Didn't Try To Keep The Equal of Nick Saban

[BigALWiLson]

I think baseball is unique in that it’s much more accessible to the common fan. Most of us know at least someone in or around the program. Some of us know several folks that are privy to the inner workings. I’ve heard from enough people…and read enough accounts of what went down…to confidentially say DW could’ve done more and that signs point to him being fine with moving on. It’s baffling to me and I’m pissed bc I feel like DW put his ego ahead of our baseball program. Even if Tony ultimately left away…I’m pretty confident in saying A LOT more could’ve been done and said and hashed out if DW was willing to humble himself a little bit.

Or DW is tired of this sh1t every off season. He has flirted with other colleges and entertained leaving the past 2 off seasons. I mean yes Tony was great here. He no longer wanted to be here. He MADE that choice. The support was there, the fans, the stadium and the funds. I respect that he wants to be the head man in the MLB. Why do you always have to blame someone else ? What is DW supposed to do really ? He is already the 2nd highest paid, NIL check, Revenue share Check, giving baseball players a cost of living bump or something to that nature check ? He had a conversation with Tony and allowed him to make his decision. Move on Tony left UT to go to the Big Show

 

[maxorange]

Or DW is tired of this sh1t every off season. He has flirted with other colleges and entertained leaving the past 2 off seasons. I mean yes Tony was great here. He no longer wanted to be here. He MADE that choice. The support was there, the fans, the stadium and the funds. I respect that he wants to be the head man in the MLB. Why do you always have to blame someone else ? What is DW supposed to do really ? He is already the 2nd highest paid, NIL check, Revenue share Check, giving baseball players a cost of living bump or something to that nature check ? He had a conversation with Tony and allowed him to make his decision. Move on Tony left UT to go to the Big Show

exactly....ambitious people seek the main stage...not the comfortable life

 

[Oldvoldad]

Was Pat Summitt ever a threat to go anywhere? Pat spoke on this regularly. She knew what side her bread was buttered.

I'm out. I have no idea what point you are trying to make.

 

[farmdogvol]

You’re just taking for granted how we arrived here. Someone in a perfect marriage isn’t open to overtures, no matter how attractive the other person is.

Not even close to the same thing, not even in the same ballpark. He is just a ball coach. It's like any other job, when you get a chance of a lifetime you have to take it.

 

[BillyHoyleVol]

Or DW is tired of this sh1t every off season. He has flirted with other colleges and entertained leaving the past 2 off seasons. I mean yes Tony was great here. He no longer wanted to be here. He MADE that choice. The support was there, the fans, the stadium and the funds. I respect that he wants to be the head man in the MLB. Why do you always have to blame someone else ? What is DW supposed to do really ? He is already the 2nd highest paid, NIL check, Revenue share Check, giving baseball players a cost of living bump or something to that nature check ? He had a conversation with Tony and allowed him to make his decision. Move on Tony left UT to go to the Big Show

Game of egos. We had the best coach in the game. We’re not even arguing that point…the best. Tony has a HUGE ego…he’s mentioned that several times. I’ve heard enough from folks around the program (support staff, parents, former players, coaches in and around TV’s circle) to reasonably deduce that DW has a case of LDS in regards to TV and how he ran his program. Nothing TV did or asked for was unreasonable. Do you think Saban ASKED for anything? Tony casts a bigger shadow than Danny and, in my opinion, that was an issue.

 

[BigALWiLson]

Game of egos. We had the best coach in the game. We’re not even arguing that point…the best. Tony has a HUGE ego…he’s mentioned that several times. I’ve heard enough from folks around the program (support staff, parents, former players, coaches in and around TV’s circle) to reasonably deduce that DW has a case of LDS in regards to TV and how he ran his program. Nothing TV did or asked for was unreasonable. Do you think Saban ASKED for anything? Tony casts a bigger shadow than Danny and, in my opinion, that was an issue.

All coaches at least football cast a bigger shadow...... they are the face. The fans don't really know White like that. So I am gonna say this again Tony left because he wanted to.

 

[Rocky Top T]

Who said anything about them never discussing? The AD said he spoke to TV once. That's what everyone is referring to.

Correct

 

[arkyvol]

Personally, I think Tony may have thought he had achieved all he intended to do in Knoxville and wanted to take on an even greater challenge. We may hire a very good coach to take his job, but there's no way we can replace him any more than we've been able to replace Pat Summitt. He will always be in our hearts.

 

[GVF]

Ludicrous statement to compare Baseball coaches to Football coaches.

Not at all ludricous.

 

[GVF]

I really don't think this is a fair statement. From what I've been able to glean Tony actually agonized over a decision that should be a no-brainer. He literally just broke a ceiling in baseball that doesn't exist in other professional sports.

I'm going to assume that Danny recognized this far better than any of us that if he was going to get that opportunity that it was ultimately a personal decision and one that wasn't going to be swayed by the AD throwing even more money at the situation. It was bigger than that. Given those factors, logically one would have to assume that a) the conversation that Tony and Danny had was about how much he loved UT and wanted stay on one hand but on the other this is the opportunity of a lifetime that has literally never happened before for another college coach; and b) Danny probably didn't feel like anything he was going to say or do was going to change the outcome of his decision.

Given Danny didn't waste a single second rebuilding Lindsey-Nelson or hesitate on helping support the NIL infrastructure, increased pay to Tony, increased pay to staff, I don't think there is much room for criticism of the handling of the baseball program. Other stuff sure. But here I don't think its warranted.

Never underestimate the staying power of a professional relationship on a personal level. Best friends not required. Seems Danny didn't develop that according to things being proposed here and how he came accross in the presser. Some things are valued as much or more than the green. But, we will never know the true facts behind the final decision to leave. No one besides those two will ever know what was said in the apparently lone meeting to try and keep him. If it was that hard of a choice for TV, a proper reciprocal professional relationship from DW would have kept TV in place more times than not. But, if I'm a TV level coach and built what he's built, and all I get from you is your dog boys making an occasional round, you're effed if I have an equal or better option with or without more money. Mind you, my opinion is based soley off what I'm reading on VN and if facts are 180 (we'll never know), then I'll conceded my opinion gladly.

I have not watched the presser yet, however if his demeanor and body language was what is being said in these threads, then it may be possible TV gave him a round of my life philosophies and went his merry way.

 

[GVF]

Or DW is tired of this sh1t every off season. He has flirted with other colleges and entertained leaving the past 2 off seasons. I mean yes Tony was great here. He no longer wanted to be here. He MADE that choice. The support was there, the fans, the stadium and the funds. I respect that he wants to be the head man in the MLB. Why do you always have to blame someone else ? What is DW supposed to do really ? He is already the 2nd highest paid, NIL check, Revenue share Check, giving baseball players a cost of living bump or something to that nature check ? He had a conversation with Tony and allowed him to make his decision. Move on Tony left UT to go to the Big Show

I have other opinions based on not much of anything outside of today's VN threads. But, my opinion also make alot of room for this scenario as well. TV is type A for sure. And so is DW. They are both alpha's, and I'm sure they have clashed. TV came here, built it, loved it, won it. What now? Got an offer to jump from college HC to MLB HC in one step. That situation at its core, could be all it comes to, and there's nothing at all wrong with that, if that's all it was. Only downside is TV is the only major sports coach of FB, BB, BB to hand you a title yet during your tenure as AD. So, did you lose him cause he was hell bent on MLB, or because he left you. I don't know what all went on during off-seasons between the two, but to get what TV got for the program from DW was gonna rub some nerves now and again.

 

[BigALWiLson]

I have other opinions based on not much of anything outside of today's VN threads. But, my opinion also make alot of room for this scenario as well. TV is type A for sure. And so is DW. They are both alpha's, and I'm sure they have clashed. TV came here, built it, loved it, won it. What now? Got an offer to jump from college HC to MLB HC in one step. That situation at its core, could be all it comes to, and there's nothing at all wrong with that, if that's all it was. Only downside is TV is the only major sports coach of FB, BB, BB to hand you a title yet during your tenure as AD. So, did you lose him cause he was hell bent on MLB, or because he left you. I don't know what all went on during off-seasons between the two, but to get what TV got for the program from DW was gonna rub some nerves now and again.

I think it all boils down to both had some play in this and the opportunity was just too good. It's a dream of every boy who ever played the game. Hard to say no.

 

[GVF]

I think it all boils down to both had some play in this and the opportunity was just too good. It's a dream of every boy who ever played the game. Hard to say no.

The Big Diamond was my dream. Wasn't good enough as a player, but I started off as a pretty darn good HC in 14-18 yo ball (33-13) with no prior coaching but had a keen understanding of the game, and was FR/SO pitching coach at the HS for a bit. I was well above average at picking up on pitcher tells and alerted my batters to what they coming before the ball left the hand. Granted, the older and more accomplished a pitcher becomes the harder that is to do. My #1 job as pitching coach for the underclassman was to establish mechanics before style. #2 was how not to telegraph your pitch. Wish life hadn't got in the way and I had stuck with it. Maybe they would be interviewing me for the job to replace TV. What am I saying?! At my age they'd have fired me to get TV. lol.

 

[livefaith]

A thread worthy of the term dumb as a box of rocks

 

[EZE]

So you just make stuff up and then state them as facts. Got it.

Welcome to Vol Nation.

 

[TVOL71]

I think most if not all Vol sports ended up in the top 25 last year and you are not happy with that.
Most ambitious people aspire to get to the top of their profession, and for Tony V that is being a major league manager. It is unlikely that there was anything DW could have done to keep him at UT when this kind of opportunity is available to him. Need to move on. GBO!!!

 

[volanatic]

I think baseball is unique in that it’s much more accessible to the common fan. Most of us know at least someone in or around the program. Some of us know several folks that are privy to the inner workings. I’ve heard from enough people…and read enough accounts of what went down…to confidentially say DW could’ve done more and that signs point to him being fine with moving on. It’s baffling to me and I’m pissed bc I feel like DW put his ego ahead of our baseball program. Even if Tony ultimately left away…I’m pretty confident in saying A LOT more could’ve been done and said and hashed out if DW was willing to humble himself a little bit.

This post (plus a few other small details) pretty much sums it up. Tony chose to leave. He wasn’t told to leave. But Danny has more say so in this than most of you want to believe.

That being said, he’s hands down the best AD that we’ve had in decades. He’s doing a lot right. Not many AD’s can stand shoulder to shoulder with his accomplishments in such a short time.

Simultaneously I will acknowledge and appreciate what he’s doing for my Vols, but I’ll never forgive him for the Tony Vitello situation.

 

[Beartrainer]

Tony was the face of UT athletics. The best coach at UT. Having almost no communication and contact with him, whatsoever, our sorry athletic director was pushing him out the door. For goodness sakes, after all, Tony, in the end, is taking a pay cut. In the press conference DW is indicating we will be alright, we have facilities being built, we have interest. No, Tony Vitello built all of that and became the face of success at UT. Football always finds ways to fail and baseball had been dead for generations. Naming the top coaches in the SEC the last few years that built the top programs are Nick Saban, Tony Vitello and Kirby Smart. Hopefully, karma comes around and Danny White gets pushed out the door.

How quickly we forget that Tony wasn’t getting that stadium prior to DW. DW also ponied up big time when other bigger baseball programs came calling and got him more money for his staff and NIL.