Can you remind us exactly how Beav said it would go down? There's been so much added/subtracted over the last month I'm not sure what the original message was.
The Bucs (assembled under Dungy) had an all time great defense that JG took over. Won the SB their first year, and never won another playoff game. 3 of the following 4 years were losing season.
Now, i dont attribute them being built by Dungy as the major factor for them winning since they beat a team that JG assembled.
My main point to it being a gamble is the difference in coaching in college and pro. Recruiting, pampering students / disciplinary issues vs dealing with grown mem. Recruiting regulations, limited practices, dealing with booster, parents, ensuring students attend classes etc. Its just far different and in EVERY aspect, beside actual play, Gruden is unproven.
I will say this, if Gruden doesnt take the Tennessee job, then I really wish he would make an announcement to Tennessee fans. Just say that he appreciates the offer, but that he has no interest to ever coach at Tennessee.
Also, if he is using all of this as a means to just troll the UT fanbase or as leverage for something else, thats a ***** move. Not saying its not smart, just a jerk move.
I know Swanson isn't an insider, but i did see where he said "yes" when asked to confirm if Hutch from TOS said that he wouldn't say anything was 100%, but he was over 95% confident Gruden would be next HC at Tennessee.
I thought I seen someone in here say Hutch possibly has connections to the Gruden family in some way. If he does and he said that, I think that's a very good sign.
That plus Brice saying he can confirm that Gruden has reached out to either Dale Jones or Tee Martin about his coaching staff, this seems really real! Gruden would not be contacting them if he wasn't at least making an attempt at being a HC somewhere.