Willie Taggart

#1
VolsDeep

VolsDeep

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#1
I feel like this guy has so much upside it's ridiculous... I realize that UT fans might be leery hiring a coach that isn't more "proven," but this guy isn't unproven in the same sense as Dooley. It was a stretch to consider Dooley's time at LA Tech a success, whereas to think that WKU, a team that was AWFUL just a few years ago, is now 12-2 in its last 14 games is very impressive.

On top of that, we wouldn't have to pay Gruden money to get him.. At the end of the day, it's a gamble no matter who we pick. TN is a unique place in the sense that we have super high expectations but don't have the same number of "gimme" recruits that other schools do.

What is everyone's thoughts on the guy?
 
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#6
#6
Wouldn't be a bad tier 2 guy. Would take him over a Kirby Smart for sure. But if you can land a Gruden, you do it. We have to up our game to compete.
 
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#9
#9
Godfatha said:
Wouldn't be a bad tier 2 guy. Would take him over a Kirby Smart for sure. But if you can land a Gruden, you do it. We have to up our game to compete.
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I'm just not convinced that Gruden at $5mil is going to be a better Head Coach than Willie at $2-$3mil.... Obviously, I can understand why we would go with Gruden over Willie, I just feel like this guy has a lot of potential... Although it's also possible that he is Turner Gil 2.0
 
#11
#11
VolsDeep said:
I'm just not convinced that Gruden at $5mil is going to be a better Head Coach than Willie at $2-$3mil.... Obviously, I can understand why we would go with Gruden over Willie, I just feel like this guy has a lot of potential... Although it's also possible that he is Turner Gil 2.0
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Gruden at anything we can afford is better than Willie. Known coach, won a super bowl, instant stability/credibility vs up and coming coach who will remind us a lot of the Dooley hire. He may end up being a great coach, but we aren't in a position to take a chance now.
 
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#14
#14
VOLout8 said:
Gruden at anything we can afford is better than Willie. Known coach, won a super bowl, instant stability/credibility vs up and coming coach who will remind us a lot of the Dooley hire. He may end up being a great coach, but we aren't in a position to take a chance now.
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You are assuming that hiring Gruden doesn't bring with it its own risk. Anytime you hire a new coach, you are taking a "chance." Ask Nebraska and Pittsburgh if hiring a known NFL coach is a sure-fire thing.

Like I said, Gruden would probably get the nod over Willie for the reasons you mentioned, but that doesn't mean it is the best hire. Gruden brings a level of flare that might last a year or two, but after that you have to perform....and I don't think Willie would be inferior to Gruden on the recruiting trail.
 
#16
#16
VolsDeep said:
you realize I was being sarcastic, right? My point was that of course he is not my #1 target, but he is my #1 realistic target... To put it simpler, I would prefer him or Jon Gruden.
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Realistic? Willie Taggart is the best realistic option we have? That just isn't true.
 
#20
#20
Volsfan895 said:
Realistic? Willie Taggart is the best realistic option we have? That just isn't true.
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It's obviously subjective... Who do you like better than Taggart? Other than Gruden? and maybe we have different opinions as to what is realistic. For instance, I don't think Gary Patterson is realistic, although I would really like that hire as well.
 
#22
#22
VolsDeep said:
I feel like this guy has so much upside it's ridiculous... I realize that UT fans might be leery hiring a coach that isn't more "proven," but this guy isn't unproven in the same sense as Dooley. It was a stretch to consider Dooley's time at LA Tech a success, whereas to think that WKU, a team that was AWFUL just a few years ago, is now 12-2 in its last 14 games is very impressive.

On top of that, we wouldn't have to pay Gruden money to get him.. At the end of the day, it's a gamble no matter who we pick. TN is a unique place in the sense that we have super high expectations but don't have the same number of "gimme" recruits that other schools do.

What is everyone's thoughts on the guy?
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Are you the guy who called 104.5 yesterday? If you were, please don't do it again. And no, don't want him.
 
#23
#23
VolsDeep said:
It's obviously subjective... Who do you like better than Taggart? Other than Gruden? and maybe we have different opinions as to what is realistic. For instance, I don't think Gary Patterson is realistic, although I would really like that hire as well.
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Other than Gruden, Charlie Strong.
 
#25
#25
VolsDeep said:
You are assuming that hiring Gruden doesn't bring with it its own risk. Anytime you hire a new coach, you are taking a "chance." Ask Nebraska and Pittsburgh if hiring a known NFL coach is a sure-fire thing.

Like I said, Gruden would probably get the nod over Willie for the reasons you mentioned, but that doesn't mean it is the best hire. Gruden brings a level of flare that might last a year or two, but after that you have to perform....and I don't think Willie would be inferior to Gruden on the recruiting trail.
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Hiring Gruden comes with risk, but it is monumentally less than hiring Willie. The 2 other coaches you mentioned were no longer sought after NFL coaches. Let's be real, if Gruden wanted to go back to the NFL he would have any number of teams interested. If he came to Tennessee he would be the best football coach in the state including with the Titans.

Gruden on the recruiting trail would give us an advantage that would take 5-6 years of BCS bowls for Willie to obtain.

Imagine you are the dad of a 5 star recruit in Texas.
"Hey son, some guy named Willie from Tennessee is calling." "Hey son, you know Jon Gruden from Monday Night Football, the guy who won the Super Bowl, he is on the phone." Pretty simple.
 
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