VOL_Lyfe
Air Assault
- Joined
- Oct 15, 2012
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“When will the Tennessee Volunteer administration pull the plug on Jeremy Pruitt? The economics of doing so seem clear. Any idea on what’s happening behind the scenes?”
I think Fulmer is looking for a reason not to fire Pruitt as opposed to a reason to fire Pruitt.
Personally, I don’t agree with that philosophy.
Especially given the fact that South Carolina and Vanderbilt already fired their coaches, it’s hard to argue that firing a coach in a COVID year is unacceptable.
What I’ve seen saying is this: wait until the end of the year and then assess the situation. If Tennessee finishes 3-7 — or 2-7 if Vandy isn’t willing to play — what has occurred this year that makes you think year four is going to be a lot different? And look at the historic precedent as well. How often does a coach that is almost fired at the end of his third year go on to turn the tables and become a remarkable success in years four, five, and six? It almost never happens. If a coach almost gets fired one year, he typically gets fired the next year.
Plus, if the Vols wait until year four to pull the plug on Pruitt, the buyout money doesn’t change much. Tennessee would owe a couple of million less next year to fire him than they do this year. But they would probably lose that money in decreased ticket sales for Pruitt in year four, so that’s kind of a wash, honestly.
Ultimately, you need to win to make money. And if you aren’t winning, you need to be able to sell the fan base on the excitement of a new hire. Right now, Tennessee might not have either of those things for next year.
So what coaching options are out there?
To Pruitt’s credit, Tennessee has decent, young talent now. I think there would be a ton of coaches who want this job.
Including Hugh Freeze.
I’m just tossing this out there: what if Freeze could go hire Kevin Steele from Auburn — Steele’s a Tennessee alum — and that was your offensive and defensive play callers next year? That seems like a pretty decent combo that would immediately inject a ton of momentum into Tennessee.
But I don’t think Tennessee will have the stones to do that.
Which is why I’d bet on Pruitt being back for year four.
I think Fulmer is looking for a reason not to fire Pruitt as opposed to a reason to fire Pruitt.
Personally, I don’t agree with that philosophy.
Especially given the fact that South Carolina and Vanderbilt already fired their coaches, it’s hard to argue that firing a coach in a COVID year is unacceptable.
What I’ve seen saying is this: wait until the end of the year and then assess the situation. If Tennessee finishes 3-7 — or 2-7 if Vandy isn’t willing to play — what has occurred this year that makes you think year four is going to be a lot different? And look at the historic precedent as well. How often does a coach that is almost fired at the end of his third year go on to turn the tables and become a remarkable success in years four, five, and six? It almost never happens. If a coach almost gets fired one year, he typically gets fired the next year.
Plus, if the Vols wait until year four to pull the plug on Pruitt, the buyout money doesn’t change much. Tennessee would owe a couple of million less next year to fire him than they do this year. But they would probably lose that money in decreased ticket sales for Pruitt in year four, so that’s kind of a wash, honestly.
Ultimately, you need to win to make money. And if you aren’t winning, you need to be able to sell the fan base on the excitement of a new hire. Right now, Tennessee might not have either of those things for next year.
So what coaching options are out there?
To Pruitt’s credit, Tennessee has decent, young talent now. I think there would be a ton of coaches who want this job.
Including Hugh Freeze.
I’m just tossing this out there: what if Freeze could go hire Kevin Steele from Auburn — Steele’s a Tennessee alum — and that was your offensive and defensive play callers next year? That seems like a pretty decent combo that would immediately inject a ton of momentum into Tennessee.
But I don’t think Tennessee will have the stones to do that.
Which is why I’d bet on Pruitt being back for year four.