I have used this old saying before, "you can drive a horse to water, but you can't make him drink", all the prep in the world won't work if the effort reacts like "water off a duck's back". You think this staff can't motivate with their background? As to "game plan".... It helps if your team has the ability to play the game. With the guys at this staff'e disposal, it's a wonder they could even put together a "plan" as the season started. However as they had time to prepare their player's mentally and physically, things looked better until they ran out of gas as will happen when you are shorthanded to begin with.
The team didn’t run out of gas at the end of the season. Reports from people close to the program are that some players didn’t want to win either of the last 2 games and go to a low tier bowl game in a non premier city. Those players wanted their Christmas break instead of extra practices. During the last 2 weeks of practices those players showed up and just went through the motions without giving any effort. Right after the Vandy game there was a fight between a few players in the locker room as the quitters were called out.
These quitters are still on the team. Pruitt had the opportunity to make a statement about what is acceptable behavior when you wear the orange, but he chose to keep them around since being talented is more important than giving your all for Tennessee when you step on the field.