scienceteaching_vol
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To answer this question, I think we have to decide in what mold were we under Fulmer. Because that's what he's trying to replicate again.Kind of related to the direction we're going...curious to get other's thoughts on this.
IMO, there are 4 pre-eminent programs in the country right now. I think they are Alabama, Clemson, Ohio St, and Oklahoma. They have been the most consistent programs for the longest period of time in the recent past.
There are different approaches that you can take to running a program. You can be corporate, buttoned-up, and formal, like Alabama/Saban. You can be a more informal "family environment" like Clemson/Dabo. I don't know enough about Ohio St/Day and Oklahoma/Riley to describe their programs, although the impression that I get is that they are probably closer to Clemson/Dabo than Alabama/Saban.
The question is...what is Tennessee trying to be? Like Alabama/Saban? If so, that environment seems very difficult to replicate if you don't have some previous success to point to. Are 17-18 year old kids naturally drawn to a corporate, formal environment? Well, I suppose so if that program has won 5 national titles since 2009. But what if you haven't? What if you're trying to build a reputation/culture from scratch? Isn't a different approach needed?
no disagreement. i'm not putting it all there either.No doubt it hurt badly, but I just can't get behind COVID as an excuse because every team had to face it.
Good coaches and well-run programs find a way to compete. We haven't done that.
the Dabo model is just a bit tougher sell here becuase of the path to "elite" in each conference. and that means it may take longer...actually, it will take longer. Dabo had FSU to deal with basically. that's it. and over the last 6 years or so, they've not even been a shell of their former selves.To answer this question, I think we have to decide in what mold were we under Fulmer. Because that's what he's trying to replicate again.
Fulmer was a great recruiter at the head coaching position - one of the best this conference has ever seen. Because of that, it allowed Cutcliffe and Chavis to focus on the X's and O's, and the combination was outstanding for us.
I'm not sure this model works so much anymore. Everyone has to recruit and everyone has to be able to coach.
No one can run their program like Saban but Saban. It's because he's a great football coach and has some sort of an ability to get the best out of everyone who works or plays for him. They changed like 8 assistant coaches this offseason and are still the best team in the country. That's incredible.
I think you have to build like Dabo has built - get total buy-in from your community, stock your staff with good football coaches who desperately want the program to succeed, and get a pipeline of high quality high school quarterbacks coming through each year. You cannot have variance at that position. All of the programs you mentioned have figured that out.
Texas should just have a pipeline built to Southlake Carroll and they would be perennial top ten.I think your second paragraph about talent evaluation is most likely the problem. Gilbert was recruited and then transferred under Mack Brown, whose staffs had developed Applewhite, Sims, McCoy, and Vince Young before him. They had a track record. The takes after Gilbert though were mediocre except maybe Connor Wood. Case McCoy and David Ash were not high level. Then, I would agree that Charlie Strong's staff probably didn't develop them. They took Swoopes and Heard as dual threat QB's, and it didn't work.
I agree with you, I just wonder if Fulmer would ever admit it.the Dabo model is just a bit tougher sell here becuase of the path to "elite" in each conference. and that means it may take longer...actually, it will take longer. Dabo had FSU to deal with basically. that's it. and over the last 6 years or so, they've not even been a shell of their former selves.
VT, Miami, Pitt, Syracuse....UNC, NCSU...all average at best.
they had no bama, uga, fl, lsu, aub to deal with.....
so while i agree with you, i won't go so far as to say it's a 1 for 1 equation. we're not passing up UGA, Bama, UF....we're just trying to get EVEN with them. so we can just compete at that level. and getting to that level doesn't mean you actually win at that level, ask UGA. or even ask LSU. they're coming off a historic season and should be loaded up on JUICE...but they suuck right now lol. we'll see how FL does when they get their shot in a couple weeks.
anyway. that seemss light years away. i just want to get back to not sucking out loud.
why? if he's already determined pruitt is not going anywhere, no matter what, why not?I would be shocked if he did this.