Stick With Pruitt

[volsportsfan]

I propose as a fan base, that we stick with Pruitt for at least 8-10 years. Hear me out.

If the University and donors refuse to drive the brinks truck up to an established ( proven winner ) coaches home, we must stick with Pruitt through his ( and his staffs ) growing pains. The man has more potential than Butch ever had at being a really good coach. Obviously this is my opinion and as of now i don't wish to back it up. My only worry with Pruitt is the same worry with any coach, them breaking the rules or leaving.

Folks, this hiring and firing coaches after 4 or 5 years, only to replace them with another unproven coach, is not smart. Can you get lucky, Yes. I'd rather be wise and intelligent than lucky. Please people, lets give this man ( who has great potential to be a really good coach ), a very young man by Head coaching standards, plenty of time. Time to learn on the job to be a decent SEC coach, then plenty of time to learn to be a good SEC coach, then plenty of time to learn to be a great coach. Folks, Belichick, Carrol, Saban, etc etc did not become great coaches in the amount of time Pruitt has had as a football coach ( from grad asst to head coach ). These men were in the coaching business at least 15 plus years before they started proving to be good head coaches. I don't know the exact amount of time but a little research would prove that it took them many years to work up the ladder, then it took many more years of head coaching experience to finally become really good head coaches.

I'm on record here saying that CJP won't last long here at UT. Part of my reasoning is because of the way the coaching carousel in college football is these days. We have to get back to the old days and patiently wait on a high potential young coach to become a great head coach. We have already hitched our wagon to this guy. He is gonna get 4 to 5 years most likely. Give the man more time than this. He has great potential. Quit firing guys that are learning on the job to only hire another guy who still must learn on the job. It's craziness. We want to win so bad its driven us mad. Madness ( lust-out of control desire to win ) has thrown patience and wisdom out the door and will leave us in perpetual turnover, and inconsistency, and looking foolish. Let's be the Steelers of college football. An excellent model of how to have a continued successful team over the long haul. They hired a young high potential coach in Cowher, stuck with him over the years, and had tremendous success. When he left of his own accord, they hired another young high potential coach in Tomlin and look at the continued success. I can go back further with the steelers than these two men, but these two should suffice. Now, are the Steelers winning super bowl after super bowl after super bowl? No. But they are one of the 3 or 4 greatest NFL franchises. Very wise owners, very wise.

Obviously, everybody wants to be listened to. I'm no different. PLEASE, everyone with interest in UT football, get out of this cycle of hiring and firing coaches. Find the best coach you can find within your money and prestige means, and give that man time to master his craft. How long does it take to master the craft of being a head football coach? Find the 10 greatest college football coaches of all time and the 10 greatest pro coaches of all time, and add up all the years of football coaching ( from grad asst to head coach, with head coach given a little more weight ) it took each one of them before they won a super bowl or national title. You could even throw in some conference titles, but let's be honest, we all want the big one at the end. Add them up and then average them out. It takes much longer than what Pruitt has under his belt.

Sorry for the spelling and general lack of writing skill, but i think my point has gotten across. Plus my new Avatar is on display . Love the butch jones era checker board helmets by the way. Unis were decent too.

 

[GrizzlyVol]

I'm with you man, Pruitt is a great coach and agree with the revolving door at head coach is a bad idea and it never works out. Kentucky is a good example they stuck by Stoops even when the talking heads placed him on the hot seat season after season and now they are a respectable team because of the stable program. He recruited players for his system and it took time but now they are doing something. Our fanbase seems to always be divided and that's somewhat normal but wanting to fire someone and calling him a bad coach after 9 months of being here and 4 games is borderline crazy.

 

[YankeeVol]

It took Dabo awhile at Clemson. Not saying Pruitt is Dabo, but a coach needs time

 

[volsportsfan]

By the way, I love the passion of this fan base. It creates one of the best environments in all of sports. But, not controlled it can lead to disaster. A football player is a good example of this. You need passionate football players. Belichick Lombardi parcels etc etc .... Always tried to motivate their players, but to let that passion on the field cause you to lose control and commit costly penalties and make mistakes/dumb decisions will cost you games. Gotta have passion, but you gotta control it and still make wise decisions. As a player, as a program, in life

 

[UT Hill Man]

I don't know if Pruitt is a great coach or not.

I think people rushing to judge him one way or the other are fools.

 

[Jaws]

The UT job is such a tough rebuild right now, and the fact that Pruitt has never been a head coach before makes it extraordinarily difficult.

This was a miscalculation by Fulmer in hiring him. Someone with experience rebuilding another program would have been ideal.

Pruitt may be fine in time, but right now in his private moments, he has to be wondering what the heck he has gotten himself into and he’s thinking that this job is much tougher than he ever imagined.

 

[ptcarter]

So many here have the pitchforks out after the Florida debacle. I agree with much here. Pruitt has lost 1 SEC game. Only 1. May not win any more this season, but way to early to start looking for something different.
Pruitt has been accustomed to working with top tier players who are physically and mentally capable of taking and understanding coaching and having the desire to improve. I have no doubt that the things that went wrong in the Florida game, were taught ad nauseum in the off season. The talent just isn't there to pull it off.

Take the onside kick for example. Pruitt and staff probably spotted a vulnerability on tape that was ripe for the picking. What happened? The Florida player who recovered the ball had more hustle and ability than those on our side.

Understand - On VolNation, the long knives are out for the head coach even when winning. The negativity coming out after his first SEC loss is very predictable. 3 years from now, it may be warranted, but now is too soon.
As a matter of fact, I'd give him longer than most coaches. Why? Well, we play UGA and Bama every year. RIght now, ranked 1 and 2 in the country and we play them both in the upcoming weeks. Other new coaches don't have that barrier.

I'll hang with Pruitt as long as improvement is being shown. That involves strength and conditioning, film study, attitude and desire to improve and learn on the team.

Did it upset you when he kicked the whiteboard? To me, I see a frustration in leading the horses to water and them not drinking. Do good coaches get mad during games? Check out little Nicky. Not saying Pruitt is Nicky and I don't think he needs to be. But remember, Pruitt is used to being around success. You scold the dog immediately after crapping the carpet. If you wait 10 minutes, the dog doesn't get it.

 

[screenthis]

I'm one of the more patient fans, though the long 10 year wait makes it hard. I'm not sure about 8 to 10 years. I'd say we'll have a good idea in 3 to 4 years. Not that I think we should be winning big in that time. And, we don't know yet if he'll be great (there are some good signs). In the instant gratification age, people call for firings after a coach has been in place for 4 months. These people are fools. Let him get his players and settle in with his staff and then we can start judging more accurately. Besides, even with a brinks truck of money, big time coaches weren't coming here.

 

[VFLCodyGBO]

If the University and donors refuse to drive the brinks truck up to an established ( proven winner ) coaches home, we must stick with Pruitt through his ( and his staffs ) growing pains.

Stopped reading after this, they offered Gundy 7 million (2.7million more than he was making). The money isn’t the issue, it’s the interest.

 

[81Orange]

As long as we see improvement I am with him. I already see him as an unconventional coach. He is willing to look bad to send the right message to his team. Butch would never stick his neck out like that, and most coaches wouldn’t.
We failed on fundamentals last night. That looks like bad coaching. Perhaps it is really just to little time to drill the fundamentals, install new systems, game plan etc. If the fundamentals get cleaned up it will restore my faith in him.
When or loose by the end of the year we will know what kind of coach we have. During the last 4 games ask yourself if we played well and lost, or gave away the games through fundamental errors.
There are bright spots appearing on D. Perhaps the O will follow.

 

[ptcarter]

During the last 4 games ask yourself if we played well and lost, or gave away the games through fundamental errors.

I agree. Simple things. Blocking and tackling have been bad. I just question that we the personnel to pull it off. Team lacks talent and desire. No amount of coaching can overcome some of these deficiencies.

 

[volsportsfan]

Stopped reading after this, they offered Gundy 7 million (2.7million more than he was making). The money isn’t the issue, it’s the interest.

Gundy has proven to be decent so far. Maybe he does qualify and you are right. I was thinking more along the lines of what Tex AM did. Gundy may have 1 big 12 championship under his belt, not sure. He is on the fringe of what I'm talking about though. Guys like him and Mullen, they have proven to be decent coaches thus far, possibly on their way to being great.

 

[tbones0711]

Might want to mention Chuck Knoll when talking Steelers,(4 rings). I'm all for CJP but might want to back up half a Brinks truck full to a real good innovative OC's house. I'm going to tire fast watching this ignorant dumb-shat of attempting to run the damn ball behind this OLine. It's okay and necessary I know but when trailing by 23 or so and time ticking away 2-3 yd pick-ups isn't my idea of trying to win. I'm more serious than a train-wreck. Better learn to coach in multi-faceted manner with the players you have irregardless of athletic ability compared to opponents.
Stoops at UK is entering his 6th year as head coach and it's starting to pay dividends it seems. When they stomp mudholes in our azz again it should serve as a wake up call to our impatient fans. I hope they beat SC and UGA too.

 

[tbones0711]

By the way, I love the passion of this fan base. It creates one of the best environments in all of sports. But, not controlled it can lead to disaster. A football player is a good example of this. You need passionate football players. Belichick Lombardi parcels etc etc .... Always tried to motivate their players, but to let that passion on the field cause you to lose control and commit costly penalties and make mistakes/dumb decisions will cost you games. Gotta have passion, but you gotta control it and still make wise decisions. As a player, as a program, in life

Amen brother. Such a thing as being over-emotional, too hyped and it does interfere with one's ability to reason. Pope was a victim of it. Shamburger too on his fumble. Pope's responsibility is too tuck that ball close to his chest with a death grip on it. He's slow and should have known a defender was likely closing on him and being run down from behind expect the defender to lay a massive chop on that arm holding that ball. Shamburger wanted to be a star. Lost in fantasy. Fair catching puts ball at 25. WTF is Pruitt putting him in for? Both instances were the inabiliy to reason due to excitement. It also drains you much faster because of high metabolic rate and you have to keep replenishing yourself.
On the other hand the more relaxed, composed type fair better in the long run and it's good for down linemen. I'm getting up in age and conserving energy is important to me. I lived a stressful life and there's no sense in it. Pruitt will fair better as a public fiqure showing some composure but compared to Butch he's better cause I could see a vein blowing out the side of Butch's head. Go Vols !!!

 

[RollerVol]

sounds solid VSF because there's no way that UTK will spend the type of money to get an experienced, proven winner...

GO VOLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[VFLCodyGBO]

sounds solid VSF because there's no way that UTK will spend the type of money to get an experienced, proven winner...

GO VOLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You mean...Like...$7,000,000.00 a year?

 

[utvolpj]

Gundy has proven to be decent so far. Maybe he does qualify and you are right. I was thinking more along the lines of what Tex AM did. Gundy may have 1 big 12 championship under his belt, not sure. He is on the fringe of what I'm talking about though. Guys like him and Mullen, they have proven to be decent coaches thus far, possibly on their way to being great.

Very few school can afford to pay what tamu spent on their coach. UT does not have unlimited finds

Wanting to give any coach 8-10 years regardless of record is asinine

 

[HalfullVol]

Very few school can afford to pay what tamu spent on their coach. UT does not have unlimited funds

there will be fewer funds when folks stop attending games due to the miserable team effort and poor performance overall - a lot of these guys are soft mentally. the total rebuild is real

 

[volsportsfan]

Very few school can afford to pay what tamu spent on their coach. UT does not have unlimited finds

Wanting to give any coach 8-10 years regardless of record is asinine

Not asinine. I'm confident that it took the great ones much much longer to master their craft than what Pruitt has under his belt. The evidence of there to back it up. Yeah, you got a few outliers ( dabo and urb ) that got the top rather quickly, but the vast majority, it took them a long time. I'll go back and repost some previous thread info on this subject from about 1 year ago. I put some time and research into it.

 

[GetYouSomeofThat]

I propose as a fan base, that we stick with Pruitt for at least 8-10 years. Hear me out.

If the University and donors refuse to drive the brinks truck up to an established ( proven winner ) coaches home, we must stick with Pruitt through his ( and his staffs ) growing pains. The man has more potential than Butch ever had at being a really good coach. Obviously this is my opinion and as of now i don't wish to back it up. My only worry with Pruitt is the same worry with any coach, them breaking the rules or leaving.

Folks, this hiring and firing coaches after 4 or 5 years, only to replace them with another unproven coach, is not smart. Can you get lucky, Yes. I'd rather be wise and intelligent than lucky. Please people, lets give this man ( who has great potential to be a really good coach ), a very young man by Head coaching standards, plenty of time. Time to learn on the job to be a decent SEC coach, then plenty of time to learn to be a good SEC coach, then plenty of time to learn to be a great coach. Folks, Belichick, Carrol, Saban, etc etc did not become great coaches in the amount of time Pruitt has had as a football coach ( from grad asst to head coach ). These men were in the coaching business at least 15 plus years before they started proving to be good head coaches. I don't know the exact amount of time but a little research would prove that it took them many years to work up the ladder, then it took many more years of head coaching experience to finally become really good head coaches.

I'm on record here saying that CJP won't last long here at UT. Part of my reasoning is because of the way the coaching carousel in college football is these days. We have to get back to the old days and patiently wait on a high potential young coach to become a great head coach. We have already hitched our wagon to this guy. He is gonna get 4 to 5 years most likely. Give the man more time than this. He has great potential. Quit firing guys that are learning on the job to only hire another guy who still must learn on the job. It's craziness. We want to win so bad its driven us mad. Madness ( lust-out of control desire to win ) has thrown patience and wisdom out the door and will leave us in perpetual turnover, and inconsistency, and looking foolish. Let's be the Steelers of college football. An excellent model of how to have a continued successful team over the long haul. They hired a young high potential coach in Cowher, stuck with him over the years, and had tremendous success. When he left of his own accord, they hired another young high potential coach in Tomlin and look at the continued success. I can go back further with the steelers than these two men, but these two should suffice. Now, are the Steelers winning super bowl after super bowl after super bowl? No. But they are one of the 3 or 4 greatest NFL franchises. Very wise owners, very wise.

Obviously, everybody wants to be listened to. I'm no different. PLEASE, everyone with interest in UT football, get out of this cycle of hiring and firing coaches. Find the best coach you can find within your money and prestige means, and give that man time to master his craft. How long does it take to master the craft of being a head football coach? Find the 10 greatest college football coaches of all time and the 10 greatest pro coaches of all time, and add up all the years of football coaching ( from grad asst to head coach, with head coach given a little more weight ) it took each one of them before they won a super bowl or national title. You could even throw in some conference titles, but let's be honest, we all want the big one at the end. Add them up and then average them out. It takes much longer than what Pruitt has under his belt.

Sorry for the spelling and general lack of writing skill, but i think my point has gotten across. Plus my new Avatar is on display . Love the butch jones era checker board helmets by the way. Unis were decent too.

Can you do a tldr synopsis?

I read a couple of lines, enough to make me question why we have to hire another unproven coach? Money isnt the issue unless you're a penny pinching short sighted administrator.

 

[volfannbama]

8-10 years....lol

I also notice its awesome how we deem a coach with 4 games of experience as great. Kindof a downgrade of the word great.

 

[volsportsfan]

You mean...Like...$7,000,000.00 a year?

That and a little more and we could have offered Jimbo. We offered 1 proven guy. What about the other proven coaches we could have offered crazy amounts of money to get? Yeah, we offered Mullen, but we didn't offer him crazy money to keep him from signing with FL.

If the retort is that we don't have those kind of funds, then that's why I propose what I proposed. Get a high potential coach and stick with him 8 to 10 years. Give him time to master his craft.

 

[volsportsfan]

8-10 years....lol

I also notice its awesome how we deem a coach with 4 games of experience as great. Kindof a downgrade of the word great.

Never said cjp was great. He has a ton of potential to be great. No doubt, he got schooled by dan Mullen this past Saturday. Give him plenty of time to master his craft though.

 

[volfanjustin]

How about Pruitt give us a reason to stick with him, instead of giving him blind faith for no reason?

 

[volfannbama]

Never said cjp was great. He has a ton of potential to be great. No doubt, he got schooled by dan Mullen this past Saturday. Give him plenty of time to master his craft though.

The first person to reply to your thread said he was great, not you.