Biggest "what-if" scenarios in Tennessee football history

[Volosaurus rex]

Since it is off-season, here are a couple of monumental what-if scenarios to debate in terms of their most likely effects on the trajectory of Tennessee football:

(1) What would the effect have been if Doug Dickey had been hired as head coach in 1963, rather than 1964, thus making Tennessee a more desirable college destination for Stephen Orr Spurrier?

(2) What would the long-term effect have been if Dickey had never made the mistake of his life by returning to Florida as head coach, thus sparing us a decade-long decline and rebuild during the Battle and early Majors era?

If you have other, equally compelling, what-if hypothetical scenarios to add to the equation/discussion, feel free to do so.

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

I am too young to remember that far back. But here is my biggest what if.

What if, in 2009, Mike Hamilton would have actually hired Gary Patterson instead of the loser Lane Kiffin? I think we never see Doofus, Botch or Chick Fil Gump. Now it’s also very possible we never see Heupel either.

 

[Volizona]

If Spurrier played for UT, the next what if would be “what if he became our coach in the 90s?” Perhaps replaced Majors instead of Fulmer. Would we have more Natties? There would be no Florida getting in our way and can you imagine Spurrier and Peyton teaming up?

 

[TAF]

What if the University of Tennessee insurance REFUSED to pay for Dooley's back surgery...

 

[Volizona]

The two biggest down periods in the modern era were the post Dickey and Post Fulmer years. The coaching decisions in both scenarios were devastating, especially post Fulmer where we didn’t just make one bad hire, we made 4 consecutive hires that were awful.

 

[EconVol92]

What if Fulmer had gone out on top after 98 and coach Cutt had taken over?

 

[Stacmot]

What if Fulmer had gone out on top after 98 and coach Cutt had taken over?

Then we may have also gotten Eli as well

 

[BigOrangeMojo]

What if RichRod said yes to Alabama and Tennessee ended up hiring Nick Saban after Fulmer was fired?

 

[MAD]

What if Chris Simms had stuck with Tennessee?

 

[Rocky Top T]

If Spurrier played for UT, the next what if would be “what if he became our coach in the 90s?” Perhaps replaced Majors instead of Fulmer. Would we have more Natties? There would be no Florida getting in our way and can you imagine Spurrier and Peyton teaming up?

I would take Spurrier over Fulmer any day

 

[Savannahbayvol]

What if RichRod said yes to Alabama and Tennessee ended up hiring Nick Saban after Fulmer was fired?

Rich Rod actually said yes. Mrs Rich Rod said if you think I am moving to that cesspool Alabama you are crazy!

 

[Savannahbayvol]

Since it is off-season, here are a couple of monumental what-if scenarios to debate in terms of their most likely effects on the trajectory of Tennessee football:

(1) What would the effect have been if Doug Dickey had been hired as head coach in 1963, rather than 1964, thus making Tennessee a more desirable college destination for Stephen Orr Spurrier?

(2) What would the long-term effect have been if Dickey had never made the mistake of his life by returning to Florida as head coach, thus sparing us a decade-long decline and rebuild during the Battle and early Majors era?

If you have other, equally compelling, what-if hypothetical scenarios to add to the equation/discussion, feel free to do so.hat id

What if Bill Majors had not been killed in the car/train wreck in 5. Would he have been named HC 4 years later rather than Battle?

What if Mr Hire from within Fulmer had hired an experienced OC in 98 after Cut left. He could have had almost anyone in the country after winning the NC

 

[Savannahbayvol]

What if Bill Majors had not been killed in the car/train wreck in 5. Would he have been named HC 4 years later rather than Battle?
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What if Mr Hire from within Fulmer had hired an experienced OC in 98 after Cut left. He could have had almost anyone in the country after winning the NC

What if Hamilton had promoted Kippy Brown when Kiffie pooh left?

 

[ZZ13]

What if Ainge had thrown a TD rather than an interception at the goal line, with 7 minutes left against Air Force. Then Tennessee would have been up 38-17 and Inky Johnson may not have even needed to play the rest of the game.

 

[Volosaurus rex]

If Spurrier played for UT, the next what if would be “what if he became our coach in the 90s?” Perhaps replaced Majors instead of Fulmer. Would we have more Natties? There would be no Florida getting in our way and can you imagine Spurrier and Peyton teaming up?

Yes, that is the natural extension of the first question. Furthermore, would Spurrier have won a Heisman at Tennessee? It's not inconceivable. Remember that, in only the third year removed from the single-wing, Dickey's revolutionized T-formation offense produced the nation's leader in passing efficiency (Dewey Warren).

 

[stolitonic]

Rich Rod actually said yes. Mrs Rich Rod said if you think I am moving to that cesspool Alabama you are crazy!

Looking at how his career has gone since turning down the Bama job, I think I would be filing for divorce from her-if she hasn't already left him.

Wasn't there some SEC shorts about that way back when? Some guy who thought that Saban was doing "OK" at Bama, but RichRod would have won the NC every year?

 

[knox73]

Spurrier was a brilliant offensive coach but very much a front runner. He was too lazy to recruit at a place like Tennessee that had a limited in state recruiting base. Steve did a nice job at South Carolina following Holtz but walked off the job at mid-season which was unprecedented. I love it that his final game in the Swamp was lost to Fulmer on 2001. His one NC was with Bob Stoops as defensive coordinator. Bob Stoops’ sole national title was with Josh Heupel at qb. Fulmer was a tougher competitor than the smart alec Spurrier but Steve could for sure dial up some plays. The UF-UT rivalry was a war every year.

 

[TrueOrange]

What if RichRod said yes to Alabama and Tennessee ended up hiring Nick Saban after Fulmer was fired?

Fulmer wasn’t getting fired in 2007.

 

[BigOrangeMojo]

Fulmer wasn’t getting fired in 2007.

Saban stayed with Dolphins in 2007 and would have been fired in January 2008. He took season off doing TV in my What if..

 

[knox73]

What if Mike Ekeler and Jeremy Pruitt squared off outside Neyland Stadium?

 

[stolitonic]

What if JG was actually a good QB?

What if Jim Bob Cooter had never gone out drinking?

What if our highly rated recruits didn't get stoned and decide to rob someone with a pellet gun.

What if Salter had never seen the movie Scarface?

What if Dooleys phone was off when Hamilton tried to call him and the search moved on?

You can drive yourself nuts with these lol

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

What if Fulmer had gone out on top after 98 and coach Cutt had taken over?

Would have likely been a disaster

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

What if JG was actually a good QB?

What if Jim Bob Cooter had never gone out drinking?

What if our highly rated recruits didn't get stoned and decide to rob someone with a pellet gun.

What if Salter had never seen the movie Scarface?

What if Dooleys phone was off when Hamilton tried to call him and the search moved on?

You can drive yourself nuts with these lol

What if JG actually had a real coach his time here?

 

[IndianaVol]

I think it's in another thread...what if Majors gets hired from ISU and does the rebuild here instead of Pitt?

Others on my list:
1) What if Peyton cashed out after his Jr year and we got 2 yrs with Tee? Would the team have come together and hoist 2 crystal footballs?

2) What if Kiffin turned down USC? Would we have had some 'AA issues...likely, but I think we also hoist a trophy or two.

3) What if Dooley would have actually recruited an O Lineman...like any O Lineman ???

 

[wmcovol]

What if Chris Simms had stuck with Tennessee?

Casey Clausen was better. Screw Chris Simms