Tennessee‘s endowment is approximately 1.4 billion dollars. I do not know if all that has to go to areas other than sports, but Butch‘s payments are almost finished. Plus, we have donors who might help, because Tennessee football is important, and was, from the beginning.
Pruitt is not a Head Coach. His interest is only defense. If his staff could have covered for him, it’s hasn’t happened. I hope when he is replaced, we get a Head Coach whose expertise is the Quarterback position (still the most important position on the field), and the Offensive side of football.
I always backed Coach Fulmer, but it seemed as if every game was a nail biter, few blowouts. I’ve seen enough conservative football to last a lifetime. I hope we get a Head Coach who expects to win every game. There may be games where the expectations are not promising, but no one should say, we “should” lose a game. We Never “should” lose a game, not to anyone.
Mullen started at Florida when Pruitt started at Tennessee, but he acted like a Head Coach, when he got there. Pruitt‘s excuses for losing, began when he walked in the door. Florida got a real Head Coach, Tennessee did not. We can do better.
The obvious comparison is Mullen at Florida, and Pruitt at Tennessee. They began at these schools the same year, and Florida is one of our rivals. Before excuses, let’s look. The W-L record is very comparable before each was hired.
TN
2015 9-4 won Outback Bowl
2016 9-4 won Music City
2017 4-8
then, Pruitt hired
2018 5-7
2019 8-5 won Gator
2020 2-1
FL
2015 10-4 lost Citrus
2016 9-4 won Outback
2017 4-7
then, Mullen hired
2018 10-3 won Orange
2019 11-2 won Peach
2020 2-1
Florida hired a proven and successful, Offensively minded, Head Coach. Tennessee hired a defensive coordinator who had never been a Head Coach.
Mullen and Pruitt came to their respective schools with totally different mindsets toward the teams they inherited. Pruitt came in and basically said I have to totally replace these players with my own, before I can be expected to win. Mullen came in with the exact opposite approach, and embraced all his players on the roster. He made every effort to win over his players who had been recruited by the previous Coach.
They also treated the quarterback position (the most important position on the field), differently. Mullen prepared ALL his quarterbacks to be ready to go on the field and play at a high level at any time, if needed. Pruitt did not. Worse, he picked a quarterback and stuck with him, no matter how poorly he played in games.
So, for the future quarterbacks out there, which team looks more attractive? Which team has the better Coach? Which team will be more successful?
It’s that time again. Tennessee can do better.
