UTC's David Blackburn says no official contact with UT on job

Hopefully, when the AD and the ego filled booster who has an issue with Blackburn is done posturing, we can seal the deal and move on to the next set of issues to resolve. This has been drug out a lot longer than it has needed to be.
 
Ok I heard this weekend an interesting conversation about the AD job and not everyone believes that it is Blackburn of Bust.

Let me clarify I believe that David Blackburn would be a very good AD here. That being said, I don't believe it is Blackburn or Bust! There are plenty of more qualified and More experienced ADs out there who could do just as good if not a better job.

I know that Blackburn is a "tennessee guy" but that doesn't make him the only candidate who could run the Athletic Department.

What do you all think?
 
Personally, being a "Tennessee Guy" goes a long way with me. I want someone in the job that actually cares about the school and the football program. Blackburn is also an amazing AD.
 
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Ok I heard this weekend an interesting conversation about the AD job and not everyone believes that it is Blackburn of Bust.

Let me clarify I believe that David Blackburn would be a very good AD here. That being said, I don't believe it is Blackburn or Bust! There are plenty of more qualified and More experienced ADs out there who could do just as good if not a better job.

I know that Blackburn is a "tennessee guy" but that doesn't make him the only candidate who could run the Athletic Department.

What do you all think?

Search for the same thread title from 3 weeks ago and there is your answer.
 
Ok I heard this weekend an interesting conversation about the AD job and not everyone believes that it is Blackburn of Bust.

Let me clarify I believe that David Blackburn would be a very good AD here. That being said, I don't believe it is Blackburn or Bust! There are plenty of more qualified and More experienced ADs out there who could do just as good if not a better job.

I know that Blackburn is a "tennessee guy" but that doesn't make him the only candidate who could run the Athletic Department.

What do you all think?

I think UT just hired a search firm that's not the one we have a contract with because that firm was probably going to recommend DB. So, instead, we hired a firm that's probably not going to recommend DB. I think we should probably accept that DB won't be the guy and that it'll probably be someone else.

I'm not saying that guy won't be good, but as a fan base we don't, and shouldn't, have much trust that the UT Admin will get this hire right. We all know about DB, know he loves UT and is good at his job so we want him above anyone else because we know he probably won't be an awful hire like someone else could be.
 
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Blackburn is far and away my number one guy. And it's realistic he's wants this job it is so annoying that those in power may screw this up...

Now having said that there are other guys I'd be ok with. However first off I DO NOT WANT GILBERT... Not sure I want the Cincy AD either. There are quality proven ADs that I'd be ok with if its not DB
 
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David Blackburn is not the only good AD that could be hired. I do think in talking to a few people that he would be a good "fit" because of his familiarity with UT and its moving parts that need to be in better harmony. UT needs a good coordinator to go along with all the other functions required.
 
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I think UT just hired a search firm that's not the one we have a contract with because that firm was probably going to recommend DB. So, instead, we hired a firm that's probably not going to recommend DB. I think we should probably accept that DB won't be the guy and that it'll probably be someone else.

I'm not saying that guy won't be good, but as a fan base we don't, and shouldn't, have much trust that the UT Admin will get this hire right. We all know about DB, know he loves UT and is good at his job so we want him above anyone else because we know he probably won't be an awful hire like someone else could be.

I guess the biggest knock on Blackburn is his lack of experience he only has 3 1/2 yrs as an AD and it is at a smaller school with a Smaller budget.

I am not saying that these are serious concerns, I am just saying that is what others have said.

I personally like Blackburn and hope he does well either here or wherever he ends up.

But i tend to agree with some of the medai that this is probably going to end up going deep into late winter early spring.
 
I guess the biggest knock on Blackburn is his lack of experience he only has 3 1/2 yrs as an AD and it is at a smaller school with a Smaller budget.

I am not saying that these are serious concerns, I am just saying that is what others have said.

I personally like Blackburn and hope he does well either here or wherever he ends up.

But i tend to agree with some of the medai that this is probably going to end up going deep into late winter early spring.

I get that. But I also look at his near 20 years of experience here and also what he's done at Chatt. I mean, he's killed it there. From coaches that have gone on to better schools and winning the most championships in the time span that he's been there. I realize the school is smaller and his real experience is slim, but the guy is just killing. He's also turned down bigger jobs because he's been waiting on this one.

David Blackburn?s Full-Circle Approach - Southern Pigskin
 
David Blackburn is not the end all, be all in terms of UT athletics. Has he done a good job at UTC? Yes, he has. But UT needs someone who can bridge the gap between the boosters, Athletic Department, Board of Trustees, and the Administration because right now that gap is very large and has been since Fulmer was fired. If David Blackburn cannot do that, then UT needs to go in a different direction. The football program does not need another AD change 2 years from now. UT needs to find someone who is qualified and stick with them for the long term. Dave Hart did a great job rebuilding the funds for the AD but he has not bridged the chasm that exists on the Hill. Mike Hamilton burned a lot of bridges and I don't know that some of them will ever be rebuilt. It would never happen but Fulmer may be the only one that can bridge that gap but he has no experience so he will never get a look imho
 
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David Blackburn is not the end all, be all in terms of UT athletics. Has he done a good job at UTC? Yes, he has. But UT needs someone who can bridge the gap between the boosters, Athletic Department, Board of Trustees, and the Administration because right now that gap is very large and has been since Fulmer was fired. If David Blackburn cannot do that, then UT needs to go in a different direction. The football program does not need another AD change 2 years from now. UT needs to find someone who is qualified and stick with them for the long term. Dave Hart did a great job rebuilding the funds for the AD but he has not bridged the chasm that exists on the Hill. Mike Hamilton burned a lot of bridges and I don't know that some of them will ever be rebuilt. It would never happen but Fulmer may be the only one that can bridge that gap but he has no experience so he will never get a look imho

If it's not DB, then I'd also be okay with the guy from Northwestern. He's done a good job there. And in the instance that Butch is fired after next season, I like his connection to Pat Fitzgerald as a coaching option.
 
Coninuity is what we strive for, and that can only come from hiring somebody that is familiar with our leadership, and that is Mike Bohn. I love all VFLs and love Blackburn as well, but Cincinnati is a bigger program than UT AND Bohn comes from here along with our new chancellor and head football coach Butch Jones. It's a no-brainer -LET'S GET BOHNED! :dance2:
 
David Blackburn is not the end all, be all in terms of UT athletics. Has he done a good job at UTC? Yes, he has. But UT needs someone who can bridge the gap between the boosters, Athletic Department, Board of Trustees, and the Administration because right now that gap is very large and has been since Fulmer was fired. If David Blackburn cannot do that, then UT needs to go in a different direction. The football program does not need another AD change 2 years from now. UT needs to find someone who is qualified and stick with them for the long term. Dave Hart did a great job rebuilding the funds for the AD but he has not bridged the chasm that exists on the Hill. Mike Hamilton burned a lot of bridges and I don't know that some of them will ever be rebuilt. It would never happen but Fulmer may be the only one that can bridge that gap but he has no experience so he will never get a look imho

From everything I ve heard a lot of people feel like he fits that description where other options may not be as for sure even tho they are successful options. Thats in regards to Blackburn. I don't think Fulmer is an option. But he could possibly fill that portion of the question.
 
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Coninuity is what we strive for, and that can only come from hiring somebody that is familiar with our leadership, and that is Mike Bohn. I love all VFLs and love Blackburn as well, but Cincinnati is a bigger program than UT AND Bohn comes from here along with our new chancellor and head football coach Butch Jones. It's a no-brainer -LET'S GET BOHNED! :dance2:

I am sure we are going to get BONED pretty deep!
 
Coninuity is what we strive for, and that can only come from hiring somebody that is familiar with our leadership, and that is Mike Bohn. I love all VFLs and love Blackburn as well, but Cincinnati is a bigger program than UT AND Bohn comes from here along with our new chancellor and head football coach Butch Jones. It's a no-brainer -LET'S GET BOHNED! :dance2:
Lack of Blue Font or gray matter, not sure which. Care to clarify?:blink:
 
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Ok I heard this weekend an interesting conversation about the AD job and not everyone believes that it is Blackburn of Bust.

Let me clarify I believe that David Blackburn would be a very good AD here. That being said, I don't believe it is Blackburn or Bust! There are plenty of more qualified and More experienced ADs out there who could do just as good if not a better job.

I know that Blackburn is a "tennessee guy" but that doesn't make him the only candidate who could run the Athletic Department.

What do you all think?

Of course there are plenty of other competent AD's. That said, Blackburn may be a really good hire in terms of uniting the big money guys.
 
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