Let the Vitello speculation begin!

#128
#128
I posted this in a different thread last night but my Arkansas baseball loving buddy told me the next coach of the Hogs will be Matt Hobbs, current assistant coach and pitching coach. He’s been at Arkansas with DVH for like 8 years and from what I’ve been told is basically DVH right hand man.
 
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#133
#133
I’ll say this—and I’ve said it before: One thing Tennessee has to improve is making the game day environment tougher on opposing teams. You can’t have so-called UT fans cussing out our own players and coaches. Tony has addressed this, even telling those fans that if they don’t like what they’re watching, then leave.

I’ve been to other stadiums, and that doesn’t seem to happen there. It’s great that Tony has raised expectations in such a short time, but let’s be honest—Tennessee is still behind programs like Arkansas and LSU when it comes to facilities and overall fan presence.

I’m not saying that’s what will ultimately determine whether CTV stays or goes, but it’s something that absolutely needs to improve. When players are calling out fans to be louder, it’s clear they feel the difference between playing at home and on the road.
 
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#134
#134
TheMookieMonster said:
I understand why people are concerned about this but at the same time football is the cash cow for almost every single school. I don’t think other universities can realistically devote fewer resources to football and invest in other sports without hurting the overall bottom line of the entire AD.

Just thinking about the other programs Tony would even consider leaving us for you have LSU, Texas, Florida, Arkansas, Miss State, and A&M as the programs historically good at baseball in the conference. All of those schools (except for maybe MSU) are heavily dependent on football. I can’t see any of them deciding to split up revenue more equitably across sports like baseball. It would be a disaster for their football program. LSU may be the pinnacle of baseball, but in no reality is LSU football going to be splitting resources with baseball in a way that would disadvantage the football program.

I just can’t see revenue sharing distribution being something that stands in the way. All the big schools are in this boat.
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I wouldn’t be so sure that Arkansas under the current administration wouldn’t sacrifice some football for basketball/baseball. Fans are already apathetic when it’s a fight just to get to 7-8 wins and the mindset from the AD is that’s about as good as can be expected. Definitely closer to MSU than the others on the list as painful as that is to say.
 
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#135
#135
LA vol7 said:
If I wanted to be considered a blue blood Baseball program, the lack of a National Championship would be considered semantics to me too! Hey Arkansas, Oregon State has won three National Championships! Oregon State! Let that sink in, and Arky has none!
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And no coach would take the Oregon State job over the Arkansas one, I guess that was my point. A&M football is as mediocre as it gets yet coaches consider that job borderline elite. Really nothing to do with Vitello just the thought process that one player not making a play in the title game has any bearing on the desirability of that job over another.
 
#136
#136
minorvol said:
I’ll say this—and I’ve said it before: One thing Tennessee has to improve is making the game day environment tougher on opposing teams. You can’t have so-called UT fans cussing out our own players and coaches. Tony has addressed this, even telling those fans that if they don’t like what they’re watching, then leave.

I’ve been to other stadiums, and that doesn’t seem to happen there. It’s great that Tony has raised expectations in such a short time, but let’s be honest—Tennessee is still behind programs like Arkansas and LSU when it comes to facilities and overall fan presence.

I’m not saying that’s what will ultimately determine whether CTV stays or goes, but it’s something that absolutely needs to improve. When players are calling out fans to be louder, it’s clear they feel the difference between playing at home and on the road.
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Our fanbase has become entitled when it comes to baseball. The large majority of our fanbase doesn’t know how to act during a baseball. Most view it as a social event.
 
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#137
#137
gohogs14 said:
And no coach would take the Oregon State job over the Arkansas one, I guess that was my point. A&M football is as mediocre as it gets yet coaches consider that job borderline elite. Really nothing to do with Vitello just the thought process that one player not making a play in the title game has any bearing on the desirability of that job over another.
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It absolutely does. Many coaches want to be the first to win a NC at a school—not the 4th or 5th. The Ark job is more appealing because it’s never been done.
 
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#138
#138
gohogs14 said:
I wouldn’t be so sure that Arkansas under the current administration wouldn’t sacrifice some football for basketball/baseball. Fans are already apathetic when it’s a fight just to get to 7-8 wins and the mindset from the AD is that’s about as good as can be expected. Definitely closer to MSU than the others on the list as painful as that is to say.
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Agreed. There are several schools that will ratchet up their spending for basketball/baseball because they realize their chances of winning are much better than in football. Ark, Miss St, Vandy, KY, etc are just a few examples.
 
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#139
#139
Dooby15 said:
This. You don’t turn down LSU then decide that Arkansas is a better job.
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If a coach wants to deliver the first NC, Ark is a much better job, better living conditions, and less pressure than LSU. The first coach to deliver a NC at Ark will be immortalized in Ark.
 
#140
#140
taylorvol said:
What impact on margins? Bet they decreased exponentially
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You mean like profit/loss margins? In the 2023 fiscal year, baseball lose $4.2 million dollars. For the 2024 year, it lost $3.7 million dollars... although there was this weird line item on the 2024 report called "direct overhead and administrative expenses" where we lost 3.6 million dollars (I assume that was related to the stadium construction as it wasn't on the 2023 fiscal report; take that line item out, and baseball either breaks even or makes a small profit last year)
 
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#141
#141
gohogs14 said:
I wouldn’t be so sure that Arkansas under the current administration wouldn’t sacrifice some football for basketball/baseball. Fans are already apathetic when it’s a fight just to get to 7-8 wins and the mindset from the AD is that’s about as good as can be expected. Definitely closer to MSU than the others on the list as painful as that is to say.
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I can understand why people think that way, but I simply don’t know if it’s realistic for most schools to sacrifice football. The revenue it brings in dwarfs basketball and baseball even for bad teams. Even a dynasty on the diamond can’t sustain your athletic department.
 
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#142
#142
TheMookieMonster said:
I can understand why people think that way, but I simply don’t know if it’s realistic for most schools to sacrifice football. The revenue it brings in dwarfs basketball and baseball even for bad teams. Even a dynasty on the diamond can’t sustain your athletic department.
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Spot on: any school that gives more money to baseball than football will be committing financial suicide, and I say that as someone whose favorite sport is baseball
 
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#143
#143
taylorvol said:
If a coach wants to deliver the first NC, Ark is a much better job, better living conditions, and less pressure than LSU. The first coach to deliver a NC at Ark will be immortalized in Ark.
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Maybe so. But that doesn’t fit TV personality. I was actually shocked he didn’t take the LSU job. I’ve played at both stadiums for weekend series. There is nothing like the LSU baseball experience.
 
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#144
#144
Dooby15 said:
Maybe so. But that doesn’t fit TV personality. I was actually shocked he didn’t take the LSU job. I’ve played at both stadiums for weekend series. There is nothing like the LSU baseball experience.
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Totally disagree. Fits him to a T. He wants to build or be the first to do it. LSU has won 7 NCs. It would be expected and just another trophy at LSU. Ark would be the first unless they win one this year. FWIW, I think CTV stays at TN a long time.
 
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#145
#145
gohogs14 said:
And no coach would take the Oregon State job over the Arkansas one, I guess that was my point. A&M football is as mediocre as it gets yet coaches consider that job borderline elite. Really nothing to do with Vitello just the thought process that one player not making a play in the title game has any bearing on the desirability of that job over another.
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A&M is an elite football coaching gig, for coach's wallets that is.
 
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#146
#146
VolFan_stuck_in_the_901 said:
Spot on: any school that gives more money to baseball than football will be committing financial suicide, and I say that as someone whose favorite sport is baseball
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That’s not the point. No one will likely do that. The schools that give a material % to baseball vs the 75/20/5 (football/basketball/others) split have a chance to thrive in baseball. Let’s say a few schools do a 60/20/20 (football/basketball/baseball) split, it could have a significant impact on their baseball program.
 
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#148
#148
taylorvol said:
That’s not the point. No one will likely do that. The schools that give a material % to baseball vs the 75/20/5 (football/basketball/others) split have a chance to thrive in baseball. Let’s say a few schools do a 60/20/20 (football/basketball/baseball) split, it could have a significant impact on their baseball program.
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I’m not a lawyer, so I don’t know the Title IX implications of revenue sharing, but I would assume some percentage is going to have to go to women’s sports as well in revenue sharing. Whether that is 5% or 10% I’m not going to guess, but I would be shocked if some school was able to give 20% of their annual revenue to baseball.
 
#149
#149
minorvol said:
I’ll say this—and I’ve said it before: One thing Tennessee has to improve is making the game day environment tougher on opposing teams. You can’t have so-called UT fans cussing out our own players and coaches. Tony has addressed this, even telling those fans that if they don’t like what they’re watching, then leave.

I’ve been to other stadiums, and that doesn’t seem to happen there. It’s great that Tony has raised expectations in such a short time, but let’s be honest—Tennessee is still behind programs like Arkansas and LSU when it comes to facilities and overall fan presence.

I’m not saying that’s what will ultimately determine whether CTV stays or goes, but it’s something that absolutely needs to improve. When players are calling out fans to be louder, it’s clear they feel the difference between playing at home and on the road.
Click to expand...
Don't know what it looks like in person, but man that Arkansas stadium was totally legit on the Tele.
 
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