First of all, let me make it very clear that I am in no way trying to discredit or even disagree with Lex's list of information. He is obviously very well respected and even more importantly a respectful poster. Heck, given the confidence I have in my sources...his posts, like others, make me think hard about the information I receive...sometimes it makes me think twice about it. We do not know each other but we onviously know people in the same crowds. Perhaps one day we will.
Secondly, I have several sources of information that range from the Haslem camp, a former player, relatives of former players, colleagues in the sports television industry, friends that own and operate businesses in the Knoxville and Nashville restaurant and bar industry that are friends of their regular customers that come from Board of Trustees, members of the UTAD community and former players. I think that's it. Lol
It's not hard to have access to information coming directly from very real and legitimate sources.
Having said that, every time I hear something from each angle, there is a variation in each story. Not every single variable aligns exactly or perfectly. Everyone of these people I have within this network of sources are intelligent, unassuming adults that do not make chit up. They all care about the University of Tennessee and are very emotional about it, just like all of us are. They just happen to be well connected in a variety of ways.
As this information comes to me, I see correlations that do line up that bring an undeniable set of common denominators. Ultimately, it turns into a melting pot of information, very similar to the OG's Cliff Notes. In fact, it's so close...it's scary.
Therefore I have no reason to exploit any one story, only to conclude that there is a lot of truth in a lot of areas...sprinkled with some doubt, gossip, and perhaps some miscommunications.
I believe that the upper hands in the top of the UT food chain will see this through. That's common sense, because they have been through this times before and are sick of losing just like the rest of the fan base. No one with heart and passion likes to lose. They have, at the very least, a very indicative model that is foreshadowing what could happen if we let this opportunity (Gruden) slip away AGAIN!!! Reiterating Lex's thoughts, there are only a handful of folks that know EXACTLY what is going on...which is in our favor, because the majority of those people want to the same thing...a head coach named Jon Gruden. I believe that at the end of the day, power, money, influence and majority rule....Gruden wins!!!
The Dooley hiring saga was explained to me last night in acute detail. As I understood the conversation, he was actually #9 on the list of coaches that was developed as Kiffin was packing his bags. After having these same types of bumps in the road with our top 4-5 candidates, they bailed out. So, specific boosters ended up flying to Maryland to interview Randy Edsall. He was very interested and so was UT. These said boosters flew to Maryland to meet with coach Edsall only to get completely blown off. He didn't even show up to the scheduled meeting. He signed to be HC of the Maryland Terrapins a short time later. After that development, two or three more coaches bailed off UT's list and we were left staring at the #9 person on that list...Derek Dooley.
Do you really think the big hands that ultimately control UT are going to let that happen again....I personally, do not. We shall see.
I intentionally input my comparing and contrasting info nest to Lex's in parenthesis as to compare or contrast each point. Not to debate only to compare notes...that is it.
Lastly, is like to note that this group of OG's have stuck their necks out to provide very informative information to this forum and thread. It's amazing and indicative of how important this is to ALL OF US!! They have been super generous and taken a lot of heat from skeptics and doubters only to stand in their pool of information never doing anything but supporting this fan base. Thank you to all of you that have provided any piece (large or small) of this complex jigsaw puzzle. I think what we are looking at is an almost complete puzzle with a few more pieces missing...but the artwork in the puzzle is very clear.
Go Big Orange!!!!! Gruden baby!!
