Pruitt gets 3 Years

[JFBanicki]

I say 4 years, this year was pretty much a wash after the coaching search debacle and the lackluster recruiting class. Add that to what Lyle left behind and Pruitt had more than a mountain to climb.
Next year he will finally have his first full class but still mostly Lyles team.
Year 3 he will only have 2 classes of HIS guys and that means he will have starters but not much depth.
Year 4, when he’s had 3 classes he should a steady group of young and maturing starters along with the time to coach up what’s left of Lyles players and change their mentality.
By year 4 we will not only have SEC worthy starters but also the depth needed to run with the top of the conference and run over those we should.

 

[strkr]

Sirius radio host said yesterday that Pruitt had the most difficult rebuilding program in the nation. Come on Vol fans give him time! The revolving coaches? have gotten us to where we are now.

Tennessee has also played the 2nd toughest schedule this year. That doesn't help with the turnaround. So. Carolina came off a bye week and we ended the gauntlet with USCe and could explain why our guys were dead at the end. The SEC sure has not helped Tennessee with scheduling the past few years. I can't stand those crooked folks in Bammerham. All of them-skankey, referees, and replay bammer steve shaw. A big joke.

 

[BigOrange15]

We will likely know what we have in year 2 and definitely in year 3. If there is no significant improvement by then, he won't get it done here. That is true of essentially all coaches.

 

[BigDave]

• First year I expected an up & down season with improvement. I think Pruitt has fairly managed that well by beating Auburn.

• Second year I expect to be competing on a consistent basis. No, I’m not saying we should beat Bama & Georgia. I’m expecting to be competitive with the likes of Mizz, SC, UK, and Vandy.

• Third year I expect 9 or 10 wins the most by having a chance to win the East. Pruitt will have two recruiting classes under his belt with the players he wants in his system. If he’s not winning on a consistent basis by then, his seat will and should get warmer.

I’m not asking to be National Champs but I expect to be in the SEC Championship (Winners of the East) sometime from now.

Seems pretty reasonable to me.

Really . . . 3 years?? In three years "his players' will be Jr., So. and Freshman! How many times have we heard that it takes Sr. and Jr.'s to compete in this league, which is fact!

Pruitt didn't just take the UT job, he took on a complete rebuild project - from bottom to top. Butch Jones left a dumpster fire in every facet of the program - S&C, undeveloped/underdeveloped players, injuries through the roof, low expectations for the players, lost the locker room, etc., etc., etc.

It will take four plus years to build this program into a consistent SEC East contender and in turn SEC Championship game appearances. Recruiting "his players" is just one component of the puzzle, it then becomes developing these future recruits into SEC players, not caliber players, but SEC players with depth across the board. This won't happen in the three years. If you think so, you're delusional.

Give Pruitt four to five years!!

GBO

 

[Electric Orange]

This type of rebuild takes more than 3 years. Gotta give the lines time to develop. We need fully developed upperclassman with depth at every position especially if we want to be a power running team and have enough time to hit deep play action passes.

 

[butchna]

Really . . . 3 years?? In three years "his players' will be Jr., So. and Freshman! How many times have we heard that it takes Sr. and Jr.'s to compete in this league, which is fact!

Pruitt didn't just take the UT job, he took on a complete rebuild project - from bottom to top. Butch Jones left a dumpster fire in every facet of the program - S&C, undeveloped/underdeveloped players, injuries through the roof, low expectations for the players, lost the locker room, etc., etc., etc.

It will take four plus years to build this program into a consistent SEC East contender and in turn SEC Championship game appearances. Recruiting "his players" is just one component of the puzzle, it then becomes developing these future recruits into SEC players, not caliber players, but SEC players with depth across the board. This won't happen in the three years. If you think so, you're delusional.

Give Pruitt four to five years!!

GBO

Not any of OUR decisions anyway. Pruitt wins and all the ultimatums pause until he doesn’t.

 

[tennrich1]

Tennessee has also played the 2nd toughest schedule this year. That doesn't help with the turnaround. So. Carolina came off a bye week and we ended the gauntlet with USCe and could explain why our guys were dead at the end. The SEC sure has not helped Tennessee with scheduling the past few years. I can't stand those crooked folks in Bammerham. All of them-skankey, referees, and replay bammer steve shaw. A big joke.

I certainly agree with the first three sentences. Only at UT can the fan base be arguing over how soon we can fire the coach after 1/2 a season under his belt.

 

[The Tall Gguy]

This fanbase has been beyond patient. Another 5 years of rebuilding may just kill the program.

 

[RollerVol]

so, we're already setting a timetable for "our" expectations...Coach Pruitt has got to be worried now...OP has to give him the news....clock is ticking...

GO VOLS!

 

[diehardvolsfan]

This is madness with the rankings. His seat is not even warm. It is cold. Talk to me in a couple of years.

This is pure BS. It’s his FIRST YEAR!!! Now if we stumble to another apathetic record again next year THEN you can say it’s getting warm. If we don’t see at least 8 wins next year there are serious problems in the staff and in recruiting. I’m giving him 3 years. By then we will know the TRUE state of where the program is really at...

 

[IPleadInsanity]

• First year I expected an up & down season with improvement. I think Pruitt has fairly managed that well by beating Auburn.

• Second year I expect to be competing on a consistent basis. No, I’m not saying we should beat Bama & Georgia. I’m expecting to be competitive with the likes of Mizz, SC, UK, and Vandy.

• Third year I expect 9 or 10 wins the most by having a chance to win the East. Pruitt will have two recruiting classes under his belt with the players he wants in his system. If he’s not winning on a consistent basis by then, his seat will and should get warmer.

I’m not asking to be National Champs but I expect to be in the SEC Championship (Winners of the East) sometime from now.

Seems pretty reasonable to me.

You serious? If he can't get it done who do you see us hiring? Our hiring ability would be zero and recruiting prowess would be gone. Lets hope coach gets it done.

 

[diehardvolsfan]

Really . . . 3 years?? In three years "his players' will be Jr., So. and Freshman! How many times have we heard that it takes Sr. and Jr.'s to compete in this league, which is fact!

Pruitt didn't just take the UT job, he took on a complete rebuild project - from bottom to top. Butch Jones left a dumpster fire in every facet of the program - S&C, undeveloped/underdeveloped players, injuries through the roof, low expectations for the players, lost the locker room, etc., etc., etc.

It will take four plus years to build this program into a consistent SEC East contender and in turn SEC Championship game appearances. Recruiting "his players" is just one component of the puzzle, it then becomes developing these future recruits into SEC players, not caliber players, but SEC players with depth across the board. This won't happen in the three years. If you think so, you're delusional.

Give Pruitt four to five years!!

GBO

If he’s not the HFC in 2022 there is something SERIOUSLY wrong with the athletics dept!! After year 3 if he’s doing good he likely gets a couple tacked on if he wants to stay here but then again we don’t know if this is just getting TN back as a decent program again and he leaves after 4 years or what his mindset is really at. I’m almost certain by year 3 we will know if he plans to stay for awhile...

 

[Vol Kilmer]

Have you seen our schedule next year? 8 wins should be realistic. Vandy, Scar, Mizzou, Miss St. will be breaking in new QBs, maybe UK as well...idk, but look at the schedule. We get by BYU and maybe 9 wins is possible.

 

[butchna]

This fanbase has been beyond patient. Another 5 years of rebuilding may just kill the program.

And you’ll be here like the rest of us throughout and beyond.

 

[Orangeslice13]

How long has Stoops been coaching? Where does he have UK after what 6 years? Top 10 with a chance to win the East. But I forgot we are Tennessee. We shouldnt have to wait for coaching stability or anything. Thats not important at all.

So after year 3, we should just fire Pruitt if he isnt winning at a high level. Then we can have yet another HC, DC, OC and S&C coach. That has really worked out for us huh?

It depends
I don’t think Butch or Dooley would have ever been successful no matter how much time given

 

[diehardvolsfan]

Have you seen our schedule next year? 8 wins should be realistic. Vandy, Scar, Mizzou, Miss St. will be breaking in new QBs, maybe UK as well...idk, but look at the schedule. We get by BYU and maybe 9 wins is possible.

Before I make predictions on next year I’m waiting until after signing day to see what we got for this next class. BYU should be an easy win we would hope. Idk who else OOC we play but it should be a great schedule next year! GBO!!

 

[Orange Death]

• First year I expected an up & down season with improvement. I think Pruitt has fairly managed that well by beating Auburn.

• Second year I expect to be competing on a consistent basis. No, I’m not saying we should beat Bama & Georgia. I’m expecting to be competitive with the likes of Mizz, SC, UK, and Vandy.

• Third year I expect 9 or 10 wins the most by having a chance to win the East. Pruitt will have two recruiting classes under his belt with the players he wants in his system. If he’s not winning on a consistent basis by then, his seat will and should get warmer.

I’m not asking to be National Champs but I expect to be in the SEC Championship (Winners of the East) sometime from now.

Seems pretty reasonable to me.

I'll let the board know...

They said they don't gaf what you think.

Yikes!

 

[clarencepeabody]

My wife likes to buy those little plastic flowers because they never die, but I will never understand why she puts them in a vase with water. She says it’s so they’ll look more real, but I think we all know the real reason...

 

[The Tall Gguy]

And you’ll be here like the rest of us throughout and beyond.

I probably will be, but several things have happened/changed and will continue.

When Tennessee was relevant:
Went to as many games as possible
Spent tons of $ on UT football
Watched every game on TV (unless attending)
Planned my weekend around Tennessee football

Last several years- Tennessee is irrelevant.
Lucky to attend one game a year
Rarely spend a penny on Tennessee stuff
Tend to record the games, check the score, then delete without watching
Try to fit the game into my weekend, but it is a low priority.


I bet many others are at this point too.

 

[JMSqb11]

I probably will be, but several things have happened/changed and will continue.

When Tennessee was relevant:
Went to as many games as possible
Spent tons of $ on UT football
Watched every game on TV (unless attending)
Planned my weekend around Tennessee football

Last several years- Tennessee is irrelevant.
Lucky to attend one game a year
Rarely spend a penny on Tennessee stuff
Tend to record the games, check the score, then delete without watching
Try to fit the game into my weekend, but it is a low priority.


I bet many others are at this point too.

I'm 29. My earliest Vol memory was coach Fulmer leading the team thru the T in the early 2000's. I prolly went to 2-3 games per year starting in High School (Grew up in West TN) all the way thru 2012.... Haven't been to a game since UT at Bama in 2015 when we lost by 5.

I honestly haven't spent hardly any money on traveling to and going to actual games outside of that Bama game since 2012. It has been nice. However, I really love Pruitt being at the Vols. I am almost at the point where I would look into getting season tickets, but planning to wait another year.

Disclaimer- I do think it is only a matter of time before Pruitt has us winning again and by winning, I mean 10 plus wins. I think the East has such a good core of coaches in Mullen, Pruitt, and Smart....

 

[butchna]

I probably will be, but several things have happened/changed and will continue.

When Tennessee was relevant:
Went to as many games as possible
Spent tons of $ on UT football
Watched every game on TV (unless attending)
Planned my weekend around Tennessee football

Last several years- Tennessee is irrelevant.
Lucky to attend one game a year
Rarely spend a penny on Tennessee stuff
Tend to record the games, check the score, then delete without watching
Try to fit the game into my weekend, but it is a low priority.


I bet many others are at this point too.

You’d lose that bet. We fill the stadium...always have always will. Red Sox and Cubs fans suffered through real curses far longer. Most of us are that caliber of fan...won’t speak for you or the the delicate flowers you portray.

 

[jakez4ut]

This fanbase has been beyond patient. Another 5 years of rebuilding may just kill the program.

people said that 5 years ago.

still here.

 

[The Tall Gguy]

You’d lose that bet. We fill the stadium...always have always will. Red Sox and Cubs fans suffered through real curses far longer. Most of us are that caliber of fan...won’t speak for you or the the delicate flowers you portray.

So you are going the true fan police, Fairweather fan route? Typical.

We fill the stadium also because opposing fan bases tend to travel well to Knoxville and the attendance numbers are greatly exaggerated.

This year we had hope, so more folks attended at least so far. Let's see the crowd numbers the next 3 weeks and talk again after.

 

[Tin Man]

For perspective, Johnny Majors
Tennessee Volunteers (Southeastern Conference) (1977–1992)
1977 Tennessee 4–7 (1–5 8th)
1978 Tennessee 5–5–1 (3–3 T–4th)
1979 Tennessee 7–5 (3–3 T–5th) L Astro-Bluebonnet
1980 Tennessee 5–6 (3–3 6th)
1981 Tennessee 8–4 (3–3 T–4th) W Garden State
1982 Tennessee 6–5–1 (3–2–1 5th) L Peach
1983 Tennessee 9–3 (4–2 T–3rd) W Citrus
1984 Tennessee 7–4–1 (3–3 T–5th) L Sun
1985 Tennessee 9–1–2 (5–1 1st) W Sugar
1986 Tennessee 7–5 (3–3 6th) W Liberty
1987 Tennessee 10–2–1 (4–1–1 3rd) W Peach
1988 Tennessee 5–6 (3–4 T–6th)
1989 Tennessee 11–1 (6–1 T–1st) W Cotton
1990 Tennessee 9–2–2 (5–1–1 1st) W Sugar
1991 Tennessee 9–3 (5–2 3rd) L Fiesta

Philip Fulmer
1993 Tennessee 10–2 (7–1 2nd (Eastern)) L Florida Citrus
1994 Tennessee 8–4 (5–3 2nd (Eastern)) W Gator
1995 Tennessee 11–1 (7–1 2nd (Eastern)) W Florida Citrus
1996 Tennessee 10–2 (7–1 2nd (Eastern)) W Florida Citrus
1997 Tennessee 11–2 (7–1 1st (Eastern)) L Orange
1998 Tennessee 13–0 (8–0 1st (Eastern)) W Fiesta
1999 Tennessee 9–3 (6–2 2nd (Eastern)) L Fiesta
2000 Tennessee 8–4 (5–3 2nd (Eastern)) L Cotton
2001 Tennessee11–2 (7–1 1st (Eastern) ) W Florida Citrus
2002 Tennessee 8–5 (5–3 3rd (Eastern)) L Peach
2003 Tennessee 10–3 (6–2 T–1st (Eastern)) L Peach
2004 Tennessee 10–3 (7–1 1st (Eastern)) W Cotton
2005 Tennessee 5–6 (3–5 4th (Eastern))
2006 Tennessee 9–4 (5–32nd (Eastern)) L Outback
2007 Tennessee 10–4 (6–2 T–1st (Eastern)) W Outback
2008 Tennessee 5–7 (3–5 5th (Eastern))

Though Bill Battle had a winning record during his brief tenure, it was argued that his recruiting left Majors "in a hole." Still, Majors did not reach 8 wins in an 11-game season until his 5th year at the helm. Phil inherited a "stocked cupboard." Arguably, his coaching and hires led to a golden age of Volunteers football. He did not stumble until his 13th year.

Perspective: In our history, we have a seasoned head coach arguably "under performing" his first four years, and a first-time head coach catching fire with a loaded roster.

Temper your expectations for the initial years of CJP's tenure. His inheritance includes 1 year of laughable Lane, 3 years of Double-D, and 5 years of Lyle, who could recruit but arguably couldn't coach a game or run a program. Pruitt has a 6-year contract. The team will be 100% his recruits coached by his staff ~year 4. That's an appropriate amount of time to make an informed assessment (Unless there are major violations or scandals during the first 4 years of his tenure).

:two cents:

 

[The Tall Gguy]

Also you can choose to sit back with your holier than thou fan attitude and just accept the crap on the field and hope it improves while hanging on every second of suck.
As for me, I hope it gets better, but not going to be invested until it does. And then, guess what? I still get to be a fan, same as you and there is nothing you can say or do about it.