Outlook

[KeyVol14]

Deep down I am skeptical of Pruitt. I’m normally a opmistic person and like to see the good in everything. But when it comes to UT football I always have the fear that I will get my hopes dashed for another coaching search in a few years. I don’t know what to think after this season. There were some bright spots but these last two weeks plus the combined margin of losses to WV, FL, Bama etc really make me question if we’re heading in the same direction like we have with the last two coaches. I do think this roster needs to be completely overhauled and needs an influx of Pruitt’s recruits. I think the guy can really coach football but running a program and facing adversity like this is very new to him. I’m not ready to throw in the white towel by any means but it’s fair to be skeptical I suppose. Any way I wonder what’s yalls thoughts are? I know we all want to be competitive once again! Go vols.

 

[VolAllen]

 

[VolAllen]

Let's be honest

 

[McDad]

Some of us have been honest. We were honest with what we saw after each game. The honesty was not appreciated.

 

[KeyVol14]

Some of us have been honest. We were honest with what we saw after each game. The honesty was not appreciated.

I can agree with that

 

[volfannbama]

I heard a radio guy last week comment on Stoops performance at UK and he said They really improved when stoops finally figured out being a head coach has very little to do with actually coaching football"

The hiring of Pruitt should indicate that the admin isnt serious about winning football. I say this because he is a.1st time head.coach..thus there will be growing pains and learning curves etc. What Tennessee needed was an experienced HC that could put things in place right away. Either way, we got Pruitt.

The good news is, most coaches we consider good show the most improvement in year 2. So most likely we will know what we have next season. That doesnt mean we are winning the east, but if we are continually getting blow out by good teams and we get blown out by Vandy, we have a problem.

 

[Bucket18]

Tennessee will continue to roll the dice with low budget hires until Neyland suffers
A major attendance drop. That is happening and might reach a new record low next year. They could care less what we think on this blog. It’s season tickets sales and empty seats that they fear.

 

[ALLVOL 4LIFE]

I have coached kids, love teaching kids the game, giving them the tools to grow as a player, but when a kid or even worse, a group of kids don’t want to do the work to be the best they can be, it’s very disheartening. I could see that on Pruitt’s face yesterday. To give a group your all and only a select few buy in to it is a tough pill to swallow.

I hope he cleans house and runs every single kid that did not give their all out of the program, even if it causes us to be undermanned next year. It’s not his fault he inherited a group of SOFT sissies. Got to get some attitudes on the Hill. No more looks like Tarzan, plays like Jane. We need the Animals.

 

[VolunteerHillbilly]

I have coached kids, love teaching kids the game, giving them the tools to grow as a player, but when a kid or even worse, a group of kids don’t want to do the work to be the best they can be, it’s very disheartening. I could see that on Pruitt’s face yesterday. To give a group your all and only a select few buy in to it is a tough pill to swallow.

I hope he cleans house and runs every single kid that did not give their all out of the program, even if it causes us to be undermanned next year. It’s not his fault he inherited a group of SOFT sissies. Got to get some attitudes on the Hill. No more looks like Tarzan, plays like Jane. We need the Animals.

How's he going to get those types of players? The 2019 class took a major hit on the performance of the past two weeks. Some of those home runs we were hoping for are already scratching us off their lists because they want to win. I'll be mildly surprised if our 2019 class is in the top 20 when all is said and done, which will put us squarely in the bottom half of the conference. Some people will try to comfort themselves by claiming to trust CJP's evaluations more than recruiting service rankings but CJP is not a coach who has ever had to go find diamonds in the rough. All of his recruiting chops are based on shooting fish in a barrel by recruiting big time prospects to winning programs where they were going to go anyway. Maybe he can sway a kid from Clemson to Bama but can he sway kids from Bama to UTK? I guess we're about to find out.

 

[volfannbama]

I have coached kids, love teaching kids the game, giving them the tools to grow as a player, but when a kid or even worse, a group of kids don’t want to do the work to be the best they can be, it’s very disheartening. I could see that on Pruitt’s face yesterday. To give a group your all and only a select few buy in to it is a tough pill to swallow.

I hope he cleans house and runs every single kid that did not give their all out of the program, even if it causes us to be undermanned next year. It’s not his fault he inherited a group of SOFT sissies. Got to get some attitudes on the Hill. No more looks like Tarzan, plays like Jane. We need the Animals.

Weird for someone who "loves teaching kids" to hold the philospy of running problem kids off rather than teaching.

 

[Eastknox865]

Not thread worthy but it's really time to just move on to recruiting. The season is over it is what it is.

 

[Sara Clark]

How's he going to get those types of players? The 2019 class took a major hit on the performance of the past two weeks. Some of those home runs we were hoping for are already scratching us off their lists because they want to win. I'll be mildly surprised if our 2019 class is in the top 20 when all is said and done, which will put us squarely in the bottom half of the conference. Some people will try to comfort themselves by claiming to trust CJP's evaluations more than recruiting service rankings but CJP is not a coach who has ever had to go find diamonds in the rough. All of his recruiting chops are based on shooting fish in a barrel by recruiting big time prospects to winning programs where they were going to go anyway. Maybe he can sway a kid from Clemson to Bama but can he sway kids from Bama to UTK? I guess we're about to find out.

VHillbilly, I often agree with you but this post not so much, or maybe I just question it more so than disagree. One could easily make the argument that we gained some recruits with the Auburn and Kentucky win; just as easily as the argument we lost some in the last two weeks. I don't pretend to know what goes in to recruiting, but I have to believe it doesn't simply boil down to wins and losses.

 

[KeyVol14]

How's he going to get those types of players? The 2019 class took a major hit on the performance of the past two weeks. Some of those home runs we were hoping for are already scratching us off their lists because they want to win. I'll be mildly surprised if our 2019 class is in the top 20 when all is said and done, which will put us squarely in the bottom half of the conference. Some people will try to comfort themselves by claiming to trust CJP's evaluations more than recruiting service rankings but CJP is not a coach who has ever had to go find diamonds in the rough. All of his recruiting chops are based on shooting fish in a barrel by recruiting big time prospects to winning programs where they were going to go anyway. Maybe he can sway a kid from Clemson to Bama but can he sway kids from Bama to UTK? I guess we're about to find out.

But what was saban’s Selling point to recruits? He was coming off a 4 game skid I believe to end the season that included a loss to UL-Monroe. Bama hadn’t been good for a long time at that point as well.

 

[Vol524]

How's he going to get those types of players? The 2019 class took a major hit on the performance of the past two weeks. Some of those home runs we were hoping for are already scratching us off their lists because they want to win. I'll be mildly surprised if our 2019 class is in the top 20 when all is said and done, which will put us squarely in the bottom half of the conference. Some people will try to comfort themselves by claiming to trust CJP's evaluations more than recruiting service rankings but CJP is not a coach who has ever had to go find diamonds in the rough. All of his recruiting chops are based on shooting fish in a barrel by recruiting big time prospects to winning programs where they were going to go anyway. Maybe he can sway a kid from Clemson to Bama but can he sway kids from Bama to UTK? I guess we're about to find out.

Not really sure how you know what recruits are thinking. You have a right to your opinion. I just don't see a commit changing his mind because we lost to Vandy. If it were me I would be thinking man the Vols really need me, I can help turn things around. But I really don't know anymore than you do. I do know Pruitt has a great reputation in football and the commits know that. They know football and can see what Pruitt has to work with. We want the players that WANT to make a difference. We have enough of those that can't make their minds up.

 

[VolunteerHillbilly]

I'm mostly going off what was in the Crouch thread. If this staff pulls a miracle and holds a top 10 class come signing day, I'll chill out. I just really don't see how it's going to happen given some of the things I already pointed out unless we bring back the hostess program and start giving away cars.

 

[Cartervol]

Recruiting is going to make or brake him. Probably could say that about any coach at a high profile job. You can't consistently recruit behind the teams you need to beat and think you will. I still believe Tennessee could have gotten someone who stirred up a buzz if they didn't botch the search. It's typical of how they operate..

 

[Vol524]

I'm mostly going off what was in the Crouch thread. If this staff pulls a miracle and holds a top 10 class come signing day, I'll chill out. I just really don't see how it's going to happen given some of the things I already pointed out unless we bring back the hostess program and start giving away cars.

I agree about the hostess program and cars. Then we could recruit like the Tide. Think about it. Why would 5*'s line up to sit on the bench. Those type of players have never sat the bench. Look a Tua for example. His family is from Hawaii. Until this year. Sometime in the Spring his Dad got a great job in Alabama and his little brother is going to a private school in Alabama. Sounds fishy to me.

 

[VOLINVONORE]

Tennessee will continue to roll the dice with low budget hires until Neyland suffers
A major attendance drop. That is happening and might reach a new record low next year. They could care less what we think on this blog. It’s season tickets sales and empty seats that they fear.

Tennessee offer a number of good experienced head coaches and they decided to go to othe places or stay where they were. i agree that CJP has a learning curve, but he has served under some very good head coaches. He also has Coach Fulmer who can help guide him is his day to day decision making. However, what CJP really needs are football players who have the correct attitude, size, strength and playing skills. There is no short cut to getting these players other than recruiting them. He signed some very good players last year and it appears that he will sign even more very good players in 2019 and 2020. We have to remember these players are /will be high school players when they arrive and they do not come with SEC experience. I expect to see improvement next year and a bowl game. I thjink we will be on the level or better than of USCe, UF, UMo, Vandy, UK, AUb, and probably UGa by mid season 2020. It may take a year longer to catch Bama. The biggest change will be in the talent and attitude of our new players. I expect we will se a complete review of our systems on both offense and defense to determine where positive changes can be made. I think CJP will be able to do these things and will greatly improve as a head coach over the next two years. I look forward to the future of Tennessee football as well as the other sports we play.

 

[Teirnon]

Thank God we did'nt hire Mike Leach! We saved alot of money we can use on Gender studies!

 

[The Original Fade]

Deep down I am skeptical of Pruitt. I’m normally a opmistic person and like to see the good in everything. But when it comes to UT football I always have the fear that I will get my hopes dashed for another coaching search in a few years. I don’t know what to think after this season. There were some bright spots but these last two weeks plus the combined margin of losses to WV, FL, Bama etc really make me question if we’re heading in the same direction like we have with the last two coaches. I do think this roster needs to be completely overhauled and needs an influx of Pruitt’s recruits. I think the guy can really coach football but running a program and facing adversity like this is very new to him. I’m not ready to throw in the white towel by any means but it’s fair to be skeptical I suppose. Any way I wonder what’s yalls thoughts are? I know we all want to be competitive once again! Go vols.

What’s really interesting is that no more than 9 days ago many were speculating that if we could win the last two and a bowl game and finish 8-5 that Pruitt should be given COY consideration.

 

[LittleVol]

I heard a radio guy last week comment on Stoops performance at UK and he said They really improved when stoops finally figured out being a head coach has very little to do with actually coaching football"

The hiring of Pruitt should indicate that the admin isnt serious about winning football. I say this because he is a.1st time head.coach..thus there will be growing pains and learning curves etc. What Tennessee needed was an experienced HC that could put things in place right away. Either way, we got Pruitt.

The good news is, most coaches we consider good show the most improvement in year 2. So most likely we will know what we have next season. That doesnt mean we are winning the east, but if we are continually getting blow out by good teams and we get blown out by Vandy, we have a problem.

Man we tried to get an experienced HC.....

Damn dude don't you remember the circus that was our coaching search after Butch was canned???
We tried Mullen, Brohm, Cambpell, even Doren at NC State.

NO good experienced coach wanted the job!! Having to play UGA and Bama every season with the roster we had, is a huge turnoff.

 

[Teirnon]

Mike Leach wanted the job. UT people in power didnt want him.

 

[Sara Clark]

Mike Leach wanted the job. UT people in power didnt want him.

I think he would have been on a short leash, not given the time needed to turn the program around due to him being so "weird." His personality is draining on the mind.... if he's not winning. Really can't imagine he would have did any better than Pruitt this year.

 

[volfannbama]

Man we tried to get an experienced HC.....

Damn dude don't you remember the circus that was our coaching search after Butch was canned???
We tried Mullen, Brohm, Cambpell, even Doren at NC State.

NO good experienced coach wanted the job!! Having to play UGA and Bama every season with the roster we had, is a huge turnoff.

No good coach shys away from competition. This loser mentality runs throughout our fanbase. The administration is a disaster, which is why they couldnt pull an expereinced coach. Any good expereinced coach can tell this admin is not serious about winning football. Its sortof like the oakland raiders, everyone knows they are not serious about winning. They hired Gruden to be the mouthpiece and take the blame. No experienced coach was going to do that here.
What I said wasnt to slam Pruitt, its just a statement of fact.

 

[Teirnon]

I think he would have been on a short leash, not given the time needed to turn the program around due to him being so "weird." His personality is draining on the mind.... if he's not winning. Really can't imagine he would have did any better than Pruitt this year.

We don't want a "weird" coach that wears pirate outfits even though he wins. Somehow Washington State deals with it and wins. UT gets the cheap maybes coach. Maybe Pruitt builds a decent team, maybe not. Maybe in 3 more years all this chaos will start again.