Jeremy Pruitt… worst UT head coach ever?

#78
#78
Bill Battle was the worst. Drove an SEC championship program completely into the ground in 7 years. Terrible recruiter but fine man. Johnny Majors should have followed Dickey and the dark years would not have happened. Pruitt was a reach hire there is no doubt but he did understand recruiting and brought some talent in. Pruitt was much more qualified than Battle who was a 28 year old tight end coach and Pruitt might have kept a championship program going long term given the same opportunity Battle had in my opinion. HOWEVER, THE MORAL OF THIS STORY IS - FIRE IMMEDIATELY ANY AD WHO ATTEMPTS TO HIRE A HEAD FOOTBALL COACH FROM U. OF ALABAMA. I EMPHASIZE IMMEDIATELY. There is no reason to stoop that low at any time.
Battle was nowhere near as bad as Dooley, Jones and Pruitt. Never had a losing season. No, he wasn't a great coach by any means, but again, much better than the 3 mentioned here. Battle wasn't a terrible recruiter. Among his recruits: Holloway, Stanley Morgan, Andy Spiva, Mickey Marvin, Larry Seivers, Haskel Stanback, Eddie Brown, Robert Shaw, Conrad Graham, Jamie Rotella
 
#82
#82
Have we always tried to be Bama Northeast?
Battle, Hart, Sunseri, Pruitt, only Battle was liked and somewhat successful.
 
#84
#84
I’ve always wondered how Pruitt could possibly interview well enough to get a P5 job.
Anyone would have noticed his unacceptable grammar during the interview process and that alone, should have disqualified him from consideration. Well anyone but a woefully unqualified AD
 
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#85
#85
Battle was promoted way before he was ready. If you had seen the squad Majors took over - wow it was bad. Chief Chavis was in the defensive tackle rotation at 215 pounds. No Battle probably was not the worst but in the era he had with few recruiting and scholarship limitations - he sure did a number on the program. It was a slow death spirial. Bill might have won 1 game with the squad Majors took over.
 
#87
#87
I know there are some more really bad ones but I would have to say yes. I’m sure an old timer could school me on someone who was worse (have only been a fan since ‘90) . In my time as a fan I would definitely have to anoint him the worst over Dooley. Beats Dooley out on sheer stupidity and having the personality of a p’d off bag of sand. Also, honestly the played for Bama thing didn’t help him in retrospect with the fans.

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#88
#88
Head coach... Probably... competes with wold war one's record, when they couldn't field a team, and there was a bad team in the 1950's I read about one time. Thing about Pruitt is just like they say... he is a fantastic evaluator of talent, and he had UT hitting harder then UT had in years. He just had no clue what a head coach was. It's different then just a coach. I actually liked the guy as a "dude" tho. kind of guy you go to vegas with and hit the craps tables. Not a head coach.
 
#89
#89
Normally I hate these questions. Its like when people ask who the best QB was "ever," then they start with Holloway, forgetting that guys like Bobby Dodd played before TV and Dodd only lost 1 game in his UT career.

That said, yes the answer here surely must be Pruitt. Look at this list of all UT seasons/coaches. Sax Crawford was pretty pedestrian but at least he beat bama.

List of Tennessee Volunteers football seasons - Wikipedia
 
#90
#90
Nope

Butch was the worst
Dooley then Pruitt

Butch did absolutely nothing with superb talent.

If Pruitt had Dobbs he would still be our coach.

It was literally his playing of JG that ruined just about everything.

Now he wasn't great in many other categories, but you saw when the QB play was adequate he won plays and was competitive against Bammer.

Butch was the worst play caller known to man. And was so fake and disgusting.

Dooley just didn't get it.
 
#91
#91
Bill Battle was the worst. Drove an SEC championship program completely into the ground in 7 years. Terrible recruiter but fine man. Johnny Majors should have followed Dickey and the dark years would not have happened. Pruitt was a reach hire there is no doubt but he did understand recruiting and brought some talent in. Pruitt was much more qualified than Battle who was a 28 year old tight end coach and Pruitt might have kept a championship program going long term given the same opportunity Battle had in my opinion. HOWEVER, THE MORAL OF THIS STORY IS - FIRE IMMEDIATELY ANY AD WHO ATTEMPTS TO HIRE A HEAD FOOTBALL COACH FROM U. OF ALABAMA. I EMPHASIZE IMMEDIATELY. There is no reason to stoop that low at any time.


The "lost" General Neyland Maxim:
"Never, ever hire a bammer as head football coach of the University of Tennessee."

Add it back as #8 in bold font.
 
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#92
#92
He really was the worst. Which mean fulmer was without question the worst ad we’ve may e ever had in that office. The first time I heard Pruitt speak my jaw dropped. How could fulmer not recognize how important intelligence is in a head coach. And don’t tell me Pruitt could’ve sounded intelligent in that interview. The first time I heard him say…we done good out there today the other team just done gooder I was floored.
 
#93
#93
Head coach... Probably... competes with wold war one's record, when they couldn't field a team, and there was a bad team in the 1950's I read about one time. Thing about Pruitt is just like they say... he is a fantastic evaluator of talent, and he had UT hitting harder then UT had in years. He just had no clue what a head coach was. It's different then just a coach. I actually liked the guy as a "dude" tho. kind of guy you go to vegas with and hit the craps tables. Not a head coach.
Wouldn't want to be anywhere near him in any environment
 
#98
#98
It’s a tie for worst. Dooley, Jones and Pruitt all are plenty qualified for worst.

Dooley changed defensive scheme that has a 2 year learning curve. While on the hot seat. Worst coaching idea.

Jones trying to red shirt Dobbs 2 years in a row. Double worst.

Pruitt QB awareness. Triple worst. He was a spy. There no way JG starts so many games. Let him come in as backup. He played better off the bench. So if he was bad on purpose, he was great at that.


I’m sure each one set records for ways to lose.

Their might be a tie breaker hidden in the stats, but I’m fine with calling it a 3 way tie. Too close to call.
 
#99
#99
WTF? Speaking proper English and winning aren't mutually exclusive of one another. Etiquette and slogans don't have a damn thing to do with it. If you can't communicate like an educated adult, you certainly shouldn't be representing it as a head coach
Lol I'm making them mutually exclusive? I thought that was your entire argument? Aren't you arguing that since he is a backwoods hillbilly it's why he wasn't a winner at football?
 

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