Pruitt has exceeded expectations

[The Original Fade]

I thought 5-7 was about where we would land, so even if we lose these last 2, we hit that mark. However, beating 2 ranked SEC teams, one on the road, beats what I though Pruitt was capable of as a first year coach. Thoughts?

 

[BlackCreekVol]

He good!

 

[Vol in]

I like what he's done so far. No one knows for sure yet, but I think we have an actual football coach at the helm. It's been awhile.

 

[DiderotsGhost]

We've definitely seen improvement over the season. It's not been even, but the O-line actually played OK today. No one is going to mistake it for an elite OL still, but we finally got some push! And with the sole exception of that South Carolina game, D has improved every game.

Not too shabby to get 2 top 25 wins. Now we need a bowl game.

 

[GRN1926]

1st years always have up and downs. Scar was a W that got away from us. Good W tonight. OL looked good against a solid UK defense. Get to a bowl and I consider this season a success.

If he somehow got to 7 wins and won the bowl, I'd call it a homerun season

 

[BlackCreekVol]

After just completing a hail Mary Td to go in the half, he said " I think we need to learn how to act" . I think he's the coach we need to change the culture

 

[joepuppy]

Man we play different every week. I think he's a great coach that still has some to learn. It was a great win, and I will put my money with Pruitt.

 

[NorCalVol67]

I agree. Improvement during the season is what I hoped for and that has happened.

 

[PowerT83]

Looked like a real defense. I'm really pleased with the progress

 

[SDV]

We found our coach. This guy is the real deal

 

[GetYouSomeofThat]

Definite improvement was seen today. The Oline created some creases and protected JG very well for the most part. JG had as good of a game as hes had IMO.

Overall progress was evident. Still plenty to work on for the coaches and players. A little disappointed we didn't score one more touchdown the 2nd half but the win was great!

 

[ProudVOLfan]

I don't know what they did in practice this week but I hope they do it from now on.. they come to kick azz tonight and did just that.. good job coached and players

 

[coffeevol]

Remarkable game. Give him one more win and he has exceeded my expectations. And I think the path is there to grow and be contenders next year

 

[kayman1]

Biggest thing that i see that is different about Pruitt, is he coaching every single play. Its not just the players he coaches, but the other coaches get it too when they need it!! He is old school. Like it or not, old school works!!

 

[zydane47]

two things I took from Pruitt during this game.

#1 That INT at the end there when Osborne lateraled it back, the camera stayed on Pruitt yelling at Osborne first then he cosched him. That really stuck out to me, yes he was mad but he also saw a coaching moment and used it.

#2 He has completely turned this team from a bunch of crap into something that resembles a decent team, they’re not world beaters but you can see them getting better each week, even when Osborne came in you couldn’t tell a difference between and the first team guys, he was ready to play and that’s what this team needs

 

[Remy]

I'm not sure he's the guy yet, but tonight's performance by the team went a long way toward solidifying in my head he is a capable and solid game day coach. He and the staff overall did a great job this past week and today. Tip o' the hat to them all.

 

[BeardedVol]

It was a good performance, but let's see if he can string two together before we give him a raise and an extension.

 

[Vols All Day]

Has any former Tennessee first year coaches beat two top 20 teams?

 

[SDV]

Has any former Tennessee first year coaches beat two top 20 teams?

Fulmer 1992

 

[landscapingvol]

I would say that if we make a bowl game he has certainly exceeded expectations without a doubt. We dominated UK for a majority of the game but look dreadful against Charlotte and SC for most of the game. It is a head scratcher

 

[84Volfan]

Fulmer 1992

Yes, but its apples to oranges with rosters

 

[trion23]

True, and Fulmer was a great coach, but he inherited a ton more talent than Pruitt.

 

[SDV]

True, and Fulmer was a great coach, but he inherited a ton more talent than Pruitt.

Maybe so, but I answered his question

 

[k-town_king]

He did what he should. I have said 7-5 or 6-6 all along. With this team we should win 6 at least. He has done a great job though.

 

[JFBanicki]

Before the season started i honestly thought 4-8 would be our best hope, 3-9 very likely and 5-7 a damn good season.
Anyone who has watched this team the last 5 years, the lacking class that came in, and could see 5 wins before the season was kidding themselves and couldn’t separate reality from history. No one was counting auburn as a W and no one would’ve thought UK would be top 15 team at this point. Beating both show how far this team has come in a short time and should show what this staff can do.
I also know a lot of people haven’t been happy about the previous 2 games but this is year 1 and with what this staff inherited, up and downs should be expected. Just remember the ups have been higher than expected and the downs are about what should’ve been expected anyway.