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LOSER: TENNESSEE
In the end, Tennessee ended up with an inferior coach, an overmatched athletic director and setting a new standard for a disastrous coaching search. The hires that former athletic director John Currie was on the cusp of making Greg Schiano and Mike Leach are exponentially more accomplished and better qualified for the Tennessee job. But Phil Fulmers power play ended up with him in control as athletic director and Alabama defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt as coach. Pruitt is just inexperienced enough that Fulmer will be able to keep sticking his nose in the program, which is what hes wanted since he was run out of the job nearly a decade ago. (The classic clueless Fulmer moment was treating the press conference to dismiss Currie like hed just been hired as coach again, as his tone including introducing his family in attendance showed a stunning lack of self-awareness.) Opposing SEC athletic directors, by the way, are giddy to have Fulmer in charge as his administrative acumen presents little threat to the rest of the league. Expect Tennessees glory to remain faded.
College football coaching carousel winners and losers