? When we hired Pruitt in 2017

Yes, that was him. A true walk-on that had an incredible fall camp to start the season. When interviewed about him, ole Trooper Taylor said he is (was) good enough to be the starter or should be the starter. That’s with Houston, Riggs and the other two highly ‘01 recruited backs. Fulmer had to downplay and spin it the next day.

That ‘01 class of RB’s was a bust and so was Riggs. I’ve never seen so many runs where running backs literally ran to get tackled. It was so evident in the SECG and the bowl game.
Yancey wouldn’t have lasted a week in the starters role. He was Kirston Biggers Jr. He was like 5’6 and 145 lbs soaking wet.
 
Should have just let Currie hire the pirate.

Would have been a tragic ending tho.

I’ll bet Dan Mullen wishes he would have gone ahead and met with Currie after talking to Peyton and taken our job instead of UF.
 
Most of you have forgotten but, at the time of Pruitts hire, the most important thing was that we have a coach who will line up under center at the goal line.

Now, that’s regardless of of he turns around and hands it to the tailback or, reaches it above the pile and hands it to the defense.
 
Former high school teacher in Alabama. What was to be expected? Lol
Pruitt had been a highly successful DC. There was the feeling that he was a solid, old-school coach who knew the game and how to coach it, and he was a relief as the anti Butch. He did some good things, but our HC job proved to be too big for him. It was too big for a number of coaches we hired.
 
Kiffin, Dooley, Butch and Pruitt should have never stepped on our campus. Our standards were set very low during the dark years.
 
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Should have just let Currie hire the pirate.

Would have been a tragic ending tho.

I’ll bet Dan Mullen wishes he would have gone ahead and met with Currie after talking to Peyton and taken our job instead of UF.
No sane coach would choose us over UF in 2017. Mullen made the right choice, but he didn't make enough happen.
Mullen won 11, 10, 8, and 5 (then fired; the team was 1-1 with interim coach for a 6 win season).

Napier won 6, 5, and 8.
Kind of amazing Napier survived those first 2 years. They are in their butch jones phase with good rosters and a fair amount of vulnerabilities.
 
He was a grad asst I believe when Fulmer got the job. I was speaking mainly of RS being hired as OC. He did have a great NC game replacing Cut but he quickly feel off a couple years later.
I understood Fulmer took more control of play calling in 2002.
 
Pruitt had been a highly successful DC. There was the feeling that he was a solid, old-school coach who knew the game and how to coach it, and he was a relief as the anti Butch. He did some good things, but our HC job proved to be too big for him. It was too big for a number of coaches we hired.
Saban even looked into hiring him back as the DC the last yr he coached but the 5 yr show cause letter wasn't workable. I was shocked when the Bama fans were telling me that. So his getting caught cheating didn't faze Saban at all. Says a lot.
 
That’s easy to say now but back then you have to think about it. We were a dumpster fire. Just went 0-8 in the SEC. And honestly, hiring Pruitt wasn’t a terrible choice at the time. The thought was maybe he would be like Kirby Smart.

Yes the Pruitt hire ended up a disaster. But seriously at that point, how many head coaches would have wanted the job?

Pretty sure I was pulling for bringing Steele as an interim with potential to remove that tag. Not a clue how that would have worked out, but can’t imagine it could reach the catastrophic levels we attained. Could have led to lengthy mediocrity I guess. Probably best pick from those 3, but..,,,,
 
My thoughts at that time were that only an up and comer such as Jones or CJH would have taken it at anytime because of the situation we were in. Of course, any coach in the position that Pruitt or any non-head coach with any aspirations would have accepted it.

Which makes me wonder why the Pirate told Currie he would accept. The draw of the SEC, maybe?
 
I will accept that. Believe Steele would have been at Auburn at the time and they were probably coming off a good season.

I suppose I was thinking Steele was involved in the 20-21 coaching search which he was and didn't grasp that he might have also been considered in 17.

Just further confirmation that the 2017 search was doomed from the start.
Whether you accept it or not? That is who it was.
 
My thoughts at that time were that only an up and comer such as Jones or CJH would have taken it at anytime because of the situation we were in. Of course, any coach in the position that Pruitt or any non-head coach with any aspirations would have accepted it.

Which makes me wonder why the Pirate told Currie he would accept. The draw of the SEC, maybe?
Well, Leach did end up at Mississippi State shortly afterward. So yeah, draw of the SEC is probably right.
 

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