Pruitt expected to coach Alabama in playoff

[hexnut]

And when Saban retires they will go after Dabo unless Pruitt has won mutable NCs at Tennessee.

 

[Jfoley89]

I wonder if Georgia fans threw a bunch of whinny fits over Kirby when he stayed to coach bammer.

The GA comparison really needs to stop. If you think Smart and Pruitt are walking into similar situations, you're delusional. One was loaded with talent, and it isn't UT. Also, no early signing period when Smart transitioned. If you're fine punting a class, then cool, but let's not pretend that's going to get buy in from the fanbase.

 

[VFL_in_MD]

Or in the back of kids minds, they're constantly waiting on him to bolt back to Alabama the second Saban retires. We have no idea if this is a commitment to his kids or to his potential dream job.

Again...if he bolts back to Bama you better believe its because he has done great things here at Tennessee. That will not be a USC situation. Bama will be replacing the greatest coach in history of the Sport.

If they com after him then...that's when the purse opens because he will have been a homerun hire after all.

 

[UT's#1Fan]

I wonder if Georgia fans threw a bunch of whinny fits over Kirby when he stayed to coach bammer.

Was there an early signing period then? No.

What was UGA's recruiting situation like then? Was is a complete dumpster fire like UT's is right now in need a FULL attention?

Richt had that program on cruise control and Kirby was able to pull double duty.

Not the same.

 

[Wylo]

Shows loyalty Amirite? Just not to us.

Exactly.

 

[jakez4ut]

A bad look? I'm honestly asking, since I may have missed something...

Finishing what you started... Living up to previous obligations as you form new ones... Staying to the end with the kids you've been developing and making promises to all season...

That's a "bad look"?

Is it a general ethical/moral issue for you? Or just a "bad look" within the context of base jealousy within a college football rivalry?

this. i don't think it's the end of the world. and i can even buy the notion that he can sell "finishing".

but yes, it's TN/Bama, and it doesn't look good. and i know all the examples out there where this has happened, and it's been fine. i also know the dead periods etc...that are coming up....so i think this will be as well......eventually. but given our situation, what we've been thru the last 3 weeks with this whole ordeal.....

our search ends with our coach still standing on the Alabama sideline.

there's a joke in there somewhere, and i don't want to hear it.

still behind the hire. just need to get on with Tennessee.

 

[Jfoley89]

And when Saban retires they will go after Dabo unless Pruitt has won mutable NCs at Tennessee.

Dabo is going to die at Clemson. The only way he's leaving there is in a box or retirement.

 

[Exiled]

Who says he isn't? Kirby did the exact same thing two years ago and it didn't seem to hurt their recruiting.

There wasn't an early signing period 2 years ago either.

 

[Jfoley89]

Again...if he bolts back to Bama you better believe its because he has done great things here at Tennessee. That will not be a USC situation. Bama will be replacing the greatest coach in history of the Sport.

If they com after him then...that's when the purse opens because he will have been a homerun hire after all.

When is the last time UT opened the purse in pursuit of athletic excellence?

 

[tennrich1]

Ridiculous. I can't believe the pumpkin would allow this. He needs to be recruiting for us and focusing on evaluating our team and current recruiting class. Early signing is two weeks away and he wants to just skip it?

Happens all the time. Any decent coordinator at this level that has his team in the playoffs is going to coach said team until it’s over. I don’t blame him either and am fine with that decision

 

[theFallGuy]

Ridiculous. I can't believe the pumpkin would allow this. He needs to be recruiting for us and focusing on evaluating our team and current recruiting class. Early signing is two weeks away and he wants to just skip it?

I bet if the situation was reversed and we were in the playoffs,you'd be *****ing about loyalty and obligations, give it a rest

 

[HARTUPM]

Playoffs? You talkin about Playoffs? Forget the dang playoffs, this gives Saban an opportunity to scout out the Pruitt defense for the upcoming matchup in October when they will face each other. Unfair advantage in my opinion.

 

[ptcarter]

I don't think this will hurt us in recruiting that bad. Some, but the damage was really done by Butch being inept. If I'm a recruit and I get a phone call from Pruitt, I'd cut him some slack if he tells me "Hey, hang in there - I am coaching in the college football playoffs, will get back to you". That is better than Bob Shoop calling and saying "We didn't get to a bowl this year, lift a few weights until the Spring game".

Also, he could bring some Bama defects with him. Good hire, and its NO BIG DEAL that he's coaching (hopefully) one more game.

 

[Cdywolfe]

Totally agree. And if he misses out on the better assistants because he is not able to concentrate on building his staff until January - that will be another sore spot.

Working both sounds fine on paper - but Saban will want him to be 100%, Tennessee will want him to be 100% - no way he can do that - so he is either 50/50 or one side loses.

And he's made his priority clear so I think we all know what that one side will be.

 

[VFL_in_MD]

He'd get exposure regardless, IE Kiffin last year. In fact he'd get MORE exposure especially if their defense doesn't play well... "They're missing Pruitt tonight..." And it would be great to play a role in Alabama losing a shot at another championship.

On this "he's keeping his commitments" crap... what about the assistants coming... are they gonna keep their word at their respective schools and stay through their respective bowls?? Where does it stop? No they're gonna come, and Pruitt should too. Huge issue.

More...I doubt that, especially if his defense plays well (see how that works).

As the head of the program, I do believe it will matter to recruits that he kept his word. It would to me. And I think comparing a bowl game to possible NC is a bit over stepped.

Its all good though. He is the hire. He will stay at Bama. I hope they lose 3-0 to Clemson.

 

[LibertyVol]

Who says he isn't? Kirby did the exact same thing two years ago and it didn't seem to hurt their recruiting.

Kirby did not have to deal with an early signing period.

I would not have hired him.

He is going to be a disaster. This is just the start of it.

 

[vol1950]

Phil was a pretty good recruiter probably working the phones as we type.

In the situation UT is in now. I am even more convinced we have the right AD in Fulmer. While I would like to have Pruitt here 100% now. Fulmer is well capable of reaching out to our recruits, much much much more than Currie would have been. Fulmer can actually convince the recruits more in my opinion than Pruitt could have at this point. Fulmer can point out that when Pruitt makes a commitment he is committed, and he is fulfilling the commitment he has made to the kids he is coaching. He will do the same at Tn. Fulmer will be reaching out to the recruits. On the defensive side it will be well taken care of. On the offensive side we do need to know who the OC is gona be. This needs to be addressed asap. Because the recruits need to know what type of offensive scheme is going to run. If Pruitt could just do that and let Fulmer make the contacts we will be fine.

 

[jakez4ut]

Kirby did not have to deal with an early signing period.

I would not have hired him.

He is going to be a disaster. This is just the start of it.

i don't like this either. it is not a reason not to make the hire, however. i still think this could be a really good hire at the end of the day.

which is why i want it to get started now.

 

[RiverVol]

Are you kidding?? Hey Mr. & Mr. FiveStar, I am competing to be a national champion (again) as we speak, and I want your son to come play for me.

It is a compromise with TONS of upside. - ya just gotta work it.

 

[VFL_in_MD]

When is the last time UT opened the purse in pursuit of athletic excellence?

We are getting way to far ahead of ourselves. Your right though...they haven't in the past, but to my point, if we are in a position where Bama wants him back, wouldn't you say its because he has done an amazing job at Tennessee?

If you concede to that, then it also means that Tennessee is in a position that is hasn't been in before. I am not positive but cannot remember anyone coming after one of our proven winners as HC (Dickey, Majors, Fulmer, not counting Kiffin because he was 7-6 and not proven then). So we will have a coach who has probably gotten us to SECCG, maybe won it, and maybe gotten us in the playoffs. I think in this situation Tennessee will not lose based on money.

Again....that is ALL way to far to assess, but just happy with the hire.

 

[volfan102455]

I wish folks would stop referring to Kirby. The dynamics changed when the early signing period was added.

He has 13 days from today to secure those top name recruits that play to sign or lose them for 4 years. So he needs to concentrate on that and hiring his staff so those recruits understand who their coaches may be.

There are also more than likely some of the current players who are weighing options trying to figure out if they have a place on the team - understanding what the staff is going to look like may influence them.

After the early signing period has past - things should get less chaotic. So fine - but he needs to be all in from when he is announced until after that date.

 

[ptcarter]

Fulmer knows what it takes to recruit. Don't think for a minute that furious recruiting isn't going on while you are reading this. Also, do you want a players coach? He cares enough about his guys to finish what he started with them. This bodes well for his attitude and should carry over to UT.

 

[volfan102455]

Are you kidding?? Hey Mr. & Mr. FiveStar, I am competing to be a national champion (again) as we speak, and I want your son to come play for me.

It is a compromise with TONS of upside. - ya just gotta work it.

Problem -

Alabama is competing for a NC. Saban is competing for an NC. 5* is going with the team that won the NC, not the coach that is leaving.

 

[Jfoley89]

We are getting way to far ahead of ourselves. Your right though...they haven't in the past, but to my point, if we are in a position where Bama wants him back, wouldn't you say its because he has done an amazing job at Tennessee?

If you concede to that, then it also means that Tennessee is in a position that is hasn't been in before. I am not positive but cannot remember anyone coming after one of our proven winners as HC (Dickey, Majors, Fulmer, not counting Kiffin because he was 7-6 and not proven then). So we will have a coach who has probably gotten us to SECCG, maybe won it, and maybe gotten us in the playoffs. I think in this situation Tennessee will not lose based on money.

Again....that is ALL way to far to assess, but just happy with the hire.

I honestly think Pruitt may be a great hire. He has a far better pedigree than the last 3 coaches for UT. My frustration revolves around us being in another trap situation. Everything about Pruitt screams Alabama lifer. If he's successful, he seems about 75% likely to pull a Kiffin. If he's not, then its likely because the administration refused to spend to get him the staff and upgrades necessary. The candidate may be better, but the hire looks way too similar to the last decade.

 

[hexnut]

Some fans just need to get over them selves.