You think hiring a proven HC doesn't matter?

[JC61]

I think the point is that one would have more faith in Frost.and Kelly to turn the program around instead of a coach that has yet to win an FBS game.

Kelly maybe; Frost not so much. 1 season does not a great or proven coach make. I'd be much more impressed with Frost if UCF had sucked for decade(s) - fact is they were a top 10 team a couple years before he took over and had been a sound team for a while. I think OLeary was pulling double duty as AD and took his mind off the football team when they went 0-12, but maybe not. Or maybe Frost was that good at UCF...they're 5-0...with another "unproven" coach.

FWIW....UTEP is an FBS team, maybe they shouldn't be...but they are.

 

[JMSqb11]

Mullen was smart enough not to follow Jones. That's pretty much the bottom line. IIRC, they showed interest in him and he politely turned his head. McElwain was 22-12 when he was fired. He wasn't a complete incompetent when it came to developing players like Jones.

He was smart not to follow Butch because of how idiotic the fan base is. It is no secret I wanted Mullen first and foremost because of what he would bring with him aka Todd Grantham at DC.

I'm glad we landed Pruitt, but Mullen was my guy the whole time. But given that he would have to try to please this fan base, he made the best career move.

 

[SaintLouisVol]

He was smart not to follow Butch because of how idiotic the fan base is. It is no secret I wanted Mullen first and foremost because of what he would bring with him aka Todd Grantham at DC.

I'm glad we landed Pruitt, but Mullen was my guy the whole time. But given that he would have to try to please this fan base, he made the best career move.

Yea, because Florida fans are very reasonable, super bright and have almost no expectations.

 

[JMSqb11]

Only reason we did not beat UF 4 straight years was Butch Jones. UF just beat LSU.
They are 5 -1 and 3 -1 in the SEC. I guess UF was loaded to begin this year?
Looks like they do not have to wait 4 years to turn it around.
I am not throwing JP under the bus. This is aimed at the UT decision makers.
You get what you pay for and UT is just not willing to do that.

They also have one of the top offensive minds in the country and one of the best DC's in the country in Grantham. This was my calculus for pursuing Mullen at any price. The package of Mullen and Grantham was prolly the best available coaching pickup on the entire market last year.

 

[Gatornator]

Yea, because Florida fans are very reasonable, super bright and have almost no expectations.

We are reasonable and super bright But Mullen knows the expectations deal, after all he was part of two Florida NC teams. He said that from day one and repeats almost every time he is on the podium.

 

[JMSqb11]

Yea, because Florida fans are very reasonable, super bright and have almost no expectations.

Florida's expectations and Tennessee's are not the same given how last year went and this year started. Tennessee's program and roster that Pruitt took was/is in the gutter. Florida's roster and program that Mullen took was not. Jimmy Mac was just a horrible coach. Also, Mullen has been around the UF Program during 2 natty's in 3 years. He knows what the fan base expects.

However, it is funny to see TN fans admit that it will take time and that our program is in rough shape, but also are the first ones to start the "fire coach xyz" after one game into their tenure. Yes, Mullen made the smart move to avoid TN, unfortunately. People labeled him Butch 2.0 and that his time in Starkville was something other than pretty damn good. Is he an odd type? Sure, but he ain't Mike Leach Odd. Guy coaches and develops talent left and right. Add in a top DC in the country and you have a pretty good hire/candidate.

 

[MAUSERWERKE]

He was smart not to follow Butch because of how idiotic the fan base is. It is no secret I wanted Mullen first and foremost because of what he would bring with him aka Todd Grantham at DC.

I'm glad we landed Pruitt, but Mullen was my guy the whole time. But given that he would have to try to please this fan base, he made the best career move.

Yes, I think Mullen was always Gator bound. The simple fact is being the HFC at UF is considerably more attractive opportunity than UT, particularly right now. If for no other reason (and there are several others) recruiting. UF can recruit practically every player it needs and not have to travel more than a few hours from Gainesville. The state of TN is getting better in-state recruiting wise, but cannot hold a candle to the state of Florida. Also, UT has something of an in-state disadvantage in that its campus is far from where the best prep talent is concentrated. Memphis is closer to Louisiana than it is to Knoxville. That's a factor. Nashville's population growth and relative proximity will help UT immensely in the coming years.

 

[MWAVolfan]

You pay enough money, you get a good coach.

 

[governmentmule]

well it is nice to get a proven coach for sure,but that didn't happen,because of the dumpster fire during the hiring process

but you got to remember that it will take a couple of years and probably a firing or two,to get the staff settled in and up to speed as far as what it takes to be a winner,nothing like on the job training in the SEC

I hope CJP will prove to be a great one,he may have the skills or needs to learn a few more as the HC,so it is a big roll of the dice,so who knows? he may be a great one or not ?time will tell

 

[JMSqb11]

Yes, I think Mullen was always Gator bound. The simple fact is being the HFC at UF is considerably more attractive opportunity than UT, particularly right now. If for no other reason (and there are several others) recruiting. UF can recruit practically every player it needs and not have to travel more than a few hours from Gainesville. The state of TN is getting better in-state recruiting wise, but cannot hold a candle to the state of Florida. Also, UT has something of an in-state disadvantage in that its campus is far from where the best prep talent is concentrated. Memphis is closer to Louisiana than it is to Knoxville. That's a factor. Nashville's population growth and relative proximity will help UT immensely in the coming years.

While UF definitely sets him up via the resources. However, his coaching also allows him to make things better quicker than average. One thing he proved is that he didn't have to the 4/5 stars to compete with anyone, while also developing talent across the board. Butch couldn't do that.

 

[jakez4ut]

butch was a proven head coach.

there is no formula. situation and circumstances dictate.

and part of what determines any particular situation or circumstance is how much you might be willing to spend (a la aTm), or what kind of debacle your off season turned in to after you fire your AD that's been on the job for less than a year while he's off on a 1 man crusade to find a coach whilst attempting to save his own arse.

 

[JC61]

butch was a proven head coach.

there is no formula. situation and circumstances dictate.

and part of what determines any particular situation or circumstance is how much you might be willing to spend (a la aTm), or what kind of debacle your off season turned in to after you fire your AD that's been on the job for less than a year while he's off on a 1 man crusade to find a coach whilst attempting to save his own arse.

Closer to the truth than many would like to realize....probably more about fit, relative time in the coaches career and availability of talent on a roster, as well as talent in the region.

Jones may not have been a bad coach....if he stayed non P5, but he wasn't ready for the SEC or magnitude of the task at hand. I admit, I thought he had potential to grow into it, but he was unwilling to change....and unwilling to let someone play second fiddle, even if that guy was a great fiddler. As much grief as Deboard got, I think he was a decent coach (Striplin too.....and oh hell, even Janzeck....D was better w/ that tandem), but maybe ol' CMD saw the fatal flaw wasn't going to correct itself and bailed to IU.

 

[sjt18]

He was smart not to follow Butch because of how idiotic the fan base is. It is no secret I wanted Mullen first and foremost because of what he would bring with him aka Todd Grantham at DC.

I'm glad we landed Pruitt, but Mullen was my guy the whole time. But given that he would have to try to please this fan base, he made the best career move.

You mean idiotic enough to fire a guy before the end of his 3rd year who had won the East the two previous years?

The only portion of our fan base that is "idiotic" is those who continue to believe you can get championship results without expecting coaches to perform at a championship level from day 1. They may not have the components... but great coaches, coach great regardless.

 

[jakez4ut]

Closer to the truth than many would like to realize....probably more about fit, relative time in the coaches career and availability of talent on a roster, as well as talent in the region.

Jones may not have been a bad coach....if he stayed non P5, but he wasn't ready for the SEC or magnitude of the task at hand. I admit, I thought he had potential to grow into it, but he was unwilling to change....and unwilling to let someone play second fiddle, even if that guy was a great fiddler. As much grief as Deboard got, I think he was a decent coach (Striplin too.....and oh hell, even Janzeck....D was better w/ that tandem), but maybe ol' CMD saw the fatal flaw wasn't going to correct itself and bailed to IU.

i think now with the benefit of hindsight, it's probably pretty apparent to a lot of folks, most of the issues lied at Jones' feet. from coaches that left and went on to do good work elsewhere or players that left that went on to do good things elsewhere...there was one constant in Knoxville.

 

[JMSqb11]

You mean idiotic enough to fire a guy before the end of his 3rd year who had won the East the two previous years?

The only portion of our fan base that is "idiotic" is those who continue to believe you can get championship results without expecting coaches to perform at a championship level from day 1. They may not have the components... but great coaches, coach great regardless.

Are you calling Jimmy Mac a great coach? You do realize they digressed every season with him, right? They won the division in first year, backed into another in year 2 and then cratered to a point where said coach accused his fan base of making death threats without offering one ounce of proof. Calling him great is something funny. Thanks for the chuckle.

 

[jakez4ut]

Are you calling Jimmy Mac a great coach? You do realize they digressed every season with him, right? They won the division in first year, backed into another in year 2 and then cratered to a point where said coach accused his fan base of making death threats without offering one ounce of proof. Calling him great is something funny. Thanks for the chuckle.

no, he's not. he's referring to Mac as the one that got fired before the end of his last season, on the heels of winning b2b east titles.

 

[benzod]

I was for Mullen..check my posts. I am happy we got Pruitt..he just somehow fits.

 

[Thorp32]

You mean idiotic enough to fire a guy before the end of his 3rd year who had won the East the two previous years?

The only portion of our fan base that is "idiotic" is those who continue to believe you can get championship results without expecting coaches to perform at a championship level from day 1. They may not have the components... but great coaches, coach great regardless.

Nice post here. Pruitt has struggled tremendously this year as a head coach. Frankly right now this stage is way to big for him and most fans deep down would probably admit it but they are still in shock from the hiring process that brought Pruitt here. Hopefully Pruitt is a quick study and will grow into the job. Not so sure though. Ball coaches get kids to play competitively out of the gate.

 

[hUTch2002]

Texas A&M also starting to reap the benefits of a proven head coach.

How many “proven” head coaching hires have there been in all of college football the last 2 years? Fisher and Mullen have worked out. Kelly has not to this point. A lot of people would call Taggart a proven coach. That’s not working out either. So that’s 50/50. Fisher never considered us as far as we know, Mullen supposedly would’ve come here but UF is where he really wanted to be, Kelly was only heading West, and it may be a blessing we didn’t get Taggart. These proven coaches willing to move around from power 5 to power 5 are almost like unicorns.

 

[JMSqb11]

no, he's not. he's referring to Mac as the one that got fired before the end of his last season, on the heels of winning b2b east titles.

He literally accused his fan base of multiple death threats while offering zero evidence all while going 4-7 after those back to back division winning years. Are you saying that his firing wasn't justified?

 

[jakez4ut]

He literally accused his fan base of multiple death threats while offering zero evidence all while going 4-7 after those back to back division winning years. Are you saying that his firing wasn't justified?

you need to go back and read stj's post again.

you called the TN fan base idiotic as a reference point of why mullen wouldn't want to come here.

stj said "idiotic enough to fire a guy before the end of his 3rd year who had won the East the two previous years "

referencing the FL fan base not being happy with Mac. Butch never won the East, so he's obviously talking about FL fans and Mac.

it wasn't ever a question of whether or not they should have fired mac. just the Mullen's perception of the "idiotic" fanbases if trying to decide which one would he rather deal with.....the ones that wanted a complete under acheiver fired? or the ones that wanted a guy fired even though he won the division twice in his 1st three years?

 

[JC61]

He literally accused his fan base of multiple death threats while offering zero evidence all while going 4-7 after those back to back division winning years. Are you saying that his firing wasn't justified?

meh...not a UF fan, so no idea how the fan base felt. While his overall record as a HC isn't that bad...always thought of him as a buffoon. He definitely made a mess of things his last year...but, was 3-4 when fired; UF likely wins a couple more games if he'd just focused on the job and kept his mouth shut.

He opened the door wide for a show cause firing.....he'd probably still be the HC if he'd at least gone 5-7 or 6-6 and hadn't made the outlandish claims.

 

[ProudVOLfan]

I was for Mullen..check my posts. I am happy we got Pruitt..he just somehow fits.

I'll second this. I was pulling for Mullen but Pruitt will get it done, I hope..

 

[TGFHeupel16]

Maybe we do have a real coach, and it doesn't take a genius to figure out that Florida has much better athletes.

We do. Some of these posters are damn moronic. When Alabama hired Nick Saban his first year, NO ONE was ready to get rid of him because the Bama fans realized it takes time for him to put in his system and get his players. We have a hell of a coach. But we also have a fan base that seems to ONLY look at the negatives. Noah also didn’t build his big a** ark in one day. Chill out. We will see something unexpected this year that wasn’t supposed to happen, then we’ll have people to name a street after Pruitt. We’re way to dramatic, smh...
Go big

 

[TGFHeupel16]

If FL has more talent ( stars or coached up ) than us, it's not by that much. We are in the same ball park on talent.

We destroyed ourselves against FL and that is on our staff. FL did not destroy themselves and that is on Mullen and his staff. Mullen out coached Pruitt in that game.

Now, I'm still not ready to give up on Pruitt and staff. Not yet, no way. He has great potential. He is installing a practice structure he learned from Saban where more depth is created at the expense of the starters not getting all the reps. It's a tough slow process but eventually I think it will pay off. In the present, it sucks. Starters are making a ton of mistakes. Give it time.

Also, the offensive side of the ball is my only worry with Pruitt. Does he know what he is doing? Does his coordinator know what he is doing? Well.... time and results will tell. If Pruitt doesn't get a really good offense rolling, he has to get it fixed. He has to fix it, or hire someone who can.

Sucks that we didn't get Mullen. But, we got a young inexperienced high potential coach, and it very well could pay off..................with time.

Let's suck it up one more time as a fan base, and be patient, and hope for the payoff. Because there is evidence that Pruitt can get it done, if we bare with him through the growing pains. Forgive a misstep or two, be patient, and let this man master his craft.

FL and GA may win some battles, but we may win the war ( the first to win the national championship between the 3 of us. That's the war ).

Someone who is finally reasonable!