How long before the collective....

[Vols4life]

I'll chime in.
Couple of random thoughts:

I thought be bar was set to the lowest point when Brady Hoke was head coach during the LSU game where the storm came through. He didn't want to be there and the team didn't want to be there. I'm a season ticket holder, why do I want to be there when the team doesn't??? We've had many games since then where the team just doesn't "Give their all" and "Take the fight to them for 60 minutes". So the bar is lower now than it was then. It won't take much to make this fanbase feel like we've upgraded.

We need victories over Alabama, Georgia and Florida. Not once a decade, but a couple in a row. Say what you want about Fulmer, but he had a damn good streak against the Tide. Remember that victory at Jorden Hare two trips ago? That was really the only win we've had that mattered in Pruitt's tenure. Georgia state wasn't a fluke.

A proven head coach seems to be the answer, but I would say coaching isn't like launching a space shuttle. We've had used car salesmen with Dooley, Jones and Pruitt. I think the key is to get someone who has enough smarts to surround himself with decent assistants. And to push back when the boosters and admin try and push something down his throat. That was one of the reasons Saban did well at Alabama. He pushed back on Bear Bryant Junior, and all the Bear lettermen that wanted to backseat drive in the program. Pretty much sent the message - mention how Bear did it, and you are shown the door. Yes, the new guy needs to have a set.

So Volfan76.. I agree. I will eat what is put in front of me. As long as the coach can get effort out of the team, I'm ok. As much as I hate Bama, I have to admit - watching them in the playoffs gave me this thought: "Wow, look - a team whose receivers can get open, running backs that don't fall down on first contact, a QB that can hit more than the broad side of a barn, few dumb penalties, a DL that actually puts pressure on a QB". Wouldn't it be nice to see that again?

I'm on board if I see that, but if another Georgia State fiasco happens - I guess there are better things to do in East Tennessee on a Fall day when the leaves are turning and frost on the pumpkin.

View attachment 340752

Which is why I said Jeff Monken would be looked at hard. Listen to what Fulmer and the chancellor said about the next coach and AD. Monken is 53 and not looking for another job if he got the Tennessee job. He hits every box they're looking for in a coach.

 

[GetYouSomeofThat]

What makes you think so? I for one want to see an administration stand up and apologize to the fan base. I want to hear them say "We accept our responsibility in this and we are going to get this right this time!" Do you really believe that they haven't known for weeks how this was going to play out? Fulmer could have already been fired...i mean "retired" weeks ago so that a new AD could be waiting if not already on the job. UT is playing checkers while the other major programs in are playing chess. They have already handcuffed the next AD...winning coaches don't like to be told who their DC is going to be before they accept the job. This is the same soap opera with a new cast.

CMon

Really? You want an actual apology?

I think they will put the required effort in to make a solid hire. Maybe wont go and get who i want but i feel certain it will be someone with a track record of turning a program around. That is the skillset needed here more than anything.

 

[nomads-11]

What makes you think so? I for one want to see an administration stand up and apologize to the fan base. I want to hear them say "We accept our responsibility in this and we are going to get this right this time!" Do you really believe that they haven't known for weeks how this was going to play out? Fulmer could have already been fired...i mean "retired" weeks ago so that a new AD could be waiting if not already on the job. UT is playing checkers while the other major programs in are playing chess. They have already handcuffed the next AD...winning coaches don't like to be told who their DC is going to be before they accept the job. This is the same soap opera with a new cast.

I'm tired of coaches who come in and and tell me who their DC will be. UT needs to tell them where to stick that.....sideways. And they can...they just don't know it. I'm tired of putting the keys of my most lucrative financial program into the hands of a "winning" coach who leaves me with the death penalty. Personally, I never want to see a HC again, ever. It's insanity.

 

[VolRage]

Which is why I said Jeff Monken would be looked at hard. Listen to what Fulmer and the chancellor said about the next coach and AD. Monken is 53 and not looking for another job if he got the Tennessee job. He hits every box they're looking for in a coach.

Monkin’s career record is 87-55. No thanks but that is so Tennessee recently. Hiring some loser with a record of over or just under .500 gets TN nowhere near a SEC Championship or any other type of championship. Well, maybe “champions of life”. Yeah, let’s hire Monkin so UT can continue to hang out with bottom feeders like the Vandy’s and KY’s of college football.

 

[JonGrudensAgent]

Where do we send our applications to be part of the search firm?

 

[VolunteerHillbilly]

Which is why I said Jeff Monken would be looked at hard. Listen to what Fulmer and the chancellor said about the next coach and AD. Monken is 53 and not looking for another job if he got the Tennessee job. He hits every box they're looking for in a coach.

Things there I like but that 2019 season sticks out like a sore thumb. He and Pruitt shared losses to GA State that year. His 2020 turnaround is questionable when you look at the fact that 4 of his 9 wins were by less than one TD. He would have been good for SC.

 

[cobbwebb0710]

I think that a safe hire right now, if they don't energize the fanbase, is a loss.

Kiffin was the last coach we hired that the fans actually wanted when he was hired. Now, our sheep jump on board as soon as someone is the coach, but when we hired Dooley, Butch, and Pruitt people were either negative from the beginning or very skeptical.

If they hire a guy that people want and he fails, that's acceptable. Also, with Steele running the show right now, I think Gus is almost a non-starter.

A safe hire is exactly what this program needs. We’re past the point of instant success, we need a guy to bring stability and make us respected again. Forget about the whole “gotta win a east title by year 3” nonsense. We’ve taken too many chances and gambled too often, it’s now time to get a respected, mature coach with experience, that can keep this ship afloat. Our boosters, administration and fans need to stop worrying about being the one who gets the “next big thing”, hoping their guy pans out so they can beat their chest and say, I discovered this guy, look how football savvy I am. Pride and power plays have got us in the mess we’re in now. Quit trying to make the hire that you hope gives you street cred down the road and make the smart hire that makes sense. Jesus, this craziness has gone on long enough and I’ll probably get blasted my many for this but I’m leaning to Malzahn, because it just makes sense.
GBO!!

 

[cobbwebb0710]

Where do we send our applications to be part of the search firm?

1720 Cumberland Ave.
Knoxville, TN
37916

GBO!!

 

[PG1]

Allowing fans to alter decisions usually turns out bad for an organization. Yes, the idiots' voices were heard on Schiano and look how it has turned out.

1/2 of our fan base are dumbasses

And the other half are stupid!

 

[kcvols1]

I hate to go here, but ...

Imagine if people cared as much @ what these bureaucrats are doing to education and government, as they do @ what they do the the football program? Our governments and educational systems have been marinating in corruption for decades on end. And it ain't gonna end well.

... sorry, returning back the collective sports rage now.

Don’t throw stones. Go get involved in their meetings. Go help out. Government employees and board members get paid sh@t and always need help.

I VOLUNTEERED as a poll worker this fall. Wore orange every day!

 

[Volfan76]

CMon

Really? You want an actual apology?

I think they will put the required effort in to make a solid hire. Maybe wont go and get who i want but i feel certain it will be someone with a track record of turning a program around. That is the skillset needed here more than anything.

Yes, I think that a base of supporters that have stuck through 15 years of extremely bad decision making and excuses deserve an apology. It shows ownership and accountability. The mindset at UT has been "it's somebody else's fault" and it's time to take ownership. I didnt see anybody take ownership of anything at that press conference. I saw a bunch of politicians making poor attempts at distancing themselves from the problems.

 

[GUNTERSVOL]

fan base makes our voice heard? After watching that joke of a press conference yesterday where everyone talks about integrity and makes poor attempts at damage control, I couldn't help but have an overwhelming sense of deja vu. The investment and accountability of the UT administration has been so underwhelming for so long it has become expected. Does anyone have ANY confidence in this administration to make the right hiring decisions after seeing this play out? The UT President looked like a 5th grader reading the speach his mom wrote for him while he was fast asleep the night before. Anyone invigorated with confidence in Plowman to do any better that Davenport after watching that PC snorefest? How long before the collective fanbase says "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH"?? We've watched power donors make wrong move after wrong move and administration after administration operate with zero accountability for 15 years now. How long before we say no more money until you get it right? One more failed AD and coach? 2 more? 3 more? We all know where this is headed and it's the same exact place we've been. We made our voices heard with Schiano and have seen what our collective voice can do. How long before we make it heard BEFORE we are spoonfed another load of the same garbage??

Pretty sure all three were reading off the scripts approved by all our legal counsels. You will notice not one referenced the 3-7 record or any on field performance issues. NCAA violations were the only thing put in play. They will be the only relevant fact set in our for cause dismissal. Keep It Simple Stupid still applies. So the body of evidence has to show the infractions were performed by those dismissed, and they used methods within their normal control to successfully mask the efforts, and our business practices discovered and immediately started investigations into the findings, and notified the NCAA in an appropriate timeframe. Every dollar we have to pay in buyouts cannot be used to find and pay the new AD and HC. They were told to stay on task and listened. Other narratives will have to be on hold till the buyout issues are settled one way or the other. CPF can tell the world how sorry he is for the hire before or after his replacement is named. To do so now could work against us if we go to court with Pruitt.

 

[Volfan76]

Gonna have to disagree with you, I thought Donde did well in the presser. Seems like she got a lot of love on Twitter too.

And what are you talking about the administration doesn’t take accountability. John Currie was let go, and Fulmer had to “retire”.

And in terms of listening to the fans, Hell they hired Currie because we were clamoring for someone with UT ties(I know we wanted Blackburn but given his track record doesn’t look like he would’ve been a smart decision anyway). Maybe the problem is that we don’t know what the hell we’re talking about, who knows.

All I know is that for the past few decade, the power T has been a shitshow. Yes that included the administration, coaches, players, but that also includes the fans as well. Maybe we need to start doing things different as well

Butch Jones had a great twitter following...it doesnt really mean someone knows what they are doing. Congratulationing the administration for getting rid of Currie and Fulmer is like choosing a Fiat over a Tahoe and then congratulationing yourself because you sold it when you realized it was a piece of junk and couldn't do the job. Neither of them should have been hired in the first place. It's not just what Plowman is saying, it's what she is doing. She has just now hired a search firm to look for an AD. That is probably going to take months. All signs point to UT being stuck with Kevin Steele for a year. If you dont know what that is going to do to the program and recruiting, bounce over to the recruiting thread and get ready to hear some great hype on 2 and 3 star recruits. She could have been working on a new AD this whole time. Don't forget this is the same chancellor that just quietly gave Fulmer a raise and extension after he gave Pruitt that boneheaded contract. UT is playing checkers while the other major programs are playing chess.

 

[rkvdg]

Allowing fans to alter decisions usually turns out bad for an organization. Yes, the idiots' voices were heard on Schiano and look how it has turned out.

1/2 of our fan base are dumbasses

I think that part worked out fine. The hiring of Pruitt was bad.

 

[Jaws]

If the fans haven't made their voices hear after Fulmer, Kiffin, Dooley, Butch and now Pruitt...what makes you think they will now?

Even more, with Schiano. I’m not sure a fan base has ever made their voices heard in a more urgent and overwhelming manner. This isn’t on the fan base, none of it is. This is on the powers-that-be running the University and Athletics Department going back a decade-plus.

 

[AstonRoyal]

Butch Jones had a great twitter following...it doesnt really mean someone knows what they are doing. Congratulationing the administration for getting rid of Currie and Fulmer is like choosing a Fiat over a Tahoe and then congratulationing yourself because you sold it when you realized it was a piece of junk and couldn't do the job. Neither of them should have been hired in the first place. It's not just what Plowman is saying, it's what she is doing. She has just now hired a search firm to look for an AD. That is probably going to take months. All signs point to UT being stuck with Kevin Steele for a year. If you dont know what that is going to do to the program and recruiting, bounce over to the recruiting thread and get ready to hear some great hype on 2 and 3 star recruits. She could have been working on a new AD this whole time. Don't forget this is the same chancellor that just quietly gave Fulmer a raise and extension after he gave Pruitt that boneheaded contract. UT is playing checkers while the other major programs are playing chess.

You think that we’re the only ones to use a search firm? You know the last two people who didn’t use a search firm was actually Dave hart and Currie.

 

[RhodesVol]

A safe hire is exactly what this program needs. We’re past the point of instant success, we need a guy to bring stability and make us respected again. Forget about the whole “gotta win a east title by year 3” nonsense. We’ve taken too many chances and gambled too often, it’s now time to get a respected, mature coach with experience, that can keep this ship afloat. Our boosters, administration and fans need to stop worrying about being the one who gets the “next big thing”, hoping their guy pans out so they can beat their chest and say, I discovered this guy, look how football savvy I am. Pride and power plays have got us in the mess we’re in now. Quit trying to make the hire that you hope gives you street cred down the road and make the smart hire that makes sense. Jesus, this craziness has gone on long enough and I’ll probably get blasted my many for this but I’m leaning to Malzahn, because it just makes sense.
GBO!!

I don't disagree that Malzahn is a good safe and stable coach. Personally I just know that watching him coach football will be excruciatingly frustrating for me. His offense has been figured out, and while it works from time to time, there is so much yo-yoing with him giving the playcalling away, and then taking the playcalling back, and then hiring an OC and giving it away again but still running his offense. It's exhausting. He hasn't had good QB play since Cam Newton. Marshall was a runningback at QB. And the development of talent at the QB position under him is abysmal. I wouldn't want Gus for those reasons, but I don't doubt that he would win some ballgames. I just don't see him winning a national title here, and part of that is because I don't think people would have patience with his stubbornness. Added to that, he and Kevin Steele cannot and will not co-exist anymore. I know that some think it is a conspiracy, but the reports of the discord between the two of them after his firing are so widespread, from national media types on down, that I just don't know why we would hire Kevin Steele in the first place if Gus was ever going to be our route. Who knows, but it doesn't make a ton of sense to me from that perspective.

If I'm him, also, I don't want to take the only other job that has Bama as a rival.

 

[cobbwebb0710]

I don't disagree that Malzahn is a good safe and stable coach. Personally I just know that watching him coach football will be excruciatingly frustrating for me. His offense has been figured out, and while it works from time to time, there is so much yo-yoing with him giving the playcalling away, and then taking the playcalling back, and then hiring an OC and giving it away again but still running his offense. It's exhausting. He hasn't had good QB play since Cam Newton. Marshall was a runningback at QB. And the development of talent at the QB position under him is abysmal. I wouldn't want Gus for those reasons, but I don't doubt that he would win some ballgames. I just don't see him winning a national title here, and part of that is because I don't think people would have patience with his stubbornness. Added to that, he and Kevin Steele cannot and will not co-exist anymore. I know that some think it is a conspiracy, but the reports of the discord between the two of them after his firing are so widespread, from national media types on down, that I just don't know why we would hire Kevin Steele in the first place if Gus was ever going to be our route. Who knows, but it doesn't make a ton of sense to me from that perspective.

If I'm him, also, I don't want to take the only other job that has Bama as a rival.

All good points! I tend to think Auburn May be a mess internally, just as we are(not to the level we are) and that could be the reason for the OC, no OC thing? Maybe a case of meddling from boosters? And the Steele thing is the only reason why I know that Malzahn isn’t a realistic option, but I hope you get my point about stability? I don’t think it’s even in the realm of possibilities or even fair, for that matter to put NC aspirations on the next coach. If we do, we’re setting him up for failure before we even hire him. I’m to the point where I just want to see steady improvement, get the Tennessee name back out there and respectful again, because right now we’re a joke. You seem reasonable, who would you choose if you could and why?
GBO!!

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

Why do some TN fans think us fans have any say or matter to the university of TN? We fans matter just as much as our votes for president. Nearly zero.

 

[CINCYVOL]

Setting up to be a titanic pissing match between the big money guys

 

[RhodesVol]

All good points! I tend to think Auburn May be a mess internally, just as we are(not to the level we are) and that could be the reason for the OC, no OC thing? Maybe a case of meddling from boosters? And the Steele thing is the only reason why I know that Malzahn isn’t a realistic option, but I hope you get my point about stability? I don’t think it’s even in the realm of possibilities or even fair, for that matter to put NC aspirations on the next coach. If we do, we’re setting him up for failure before we even hire him. I’m to the point where I just want to see steady improvement, get the Tennessee name back out there and respectful again, because right now we’re a joke. You seem reasonable, who would you choose if you could and why?
GBO!!

I appreciate the cordial discourse, for sure. I think my only disagreement with you would be that I feel like we have to hire someone who we believe could win a National title, because that has to be the ultimate goal, right? Now, I think whoever you hire is going to want a 7 year contract, and you are going to have to commit to the patience to both shepherd the program through whatever looming NCAA issues we face and then build for the future as you say.

If it were up to me, at this stage, I think I would hire Chadwell, but it's not just because of his 11 win season this past year. Is that certainly part of my impetus for wanting him? I would be lying if I said it wasn't. However, if you look at his past track record, he has taken over programs that were either just not any good, or were trying to transition up a level in football competition. Charleston Southern won 5 games the year before he was hired, and he improved them to 10 or 11 in his first year. He has never won less than 8 games in year 2, and his tenure at North Greeneville (college, not high school) was very good before going to Charleston. In his last two significant stops (which discounts a single year at Delta State), he has won three conference titles, including this past season when he wasn't even picked to sniff the title. His Coastal team has shown steady progress, also. They lost to Napier's Louisiana squad big in 2019, then beat them narrowly this year. He lost to Georgia State in 2019 close, then beat them by 51 this season.

Most importantly, though, I think you see in him a coach that is able to do more with less, which we will be asking him to do even in years that we are good. In our best seasons of the past 10 years, we either had talent on-par or below that of Florida, Georgia and Alabama. You need a guy that not only can elevate his players play through motivation and scheme, but who also isn't afraid to go out and play as an underdog. When they had a gap on their schedule this past season, they went out and scheduled undefeated BYU, and then beat them. That's the type of fearlessness that we need, because I feel like the last time our coach wasn't scared of Alabama was in 2009.

I realize he has some NCAA issues in the past, but from what I understand that was due to a lack of a compliance department. Also, the violations seem to center on athletes buying electronics in the book store with book money. Something like that wouldn't happen here, because the monitoring theoretically is much more rigorous.

Add to that the fact that he would take the job, is a local boy that could invigorate the fans - and could sell that fact on the recruiting trail - and he is an up-tempo offensive coach. I think he could be a good fit for our program.

I also think that, in the event they don't all transfer, this roster is not so woefully undermanned that they cannot win ballgames next season. A good coach would have beaten Kentucky, Auburn and Arkansas last season.

Maybe I'm talking crazy, but it just seems like it makes sense.

 

[tnutater]

Why do some TN fans think us fans have any say or matter to the university of TN? We fans matter just as much as our votes for president. Nearly zero.

UT puts out a product for profit.
Fanatics can buy it or not but will never have a say in how the University goes to market with it's product. UT does not owe the fans a winning football program.

 

[cobbwebb0710]

UT puts out a product for profit.
Fanatics can buy it or not but will never have a say in how the University goes to market with it's product. UT does not owe the fans a winning football program.

They’ve made that painfully obvious.
GBO!!

 

[cobbwebb0710]

I appreciate the cordial discourse, for sure. I think my only disagreement with you would be that I feel like we have to hire someone who we believe could win a National title, because that has to be the ultimate goal, right? Now, I think whoever you hire is going to want a 7 year contract, and you are going to have to commit to the patience to both shepherd the program through whatever looming NCAA issues we face and then build for the future as you say.

If it were up to me, at this stage, I think I would hire Chadwell, but it's not just because of his 11 win season this past year. Is that certainly part of my impetus for wanting him? I would be lying if I said it wasn't. However, if you look at his past track record, he has taken over programs that were either just not any good, or were trying to transition up a level in football competition. Charleston Southern won 5 games the year before he was hired, and he improved them to 10 or 11 in his first year. He has never won less than 8 games in year 2, and his tenure at North Greeneville (college, not high school) was very good before going to Charleston. In his last two significant stops (which discounts a single year at Delta State), he has won three conference titles, including this past season when he wasn't even picked to sniff the title. His Coastal team has shown steady progress, also. They lost to Napier's Louisiana squad big in 2019, then beat them narrowly this year. He lost to Georgia State in 2019 close, then beat them by 51 this season.

Most importantly, though, I think you see in him a coach that is able to do more with less, which we will be asking him to do even in years that we are good. In our best seasons of the past 10 years, we either had talent on-par or below that of Florida, Georgia and Alabama. You need a guy that not only can elevate his players play through motivation and scheme, but who also isn't afraid to go out and play as an underdog. When they had a gap on their schedule this past season, they went out and scheduled undefeated BYU, and then beat them. That's the type of fearlessness that we need, because I feel like the last time our coach wasn't scared of Alabama was in 2009.

I realize he has some NCAA issues in the past, but from what I understand that was due to a lack of a compliance department. Also, the violations seem to center on athletes buying electronics in the book store with book money. Something like that wouldn't happen here, because the monitoring theoretically is much more rigorous.

Add to that the fact that he would take the job, is a local boy that could invigorate the fans - and could sell that fact on the recruiting trail - and he is an up-tempo offensive coach. I think he could be a good fit for our program.

I also think that, in the event they don't all transfer, this roster is not so woefully undermanned that they cannot win ballgames next season. A good coach would have beaten Kentucky, Auburn and Arkansas last season.

Maybe I'm talking crazy, but it just seems like it makes sense.

It does make sense. I guess I’m just hesitant because of our past. I want so bad to get on the Chadwell wagon but I can’t talk myself into it. To be honest, I really don’t care who they hire because it’s put up or shut at this point. The Tennessee football fatigue is real with me. Would I rather see a local guy resurrect this program? Of course I would! I just think we’ve gone the route of a coach cutting their teeth in the SEC before and it didn’t work out. But, eventually we’ve got to get it right, right? Eventually one of these up and comers is going to be lightning in a bottle, so it might as well be Chadwell, I suppose.
Good job, you’ve just about talked me into liking the idea of going after this guy. I know, I’m a sucker and easy to convince.
GBO!!