There is this silly narrative that every good coach turns a program around by year 3. So that means if Pruitt hasnt turned us around by year 3, then we should start looking for another coach because he isnt the guy. At TN, our fan base has a terrible disease called living in the pastitis. Many still believe that we are that same program that once called winning 9-10 games a year down years. The same program that would look at the schedule and circle Vandy, UK, SC, Missouri and Bama as automatic wins. A program loaded with talent that could dominate on both lines of scrimmage. Many think that we should be able to turn things around quickly because of nothing mire than our name. Its ridiculous.
The reality is Pruitt is going to need at the very least 4 years. Many fans dont want to hear it but we are in the beginning of a rebuild. Yeah it sucks but its fact. The past 2 head coaches at TN have absolutely driven this program into the ditch. We are nowhere close to competeing for the East. I think it will be year 5 before we will begin to think about that. And even then it may not be possible with UGA. Georgia may go on an SECE run like we have never seen before. They will easily win it next year as well.
I agree with a lot of what you say. Some of the posters on this forum seem to believe the admin should just snap its fingers and we automatically return to the late 1990s.
Sorry, it isn't likely to happen quickly, or easily. We will likely get marginally better and maybe even "good" in 3 to 4 years. But getting "good" doesn't equate to winning the eastern division given the competitive landscape. There will also be years of backsliding, recruiting busts, tougher schedule, etc.
Face it, UT rarely beat Florida even during the glory years. UF isn't going anywhere. UGA is for the foreseeable future the Alabama of the east. Tennessee has some structural disadvantages it has always had to overcome (lack of recruiting base compared to our rivals, only team in the east that has bama as a permanent opponent, Knoxville's distance from Shelby county athletes, etc.). In year's past a focused administration and AD was able to overcome these inherent obstacles. A few years of mismanagement and loss of focus, and these disadvantages loom much larger.
Right now our focus should be stabilizing the program and building up the roster. In 4 or 5 years, the AD and administration (not Volnation) will decide if Pruitt should continue to hold the reins, based on a lot of factors, including wins and losses. My guess is if Pruitt is consistently winning 8 games a season in year 4 or year 5, probably getting us to a reliable 3rd place in the east, he will get the nod to stay on, assuming he doesn't bolt for somewhere else, and assuming there is not a "big name-can't miss" proven coach who wants the job who the AD thinks can do better. As a side note, I think getting a "big name-can't miss" coach will be considerably easier once the roster is restocked and the program stablized.
We have an entitled fan base. The sense of entitlement does not match up with the realities of where the UT football program is vis-a-vis its competition. My view it is better to be realistic and get an occasional good surprise, than expect a quick turnaround because "TENNESSEE."
As always, JMHO.