Brandon Kennedy: Pruitt's honesty separates him as a coach

[kamoshika]

Kennedy became the latest in a lengthening line of Tennessee players to praise Pruitt’s honesty as the coach’s best quality. The Vols’ starting center said Pruitt’s honesty isn’t always pleasant, but that it’s always fair and it always comes from the right place.

“The thing I can say about Pruitt, the thing I love most about Pruitt, is that he's honest, you know?” Kennedy said. “As a coach and everything, that's the No. 1 thing that an athlete or a student athlete ... that's the No. 1 thing you look for. You just want somebody to be honest with you, to kind of tell you how it is. And, you know, sometimes the truth hurts — like constructive criticism — but that's something you need that in order to improve and things like that. So that's the one thing that I admire the most about Coach Pruitt, and I also try to put that into my leadership.”
Vols' Kennedy: Pruitt's honesty separates him as a coach

 

[BreatheUT]

Kennedy became the latest in a lengthening line of Tennessee players to praise Pruitt’s honesty as the coach’s best quality. The Vols’ starting center said Pruitt’s honesty isn’t always pleasant, but that it’s always fair and it always comes from the right place.

“The thing I can say about Pruitt, the thing I love most about Pruitt, is that he's honest, you know?” Kennedy said. “As a coach and everything, that's the No. 1 thing that an athlete or a student athlete ... that's the No. 1 thing you look for. You just want somebody to be honest with you, to kind of tell you how it is. And, you know, sometimes the truth hurts — like constructive criticism — but that's something you need that in order to improve and things like that. So that's the one thing that I admire the most about Coach Pruitt, and I also try to put that into my leadership.”
Vols' Kennedy: Pruitt's honesty separates him as a coach

"The Vols’ starting center said Pruitt’s honesty isn’t always pleasant, but that it’s always fair and it always comes from the right place."

A lot of people in the world cannot understand that basic concept in life. They need to feel coddled, rather be lied to so their feelings won't be hurt or mentally can't handle tough love. Fortunately, there are a lot of people that still can and that is refreshing but more and more Americans need someone to make them feel good because their egos are easily fractured. The good teams just have a bunch of dudes that don't need ice cream to make them feel better. When you have a team full of players with the opposite personality then the inmates run the asylum and they will lay down in tough, close games. We saw Pruitt's personality manifest itself in the Indiana game.

 

[Nocleats]

Kennedy said. “As a coach and everything, that's the No. 1 thing that an athlete or a student athlete ... that's the No. 1 thing you look for. You just want somebody to be honest with you,

What is "Things never said about Butch Jones"? for 1000 Alex

 

[Kingofkodak]

I like Kennedy, he seems like he is becoming a leader and that comes from the top down. The young man is willing to listen and learn from Pruitt and his Staff. This translates well for Kennedy to teach these lessons to the younger players. JMO.

 

[ManboyVol]

So much of winning in college football is wrangling the emotions and mindsets of young men at a volatile age. It isn't easy. I finally feel like we are on the right path.

 

[savannahfan]

"The Vols’ starting center said Pruitt’s honesty isn’t always pleasant, but that it’s always fair and it always comes from the right place."

A lot of people in the world cannot understand that basic concept in life. They need to feel coddled, rather be lied to so their feelings won't be hurt or mentally can't handle tough love. Fortunately, there are a lot of people that still can and that is refreshing but more and more Americans need someone to make them feel good because their egos are easily fractured. The good teams just have a bunch of dudes that don't need ice cream to make them feel better. When you have a team full of players with the opposite personality then the inmates run the asylum and they will lay down in tough, close games. We saw Pruitt's personality manifest itself in the Indiana game.

The first I saw of this "coddling" approach to life's difficulties was the "participation trophy". To never have a child face loosing is not doing them a favor. When I was young if you lost you heard about it and not always in a nice manner. What did you do, you buckled down and went to work so as not to see "losing" again. I am not sure where I heard or read it but never has anything made more sense to me than the thought: "You learn more from your losses than from your wins". If a person sulks and withdraws or quits on you, then they have quit, just move them to the sideline and carry on. If they see the foolishness of their actions and start to respond in a positive way, then help them up an then move on.

 

[tennesseeduke]

My dad always said; “winners and losers in life, no ties. Honesty hurts but it builds character”. He also never let me beat him at anything and I’m doing the same for my kids!
Kennedy is one of my favs on the team. True grit and a definite leader!

 

[VolDaddy61]

I have a few folks that have been in my circle for over thirty years, and the primary reason is that they will call me out on my $hit. I don't get offended by it when they do. You need people like that in your life. Too many folks surround themselves with people who tell them what they want to hear instead of telling them what they need to hear.

 

[87&91ALUM]

Honesty is the best policy. Period.

 

[LA vol7]

Remember when we began to hear that the one thing players didn't like about our former coach was that he was two faced, and that he promised things he did not deliver? Now, to have Pruitt, it's unbelievable. I really don't know how we got that lucky, but I'm sure glad he's wearing orange!