Agree with you there. I dont think Pruitt is the kind who knows much else BUT football. From all accounts, he has pretty much thought about little else since early days - I mean his dad is a high school FB coach for almost 30 years and JP had a 48-8 record while he was playing for him as a QB and later as DB. Again, this guy
breathes football and has played under and coached under some really great coaches. I cannot conceive that Pruitt allows things to remain this way.
He has shown the the past to be a fantastic talent evaluator - not just grabbing big names while he was at top programs but finding diamonds in the rough as well.
He was dealt some bad cards in coming here but some good ones too if he can hold on long enough and turn things around. I think if he can get his systems established and recruit he will find success here. He was the equivalent of a touted QB recruit from a great HS team thrown behind our oline, starting against Alabama.
He knows very well what a successful program looks like, having never really been at a losing program. Something few in Knoxville have seen in years.
Consider that Pruitt has never, in his entire life played for or coached a team with a losing season until he came to UT. Come to think of it, Im not sure if he has ever played for a team or coached one that has won less than 9 games in a season. That has got to rub off somehow.
You guys see someone who doesnt care but I think that his demeanor tends to the laconic and he is not the kind to rah rah or show much in the press...just like his idol, Saban. Guys who kick whiteboards are not ones who dont care
He still has a lot to learn as a HC but bringing in Chaney and Tee shows he is flexible. I dont know if Pruitt will ever achieve the level of greatness of his mentors while here but its hard not to think he will at least become a good coach in time. After a decade plus of mediocrity, I am not sure how much patience we have as fans though. Fulmer, however, knows what he sees in Pruitt and he will give him time, whether we like it or not.