Apathy is already setting in. Inevitable, really, after suffering through four coaches in ten years and failed rebuild after failed rebuild. CJP came in at a bad time in the cycle. Tennessee fans are the most loyal in the country, but they're tired of losing, tired of waiting and tired of rebuilds. CJP wants to install a new system and turn the roster. That takes time, patience and great recruiting. Five years ago, the fanbase and donors would have been optimistic and excited. Now, notsomuch. He's in a tough spot-- and so is the program.
there's a lot here i agree with. i think it's fair to stay optimistic about the overall future though the immediate future still looks foggy at best.
the reality is butch wasn't getting it done, wasn't going to get it done, and change was made. i think at the point it happened, the vast majority knew that was the deal.....and what starting over with a new staff would mean. so that's where we are.
i don't think anyone saw the s**t storm that would ensue on the search, so that didn't help an already bad situation. at the end of the day, a lot of the core problems that have faced this program the last decade plus have at least been acknowledged, and attempted to be resolved.
i think TN fans, self included, are just gonna have to live with the fact there is no easy fix, it isn't going to come this season, and to get the right change that was needed, it's just going to take a little time. we are not in the same situation GA was in 3 years ago.
now, that timeline can get sped up if recruiting takes off in this cycle, and you build any momentum on the field headed in to next off season.
it's march. very early in the recruiting process, and we've not even started spring practice yet. so i don't think it's really prudent to bail out just yet. see what happens on the field, see what happens in December and February, and go from there. we really won't know where we are with this staff until we see what it looks like 3 years from now. you'll have results, recruits and a pretty good idea of what it could/should like from a roster standpoint by then. for now....all speculation and guesswork.
it sucks. but it is literally what it is at this point. it sucks worse that GA , Bama, Auburn, FL, aTm, USCe all seem to be ahead of the curve....but that can change pretty quick, and this staff didn't come here to be mediocre.
would be nice to have a couple of these big time recruits go ahead and pull the trigger though, and see if that doesn't help get some others that might be on the fence, lean our way down the stretch.
for all the talk of how great the visits are, how great the facilities are, and how great this new staff is, and how everyone is sure things will change under CJP....it still takes getting kids to actually come here than can make that change. and as long as they keep going to other schools, the rest really won't matter.