Tony Vitello to SF Giants (Confirmed)

[aRmo]

No offense, but there is zero evidence that Basilio wants Danny White out as AD. He may not like the guy's personality, his money-hungry tactics, or the way he operates the athletic department, but I've never heard him say Tennessee is better off without him, much less he wants him out. You're projecting that on him.

Exactly, TB has stated multiple times that DW is great for TN and is one of the best AD's in the country.

 

[RandomUTfan]

Keep in mind, anyone entering the fall portal will have to sit out a year after a transfer unless they go down a division. I feel confident, even if CTV leaves, the roster will be the same as it is today.

If Tony leaves, the most probable scenario is that Elander would take over. You're not going to get a coach to leave their program at this point in the year IMO. And I think Elander taking over would be the ideal situation. It would ensure the roster stays intact and would allow Josh to win right away. If he doesn't get the job done, I'm sure they would find someone who would. The thing is, thanks to Tony's success, the investment into baseball is there. I know some have argued it's not what the LV basketball team gets, but it's what softball gets I think. Someone is going to be unhappy in this revenue sharing arrangement because of how it was deliberately structured.

It seems to me like it's not even agreeing with Title IX requirements but I'm no lawyer. I'm interested if anyone files suit. Several female athletes argued that before the judge who signed off on the House Settlement.

 

[RandomUTfan]

No offense, but there is zero evidence that Basilio wants Danny White out as AD. He may not like the guy's personality, his money-hungry tactics, or the way he operates the athletic department, but I've never heard him say Tennessee is better off without him, much less he wants him out. You're projecting that on him.

I promise you Tony B does not want Danny White out. He is hard on him because it's a role he plays. It makes him appear more objective. And I have no problems with it. Nothing but love for Tony B and everyone else too. Tony has a long history of being really hard on the AD. I remember one time he publicly called for people to email whoever the current AD was. As if it was their private email and they were going straight to the AD! He's awesome. Love Tony B.

 

[VolGee4]

He’s hired 3 and Heupel is in year 5 still not learning from his mistakes, refuses to make coaching changes

Caldwell in year 2

I don’t think the Track coach is killing it

He basically promoted Joe Kirt who is in year 3 and is basically faltering towards the end of the year & has the personality of paint drying

Holy moly....we can't keep doing this. Arguably (not really), we've had the best run in our program's history (all sports) the last 3 years. It has been phenominal. You have to congratulate the man that runs the program. An AD doesn't just hire- he also retains and supports current coaches. Although he is just one coach, Rick Barnes is singing his praises all of the time, and Rick is brutually honest. This fanbase will never be happy if we are criticizing the guy overall after the last few years. No one bats 100% with hires.

 

[VolGirl81]

I guess it could be just part of the deal, but it’d be hard for me to attend practice the last 3 days with the kids I recruited and at the program I literally built from nothing, only to be waiting for tomorrow for the announcement.

Just seems fake and phony and everything against what Tony stands for. All his loyalty talk over the years is at odds with this.

Maybe that’s just how it has to be though.

Then why not squash the rumors? He nor DW owe MLB anything as far as announcements go, playoffs or not. Im starting to rethink that he IS leaving.

 

[chuckiepoo]

This fanbase will never be happy

Period.

 

[volfanhill]

He’s hired 3 and Heupel is in year 5 still not learning from his mistakes, refuses to make coaching changes

Caldwell in year 2

I don’t think the Track coach is killing it

He basically promoted Joe Kirt who is in year 3 and is basically faltering towards the end of the year & has the personality of paint drying

The football coach he hired has completed 4 seasons. In two of those he finished in the top ten. The program was on life support.

The LV basketball coach he hired has us ranked in the top ten in year two. She is recruiting lights out.

These two programs are our historically most public facing. Football was in the worst shape it's been in in my life. LV basketball as brand was turning into an after thought. Both are in strong shape

AD revenue is at all time highs

He's overseen the department that's won multiple AD championships for total sports success.

 

[Volstylexx]

Nobody is bigger than the program.

I think that’s true when we talk about players, Nico, etc. but I don’t think it’s true when it comes to coaches… when the coach is THE guy who built the program to its current level of dominance. There are plenty of examples historically of programs thinking they were the chit, just to squabble in irrelevance for the next 20 years. I’m not saying the program becomes irrelevant without him, but our expectations of 50 win seasons will need to drop back down to reality.

 

[05_never_again]

Then why not squash the rumors? He nor DW owe MLB anything as far as announcements go, playoffs or not. Im starting to rethink that he IS leaving.

It's quite possible the deal is done and they're holding off on saying anything until after the ALCS, which ends tonight.

Having said that, that wouldn't prevent a reporter who knows if the deal is done from reporting it before then. I would expect when this is done for it to be leaked before being officially announced, so it is also possible that a deal isn't actually done yet.

Either way, I expect to hear something tomorrow.

 

[chuckiepoo]

Then why not squash the rumors? He nor DW owe MLB anything as far as announcements go, playoffs or not. Im starting to rethink that he IS leaving.

The longer the silence, the more widespread the impact. Hoping the delay isn't due to the play off series. That is my concern.

 

[Hunerwadel]

I guess it could be just part of the deal, but it’d be hard for me to attend practice the last 3 days with the kids I recruited and at the program I literally built from nothing, only to be waiting for tomorrow for the announcement.

Just seems fake and phony and everything against what Tony stands for. All his loyalty talk over the years is at odds with this.

Maybe that’s just how it has to be though.

Whatever is going on I'm sure Tony is being upfront with his players. They're pretty much all grown men now.

 

[05_never_again]

I think that’s true when we talk about players, Nico, etc. but I don’t think it’s true when it comes to coaches… when the coach is THE guy who built the program to its current level of dominance. There are plenty of examples historically of programs thinking they were the chit, just to squabble in irrelevance for the next 20 years. I’m not saying the program becomes irrelevant without him, but our expectations of 50 win seasons will need to drop back down to reality.

"No one is bigger than the program" is an attitude that people in the organization need to have and operate under. Even if someone is bigger than the program, they don't need to carry themselves that way. However, having said that, it doesn't mean it is always true.

Tennessee's brand in baseball is basically entirely because of him. Tennessee doesn't have a long and storied baseball history. TV is a bigger part of Tennessee baseball than even someone like Nick Saban was part of Alabama football. Saban, as successful as he was, was never the sole reason Alabama football is on the map.

You could say that about some other coaches as well at various times - guys like Bobby Bowden, Frank Beamer, and Joe Paterno were basically bigger than the programs they coached because they were the reason anybody paid attention to the program in the first place.

 

[Legion of Doom]

Still don’t think him being at practice means much. The “decision in 24-72 hours” line from Rosenthal and Passan reads like “whenever the ALCS” is over. Just really hope that is coincidental and he actually is thinking it over.

It does mean something lol. If he was leaving no way he would be going through practices with them and basically lying to them.

 

[chuckiepoo]

The football coach he hired has completed 4 seasons. In two of those he finished in the top ten. The program was on life support.

The LV basketball coach he hired has us ranked in the top ten in year two. She is recruiting lights out.

These two programs are our historically most public facing. Football was in the worst shape it's been in in my life. LV basketball as brand was turning into an after thought

AD revenue is at all time highs

He's overseen the department that's won multiple AD championships for total sports success.

 

[VolGirl81]

It's quite possible the deal is done and they're holding off on saying anything until after the ALCS, which ends tonight.

Having said that, that wouldn't prevent a reporter who knows if the deal is done from reporting it before then. I would expect when this is done for it to be leaked before being officially announced, so it is also possible that a deal isn't actually done yet.

Either way, I expect to hear something ends tomorrow

Thats my point. Yes, I know the ALCS series ends tonight. If its not happening, why not announce it. UT has no allegiance to MLB to hold off. Tomorrow, we’ll know, I guess. Still don’t like the way this whole thing has played out. The”leaking” is benefiting someone.

 

[05_never_again]

It does mean something lol. If he was leaving no way he would be going through practices with them and basically lying to them.

What's the alternative...while he's mulling over another offer, he just stops showing up to his current job?

And I doubt he's been lying to the team, either. He's reportedly told them he'll hear it from him if he takes another job.

 

[05_never_again]

Thats my point. Yes, I know the ALCS series ends tonight. If its not happening, why not announce it. UT has no allegiance to MLB to hold off. Tomorrow, we’ll know, I guess. Still don’t like the way this whole thing has played out. The”leaking” is benefiting someone.

UT is not going to have an announcement that says "Hey, our coach is leaving."

The Giants are going to announce that they've agreed to a deal with him, if it occurs.

 

[JCP201]

The football coach he hired has completed 4 seasons. In two of those he finished in the top ten. The program was on life support.

The LV basketball coach he hired has us ranked in the top ten in year two. She is recruiting lights out.

These two programs are our historically most public facing. Football was in the worst shape it's been in in my life. LV basketball as brand was turning into an after thought

AD revenue is at all time highs

He's overseen the department that's won multiple AD championships for total sports success.

I feel like we have the best AD in the country. When I think of the horror we went through for years and years-- how could anyone think we would be better off without him?

 

[Christian Lowe]

It's quite possible the deal is done and they're holding off on saying anything until after the ALCS, which ends tonight.

Having said that, that wouldn't prevent a reporter who knows if the deal is done from reporting it before then. I would expect when this is done for it to be leaked before being officially announced, so it is also possible that a deal isn't actually done yet.

Either way, I expect to hear something tomorrow.

Passan and Rosenthal wouldn’t report anything like this early and ruffle MLB feathers

 

[05_never_again]

Passan and Rosenthal wouldn’t report anything like this early and ruffle MLB feathers

It would likely come from someone else who isn't as tied in as much with the league itself, like a SF Giants reporter.

 

[VolGirl81]

UT is not going to have an announcement that says "Hey, our coach is leaving."

The Giants are going to announce that they've agreed to a deal with him, if it occurs.

UT could also announce a new deal-whatever it is-nil, salary, etc. Kills me, but I think its done.

 

[TennesseeFan07]

Passan and Rosenthal wouldn’t report anything like this early and ruffle MLB feathers

Exactly.

 

[Volstylexx]

I’ve been going to Neyland Stadium since 1982. Like most of you, I love UT sports. I never EVER thought I’d say this, but I’d gladly give up my football & basketball season tickets long before I’d give up my baseball season tickets. (I know that I’m an outlier, and most UT fans would think this is ridiculous.). However, this is 100% due to what CTV has created. He’s simply irreplacable (as Chris Burke said last night).

I don’t think you’re an outlier at all. I’ve been attending football games at UT since I was a freshman in North Carolina in 2000. Football used to be THE sport that captured 100% of my attention. I now routinely find myself (when we were 11th ranked and 5-1) saying “I can’t wait until baseball season gets here.”

I can’t even put into words how much joy Tennessee baseball has brought me since Tony V got here. I’ve been blessed to see them here in Texas for years (going back to Garrett crochet in Round Rock when we knocked off #1 Texas Tech). Baseball is my #1

 

[ETNVolunteer1]

If Tony leaves, the most probable scenario is that Elander would take over. You're not going to get a coach to leave their program at this point in the year IMO. And I think Elander taking over would be the ideal situation. It would ensure the roster stays intact and would allow Josh to win right away. If he doesn't get the job done, I'm sure they would find someone who would. The thing is, thanks to Tony's success, the investment into baseball is there. I know some have argued it's not what the LV basketball team gets, but it's what softball gets I think. Someone is going to be unhappy in this revenue sharing arrangement because of how it was deliberately structured.

It seems to me like it's not even agreeing with Title IX requirements but I'm no lawyer. I'm interested if anyone files suit. Several female athletes argued that before the judge who signed off on the House Settlement.

Not saying the same would happen here because I think Elander is a better coach. But look at Texas A&M hiring Michael Earley. They gave him the job to keep that roster intact. And it was absolutely loaded with talent. They were the preseason pick to win it all last year. Then, the season starts and they stumble right out of the gate and never even came close to reaching their potential. Just a month into the season fans were calling for him to be fired. Luckily, that team turned it around some but they still didn’t make it to the MCWS and they absolutely should’ve with the roster they had. So while I believe Elander will be a good HC you don’t really know until you give them the role and play actually begins.

 

[Christian Lowe]

UT could also announce a new deal-whatever it is-nil, salary, etc. Kills me, but I think its done.

I think it’s safe to assume he’s gone. Or at the least it’s better to tell yourself he is. The people still on the “he ain’t leaving” train are setting themselves up for a pretty big heartbreak.