PhoenixAZVol
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- Nov 2, 2017
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You guys do not remember Bill Battle. He wiped out an SEC championship program in record time. In modern times, Kiffin was the worst as he destroyed a solid recruiting class Fulmer had teed up - then recruited thugs and ran off some decent players. Then bolted for his "dream job" in the depth of the night while trying to pirate the early signing class he had for Tennessee. Pat Haden was so fed up with Kiffin that he fired him at the airport similar to Al Davis booting him out with the Raiders. Vols actually got a break when Kiffin headed west as he is incapable of managing a major NCAA football program and staying within the rules.
Dooley was a reach hire who inherited a mess. Butch was a reasonable hire who worked hard, was a terrific promoter, but promised too much to some recruits to try to upgrade the roster. It worked for awhile then lack of linemen and overall strength caught up. Pruitt took over the weakest roster of the group and is getting traction. You can see the player development in action. Consider Charlie Strong getting fired a second time, the NC State coach and others sucking wind after turning down the Vol job and you have to be grateful for Fulmer taking the helm of the train wreck and bringing in Jeremy Pruitt.
Too young to remember Battle but the record books say his first three seasons were very good. I understand that they were Dickey’s players though. His last three years were definitely not as good with a gradual decline. However, his body of work wasn’t nearly as bad as any of the post Fulmer coaches. It took Johnny 7-8 years to get back to an elite level. Was that Battles thought?