When coaches are getting paid this much, as compared to what Majors was paid, they expect immediate results.
Majors won a National Championship at Pitt and got maybe 20% of what below average S.E.C. coaches get now. Not elite S.E.C. coaches but below average coaches. Look at UK coaches salary. Look at Arkansas coaches salary.
This. The coaching in the SEC in 1993 was nowhere near the level it is now. The the recruiting caught up to coach Fulmer and the coaching passed him. But that doesn't mean I don't appreciate that run in the 90s...
The problem is, on offense we don't have an OL coach with any experience at this level. On top of that, Mahoney has zero ties to this area. Bajakian and Elder are the same way, no SEC experience or ties to this area. That leaves Gillespie and Coach Z as the lone guys who have ties in the SEC area from past coaching jobs on offense. Thig, Willie, and Jancek all coached in the SEC before they got here, and Strip has been coaching DL for 25+ years. You don't coach 25+ years at this level unless you know what you are doing. That's why our defense is improving so much faster than our offense. We have more coaches on that side of the ball who have SEC experience, and who have ties to this area that helps us tons in recruiting.
For the record, great coaches always surround themselves with at least 4-5 coaches who have ties to the area in which you are coaching. CBJ has done that, but it just happens the best of those 4-5 coaches are on the defensive side of the ball, i.e. Willie, Jancek, and Thing.
Phil was the beneficiary of a tremendously solid foundation restored by Majors and Fulmer was beneficiary of some of the best talent to ever be on college football teams (over a decade). Many think Phil should have at least 3 National Titles.
Butch's inheritance is one of a once great city in ashes and ruins. He has started to bring the Vols recruiting back to national relevance. It will take I'm 2 or 3 years just to restock the cupboard.
We should let it all play out. He gets 5 years minimum total time. Imo
That's a faulty premise. I can't name any coaches winning championships that are doing it with inferior talent.
For the record? Everybody is an expert in their own mind. For the record it's Thig not Thing. For all of your ties to the area talk our offensive recruiting has been just fine but it takes more then one class and one year to build an offensive line.
Wrong. Johnny made it relevant. Phil took it to the top,then he let it slowly become irrelevant.
Phil won 5 games in 2 of his last 4 years. That be a fact.
I think that the OP raises a good point.
One thing that I have often wondered about is what if we had kept Phil (from a recruiting perspective)
He WAS a great recruiter. Would he have adapted to the way that recruiting is starting to change due to social media?
Saban still recruits very well without social media, but there are not many coaches that have the ability to recruit without social media. Saban seems to be the exception not the rule.
Thoughts?