Mike leach called Pruitt's hiring a coup d'é·tat

[volsknx]

7 or 8 wins would not be good enough for fans. But history has shown it is plenty enough to get a coach an extension and to prolong the agony just a few more seasons as all said coach needs is “just a couple of more recruiting classes” because we are always “a young team”

Or the constant “injury” excuse”!

 

[Devo182]

I think we were the lucky ones. We would be in a much worse situation than we are now.

How?? We just went 3-7 and Leach is one of the top 10 "value added" coaches in the nation. Regularly ranked as the best Xs and Os coach in the country, as seen from comparing how far above his teams play above their talent level.

 

[OrangeTsar]

How?? We just went 3-7 and Leach is one of the top 10 "value added" coaches in the nation. Regularly ranked as the best Xs and Os coach in the country, as seen from comparing how far above his teams play above their talent level.

Who really knows? Tennessee is the twilight Zone. It wouldn’t even really surprise me if Saban himself wouldn’t self destruct here.

 

[JonGrudensAgent]

Consistent 7 to 8 win seasons would never be "good enough" for Vol fans. If 8 double digit win seasons, 4 nine win seasons, 2 eight win seasons, but unfortunately 2 five win seasons weren't "good enough", how to 7 to 8 win seasons trump all that?

There were very likely more 5 win seasons on the way under Fulmer.

Between Cutcliffe leaving....Saban and Meyer showing up....Richt tightening things up in GA recruiting....and Fulmers arrogance getting the best of him....things weren't looking great.

 

[ABINGDON VOL FAN]

I expect to hear form you, but I disagree.

So your saying that Pruitt was a better choice than Leach?

 

[GoVols1961]

There were very likely more 5 win seasons on the way under Fulmer.

Between Cutcliffe leaving....Saban and Meyer showing up....Richt tightening things up in GA recruiting....and Fulmers arrogance getting the best of him....things weren't looking great.

Sure, that could have happened. Do we fire someone based on what could happen? Evidently we do. After Fulmer's first 5 win season in 2005, he followed up with 9 wins in 2006, then 10 wins in 2007, then back to 5 wins in 2008.

In 2008, he had a new offensive coordinator with an offense style that most players knew nothing about. It could be argued he didn't have the personnel to fit this style of offense. The best fullback he had, which figured highly in Clawson's offense, tore his ACL. I'm not making excuses but you got to admit there were plenty of things to overcome.

Fulmer had proven before his teams could bounce back from a 5 win season. Maybe they would have again. Maybe they wouldn't. I think he deserved another year.

 

[LWSVOL]

Cannot verify but people on twitter are talking about him saying this today on media days, Thoughts?

I believe he was referring to the Currie removal, not the Pruitt hire..

 

[Hairy Vols]

Mike Leach is full of IT.I am so happy he is not coaching at Tennessee.What a swelled up Turd!View attachment 381867

Leach is one of the most blunt coaches in all of sports. I would say he is quite he opposite of "full of it."

If he says something I would nearly bet my life on him meaning whatever he says.

 

[JonGrudensAgent]

Sure, that could have happened. Do we fire someone based on what could happen? Evidently we do. After Fulmer's first 5 win season in 2005, he followed up with 9 wins in 2006, then 10 wins in 2007, then back to 5 wins in 2008.

In 2008, he had a new offensive coordinator with an offense style that most players knew nothing about. It could be argued he didn't have the personnel to fit this style of offense. The best fullback he had, which figured highly in Clawson's offense, tore his ACL. I'm not making excuses but you got to admit there were plenty of things to overcome.

Fulmer had proven before his teams could bounce back from a 5 win season. Maybe they would have again. Maybe they wouldn't. I think he deserved another year.

And that 10 win season in 2007 included getting humiliated by FL and Bama and a return of Cutcliffe the year prior.

I dont think he had it in him to keep up.

Too stubborn and set in his ways. Held onto Sanders too long and this debacle under Pruitt just cements Fulmers questionable judgement and the idea that it was time for him to step away.

 

[GoVols1961]

And that 10 win season in 2007 included getting humiliated by FL and Bama and a return of Cutcliffe the year prior.

I dont think he had it in him to keep up.

Too stubborn and set in his ways. Held onto Sanders too long and this debacle under Pruitt just cements Fulmers questionable judgement and the idea that it was time for him to step away.

In 2005 5 win season, he lost to Florida, Georgia, and Alabama.
in 2006 9 win season, he beats Georgia, Alabama, and loses by 1 point to Florida.
I'd call that bouncing back pretty well.

 

[TNnative]

Does anyone really listen to what the clown pirate says?

Actually, yes. And for good reason.

 

[Thedoc]

IMHO tennessee would be in an exponentially better position if they made the Leach hire rather than what happened.

Of course. How would it have been worse?

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

Actually, yes. And for good reason.

He is a walking joke.

 

[JonGrudensAgent]

In 2005 5 win season, he lost to Florida, Georgia, and Alabama.
in 2006 9 win season, he beats Georgia, Alabama, and loses by 1 point to Florida.
I'd call that bouncing back pretty well.

Call it whatever you want. I would call it Cutcliffe buying him a few more years.

He got fired as head coach.

Manage to backdoor his way into a second job with UT.

Got fired from that job as AD.

And now he has left the program in worse shape than he did the first time he got fired. At least they weren't facing NCAA sanctions when he got fired as head coach.

Keep clutching to that 98 title and that winning percentage built largely on wins in November beating up homecoming opponents, Vandy, and Kentucky though.

I like remembering the good old days too but tend to stick with the here and now.

 

[tnmarktx]

Yeah, I heard Leach talk about a coup... typical Leach but I think it worked out best for all involved.

You think it worked out better that we hired a terrible coach that paid players for play, winning 3 games while doing so, and did nothing but continued to set this program back? Leach is 1000x better coach than Pruitt, while I'm fine with where we are now, Leach would've been a far better hire than Pruitt.

 

[Rickyvol77]

The guy took Texas Tech and made them into a top 5 program beating Texas along the way only to get shafted by the BCS.

I say this again.. Texas Tech!

One fluke year out of decades of coaching and really had a miracle to win the Texas game. He is great for scoring meaningless points and gaining tons of meaningless yards to go 7-6

 

[Rickyvol77]

Call it whatever you want. I would call it Cutcliffe buying him a few more years.

He got fired as head coach.

Manage to backdoor his way into a second job with UT.

Got fired from that job as AD.

And now he has left the program in worse shape than he did the first time he got fired. At least they weren't facing NCAA sanctions when he got fired as head coach.

Keep clutching to that 98 title and that winning percentage built largely on wins in November beating up homecoming opponents, Vandy, and Kentucky though.

I like remembering the good old days too but tend to stick with the here and now.

While I agree Fulmer was stubborn and caused his own downfall by it, characterizing his win loss record by beating “homecoming opponents, UK and Vandy” is a little dramatic. He routinely played and beat several SEC powerhouses and great OOC teams during his tenure here

 

[RDU VOL#14]

I think we were the lucky ones. We would be in a much worse situation than we are now.

 

[Firebirdparts]

coup d'é·tat?

Is that the thing where you have one guy and two women? I want a coupe de tarts please.

With three women it’s a sedan d’ètat

 

[JonGrudensAgent]

While I agree Fulmer was stubborn and caused his own downfall by it, characterizing his win loss record by beating “homecoming opponents, UK and Vandy” is a little dramatic. He routinely played and beat several SEC powerhouses and great OOC teams during his tenure here

I can agree to an extent but those powerhouses...namely UGA. Bama and FL under Zook obviously had their down years during Fulmers heyday.

31 of his career wins came against KY and Vandy.

Throw in mostly cupcakes for homecoming and it is north of 40 of his wins coming against that November schedule.

 

[TNnative]

He is a walking joke.

Just like Philip Fulmer is. But Leach is funny.

 

[OffTackleVol]

Call it whatever you want. I would call it Cutcliffe buying him a few more years.

He got fired as head coach.

Manage to backdoor his way into a second job with UT.

Got fired from that job as AD.

And now he has left the program in worse shape than he did the first time he got fired. At least they weren't facing NCAA sanctions when he got fired as head coach.

Keep clutching to that 98 title and that winning percentage built largely on wins in November beating up homecoming opponents, Vandy, and Kentucky though.

I like remembering the good old days too but tend to stick with the here and now.

LOL, yea that 152-52 record was mostly done in the month of November, lmao. In my remaining life, I doubt I get to see 7 straight wins over Bama or 9 of 10 or 10 of 12. Yea, those 10 wins in 12 games over Bama were all played in November. Georgia games, too.

 

[Rickyvol77]

I can agree to an extent but those powerhouses...namely UGA. Bama and FL under Zook obviously had their down years during Fulmers heyday.

31 of his career wins came against KY and Vandy.

Throw in mostly cupcakes for homecoming and it is north of 40 of his wins coming against that November schedule.

So what though? Those are conference opponents and teams on his schedule? Just like any other coach has, do you think Bama fans say well Saban has 15 wins vs Miss State and then 20 be Arkansas and then the 3 cupcake teams per year so really like 50 of his wins have come against weak teams?

Fulmer had a pretty great overall SEC record regardless. And consistently beat good or great OOC teams or in bowls like UCLA, Syracuse, Notre Dame, Miami, Florida St, California, Nwestern, Ohio St, Michigan, Boston College, Texas tech, Oklahoma St, Louisville, Texas A&M, Virginia Tech, Wisconsin etc.

Fulmer had valid things to be criticized about, but I don’t think it’s fair to criticize his schedule as it was actually tougher than most other coaches during the same time period.

Also Bama and Florida and UGA may have had “down times” during that stretch but they still had top 10-25 teams that Fulmer was beating regularly too

 

[The Original Fade]

I think we were the lucky ones. We would be in a much worse situation than we are now.

You’re kidding right?

 

[TNnative]

Cannot verify but people on twitter are talking about him saying this today on media days, Thoughts?

Actually, the coup d'etat Leach was speaking of was the firing of Currie, not the hiring of Pruitt. However that led to a second coup d'etat which led to the resignation of Fulmer. But with honors.