Consider the fact that Auburn had to hire Brian Harsin

[VOL_Lyfe]

Auburn wasn't letting any HC have complete decisions on his coaching staff. That's why Auburn got turned down as much as they did. Just look at his new staff, has numerous for Auburn players and Coach's on it. It's not like he's worked with them. Auburn is like the Control Freak Husband or Wife. You will always see numerous ex Auburn guys on whoever's staff the HC is. I guarantee white isn't doing that but we all know Fulmer did.

AU's boosters make Haslam look like a silent partner

 

[peaygolf]

This argument would have worked three coaching hires ago but not this time. Most Vol fans are just tired of the total incompetence of the UT administration. Apathy has set in hard. If we do not have a "home run hire" this time kiss the football program bye. I really don't like saying this but it is reality.

Who would be a "home run" hire...............In your opinion?

 

[Vols1313]

If you don’t think that’s a more attractive job this go around you’re kidding yourself. If they weren’t able to land a big fish, what makes anyone think Tennessee could?

This has Chadwell or Elliot written all over it and Chadwell had NCAA issues in the past, so I think we all need to accept that the stars are not aligned for us to make a homerun hire in 2021.

That being said, not all questionable hires are bad hires... whoever it is give the guy a chance.

I have and it’s disheartening, I would take Chadwell over Elliot at least he’s been a HC

 

[peaygolf]

For the eighteenth thousandth time... NO ONE KNOWS HOW BAD THE NCAA PUNISHMENTS WILL BE! Or if they are even going to be that serious. Let's quit assuming it's going to be the freaking death penalty! Tennessee went through the exact steps they were supposed to do, and fired Pruitt and cleaned house! With that being said,

Auburn is a pretty equal job to Tennessee.

Not right now.............not even close

 

[uncle chewii]

If you don’t think that’s a more attractive job this go around you’re kidding yourself. If they weren’t able to land a big fish, what makes anyone think Tennessee could?

This has Chadwell or Elliot written all over it and Chadwell had NCAA issues in the past, so I think we all need to accept that the stars are not aligned for us to make a homerun hire in 2021.

That being said, not all questionable hires are bad hires... whoever it is give the guy a chance.

True but money does talk. The question should be are the boosters going to open their pockets deep enough to hire who we need or are we going to settle on a guy like Chadwell or Elliot.

 

[Hunerwadel]

I hate to say it but judging from the last three hires we at UT have become settlers.

 

[RhodesVol]

True but money does talk. The question should be are the boosters going to open their pockets deep enough to hire who we need or are we going to settle on a guy like Chadwell or Elliot.

It doesn't even really feel like Chadwell is settling in all seriousness. He was named National Coach of the Year by four different outlets, and he has a natural tie to the area and school that would sell easily to the fanbase.

Elliott feels like settling, because he's never been a head coach at any level. He's only been sole OC at Clemson for one year, with the best talent in a bad league, and we don't even know if he calls all of the plays. That's just majorly deflating to me.

 

[screenthis]

This argument would have worked three coaching hires ago but not this time. Most Vol fans are just tired of the total incompetence of the UT administration. Apathy has set in hard. If we do not have a "home run hire" this time kiss the football program bye. I really don't like saying this but it is reality.

Far too 'The Sky is Falling'ish' for me. We're actually in worse position now than three hires ago because of those hires. The program has fallen further. Thus, getting a 'home run hire' will be close to impossible. With that said, I will continue to support Tn. Football and no, it's not going anywhere. Now, let's pull a Clemson and rise from the Ashes.

 

[ShoalCreekVol]

Auburn is fortunate to have Harsin. He's a good coach, and most importantly in their case he's not connected to the longtime Auburn power brokers.

 

[MAUSERWERKE]

A Kevin Steele interim year is like a self imposed death penalty. You cannot take a year off in recruiting in this league. A first year coach will have some buzz and be able to sell the future on the trail. Steele hasn't even been able to keep our players on the team, and he's not a long term solution.

It's not 2009 anymore. When Kippy Brown was tossed out as an interim option this was still a top 10 job, and the roster wasn't in the shape it's in right now. It made some sense then, but now it's a non-starter.

Your comment is true only if UT can hire a Tier 1 coach, quickly. Hiring a lower tier coach is not likely to create much buzz, and will be recognized as effectively hiring an "interim in waiting." I don't see why the admin would have brought in Steele only to hire someone else to essentially fill the same role.

We just need to face the fact that if we cannot get a Tier 1 coach this season (and soon), the recruiting class for 2021 is going to be poor in any event. It may end up being bad even if we score a great coach, with the uncertainty of sanctions. It is what it is.

 

[VOLnMiami]

If you don’t think that’s a more attractive job this go around you’re kidding yourself. If they weren’t able to land a big fish, what makes anyone think Tennessee could?

This has Chadwell or Elliot written all over it and Chadwell had NCAA issues in the past, so I think we all need to accept that the stars are not aligned for us to make a homerun hire in 2021.

That being said, not all questionable hires are bad hires... whoever it is give the guy a chance.

Chadwell had a level 3 violation...He contacted a recruit over social media when he should not have...He served a 1 game suspension and learned his lesson....Everybody commits these kind of meaningless violations...His fault is he didn't report it and that's why he got the suspension.

 

[RhodesVol]

Your comment is true only if UT can hire a Tier 1 coach, quickly. Hiring a lower tier coach is not likely to create much buzz, and will be recognized as effectively hiring an "interim in waiting." I don't see why the admin would have brought in Steele only to hire someone else to essentially fill the same role.

We just need to face the fact that if we cannot get a Tier 1 coach this season (and soon), the recruiting class for 2021 is going to be poor in any event. It may end up being bad even if we score a great coach, with the uncertainty of sanctions. It is what it is.

I don't think that's necessarily true. Elliott or Chadwell would recruit better next year than Steele in an interim, and they have the possibility of being successful.

 

[IDVague]

It's hard to imagine that any of the coaches being mentioned here (Elliot, Chadwell, Dykes) would be any less expensive than Pruitt, so if they don't pan out on the other side of sanctions, they would be due a similar buy-out in all probability. That being the case, someone like Steele looks a lot more palatable, as someone to weather the NCAA storm until 2024 or so, and then get a fresh start with a big-time coach who can work with a full compliment of scholarships and out from under the cloud of sanctions.

 

[uncle chewii]

It doesn't even really feel like Chadwell is settling in all seriousness. He was named National Coach of the Year by four different outlets, and he has a natural tie to the area and school that would sell easily to the fanbase.

Elliott feels like settling, because he's never been a head coach at any level. He's only been sole OC at Clemson for one year, with the best talent in a bad league, and we don't even know if he calls all of the plays. That's just majorly deflating to me.

Look at Chadwell's work. He done good at FCS but he has only one winning season in FBS at a small conference that is why I consider him a settle. Body of work at a larger level isn't there just like Elliot doesn't have any. Either hire would be like going back to Butch or Pruitt IMO.

 

[tennesseeduke]

Harsin reportedly received a 5-year, $25mil contract. If AU had been offering $7-$8 mil per year, they may have gotten a different coach. Harsin wasn’t a terrible hire as he did have 8 years of HC experience and was 69-19 record at Boise St. He also added Derek Mason (DC) and Mike Bobo (OC) to the staff. I think firing Gus also sent a message to potential coaches in that AU would not be happy with a 68-35 (39-27 conf) record. That may have scared away a few candidates.

Our situation is definitely challenging and one that no doubt worries candidates. If they win here, the upside is huge. If they do not win, they could follow the same route as Dooley, Jones, and Pruitt.

Meaning they think he's better than Malzahn, so why in the world would UT want Malzahn? I don't want that reject!

 

[Steve_Smith89]

If you don’t think that’s a more attractive job this go around you’re kidding yourself. If they weren’t able to land a big fish, what makes anyone think Tennessee could?

This has Chadwell or Elliot written all over it and Chadwell had NCAA issues in the past, so I think we all need to accept that the stars are not aligned for us to make a homerun hire in 2021.

That being said, not all questionable hires are bad hires... whoever it is give the guy a chance.

Chadwell would be awesome. He's my #1

 

[PEPPERJAX]

If you don’t think that’s a more attractive job this go around you’re kidding yourself. If they weren’t able to land a big fish, what makes anyone think Tennessee could?

This has Chadwell or Elliot written all over it and Chadwell had NCAA issues in the past, so I think we all need to accept that the stars are not aligned for us to make a homerun hire in 2021.

That being said, not all questionable hires are bad hires... whoever it is give the guy a chance.

Harsin was a solid hire by Auburn. He has five seasons in his career of 10 or more wins. BH may not have been a splash hire but his accomplishments are impressive.

Bryan Harsin Coaching Record | College Football at Sports-Reference.com

 

[RhodesVol]

It's hard to imagine that any of the coaches being mentioned here (Elliot, Chadwell, Dykes) would be any less expensive than Pruitt, so if they don't pan out on the other side of sanctions, they would be due a similar buy-out in all probability. That being the case, someone like Steele looks a lot more palatable, as someone to weather the NCAA storm until 2024 or so, and then get a fresh start with a big-time coach who can work with a full compliment of scholarships and out from under the cloud of sanctions.

Chadwell is making like $300k a year. Kevin Steel is not a good head coach. They said we were going to hire a proven winner, and that this wasn't the place for on the job training. Why on earth would you then hire Kevin Steele who would have to really figure out being a head coach in today's college football and who is a proven LOSER? He's not the answer.

 

[bpalmer28]

I'm sure my comment won't be a popular one, but if we have to settle, I would prefer to keep Steele as interim head coach, until a solid hire can be made.

100 % agree. If we can't hire a proven HC like Campbell, Freeze, or Kiffin (just using them as an example for the caliber coach I'm talking about) then we need do whatever it takes to make that happen in the future. It seems to me that what has to happen includes letting the investigation run it's course and stockpiling money to throw at someone.


Some people act like we'd never recover from only winning 5 or 6 games during the next year or two and like if we don't make a big hire now, we never will, but we've sucked for 15 years. Another year or two won't make a difference.

 

[BigOrangeNC]

They are paying a huge buyout, we will settle in court on one much smaller. Could have a small impact.

 

[Tnman1]

 

[CR-vol]

Auburn is also paying 20 million for Gus Malzahn not to coach. So you know, finances may be aren't the same.

By the time Pruitt's attorneys are finished the financial situations will likely be very similar. Of course I'm glad that bum is gone no matter the price.

 

[RhodesVol]

Look at Chadwell's work. He done good at FCS but he has only one winning season in FBS at a small conference that is why I consider him a settle. Body of work at a larger level isn't there just like Elliot doesn't have any. Either hire would be like going back to Butch or Pruitt IMO.

So, he starts at D2 North Greeneville and the team in three years goes from 2-8, to 9-3, to 11-3. Then he goes to Charleston Southern and turned a perennial loser into a two time conference champion. Total record there of 35-14. There he took a team one year removed from FCS and in three years improved them from 3-9 to 11-1.

He seems like a guy that White would hire, and I feel like he's the type of up and comer that could come here and succeed.

I see your point, but hiring the reigning coach of the year doesn't feel like settling given our present circumstances.

 

[IDVague]

Chadwell is making like $300k a year. Kevin Steel is not a good head coach. They said we were going to hire a proven winner, and that this wasn't the place for on the job training. Why on earth would you then hire Kevin Steele who would have to really figure out being a head coach in today's college football and who is a proven LOSER? He's not the answer.

I didn't mean it to sound like I thought he would be a good coach or a good hire. I just wonder if anyone will be able to succeed under the sanctions that may be coming. If that's the case (and only the administration has the information on the violations and the ability to suppose the eventual punishments), it would be cheaper to pay Steele for 10 wins over the next 3 years than to pay an established head coach for maybe 12-15 wins over the same time frame, only to be dumping him for someone else anyway.

 

[JRich]

If you don’t think that’s a more attractive job this go around you’re kidding yourself. If they weren’t able to land a big fish, what makes anyone think Tennessee could?

This has Chadwell or Elliot written all over it and Chadwell had NCAA issues in the past, so I think we all need to accept that the stars are not aligned for us to make a homerun hire in 2021.

That being said, not all questionable hires are bad hires... whoever it is give the guy a chance.

I don't understand this one. Brian Harsin is a pretty darn good coach. I would have been happy if UT landed him.