Lies, denials, indecision. Aka, a routine search for a coach.

#1
McDad

McDad

I can't brain today; I has the dumb.
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#1
This is the first time I have started a thread. Hope it provides some perspective. Might also be a good place to link what the insiders say in the official JG threads because they get cluttered with a bunch of fun stuff.

I am hopeful that Gruden will be our coach next year. At this point, other posters (many who have a history of credibility) are relaying what they have heard from their "sources". But who is to say their sources know anything more than any of us. For perspective, here is the link to the entire article and the chronological highlights of Saban's statements as HC of Miami while Bama was courting him.

After repeated denials, Saban takes Bama job - College Football - ESPN

A chronology of comments about Nick Saban taking the head coaching job at Alabama:

Nov. 27:
Saban: "When I was in college it was always about coming to the pros. This is the challenge I wanted. I had a good college job. Why would I have left that if I was going to be interested in other college jobs?

"I took this as a challenge. We certainly haven't seen this through and gotten where we want to go and finished the job here, so why would I be interested in something else?"

Dec. 5:
Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga (after giving Saban a vote of confidence): "I am completely sold on Nick Saban. I would admit we made a mistake if we did make a mistake, but I firmly believe in Nick Saban."

Dec. 7:
Saban: "I'm flattered that they may have been interested in me, but it never really progressed, because we just never let it progress."

Dec. 21:
Saban: "I guess I have to say it. I'm not going to be the Alabama coach. ... I don't control what people say. I don't control what people put on dot-com or anything else. So I'm just telling you there's no significance, in my opinion, about this, about me, about any interest that I have in anything other than being the coach here."

Dec. 27:
Saban: "I'm just making a rule to never comment on something like that again because every time you comment on it, it just makes for another story. So I'm not going to comment on it five years from now, and I'm not going to comment on it next week."

Jan. 4:
Saban: "What I realized in the last two years is that we love college coaching because of the ability that it gives you to affect people, young people. ... If I knew that my heart was someplace else in what I wanted to do, I don't think it would be fair to the [Dolphins] organization if I stayed
 
#3
#3
It seems like a recruit that commits then acts like he didn't so he can announce it on ESPN. I hope that's whats happening (Hart's decided but he wants to sit behind a table with a Gruden hat, a Dooley hat, and some hat nobody knew he was considering, like a Bill Curry hat. At first he'll pick up the Bill Curry hat, then he'll say his heart has always been with Gruden and put that hat on).
 
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#4
#4
I've never known what to think of the rumors, but it is interesting to me that Gruden has not denied them. These rumors are starting to seep into the mainstream sports media, too, so Gruden has to know about them at this point.

There could be a few reasons he hasn't responded.

(1) He's interested and can't comment because (a) Dooley is still coach and (b) he's under contract with ESPN

(2) He's interested, but no significant talks have really taken place anyway and the rumors are greatly exaggerated. It makes no sense to address all the rumors, though, before serious talks have even begun.

(3) He's not interested in the Tennessee job, but may be interested in another NFL job.

If he doesn't make a denial soon, it would at least seem true that he is interested in coaching next year. It may be in the NFL, rather than Tennessee, but I can't see any reason not to deny rumors unless he was interested in coaching somewhere.

I still don't know what to think. I thought getting Gruden was a pipe dream not that long ago. Now, I don't know. But this forum has a history of spreading some rumors that might not have much validity to them (e.g. Randy Shannon), so trying to not to get my hopes up.
 
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#5
#5
Honestly, I think it would look worse if he did comment. He or Hart could easily put these rumors to bed by making an official statement to ESPN/public. They have not done this so far. Not saying I'm sold on him being our next HC, but I think it keeps the hope alive.
 
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#9
#9
I was fired up when I heard rumor that we could get a great coach in SEC and that he is coming to Tennessee. The more I read now i think it was nothing but wishful thinking. I hope Gruden comes but probably get a make shift coach like we always do.
 
#10
#10
1725gatorhater said:
I was fired up when I heard rumor that we could get a great coach in SEC and that he is coming to Tennessee. The more I read now i think it was nothing but wishful thinking. I hope Gruden comes but probably get a make shift coach like we always do.
Click to expand...

Truth. UT can't pay near what Gruden could get in the NFL so why would he come here. If he's serious about coaching again, some NFL team would pay him 6-8 million/year without much haggling. He's got it made in the shade bringing down 4 million/year for just having fun to talk football.
 
#11
#11
To play devil's advocate, we don't know how long the rumors were swirling or how much chatter was happening when Saban made his first denial. It is possible that JG rumors haven't reached the level, outside of TN, where he would feel compelled to comment.
Once Saban issued a public denial, he was announced as head coach about 6 weeks later.
 
#12
#12
McDad said:
Jan. 4:
Saban: "What I realized in the last two years is that we love college coaching because of the ability that it gives you to affect people, young people. ... If I knew that my heart was someplace else in what I wanted to do, I don't think it would be fair to the [Dolphins] organization if I stayed
Click to expand...

This is exactly why I thing Gruden is interested in coaching college.
 
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#13
#13
Add in the rumors or pipe dreams of Arkansas, you would think JG would address them or at the very least some hack would ask him about them.
 
#14
#14
TheDeeble said:
Not to me. Nothing more than message board rumors at this point. Nothing to deny.
Click to expand...

I said the same thing a week ago, but at this point, those rumors are seeping into the mainstream media. They could all still be bogus, but we all heard this with Saban back in '08, and he was forced to address them at some point. Of course, Saban also offered a lesson in how not to handle things.

At this point, it's likely that Gruden is looking at coaching jobs. That doesn't necessarily mean college coaching jobs or Tennessee. (In fact, that's why I've always viewed him as a long-shot ... I've assumed that if he were interested in returning to coaching, it would be the NFL)
 
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