Taking the year off?

#26
#26
I have often wondered if the coaches and players look at this as a wasted year due to covid and are not giving 100%. The NCAA has already given them a waiver on their eligibility so risking injury in their minds is just not worth it. I hope i'm wrong but it doesn't feel like we are getting the attitude and effort. Go ahead and blame coaching and CJP but i think this is visible across the board.
If our players are "taking the year off" that just proves they have no respect for the staff or the school, I'm not sure how that's a good thing. Plenty of teams have players playing hard every week, if we are not that confirms the loser mentality we have been instilling in our players at Tennessee for over a decade is alive and well under Pruitt.
 
#28
#28
LSU, not really much better than Tennessee, played very hard last night vs A&M. LSU def has improved a lot since early in the season. Their offense is a mess now with their QB out but they are playing hard for Coach O.

OTOH, where has Tennessee improved since early in the season? Do they play hard with enthusiasm?
 
#30
#30
It is an interesting theory.

If true, it's great seeing the coaching staff and players taking pride in their program and keeping their competitive spirit alive through tough days.

Seriously, I think a lot of the assistant coaches have checked out mentally after being asked to take a salary cut while Pruitt and Fulmer got raises and extensions behind closed doors.
 
#31
#31
I just don't get why Pruitt is just not playing the younger players, especially at QB. Hell did you see the MS state FRESHMAN QB yesterday? 400 yards passing. Broke egg bowl record. He looked great even in their loss.

This year is a disaster even if we won out. Get our young guys some game time. Play for next year, or it might be you last.:eek:
 
#32
#32
I just don't get why Pruitt is just not playing the younger players, especially at QB. Hell did you see the MS state FRESHMAN QB yesterday? 400 yards passing. Broke egg bowl record. He looked great even in their loss.

This year is a disaster even if we won out. Get our young guys some game time. Play for next year, or it might be you last.:eek:
Will Rogers looks very good. I'd never heard of him before last week, was he ever on our board?
 
#33
#33
LSU, not really much better than Tennessee, played very hard last night vs A&M. LSU def has improved a lot since early in the season. Their offense is a mess now with their QB out but they are playing hard for Coach O.

OTOH, where has Tennessee improved since early in the season? Do they play hard with enthusiasm?
Where have they improved since firing butch?
Thats a better indicator of how this staff juat isn't good
 
#37
#37
Why would players who have invested thousands of hours not try when they are auditioning for a chance to get drafted by a NFL team and make millions?

While there is some warranted criticism of the team and staff this year. The people acting like Covid didn’t impact us are delusional. Not all teams competing this season have had equal circumstances. People thinking a first time head coach 2 seasons into his career wouldn’t have issues with program being turned on its head with losing a S&C coach right before getting shut down for Spring camp are delusional as well.

The things Pruitt could control HOWEVER have been alarming and it starts with JG continuing to trot out there. I’m not saying that has caused us to lose 3 games but there are 3 games that QB play was big contributor to us losing and those are UK (14 points off JG turnovers), Arky (Second half), and Auburn (Pick 6).......

Pruitt is an immature coach and I think this year’s QB issues are result of that. Bailey not getting earlier PT is also a cause of Covid not letting him be able to go thru a typical spring camp. Both can be true.

The people who say “well everyone else is” are just as delusional as the people who think Covid is 100% to blame for our issues. Pruitt can make mistakes this year and Covid can be the cause of issues as well. It’s not one or the other. People crying now are the same people who applauded Pruitt getting an extension
 
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#38
#38
While there is some warranted criticism of the team and staff this year. The people acting like Covid didn’t impact us are delusional. Not all teams competing this season have had equal circumstances. People thinking a first time head coach 2 seasons into his career wouldn’t have issues with program being turned on its head with losing a S&C coach right before getting shut down for Spring camp are delusional as well.

The things Pruitt could control HOWEVER have been alarming and it starts with JG continuing to trot out there. I’m not saying that has caused us to lose 3 games but there are 3 games that QB play was big contributor to us losing and those are UK (14 points off JG turnovers), Arky (Second half), and Auburn (Pick 6).......

Pruitt is an immature coach and I think this year’s QB issues are result of that. Bailey not getting earlier PT is also a cause of Covid not letting him be able to go thru a typical spring camp. Both can be true.

The people who say “well everyone else is” are just as delusional as the people who think Covid is 100% to blame for our issues. Pruitt can make mistakes this year and Covid can be the cause of issues as well. It’s not one or the other. People crying now are the same people who applauded Pruitt getting an extension
Please name the players that had to sit out due to COVID and the length of time they were out? Why is UT unique to COVID?
 
#39
#39
Please name the players that had to sit out due to COVID and the length of time they were out? Why is UT unique to COVID?

We didn’t get a spring camp. We also lost our S&C coach literally before everything shutdown. Acting like These two things alone with a first time head coach wouldn’t have some sort of impact is ignorance. Hell there is no guarantee we will get all 10 games in. To sit here and act like we haven’t had any effects from Covid is pure lunacy.

Pruitt can be a bad coach and The program can have negative effects from Covid (more than just the virus)..... you’re not smart if you disagree with that.

But 2020 is a year like no other. I guess a side effect of Covid is also the inability to deal in reality. Apparently a lot of people have that symptom here.
 
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#40
#40
We didn’t get a spring camp. We also lost our S&C coach literally before everything shutdown. Acting like These two things alone with a first time head coach wouldn’t have some sort of impact is ignorance. Hell there is no guarantee we will get all 10 games in. To sit here and act like we haven’t had any effects from Covid is pure lunacy.

Pruitt can be a bad coach and The program can have negative effects from Covid (more than just the virus)..... you’re not smart if you disagree with that.

But 2020 is a year like no other. I guess a side effect of Covid is also the inability to deal in reality. Apparently a lot of people have that symptom here.
Just asked you a simple question. Five double digit loses in the SEC in program history. Just facts, not accusations. Guess I do not share your admiration for incompetency and denial of reality.
 
#41
#41
Just asked you a simple question. Five double digit loses in the SEC in program history. Just facts, not accusations. Guess I do not share your admiration for incompetency and denial of reality.

That’s not a good thing. I literally said Pruitt has criticism that is perfectly warranted. So nice try to be cute

The delusion from folks that really ices the cake are the ones calling this worst season ever, acting like 0-8 SEC record season never happened. I find it hilarious that it took a world pandemic for us to have our “worst season in history” just because of a 5 game losing streak. People really are Butch apologists or just hate Pruitt personally to try to make this season anywhere close to being as bad as the 0-8 SEC record season......
 
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#43
#43
After the Georgia game, the team lost its motivation to play.
This. I think they were all in until the 2nd half of UGA. After that, I think they realized they couldn't accomplish their goals with JG at the helm and are playing for a do over next year.
 
#45
#45
We didn’t get a spring camp. We also lost our S&C coach literally before everything shutdown. Acting like These two things alone with a first time head coach wouldn’t have some sort of impact is ignorance. Hell there is no guarantee we will get all 10 games in. To sit here and act like we haven’t had any effects from Covid is pure lunacy.

Pruitt can be a bad coach and The program can have negative effects from Covid (more than just the virus)..... you’re not smart if you disagree with that.

But 2020 is a year like no other. I guess a side effect of Covid is also the inability to deal in reality. Apparently a lot of people have that symptom here.

Your point would be valid if the team came out rusty and improved as the season progressed. This team has gotten worse as the season has continued. A team that lacked practice would gradually improve as the season continued. This team played better at the beginning of the season, that does not fit the mold of a team that had limited preparation to begin the season.
 
#46
#46
Your point would be valid if the team came out rusty and improved as the season progressed. This team has gotten worse as the season has continued. A team that lacked practice would gradually improve as the season continued. This team played better at the beginning of the season, that does not fit the mold of a team that had limited preparation to begin the season.

Like I said, Pruitt can have issues and mistakes and Covid can negatively impact us.

3 things I can think off the top of my head regarding Covid that have impacted us for the worse:

  • Spring Camp
    • Got canceled / suspended on March 13th
      • This specifically impacted the young guys especially incoming freshmen (EE's) and sophomores. I think the biggest impact of this was Harrison Bailey
  • Coach Fitz left for the Giants on March 19th
    • This happened one week after spring camp getting shutdown. The S&C "work from home" version was basically stopped and players had to wait for guidance. Pruitt didn't hire anyone and that's on him. However, Covid caused our players to have to do S&C in a work from home manner without a clear leader at that position. And while Pruitt chose to not hire a replacement, hiring someone that would immediately be doing facetime and zoom calls with players to get the program going would not be efficient. Especially if new S&C coach changed from Fitz drastically
  • Season Schedule
    • Shrunk from 12 to 10 with all SEC schedule.
      • SEC HQ didn't do anyone favors except Bama (shocker), but we also didn't get to play some cupcakes early on where in theory, our backups across the board would get playing time vs 2 cupcakes in the first 3 weeks. Once again, I think this hurt the QB's the most, but also the offensive line.


I refuse to believe our season's failures are solely due to Pruitt's hands 100%. He has enough things to be blamed for. However, I'm not ignorant enough to think Covid hasn't impacted our program in a way that a first time head coach would be able to prep and handle it with no issues.

I'm also choosing to deal in reality and not get my panties in a wad at the fact that Pruitt is 90% likely to be our coach next season because if we fire him, we are asking boosters to finance a 25 million project to fire him (12 million) and prolly need 12-13 million dollar commitment to hire a new coach because we CAN NOT fire Pruitt and hire someone that isn't a home run hire. And since we are asking Boosters to 25 million to fire and hire coaching staffs, we would likely ask them to cover to the 50 million dollar shortfall as well for a total of 75 million.


Because why would they commit 25 million dollars to something that isn't 100% guaranteed to workout (we could end up with another coaching search in 3-5 years) when they could just pay the same to cut the shortfall in half which is tangible?
 
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#47
#47
Like I said, Pruitt can have issues and mistakes and Covid can negatively impact us.

3 things I can think off the top of my head regarding Covid that have impacted us for the worse:

  • Spring Camp
    • Got canceled / suspended on March 13th
      • This specifically impacted the young guys especially incoming freshmen (EE's) and sophomores. I think the biggest impact of this was Harrison Bailey
  • Coach Fitz left for the Giants on March 19th
    • This happened one week after spring camp getting shutdown. The S&C "work from home" version was basically stopped and players had to wait for guidance. Pruitt didn't hire anyone and that's on him. However, Covid caused our players to have to do S&C in a work from home manner without a clear leader at that position. And while Pruitt chose to not hire a replacement, hiring someone that would immediately be doing facetime and zoom calls with players to get the program going would not be efficient. Especially if new S&C coach changed from Fitz drastically
  • Season Schedule
    • Shrunk from 12 to 10 with all SEC schedule.
      • SEC HQ didn't do anyone favors except Bama (shocker), but we also didn't get to play some cupcakes early on where in theory, our backups across the board would get playing time vs 2 cupcakes in the first 3 weeks. Once again, I think this hurt the QB's the most, but also the offensive line.


I refuse to believe our season's failures are solely due to Pruitt's hands 100%. He has enough things to be blamed for. However, I'm not ignorant enough to think Covid hasn't impacted our program in a way that a first time head coach would be able to prep and handle it with no issues.

I'm also choosing to deal in reality and not get my panties in a wad at the fact that Pruitt is 90% likely to be our coach next season because if we fire him, we are asking boosters to finance a 25 million project to fire him (12 million) and prolly need 12-13 million dollar commitment to hire a new coach because we CAN NOT fire Pruitt and hire someone that isn't a home run hire. And since we are asking Boosters to 25 million to fire and hire coaching staffs, we would likely ask them to cover to the 50 million dollar shortfall as well for a total of 75 million.


Because why would they commit 25 million dollars to something that isn't 100% guaranteed to workout (we could end up with another coaching search in 3-5 years) when they could just pay the same to cut the shortfall in half which is tangible?

We play in the East with the only unwinnable crossover game being Alabama as it is nearly every season. We played four extremely winnable OOC games last season and went 2-2. Are you suggesting that two teams with new head coaches and two teams with fired head coaches is a tough draw? We also played Kentucky and Auburn. If you want to argue that UF, UGA, UA, Texas A & M are automatic losses, that’s fine but we play 3/4 every season. UT’s schedule is not the reason we are going to finish 3-7/2-8
 
#50
#50
This. I think they were all in until the 2nd half of UGA. After that, I think they realized they couldn't accomplish their goals with JG at the helm and are playing for a do over next year.
Right. Which is terrible. We don’t know what’s said behind closed doors, but I bet Pruitt was making the guys believe we are gonna shock the world and win the East this year. Too much too soon, unrealistic really. And when that ship sailed, they all kinda lost interest and have never really found a new goal to achieve, when the goal this year should have been .500 or better honestly.
 
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