Let the Vitello speculation begin!

#26
#26
Nico ee-ah-MAH-LAY-ah-va said:
I trust DW will do what is needed to keep Tony in Knoxville. TV has the paycheck, new stadium (and field from a few years ago), along with fan and facility support. There really isn't more you could ask for.
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I'll be dead level honest...I'm not sure I do.

I mean, I *think* DW would do what is needed, but there's a greed to White that has never sat right with me. There's too many guys like him with an ego that lets them believe guys like TV can be replaced.

I think there's a bit of a reckoning coming with LNS and some changes the coaching staff wants (or at least wanted during the season). The admin better be able to smooth that over.
 
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#29
#29
WallyBalls said:
I'll be dead level honest...I'm not sure I do.

I mean, I *think* DW would do what is needed, but there's a greed to White that has never sat right with me. There's too many guys like him with an ego that lets them believe guys like TV can be replaced.

I think there's a bit of a reckoning coming with LNS and some changes the coaching staff wants (or at least wanted during the season). The admin better be able to smooth that over.
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Why pay him 3M last year and commit to the stadium renovations if DW thought he could replace Tony?
 
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#31
#31
If I wanted to be considered a blue blood Baseball program, the lack of a National Championship would be considered semantics to me too! Hey Arkansas, Oregon State has won three National Championships! Oregon State! Let that sink in, and Arky has none!
 
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#32
#32
Freak said:
It always seems to me like Arkansas fans think very highly of their program, considering they've never won a national championship. The title after you click the link is:

Vitello seems up for being next Arkansas coach, but Tennessee has one major edge​


www.si.com

Vitello, Van Horn trying to keep Tennessee, Arkansas series about game on field

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas against Tennessee is billed as the super regional of the weekend. The top two statistical offenses are pitted against each...
www.si.com www.si.com
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Reported!!
 
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#33
#33
WallyBalls said:
I'll be dead level honest...I'm not sure I do.

I mean, I *think* DW would do what is needed, but there's a greed to White that has never sat right with me. There's too many guys like him with an ego that lets them believe guys like TV can be replaced.

I think there's a bit of a reckoning coming with LNS and some changes the coaching staff wants (or at least wanted during the season). The admin better be able to smooth that over.
Click to expand...

What specifically is it that is going to cause this reckoning? What does TV want that you’ve heard the admin will not allow?
 
#34
#34
Spot on. I don’t trust DW and the fact that he didn’t hire CTV doesn’t help. He’s all about the dollars and his ego is enormous. With that said, I can’t imagine that he would be foolish enough not to fight like heck to keep CTV for decades.
 
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#35
#35
taylorvol said:
Spot on. I don’t trust DW and the fact that he didn’t hire CTV doesn’t help. He’s all about the dollars and his ego is enormous. With that said, I can’t imagine that he would be foolish enough not to fight like heck to keep CTV for decades.
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I definitely don't want CTV to EVER take another job but if he did don't you think with our success the last 8-9 years that this would be an attractive job to the top notch head coaches or top assistants striving of a HC position?
 
#36
#36
taylorvol said:
Spot on. I don’t trust DW and the fact that he didn’t hire CTV doesn’t help. He’s all about the dollars and his ego is enormous. With that said, I can’t imagine that he would be foolish enough not to fight like heck to keep CTV for decades.
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I may ruffle a few feathers here, but I think the DW hate is so weird. I understand that people do not like the price increases we are seeing across sports, I don’t either, but I’m not sure how anyone can say it’s because DW is a money hungry, greedy, dollar-worshipping, egotistical, (insert adjective here) monster.

With revenue sharing, NIL, etc., college athletics are in a landscape shift right now and he’s only doing what is necessary to keep us competitive. Success isn’t cheap, especially now that schools have to account for an additional $20 million a year to pay players starting this Fall. If he took the “consumer friendly” route, it very likely would come with a reduction in talent across the board in sports, thus fans would be pissed about lack of success on the field or court instead of the prices and professionalization of college athletics. If it’s not one thing, it would be something else.

I’m not sure what he has done that is at odds with trying to keep us successful in all sports.
 
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#37
#37
taylorvol said:
Spot on. I don’t trust DW and the fact that he didn’t hire CTV doesn’t help. He’s all about the dollars and his ego is enormous. With that said, I can’t imagine that he would be foolish enough not to fight like heck to keep CTV for decades.
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So you'd prefer previous ADs/administrations, who probably would have let TV walk after not giving him the salary + stadium improvements he wanted?

DW's job is to bring in more athletics revenue to the university. Being "all about the dollars" is the reason he was hired.
 
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#38
#38
WallyBalls said:
I'll be dead level honest...I'm not sure I do.

I mean, I *think* DW would do what is needed, but there's a greed to White that has never sat right with me. There's too many guys like him with an ego that lets them believe guys like TV can be replaced.

I think there's a bit of a reckoning coming with LNS and some changes the coaching staff wants (or at least wanted during the season). The admin better be able to smooth that over.
Click to expand...
I get that. I would be interested to see how ROI in baseball is vs some of the other sports.

I do think DW values coaches though. Tennessee has some of the best paid coaches in the country across major sports. I think he would dabble in additional revenue streams first (like selling the naming rights to LNS) before trying to save money on a coaching change.

Vitello does have us in a bind though. He IS Tennessee baseball right now. If he left tomorrow, it would put us in a major bind. He has a lot of leverage as those major renovations cost a lot and we probably don't get asses in seats without him at the helm.
 
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#39
#39
TheMookieMonster said:
I may ruffle a few feathers here, but I think the DW hate is so weird. I understand that people do not like the price increases we are seeing across sports, I don’t either, but I’m not sure how anyone can say it’s because DW is a money hungry, greedy, dollar-worshipping, egotistical, (insert adjective here) monster.

With revenue sharing, NIL, etc., college athletics are in a landscape shift right now and he’s only doing what is necessary to keep us competitive. Success isn’t cheap, especially now that schools have to account for an additional $20 million a year to pay players starting this Fall. If he took the “consumer friendly” route, it very likely would come with a reduction in talent across the board in sports, thus fans would be pissed about lack of success on the field or court instead of the prices and professionalization of college athletics. If it’s not one thing, it would be something else.

I’m not sure what he has done that is at odds with trying to keep us successful in all sports.
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People are miserable in general.... if DW was the "monster" they made him out to be, we wouldn't be half as successful in the four major sports as we have been
 
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#41
#41
TheMookieMonster said:
I may ruffle a few feathers here, but I think the DW hate is so weird. I understand that people do not like the price increases we are seeing across sports, I don’t either, but I’m not sure how anyone can say it’s because DW is a money hungry, greedy, dollar-worshipping, egotistical, (insert adjective here) monster.

With revenue sharing, NIL, etc., college athletics are in a landscape shift right now and he’s only doing what is necessary to keep us competitive. Success isn’t cheap, especially now that schools have to account for an additional $20 million a year to pay players starting this Fall. If he took the “consumer friendly” route, it very likely would come with a reduction in talent across the board in sports, thus fans would be pissed about lack of success on the field or court instead of the prices and professionalization of college athletics. If it’s not one thing, it would be something else.

I’m not sure what he has done that is at odds with trying to keep us successful in all sports.
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I'll only add as a point of clarity, and perhaps a dash of devil's advocate, that those price increases, seating rearrangements, broken promises, and "money-hungry" decisions came well in advance of the revenue sharing decision.

Danny White is in a thankless position for reasons you mentioned. He had no connection to Tennessee prior to coming here, so that makes him less beloved but also gives him the fortitude to make tough decisions without fear of smearing his onw legacy as a former player or coach.

In other words, ADs don't come to schools to be loved and just have to accept that they aren't going to be the most popular figure on campus most days. Tough decisions generally render tough outcomes.
 
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#42
#42
TheMookieMonster said:
I may ruffle a few feathers here, but I think the DW hate is so weird. I understand that people do not like the price increases we are seeing across sports, I don’t either, but I’m not sure how anyone can say it’s because DW is a money hungry, greedy, dollar-worshipping, egotistical, (insert adjective here) monster.

With revenue sharing, NIL, etc., college athletics are in a landscape shift right now and he’s only doing what is necessary to keep us competitive. Success isn’t cheap, especially now that schools have to account for an additional $20 million a year to pay players starting this Fall. If he took the “consumer friendly” route, it very likely would come with a reduction in talent across the board in sports, thus fans would be pissed about lack of success on the field or court instead of the prices and professionalization of college athletics. If it’s not one thing, it would be something else.

I’m not sure what he has done that is at odds with trying to keep us successful in all sports.
Click to expand...
I think its fair to not like the stuff you mentioned. DW is increasing the revenue in every way he can.

The flip side is that we are one of the most exciting athletic departments in nearly every sport. That success can be attributed in part to DW's vision of Tennessee being an everything school.

Think about it like this: Tennessee is ALWAYS in the college sports spotlight. Doesn't matter the sport: we have eyes, eyes bring revenue, and revenue keeps us relevant.

Do I like everything DW has done? No. I hate Pilot for their greasy/sketchy gas stations. I dislike Food City because of the painkiller lawsuits. However, I cannot deny he is doing what he has to in order to get the money to improve those venues.
 
#43
#43
I don't think TV's Dennis Rodman bad guy personality would go over well in Arky. As someone that spends a lot of time doing business in both NW Arkansas and Knoxville areas, NW Arky seems larger and more progressive in many respects, but they are definitely traditional, old fashioned still where TV as a head coach might not go over too well for very long. Assistant coaches yes, but not the face of the program.
 
#44
#44
knoxvol52 said:
I definitely don't want CTV to EVER take another job but if he did don't you think with our success the last 8-9 years that this would be an attractive job to the top notch head coaches or top assistants striving of a HC position?
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What if the Dodgers wanted him?
 
#46
#46
AurantiacoFan said:
I don't think TV's Dennis Rodman bad guy personality would go over well in Arky. As someone that spends a lot of time doing business in both NW Arkansas and Knoxville areas, NW Arky seems larger and more progressive in many respects, but they are definitely traditional, old fashioned still where TV as a head coach might not go over too well for very long. Assistant coaches yes, but not the face of the program.
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His style would not matter one iota if he went there and won their first title.

The thing about TV returning to Arkansas is that I think it'd have to be purely a money thing, and Tennessee has already shown they're committed to keeping him by making him the highest paid baseball coach. His only tie there is as an assistant from 2014-17. It isn't like he's from there or played there and would be returning home. Other than Arkansas money whipping him, which I guess is possible, I'm not sure why he'd go there. He's been at Tennessee for longer than he was at Arkansas and has won a national title here.
 
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#49
#49
cncchris33 said:
I'll only add as a point of clarity, and perhaps a dash of devil's advocate, that those price increases, seating rearrangements, broken promises, and "money-hungry" decisions came well in advance of the revenue sharing decision.

Danny White is in a thankless position for reasons you mentioned. He had no connection to Tennessee prior to coming here, so that makes him less beloved but also gives him the fortitude to make tough decisions without fear of smearing his onw legacy as a former player or coach.

In other words, ADs don't come to schools to be loved and just have to accept that they aren't going to be the most popular figure on campus most days. Tough decisions generally render tough outcomes.
Click to expand...

Fair point of clarification, but I would only counter with he likely made those decisions with the foresight that revenue sharing or collective bargaining of some kind were an inevitability, so he took a leap that he knew would frustrate fans because he knew it was necessary. The fact that he is now publicly throwing his weight behind collective bargaining when many other ADs are silent suggests to me he’s a step ahead of the trends before they happen.

Don’t get me wrong, I would love to see the “fans” be taken care of more than they are but it’s not an isolated trend at the University of Tennessee. This is happening everywhere. People can hate the talent fee, but he’s only being transparent. Meanwhile, tons of other schools are raising prices and lying about what this is really used for.
 
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#50
#50
Well…..I think it will be hard to keep TV from at least talking with Arkansas. I have no idea the draw, but I think he enjoyed his time there. He will listen and might even entertain an offer. We shall see.
 
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