The 1998 SEC & National Title can't be an afterthought. They're the last one's that we've won. Any time that you think about Tennessee winning anything, it's gotta be your first thought. After thinking about a bunch of damned losses.
That weak and ineffectual leadership made the terrible hires, but doesn't get nearly as much blame. Fulmer getting routinely chopped for Pruitt (though I understand the agenda there) being the only outlier.
Talent upfront on the line will help, along with several wideouts emerging.. Not to mention improved quarterback play. The starting rb doesn't return. The best tight end from last year returns, but is coming off injury. That's damn near a complete overhaul. Hope those guys are ready.
Thats all well and good, but none of those seasons ended how we wanted.
Sign me up for established star SEC players who can lead us to conference and national titles and then be high draft picks who truly succeed on Sunday's..
I think it's important for the coach to "win" the team. And for the coach to pick the qb that moves the team downfield the best. Not the best thrower of the ball or who has the prettiest spiral or who's the most popular.
John Henderson was incredibly physically imposing back in high school. A mountain of a man who could run and move well.
Dontae Jones would be the basketball answer. Seemed more "grown" on the court than most kids @ that time...
The Nashville Talent was awseome.
The teams at the top of the recruiting rankings will be winning the majority of the titles. Every once in a while (15 years or so), some averagely talented school will sneak one in. Don't expect it to be much more often than that. Doesn't follow logic. Or history.
98 Tennessee being undefeated SEC champ had a lot to with "getting us into the championship game".
Kinda like Alabama and Ole Miss (among others) losing late last year helped us get into the playoff last year. You've still gotta win tho, which the '98 team did.
CJH could certainly rise to Richt's level one day. We'll see. Then I hope he ascends up to Kirby's level, which is a dominating SEC and National Champ. GoVols š