I rarely ever post and am not acquainted with blog etiquette. If the following seems too esoteric for the forum, let me know and Ill return to lurking. Otherwise, please humor me because my wife is more interested in This Is Us than psychoanalyzing our coach.
What has been CBJs fundamental flaw?
Most have cited player development. Erik Ainge, however recently suggested that an East Tennessee cultural conflict is the bigger problem. According to Ainge, CBJ never grasped the value Tennessee fans place upon personal connection. Instead of using press conferences to speak to the fan base, Ainge believes CBJ used press conferences to speak indirectly to recruits. This, of course, helps explain why his statements come across so poorly, but now Im wondering if this cultural conflict may also explain his inability to develop players. Personal connections are, after all, desired by most everyone, not just East Tennesseans. So, is CBJ a classic example of someone great at securing buy-in but poorly suited at follow through? Is he great at making connections but poor at establishing more personal connections, or relationships? Does this explain why top recruits buy-in but never seem to sell-out for the cause? Could this also explain why respected coordinators have left for seemingly parallel positions?
And if the bedrock of great coaching is genuine concern for people, does Saban actually have a heart in that stone cold frame?
