If you have heard me give this rant on similar threads, I'm sorry. I've been saying for a while that if we wanted Gruden, we can get him. I think this is enough information for everyone to form a rational opinion.
How the times have changed since the last time we did this. In short, its been along time. I think we will all agree on one thing, we want to get it right the first time. After watching everybody upgrade and modernize their coaching staffs the last 8 years, we have sit back biting our fingers, and the last 5 banging our heads. But now its our turn.
I'm not going to go throught the bama thing, cause we all witnessed it. Mal Moore couldn't afford to hire another dud and the bamers were desperate for success. They entertained all the trendy names, but in the end there was only one canidate they wanted. He was a guarantee in everyones book. They stopped at nothing and bought Nick Saban despite any ties to Alabama of the University. He even took a pay cut to get back to the SEC and makes around $4 million yr.
BIO and Career
Jon Gruden grew up in South Bend, IN where his dad was an assistant to Devine at ND. Gruden later went to Dayton to play football. His dad then went to the Bucs and his parents moved to Tampa Bay.
After college, his first coaching job was as a grad assistant at UT. After a hot cheerleader dumped Johnny Majors son, Gruden said I don't give a ****, swooped in and eventually married her. She is from Sevier County, I believe Morristown.
1/2 of his roots are in TN
Remember his parents moved to TB when Gruden was in college. After a long stint there, his dad was fired and vowed never to return. He didn't until Gruden became HC and he became a scout.
He is not attached to TB.
He is disattached from the Midwest and never coached in the big ten or notre dame.
His wife's entire family is from East TN.
The majority of assistants and coordinators on that team were successful collegiate and NFL coaches. He stayed with the UT boys all the way to the NFL.
Walt Harris took him to Pacific.
Then his last collegiate job was at Pitt
His dad set up a job with Holmgreen who was OC at SF under Bill Walsh. Holmgreen then took him to GreenBay and Philly. Without ever returning to the college game, he became the headcoach at Oakland and now TB.
His pedigree is UT and Holmgreen.
His record at TB:
2002: 15-4 Won SB
2003: 7-9 NO Playoff
2004: 11-6 Lost first round
2005: 7-9 No Playoff
2006: 4-12 No Playoff
2007: 9-8
CONTRACT YEAR LOST FIRST ROUND
2008: 5-3
Total: 58-51 (NO playoff Wins since super bowl)
Even his SuperBowl wasn't going to get him a contract extension in 2007. But he squeked a homefield playoff birth out during a contract year.
His contract was extended only 4 years until 2011. Unless he wins some playoff games, he will be coaching somewhere else.
He makes $4.3 million a year. (8th)
Holmgreen makes the most, $8 million
What he makes is Low tier NFL money but would barely make him the highest paid coach in college.
Can UT afford him
Yes.
What Bama paid Saban in 06 was $4 million.
2 years worth of market inflation, he would cost around $4.5 million in 2009. So if we did what Bama did, we would alredy be matching his current salary. The rumor is an intial offer of $5 million. Makes sense.
How High can UT go?
Gruden is going to pack out Neyland every game and you know it. It would be bigger than Saban since he is a 41 YR OLD SUPERBOWL WINNING COACH! Makes Mark Richt look old fashioned. Saban has already made bama more money than they will ever have to pay him out.
$EC TV Contracts
I truely believe this is going to change college football forever.
Next year the SEC will receive
2.25 BILLION for 15 years from ESPN
55 million a year from CBS
Totaling 200 million a year
All 12 schools will receive an additional
$16.5 million a year
Within a year, Saban was bumped to 2nd highest in the SEC by Miles. Before the TV contracts, we were already paying our 2nd best SEC coach top 10 NFL money. This money will be used to pay for the best coaches in the nation, top coordinators in the nation, and will keep the coaches from leaving. Not only that, the SEC may one day see the highest paid coach in all of Football.
ESPN, SEC agree to $2.25 billion TV deal | ajc.com
Do we really want Chucky
Yes. The only other person with a very high probability of succeeding is Butch Davis. But competing with Clemson, Auburn, and UNC is going to drive the bidding throught the roof. They may not have a longshot canidate like us and may kill for him. Before its over, Jimmy Sexton is going to suck $4 million out of someone. IMO this is way too high . For $4 million, you shouldn't have to risk anything. As much as I like BD as my second favorite, I still think he's a little risky. Besides, we got the money for Gruden.
If you are willing to risk $4 million
Then go on and pay $6 mil for the guarantee
Bucs give Jon Gruden 3-year extension - USATODAY.com
Jon Gruden - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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