The last coach to . . .

#1
Enki_Amenra

Enki_Amenra

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#1
Take this job seriously, as a destination? Lane Kiffin obviously didn't. Did Dooley, or did he want to end up at UGA? Jones . . . was he just over his head and topping out his wallet? Did Pruitt know what he is and milk the University and fans too or did he have a imbecilic dream of making it to bammer?

What do you think about Coach Heupel and this question?
 
#7
#7
GoodmanVol said:
This was a destination job for Pruitt. He could finally take his seat as an SEC HC along with Saban, Smart, Muschamp, etc. I don’t think he had eyes on going back to Bama. UT was to be his legacy, he just didn’t have what it takes to succeed.
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Agree.....he wasn’t ready to be a HC at this level. And I hate it, I sure was pulling fir him.
 
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#8
#8
It’s their dream job until it isn’t. I think Dooley Jones and Pruitt all would have stayed a while had they had sustained success. But when things went south for all three they folded like cheap tents (kind of like their teams).

Kiffin had no pretense of staying if he got a better job offer. People just didn’t expect it to come within a year of being hired. I think he would have parlayed success at UT into another NFL head coaching gig or a big time job in college.
 
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#9
#9
So who was the last coach who gave his all for UTK? Fulmer? Majors? Jones? Dooley? Pruitt? Kiffin? Battle?
 
#11
#11
Cathead Biscuits said:
Heupel takes this job seriously. AD White too.

I think we will see great things out of CJH. Might not be legacy setting, but he will be remembered for righting the ship.
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It's all about the money man, come on. Neither of them actually GAF about Tennessee.

Not saying that I don't think either can be successful here, just keeping it real.
 
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#12
#12
YankeeVol said:
I'm not sure Pruitt could actually spell TENNESSEE
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That boy saw the exit sign as he walked in the door. . . i think he also saw the buyout clause sign hanging next to it.

I've met you Yankee. I hope your boy and your family is well. You remember?
 
#14
#14
I think for Dooley and Jones it was a destination job. Kiffin it wasn't. but I think he would view it as one now. Pruitt it was unless Bama came open. For Heupel I really think it is unless the NFL comes calling one day. I don't think he would leave to coach OK. If I were a college coach with an ego, I think trying to coach in the NFL would be hard to pass up.
 
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#16
#16
Enki_Amenra said:
Take this job seriously, as a destination? Lane Kiffin obviously didn't. Did Dooley, or did he want to end up at UGA? Jones . . . was he just over his head and topping out his wallet? Did Pruitt know what he is and milk the University and fans too or did he have a imbecilic dream of making it to bammer?

What do you think about Coach Heupel and this question?
Click to expand...
Coach Heupel saw Tennessee as a coaching destination and takes the job very seriously.
 
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#18
#18
YankeeVol said:
OOOOOOOH Yea! That was my oldest daughter.

I remember, you had picked up the tickets for me and I came and got them from you.
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Yeah, sorry yankee. Its been a few years now. For some reason i was thinking it was a boy you brought. I remember it was their first game i think.
 
#19
#19
Nah, Butch loved it here. He wanted to build a dynasty and do so using his system. Sure he had gimicks, was a (used car) salesman, and possessed a growing ego (who wouldn't after the "Game of Jones" cover); but, he wanted Tennessee to be successful. He wanted it very badly, and knew that his success and the University's success were joined at the hip. It was true love in bloom.

After his coaching ability was exposed against OK and Fla in those comeback losses (the mark of the 17-0 lead), then being mocked and ridiculed by the trolls and media, and lastly clowned by the Higgins ("I like turtles") and Hunter Johnson recruiting class, he was broken. Add in the boosters and BoT behind the scenes BS, that broken "good ole boy system," and Jones was psychologically empty. Afterward he couldn't muster the courage to keep up the fight. That turnover trashcan on the sideline was an unfortunate metaphor for his (and his stafff's) demise.

I'll say it again, Butch gave us the most exciting UT football since 2005. He is in part responsible for some of my fondest and most disappointing UT football moments: from JJ in the GA end zone, to Kamara's breakout game and our eventual loss to aTm; from Marquez North's shoulder catch along the sidelines to Pig Howard's fumble through the end zone. Dobb's fumble in Bama. Hurd's trucking player after player to score, and then to his eventual downfall with that showboat fumble in GA. So many football memories while Jones was coach.

Jones loved it here. He infected his players with that joy and his optimism. It showed in his recruiting (at least early on). However, Jones fell apart and when the joy was gone the love was lost. Sure he took his scorn out on the University - like a bad divorce - through the pockets, but he wasn't about the money. It was about the retaliatory pain...

I'm not an apologist, nor Jones supporter. But, it wouldn't surprise me if Jones uses his time learning under the Saban system to reinvent and improve upon his coaching abilities. Not saying it will happen, but it wouldn't surprise me one bit if he is very successful in AK St, and back in the top tier ranks within five years.
 
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#20
#20
Enki_Amenra said:
Take this job seriously, as a destination? Lane Kiffin obviously didn't. Did Dooley, or did he want to end up at UGA? Jones . . . was he just over his head and topping out his wallet? Did Pruitt know what he is and milk the University and fans too or did he have a imbecilic dream of making it to bammer?

What do you think about Coach Heupel and this question?
Click to expand...

With the exception of Derek Dooley towards the end of his tenure, the former UT coaches all "gave their all", I do believe. Those were some mighty big paychecks they were able to cash and I know very few people that would say no to the dough. Keeping your job also makes you more attractive to others. Those are two motivations that cover most of them. It is well documented that Dooley basically said F--k it in the end and he didn't even recruit his last year. He knew he was over his head and wanted the buyout.

As for AD White, he has achieved the pinnacle of his profession by becoming the AD at Tennessee. He has love for Tennessee because UT gives him the opportunity for true professional greatness. UT is in a VERY small group of places that can offer that opportunity. The others would be Alabama, UGA, Florida, Texas A&M and Auburn. Six schools that: are in the SEC; have a commitment to Athletic excellence; have the people that will provide the finances necessary for success; have the facilities that are second to none and have the national media spotlight. Having the level of success he had at UCF only made him long for this opportunity even more. Despite almost two undefeated football seasons, no one cared. If he does that at UT, and fosters our others sports in the same manner, he is forever loved, remembered and viewed by his peers as one of the best ever. The last likely motivates him more than most considering athletic administration is the White's family business.

CJH also finds himself with an opportunity of a lifetime. I would say the afore mentioned schools plus LSU, OSU, UM, Clemson and ND give a head football coach the best possible chance of greatness. CJH has had success from playing to coaching. If you've read anything about the man at all, you know his competitive drive is second to none. People rave about how brilliant then man is. I hope they are right, we will soon see for ourselves. I truly love this hire. The only other REALISTIC option I could imagine would be Hugh Freeze, but we all know why that was a non-starter. CJH has everything going for him at a well funded, properly appointed and storied SEC program. He understands winning big at this level will put him in the club with General Neyland, the Bear, Saban, Rockne etc. There is his motivation. I expect him to give great effort, I like his odds in making Tennessee Football great again.
 
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#21
#21
All of them took the job seriously, wanted to succeed and be here. The problem is that outside of CLK none of them had the ability and CJH is an unknown at this time.
 
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#22
#22
Enki_Amenra said:
Take this job seriously, as a destination? Lane Kiffin obviously didn't. Did Dooley, or did he want to end up at UGA? Jones . . . was he just over his head and topping out his wallet? Did Pruitt know what he is and milk the University and fans too or did he have a imbecilic dream of making it to bammer?

What do you think about Coach Heupel and this question?
Click to expand...
I think they all took the job seriously. Even Kiffin; he just got a call from his dream destination.

As for thinking of Tennessee as The Destination Job...we'll never know for sure about some of the most recent fellas.

But my guess would be:
  • Majors - destination job
  • Fulmer - destination job
  • Kiffin - nope
  • Dooley - probably not - in the back of his mind he probably saw himself continuing his daddy's legacy at Georgia eventually
  • Jones - probably not - dude's from Michigan, if they ever came calling he'd have run north
  • Pruitt - probably not - Bama's his dream job
  • Heupel - probably not - but not for Oklahoma, as some think - instead, Utah or BYU might be the itch he needs to scratch one day - or even back to the Dakotas if either of the state schools up there make a move toward the FBS - it seems like it might fit his nature to go to a smaller place and try to build it
Deep in our souls, we all harbor a bit of the 12 year old we once were. Whatever team we dreamed of when we were playing pickup games in the field behind the house, that's the only true destination job for each of us.
 
#24
#24
St. JohnVolCactus said:
Nah, Butch loved it here. He wanted to build a dynasty and do so using his system. Sure he had gimicks, was a (used car) salesman, and possessed a growing ego (who wouldn't after the "Game of Jones" cover); but, he wanted Tennessee to be successful. He wanted it very badly, and knew that his success and the University's success were joined at the hip. It was true love in bloom.

After his coaching ability was exposed against OK and Fla in those comeback losses (the mark of the 17-0 lead), then being mocked and ridiculed by the trolls and media, and lastly clowned by the Higgins ("I like turtles") and Hunter Johnson recruiting class, he was broken. Add in the boosters and BoT behind the scenes BS, that broken "good ole boy system," and Jones was psychologically empty. Afterward he couldn't muster the courage to keep up the fight. That turnover trashcan on the sideline was an unfortunate metaphor for his (and his stafff's) demise.

I'll say it again, Butch gave us the most exciting UT football since 2005. He is in part responsible for some of my fondest and most disappointing UT football moments: from JJ in the GA end zone, to Kamara's breakout game and our eventual loss to aTm; from Marquez North's shoulder catch along the sidelines to Pig Howard's fumble through the end zone. Dobb's fumble in Bama. Hurd's trucking player after player to score, and then to his eventual downfall with that showboat fumble in GA. So many football memories while Jones was coach.

Jones loved it here. He infected his players with that joy and his optimism. It showed in his recruiting (at least early on). However, Jones fell apart and when the joy was gone the love was lost. Sure he took his scorn out on the University - like a bad divorce - through the pockets, but he wasn't about the money. It was about the retaliatory pain...

I'm not an apologist, nor Jones supporter. But, it wouldn't surprise me if Jones uses his time learning under the Saban system to reinvent and improve upon his coaching abilities. Not saying it will happen, but it wouldn't surprise me one bit if he is very successful in AK St, and back in the top tier ranks within five years.
Click to expand...

Butch was looking to "better deal" us as soon as the Michigan job came open. That's partly why he fired his agent.
 
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