Didn't Try To Keep The Equal of Nick Saban

#1
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Baseball25

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#1
Tony was the face of UT athletics. The best coach at UT. Having almost no communication and contact with him, whatsoever, our sorry athletic director was pushing him out the door. For goodness sakes, after all, Tony, in the end, is taking a pay cut. In the press conference DW is indicating we will be alright, we have facilities being built, we have interest. No, Tony Vitello built all of that and became the face of success at UT. Football always finds ways to fail and baseball had been dead for generations. Naming the top coaches in the SEC the last few years that built the top programs are Nick Saban, Tony Vitello and Kirby Smart. Hopefully, karma comes around and Danny White gets pushed out the door.
 
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#2
#2
Baseball25 said:
Tony was the face of UT athletics. The best coach at UT. Having almost no communication and contact with him, whatsoever, our sorry athletic director was pushing him out the door. For goodness sakes, after all, Tony, in the end, is taking a pay cut. In the press conference DW is indicating we will be alright, we have facilities being built, we have interest. No, Tony Vitello built all of that and became the face of success at UT. Football always finds ways to fail and baseball had been dead for generations. Naming the top coaches in the SEC the last few years that built the top programs are Nick Saban, Tony Vitello and Kirby Smart. Hopefully, karma comes around and Danny White gets pushed out the door.
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Ludicrous statement to compare Baseball coaches to Football coaches.
 
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#3
#3
I really don't think this is a fair statement. From what I've been able to glean Tony actually agonized over a decision that should be a no-brainer. He literally just broke a ceiling in baseball that doesn't exist in other professional sports.

I'm going to assume that Danny recognized this far better than any of us that if he was going to get that opportunity that it was ultimately a personal decision and one that wasn't going to be swayed by the AD throwing even more money at the situation. It was bigger than that. Given those factors, logically one would have to assume that a) the conversation that Tony and Danny had was about how much he loved UT and wanted stay on one hand but on the other this is the opportunity of a lifetime that has literally never happened before for another college coach; and b) Danny probably didn't feel like anything he was going to say or do was going to change the outcome of his decision.

Given Danny didn't waste a single second rebuilding Lindsey-Nelson or hesitate on helping support the NIL infrastructure, increased pay to Tony, increased pay to staff, I don't think there is much room for criticism of the handling of the baseball program. Other stuff sure. But here I don't think its warranted.
 
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#4
#4
Baseball25 said:
Tony was the face of UT athletics. The best coach at UT. Having almost no communication and contact with him, whatsoever, our sorry athletic director was pushing him out the door. For goodness sakes, after all, Tony, in the end, is taking a pay cut. In the press conference DW is indicating we will be alright, we have facilities being built, we have interest. No, Tony Vitello built all of that and became the face of success at UT. Football always finds ways to fail and baseball had been dead for generations. Naming the top coaches in the SEC the last few years that built the top programs are Nick Saban, Tony Vitello and Kirby Smart. Hopefully, karma comes around and Danny White gets pushed out the door.
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Really?
 
#8
#8
What exactly was DW supposed to do? Sometimes, there’s just nothing you can do. At the end of the day, no college program can truly compete with a professional franchise. Tony made his decision, he accomplished just about everything possible at the college level in that role. I’m sure he viewed this as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and wrestled with it for a while, but ultimately, DW’s influence could only go so far. I’m not defending either DW or Tony, but the reality is this came down to Tony’s choice. Major League Baseball jobs will always outweigh college baseball jobs. Hopefully, Tony finds success in San Francisco, and we can take pride in that. As for whoever takes over next at UT, I just hope everyone will rally behind him the same way we did Tony.
 
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#9
#9
Baseball25 said:
Tony was the face of UT athletics. The best coach at UT. Having almost no communication and contact with him, whatsoever, our sorry athletic director was pushing him out the door. For goodness sakes, after all, Tony, in the end, is taking a pay cut. In the press conference DW is indicating we will be alright, we have facilities being built, we have interest. No, Tony Vitello built all of that and became the face of success at UT. Football always finds ways to fail and baseball had been dead for generations. Naming the top coaches in the SEC the last few years that built the top programs are Nick Saban, Tony Vitello and Kirby Smart. Hopefully, karma comes around and Danny White gets pushed out the door.
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Didn’t try to keep him.
We built him a stadium and he was the highest paid coach in the country.
 
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#10
#10
Baseball25 said:
Tony was the face of UT athletics. The best coach at UT. Having almost no communication and contact with him, whatsoever, our sorry athletic director was pushing him out the door. For goodness sakes, after all, Tony, in the end, is taking a pay cut. In the press conference DW is indicating we will be alright, we have facilities being built, we have interest. No, Tony Vitello built all of that and became the face of success at UT. Football always finds ways to fail and baseball had been dead for generations. Naming the top coaches in the SEC the last few years that built the top programs are Nick Saban, Tony Vitello and Kirby Smart. Hopefully, karma comes around and Danny White gets pushed out the door.
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So you just make stuff up and then state them as facts. Got it.
 
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#11
#11
Baseball25 said:
Tony was the face of UT athletics. The best coach at UT. Having almost no communication and contact with him, whatsoever, our sorry athletic director was pushing him out the door. For goodness sakes, after all, Tony, in the end, is taking a pay cut. In the press conference DW is indicating we will be alright, we have facilities being built, we have interest. No, Tony Vitello built all of that and became the face of success at UT. Football always finds ways to fail and baseball had been dead for generations. Naming the top coaches in the SEC the last few years that built the top programs are Nick Saban, Tony Vitello and Kirby Smart. Hopefully, karma comes around and Danny White gets pushed out the door.
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Either you aren't familiar with Tennessee baseball or you made a gross exaggeration when you said Tennessee "baseball had been dead for generations."

Rod Delmonico led the Vols to three World Series appearances - the last one occurring in 2005.

We had 10 years of failed coaches between Delmonico and Vitello.
 
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#12
#12
hillsborovol said:
Either you aren't familiar with Tennessee baseball or you made a gross exaggeration when you said Tennessee "baseball had been dead for generations."

Rod Delmonico led the Vols to three World Series appearances - the last one occurring in 2005.

We had 10 years of failed coaches between Delmonico and Vitello.
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Ignore them man. A lot of these posters in here never come around during baseball season, nor have any prior knowledge before Vitello.
 
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#13
#13
I just hope he has better luck at the pro level than have others who tried to make the jump. I hope this for two reasons 1 for him personally 2 when he leaves the pros maybe he has not burned the TN bridge and can come back here. I'm feel sure he would be welcome as we will be dwelling in mediocrity.
 
#14
#14
UT97Vol said:
I really don't think this is a fair statement. From what I've been able to glean Tony actually agonized over a decision that should be a no-brainer. He literally just broke a ceiling in baseball that doesn't exist in other professional sports.

I'm going to assume that Danny recognized this far better than any of us that if he was going to get that opportunity that it was ultimately a personal decision and one that wasn't going to be swayed by the AD throwing even more money at the situation. It was bigger than that. Given those factors, logically one would have to assume that a) the conversation that Tony and Danny had was about how much he loved UT and wanted stay on one hand but on the other this is the opportunity of a lifetime that has literally never happened before for another college coach; and b) Danny probably didn't feel like anything he was going to say or do was going to change the outcome of his decision.

Given Danny didn't waste a single second rebuilding Lindsey-Nelson or hesitate on helping support the NIL infrastructure, increased pay to Tony, increased pay to staff, I don't think there is much room for criticism of the handling of the baseball program. Other stuff sure. But here I don't think its warranted.
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Do we know for a fact that AD White never discussed this with Coach Vitello? Isn't it possible that there was a discussion when he was first approached by the Giants?
 
#16
#16
EZE said:
Didn’t try to keep him, huh? Can you share the facts that back that up?

Some of our fans are really dumb.
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The decision wasn’t all just DW most likely there was more than him involved. So he is the one to get all the blame. OK. The million dollar question does anyone know the truth what was said and done by both parties.
 
#17
#17
Oldvoldad said:
Ludicrous statement to compare Baseball coaches to Football coaches.
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No it isn’t and this is the sad, typical bafoonery we’re hearing from fans. Tony transcends the sport. Heupel doesn’t. Just like Pat Summitt transcended her sport. Tony was that and we have a bunch of no nothings, shrugging their shoulders.
 
#18
#18
bigorangepoppa said:
Do we know for a fact that AD White never discussed this with Coach Vitello? Isn't it possible that there was a discussion when he was first approached by the Giants?
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If you had Nick Saban, would you have one conversation and then disconnect? The fact is White didn’t have a relationship with Tony. He’s a sterile, corporate hack.
 
#19
#19
TV is doing something that has never been done before. How is DW supposed to compete against that? It isn't about money, it's about making history.
 
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#20
#20
I think baseball is unique in that it’s much more accessible to the common fan. Most of us know at least someone in or around the program. Some of us know several folks that are privy to the inner workings. I’ve heard from enough people…and read enough accounts of what went down…to confidentially say DW could’ve done more and that signs point to him being fine with moving on. It’s baffling to me and I’m pissed bc I feel like DW put his ego ahead of our baseball program. Even if Tony ultimately left away…I’m pretty confident in saying A LOT more could’ve been done and said and hashed out if DW was willing to humble himself a little bit.
 
#22
#22
WaywardVol said:
No it isn’t and this is the sad, typical bafoonery we’re hearing from fans. Tony transcends the sport. Heupel doesn’t. Just like Pat Summitt transcended her sport. Tony was that and we have a bunch of no nothings, shrugging their shoulders.
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You think Pat Summitt got everything she wanted?
 
#24
#24
farmdogvol said:
TV is doing something that has never been done before. How is DW supposed to compete against that? It isn't about money, it's about making history.
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You’re just taking for granted how we arrived here. Someone in a perfect marriage isn’t open to overtures, no matter how attractive the other person is.
 
#25
#25
WELL, if DW was that bad and TV hated UT SOooooo much even though he agonized over the decision, there is no chance Elander will take the job.

If Elander sat around the office hearing how bad the AD is screwing baseball from TV why would he want the job? He is setup for failure.
 
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