Big 12 to year 8. He only won it twice in 16 years. Herman took over a team coming off of three straight losing seasons.

Yeah I’m coming around on Herman. He checks two boxes right off the bat: experience and offensive coach. He knows how to score points.

 

[mr.checkerboards]

Looks like Vols hoops is going to going to play next midweek vs ut Martin

Per vq

Good. They need a tune up before Cincy

 

[SamRebel35]

I hope we just hire cheap warm bodies to fill any vacant staff roles. Cheap buyouts. Cut as many costs as possible from all athletic events for next year. Save any and all proceeds to contribute to the inevitable firing of the entire staff and hiring of an all new staff. Make sure you get a competent coach who can bring excitement, otherwise we are dead in the water... likely for good.

 

[mr.checkerboards]

Yeah I’m coming around on Herman. He checks two boxes right off the bat: experience and offensive coach. He knows how to score points.

Good. You're a smart man Bass

 

[Bassmaster_Vol]

Good. You're a smart man Bass

I’m teachable. All smart men are

 

[RiotVol]

I wish Google would stop recommending the atozsports clickbait articles on Tennessee football. It’s the JG of Tennessee football sports writing.

The one positive that I could see from some serious fan apathy would be that it would blow up the cottage industry of truly dreadful, troll farm sports writing that has latched onto Tennessee football like leeches.

I don’t want to wish for anyone to lose their jobs, but I’d be lying if I didn’t wish some of these folks would find something else to do for a living.

 

[VOLED]

I honestly believe fans have had enough and are checking out more and more. If the powers at be don’t make a change, I think they will see the results next fall. Neyland will be half full and fans will have finally said enough is enough. I find it hard to believe they could be so tone deaf. If so, Fulmer needs to go. I still believe everything goes over a cliff for Pruitt after Saturday when we lose by double digits again to one of our top rivals. Plus, recruiting was his one saving grace and we are starting to see that slip now.

For once, there is a good pool of coaches to chose from.

1. Freeze
2. Herman
3. Napier
4. Chadwell

I don’t even think you should go past two if Texas fires Herman. If Fulmer and others don’t like Freeze, get Herman signed the day after he is fired.

We do well with Texas coaching rejects.

 

[Smyrna ATL Vol]

What are you talking about? I never said we should hire McElwain. I said that if McElwain didn't fabricate death threats that allowed UF to fire him more cheaply, there's a good chance Mullen would have become our coach because the UF job wouldn't have been open.

McElwain isn't a good coach who would be a worse option than any other coach we've discussed in this thread.

Who do you like then that is reasonable? Every coach I have named has shown they can win as a head coach. Herman would be the best coach we have had here since Fulmer. He would win 8-9 a year and beat one of the big three every year. He came very close to beating LSU last year when they were unreal. He would be a great hire.

 

[05_never_again]

Mack Brown didn't win the Big 12 to year 8. He only won it twice in 16 years. Herman took over a team coming off of three straight losing seasons.

They expect to win the Big 12 or at least come really close. Brown didn't win the conference until year 8 but he did appear in the Big 12 title game 3 times before that, was consistently winning 10+ games, and was finished ranked every year, occasionally in the top 10. Brown was more consistent than Herman. Herman's 2018 season was good, but they've been the definition of "bleh" 3 out of his 4 years. None of Brown's teams prior to 2005 would be considered "bleh" - they were great teams, but he just couldn't get past Oklahoma.

Rightly or wrongly, they probably have higher expectations now than they did then too. Brown's record from 1998-2004 might not be good enough for them now, even though Brown won 3 division titles and had 3 top 6 finishes.