Football Program Under Investigation [merged]

Tennessee playing big boy football means we are going to make a coach a top 3-5 paid coach. I hope that’s the case.
Hell, the amount we pay doesn't mean chit. We're paying this bum over 4m per year and the OC is what...1.6? Got us all of 3 wins. Find a guy who can actually get the job done and pay him for results.
 
All in a short time after Currie traveled the globe to talk to any coach he could get a meeting with.

I was onboard with Mel Tucker. Regardless, Phil was coming in to clean up a mess. He will forever have to own the Pruitt hire but if we fire Pruitt, the next search will be completely different than the last one he inherited.

In Curies defense, his top target was initially said to be Mullen. Where I think he screwed up was all his super secret hopping around and not keeping the money people in the loop enough.

He also vastly underestimated how ill conceived the notion of Schiano coaching here would be.

VolQuest - Closing the Currie Era, Part 1: Secrecy, Schiano and a Sunday sacking

Most considered Mississippi State’s Dan Mullen to be Currie’s top target, but Currie was clearly fascinated by Ohio State defensive coordinator Greg Schiano.
 
From the blog ...

We can confirm high profile Brian Niedermeyer recruits are at center of the investigation. It's a UT investigation...not an NCAA investigation at this point. Of course, one of the first things that happens in matters such as this is that the NCAA and the SEC have been made aware that a situation exists.

Eric Gray & Brian Maurer were out due to Covid related issues. They're tied to Jay Graham's absence.

Multiple sources tell me that Tennessee had compliance people pulling coaches and players out of meetings last night to ask questions regarding these issues. I was told this created an unsettling vibe around the team.

3 weeks ago a forensic review was initiated by Tennessee compliance where they went in and seized some records and did sweeps of hard drives as well in various football offices

But that's not all...Pruitt is also sideways with Tennessee's academic people as well. I was told today that he's made the wrong enemies on campus. including a few very close to Chancellor Donde Plowman.

Lots of noise on his future. I think Tennessee might try to initiate a negotiation of his buyout. If Tennessee terminates Pruitt they're going to try and fire him for cause and probably negotiate a settlement. Tennessee's strategy with Pruitt might be similar to the Bielema deal with Arkansas. Bielema still hasn't been paid by Arkansas. Tennessee could theoretically cut Pruitt off tomorrow with cause.

90% chance Pruitt gets terminated by the New Year...

It seems Tennessee has gone gansta on Pruitt but he's given them reasons to act accordingly.

I'm thinking this issue might decide derail the Freeze Train.

Also Tennessee might self impose a scholarship hit at the end of this but hopefully keep the NCAA off campus. Perhaps they take a bowl ban for this season as well, a la LSU & Auburn in basketball this season.

Bill O'Brien is a guy to watch if/when this job opens.
 
In Curies defense, his top target was initially said to be Mullen. Where I think he screwed up was all his super secret hopping around and not keeping the money people in the loop enough.

He also vastly underestimated how ill conceived the notion of Schiano coaching here would be.

VolQuest - Closing the Currie Era, Part 1: Secrecy, Schiano and a Sunday sacking

Most considered Mississippi State’s Dan Mullen to be Currie’s top target, but Currie was clearly fascinated by Ohio State defensive coordinator Greg Schiano.

If Currie would have overpaid for Mullen giving his market rate, we would have Mullen and avoided Schiano. Has zero to do with Fulmer. If we move on from Pruitt, Tennessee has to spend money and hire an established coach. I don’t trust any booster monkey like Hart or Currie to do that.
 
What we know: Hugh Freeze has said before that Tennessee was his dream job.

Auburn firing Malzahn puts pressure on Tennessee. If we're going to have a shot at Freeze, right now might be the only chance we have. Thus the big-time boosters could be coming together to force the issue. "Either hire Freeze now or we're significant reducing our donations".

Imo, you can’t go wrong with Freeze, Gus, or both. I mean how nice would it be for Gus to come on the cheap as OC?


Yes, I know but it’s the off-season!
 
Amazing to me that Tennessee football has devolved to the level of purposely tarnishing its image to get rid of their own coach.

Don't get to talk about dirt at Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Auburn anymore.


I think I’d wait to burn someone until all the facts are known
 
No to Freeze. He's not the only good coach out there, and with the investigation going on, he is the last person we need leading the football program.
I disagree. He knows the SEC. He knows the type of athletes we need to compete. He learned from his mistakes. He's not intimidated by this program or the stage. He knows how to swim in these waters and how the NCAA operates. I think he might be the perfect coach at the perfect time for this program.
 
This is a negotiating tactic. It's to get his buyout down. They'll find cause. He either goes along with the reduced buyout or gets fired and walks out with nothing but a chance to have his day in court.
Well it could back fire too because if Pruitt could prove the allegations were made in bad faith, i.e. as a tactic rather than of legitimate substance the University could find their arse in a crack. Pruitt is now a wealthy man, unless he is like M.C. Hammer with money, he should have the means to go to war if he so desires.
 
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