Official Jon Gruden Thread XIV

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That's why I asked the question earlier about when MNF was over. December 17th is the last game.

Interesting.

The simple fact is this:

We all saw this coming. Every UT fan, everyone in the AD, and everyone involved in the organization. Every person who knows anything about UT Football knew that the Gruden saga would be an issue as soon as Dooley was out. It's common sense.

Every booster and everyone in the AD has to know that with every day that a coach isn't signed, the fever/hysteria for Gruden would only grow larger.

IF he truly wasn't in play. Hart, Gruden, or a high-up booster should have, and likely would have, put a nail in this from the getgo. It's too obvious. You temper fan expectations and get us excited about more likely candidates. That hasn't happened, and the only credible stories coming out with verified sources say that, in fact, Gruden was/is very much in play.

High-up people (not the highest obviously) - know about this. Mostly, reporters, folks connected to the boosters and program, etc. That's why I think that Memphis story was pushed out last Tuesday - to get more answers. Probably, it was largely inaccurate and speculation, but I think it was the state's way of putting pressure of those in charge to find out where exactly we stand in the current situation. A feeler, if you will, for the status of the Gruden situation. Obviously, it forced some hands. Since that story, we've tons of things regarding Gruden - many have been speculative, vague, or outright contradictory, but regardless, they are "things" regarding him and our coaching search.

Yet again, this would have been a perfect time for Hart, Gruden, or Haslam to completely put this thing to bed if it wasn't happening. They haven't - instead just adding more fuel to the fire with non-statements, questionable sources trying to shoot it down, and gradual leaks from people actually in the know telling us just how close this whole situation is.

All the while, other coaches are publicly getting hired/interviews from other teams, and TN is appearing to be left in the dust, or at least lagging behind in a coaching search if Gruden wasn't indeed the man.

That just can't happen from a realistic standpoint. With every day that goes by without a proverbial stake-in-the-heart of this, there's only going to be that much revolt/negative reaction if some other name is hired. The AD and boosters have to know this, and I'm sure they do, and the reasons they aren't saying anything only points to one obvious conclusion.
 
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I am afraid you guys might be giving a small market newspaper too much credit here.

I hope I am wrong.

The Chattanooga times free press might make the Knoxville News Sentinal look like Forbes or the Economist, but so would the Enquirer.

I am not sold that this guys credibility is untarnished because of his career of working in a relatively minor newspaper.

I think you're missing the point.
 
Better than Dooley is not a great qualification. A second tier coach is coming unfortunately.

From my perspective, the first tier is such a small group that it is silly to even consider pulling them away from their current position.

Saban
Miles
Stoop

The second tier is filled with great coaches, many of whom are showing incredible signs of promise.

Muschamp
Fisher
Kelly

The third tier is still a step above what we have had. These are guys that have potential but haven't been at a place that they could realize this.

Strong
Fedora
Golden
Franklin

Then you get to what we have had, the place where dreams go to die. Some hope, looks good enough in an interview, but all hat, not cattle.

Dooley
Houston Nutt (yes he belongs here)
probably 100's of names. This is where the vast majority of college coaches actually live.

Did you notice a name missing?

Gruden.

He hasn't proven himself as a college coach, at all.

Superbowl rings show a great deal of flash and hope, but there is no way around admitting that this is a high risk/high reward situation.
 
I am afraid you guys might be giving a small market newspaper too much credit here.

I hope I am wrong.

The Chattanooga times free press might make the Knoxville News Sentinal look like Forbes or the Economist, but so would the Enquirer.

I am not sold that this guys credibility is untarnished because of his career of working in a relatively minor newspaper.

most people would agree with your comment, but with all the information going especially the credible evidence that this has been pursued for months by credible boosters, its hard to believe there just gonna give up? gruden has ties to tennesee, his wife? i dont think his statement that was released by his agent is how u treat yours wifes alta mater. obviously, there has been serious interest by gruden and all these people are not lying. take it for what its worth, but dont post in the thread if your not a true grudenite!:rock::lolabove::salute:
 
I listen to these arguments as to why Strong would do better at TN, but they sound awfully close to the same things that were being said by Dooley apologists when he arrived at TN.

Strong may be the greatest thing since sliced bread, but to say coming to TN will make it all better is not reality.

Not the same at all. Dooley had a losing record at Tech and was never a coordinator. Strong was a DC at our biggest rival and is winning a semi BCS conference.
 
I hope you are correct.

Sports agents are like attorneys. They must "deny", "discount" and "deflect" for the best interest of their client. The best interest in this situation is Gruden and Hart. I think although "reports" "sources" and "second hand quotes" have been sprinkled in throughout this whole deal, never once have the two "clients" made any statements. Agents of Gruden and Hart have been doing thier job as representatives of the clients "deny", "discount" and "deflect", so they can resume negotiations without interference from media and fans. I know agents in the business and they do not argue my thoughts about representing their clients. Just my opinion and Hart can't deny me that. I think Grudens side went over the top to deny reports of negotiations going on. Grudens idiot kicker (Lamonte) proved that.
 
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From my perspective, the first tier is such a small group that it is silly to even consider pulling them away from their current position.

Saban
Miles
Stoop

The second tier is filled with great coaches, many of whom are showing incredible signs of promise.

Muschamp
Fisher
Kelly

The third tier is still a step above what we have had. These are guys that have potential but haven't been at a place that they could realize this.

Strong
Fedora
Golden
Franklin

Then you get to what we have had, the place where dreams go to die. Some hope, looks good enough in an interview, but all hat, not cattle.

Dooley
Houston Nutt (yes he belongs here)
probably 100's of names. This is where the vast majority of college coaches actually live.

Did you notice a name missing?

Gruden.

He hasn't proven himself as a college coach, at all.

Superbowl rings show a great deal of flash and hope, but there is no way around admitting that this is a high risk/high reward situation.

I'd put Kelly in that top list IMO
 
Then I am grateful you are not the one making the decision.

I would take Phil over strong, Fedora, Fisher any day. All he did was win. with the right coaches around him hed get us back to the ways of old because he was the one that got us there in the first place. I mean people 3 years ago were calling for richts head and now he has them playing for the sec title. Look what k state did when they brought back Snyder.
 
I think you're missing the point.

You are very possibly right. I have missed many points in my day, truth be told.

Here is the point that I saw: hanging hope on one reporter from a very minor newspaper who is adamantly supporting his position. It proves that he believes what he was told. That is honorable, and certainly better than posting misinformation on a message board.

Id love to believe that he is right. Except that after I have come down on my Gruden induced sugar high, I am not so certain that there aren't much better coaches out there for a program that is in the shape that we are in. JMO.
 
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I would take Phil over strong, Fedora, Fisher any day. All he did was win. with the right coaches around him hed get us back to the ways of old because he was the one that got us there in the first place. I mean people 3 years ago were calling for richts head and now he has them playing for the sec title. Look what k state did when they brought back Snyder.

I really like Phil but I think he lost his fire the last couple of years.

I do believe he bleeds orange and could possible make a great AD here.
 
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The simple fact is this:

We all saw this coming. Every UT fan, everyone in the AD, and everyone involved in the organization. Every person who knows anything about UT Football knew that the Gruden saga would be an issue as soon as Dooley was out. It's common sense.

Every booster and everyone in the AD has to know that with every day that a coach isn't signed, the fever/hysteria for Gruden would only grow larger.

IF he truly wasn't in play. Hart, Gruden, or a high-up booster should have, and likely would have, put a nail in this from the getgo. It's too obvious. You temper fan expectations and get us excited about more likely candidates. That hasn't happened, and the only credible stories coming out with verified sources say that, in fact, Gruden was/is very much in play.

High-up people (not the highest obviously) - know about this. Mostly, reporters, folks connected to the boosters and program, etc. That's why I think that Memphis story was pushed out last Tuesday - to get more answers. Probably, it was largely inaccurate and speculation, but I think it was the state's way of putting pressure of those in charge to find out where exactly we stand in the current situation. A feeler, if you will, for the status of the Gruden situation. Obviously, it forced some hands. Since that story, we've tons of things regarding Gruden - many have been speculative, vague, or outright contradictory, but regardless, they are "things" regarding him and our coaching search.

Yet again, this would have been a perfect time for Hart, Gruden, or Haslam to completely put this thing to bed if it wasn't happening. They haven't - instead just adding more fuel to the fire with non-statements, questionable sources trying to shoot it down, and gradual leaks from people actually in the know telling us just how close this whole situation is.

All the while, other coaches are publicly getting hired/interviews from other teams, and TN is appearing to be left in the dust, or at least lagging behind in a coaching search if Gruden wasn't indeed the man.

That just can't happen from a realistic standpoint. With every day that goes by without a proverbial stake-in-the-heart of this, there's only going to be that much revolt/negative reaction if some other name is hired. The AD and boosters have to know this, and I'm sure they do, and the reasons they aren't saying anything only points to one obvious conclusion.

Your theory has been discussed here several times since yesterday. A friend from here that I communicate with privately and I have discussed this over and over again. One of my buddies calls me delusional and in denial. I just laugh, because at this point...any theory is possible. And I choose to lean in your direction.
 
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Listen folks, according to everyone we have the #1 job available right now in college football. However, the media is pretty quiet on the search for all intents and purposes compared to the other searches going on. Be patient...
 
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I don't want Jimbo Fisher. Ugh. Hope the rumors aren't true that he might be our coach.
 
Jayson Swain ‏@JaysonSwain

SOURCE: "If Strong comes a group of bigtime prospects will come to UT together.It would be crazy" - On possibility of hiring Charlie Strong
 
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