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Coaching Search Leadership

  • I am becoming concerned. We hear about Ark shooting for the stars. We hear Aub is interviewing Strong. We hear crickets out of Knoxville. I dont want to jump the gun, but I just wonder why we are hearing these other programs gunning for big name coaches, and we hear nothing from UT. From a perception stand point, we look like the weakest link. Is that the reality? Who knows. What I do know is in the court of public oppinion, we are getting are asses kicked, like Dooley at Vanderbilt. It's time to show the college football world we are serious about taking our rightful place in the SEC, and the perception is we havent even interviewed anyone yet! Im normally optimistic, but my glass is half empty right now. Somebody please stand up and take the bull by the horns!

    BigOrangeBeer

  • I think we are right where we need to be...just like everyone else, I want to hear EXACTLY what's going on, but it really seems Hart is handling this search with professionalism. Just because it is quiet doesn't mean we aren't going to get the best fit for the program. Man...I hope Gruden is the next coach though!

    cornbreadvol

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    Mksuzore

  • BigOrangeBeer said...

    I am becoming concerned. We hear about Ark shooting for the stars. We hear Aub is interviewing Strong. We hear crickets out of Knoxville. I dont want to jump the gun, but I just wonder why we are hearing these other programs gunning for big name coaches, and we hear nothing from UT. From a perception stand point, we look like the weakest link. Is that the reality? Who knows. What I do know is in the court of public oppinion, we are getting are asses kicked, like Dooley at Vanderbilt. It's time to show the college football world we are serious about taking our rightful place in the SEC, and the perception is we havent even interviewed anyone yet! Im normally optimistic, but my glass is half empty right now. Somebody please stand up and take the bull by the horns!

    Let's see... they had a meeting set up with Jon Gruden today. Is that "shooting for the stars" enough for you? Your (our) perception of how Hart is handling this has no bearing on what is actually going on here. He's not giving details for a reason. In the end, he'll be judged on whether or not he hired a successful coach not on whether or not he kept fans apprised of the search. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the show!

    WVa Vol

  • BOB, I don't know if we can really say all we "hear crickets out of Knoxville". One thing I am learning in this process is that if I ever had the opportunity, I don't think I would want to play poker with Hart. The main buzz on the national media is that Miles turned down Arky to get more money at LSU, Auburn has interviewed Strong and Kentucky has hired the other Stoops brother.

    However, all of that "buzz" seems pale in comparison to Gruden being on ESPN first thing this morning talking about UT. Now you have NBC Sports, CBS Sports and others talking about the possibility of Gruden meeting in Knoxville with Hart.

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    "Old School"! A strong defense wins championships!

    volviking

  • What's getting more coverage - Auburn/Arkansas and their interviews or Jon Gruden and UT? Seems to me that the silence from the AD is getting UT some much needed press after a disappointing season...

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    tntoak

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    Best thing to come out of Alabama: I-59 North

    IH8Bama

  • Word leaks when interviews happen. You are telling me that Hart is the only "Professional" AD? The perception is these other programs are climing the moutain toward big time hires, while TN is spinning our tires in a mud hole at the bottom of the hill. The complete lack of information insinuates nothing has been accomplished. Im off the ledge, I just need some verifiable news!
    Edit: Verifiable news that we are making progress

    This post was edited by BigOrangeBeer on 11/28/2012 at 8:19 PM

    BigOrangeBeer

  • Well, BOB if it helps, Strong has reportedly "angrily" denied having an interview with Auburn. Maybe Aubie is trying to horn in on the national "speculation" buzz!

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    "Old School"! A strong defense wins championships!

    volviking

  • I hear ya BOB...but Hart doesn't owe us anything but a good hire. He doesn't owe us a play by play. If you stop and think about it, with the other schools, the only one with solid info better than what we've been getting is KY because they actually hired a coach...and not a top tier coach. The Miles stuff to ARK was just pie in the sky...he was never gonna leave LSU.

    cornbreadvol

  • I guess it boils down to effort. It seems like these other programs are putting in the effort to "Go For It". Meanwhile, all we can do is hope, and put blind faith in Hart.

    BigOrangeBeer

  • I'm with ya...I just want to put faith in the fact that Hart is an AD at TN for a reason...not necessarily blind faith pray

    cornbreadvol

  • BigOrangeBeer said...

    I guess it boils down to effort. It seems like these other programs are putting in the effort to "Go For It". Meanwhile, all we can do is hope, and put blind faith in Hart.

    I mean, what other choice do we have? Even if we were hearing everything that was going on, we'd still have no influence over the outcome. Either way we have to trust Hart, and if he thinks playing his cards close to the vest gives him the best chance of making the best choice, then I'm all for it.

    GoBigO

  • Ive read this book before, and didnt like the ending, as far a putting faith in the AD. I hope Heart can navigate the waters, and leverage himself into a blockbuster hire. The silence is killing me. Thanks for bringing me back guys, I feel better now :)

    BigOrangeBeer

  • I know you may not agree, and it might sound crazy, but I think the absolute deafening silence in Knoxville is the verifiable evidence that Hart is putting a lot into the Go For It mode. I could be wrong, but I agree with the guy that said earlier he wouldn't want to play poker with Hart. I think this guy may be stone cold and about to hire a gunslinger that will do great things on Rocky Top.

    Lol, as The Hitchhiker's Guide tells us: Don't panic

    VolFan65

  • My question to the OP would be that how can you be sure that making a lot of noise about offers, or silence on the search for that matter, in any way equates to what is really going on? What good has it done Arkansas to have offered Les Miles a contract? Their fans know about it, and they for certain he's not coming. I just fail to see how a lot of media attention on an AD's coaching search really means anything. What does ADDH have to gain by making his list public, by telling people who he's interested in, by discussing who he's having conversations with (either the coach or their reps). In fact, the less noise is better IMO. You keep other interested parties out of the loop as much as possible; I'd hate for us to get into a bidding war with Arky or Auburn simply because people want to know something. Not saying at all we'd lose, but I wouldnt want to overpay for a coach.

    While I remain skeptical, I firmly believe that when Jon Gruden is no longer interested in our job, we'll know about it.

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    GO VOLS!!

    BuckShot JP

  • Patience, my friends. This time next year, this maddening silence will be forgotten. I'm planning on letting Hart do his work rather than hopelessly throwing money at Les Miles. Let Hart play his game the way he wants to and see who is on the sidelines next season. Hart could have Saban signed and ready, and would hardly crack a smile

    Twitter: @nick11vols

    nick11vols

  • I can assure the OP that none of those programs are moving at light speed either. The rumors coming from the Auburn and Arkansas folks are the same sort we've been hearing at UT, just with a few different names.

    Clevelandvol02

  • WV-Vol said...

    Let's see... they had a meeting set up with Jon Gruden today. Is that "shooting for the stars" enough for you? Your (our) perception of how Hart is handling this has no bearing on what is actually going on here. He's not giving details for a reason. In the end, he'll be judged on whether or not he hired a successful coach not on whether or not he kept fans apprised of the search. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the show!

    Are you sure "they" had a meeting set up with Gruden? We have nothing but rumors at this point.

    coonhound

  • coonhound said...

    Are you sure "they" had a meeting set up with Gruden? We have nothing but rumors at this point.

    This was my point. We know NOTHING, and it gives the perception of stagancy. I am not saying that is the reality, but I would like to have some tangible evidence of the coaching search moving forward. Specifically, moving forward towards a top tier coach.

    BigOrangeBeer

  • Well, Wes reported it in last night's update. Not that it has been confirmed by UT but NONE of the schools you are referencing are confirming rumors. So, essentially, you're concerned that UT isn't confirming anything right now but neither are any of the other schools. Are there official releases from any of the schools searching now saying, "We interviewed 'X' candidate today?" None of the schools release information and we have as many rumors as any school. If I were you, I'd focus more on the result than the process.

    This post has been edited 2 times, most recently by WVa Vol on 11/29/2012 at 10:41 AM

    WVa Vol

  • BigOrangeBeer said...

    This was my point. We know NOTHING, and it gives the perception of stagancy. I am not saying that is the reality, but I would like to have some tangible evidence of the coaching search moving forward. Specifically, moving forward towards a top tier coach.

    BOB, you ever hire anyone at you place of employment? If so, did you tell the whole company who you were interviewing and how the process was going before you hired the candidate? I doubt it. You had the folks who NEEDED to be involved review resumes, do phone, then face-to-face interview, you met, made your decision, made an offer, completed negotiations THEN let everyone know who was hired, right?

    Sounds kind of like the process Hart is using.

    volfanrbf

  • If Hart did give a play-by-play on the process, it would hamper the search. If he came out said "I am meeting with Coach X today" and then didn't hire that coach for whatever reason, the next one is going to know he was not the top choice, which may not be a big deal to some, but to others it is VERY IMPORTANT to feel the love. As the process went on it would get worse. After threee or four highly publicized meetings, coaches would turn down the job based on perception and principle. Does this process sound familiar? Think back a couple years. Hart will get a good coach.

    Trample the Weak-Hurdle the Dead

    TracyB467

  • WV-Vol said...

    Well, Wes reported it in last night's update. Not that it has been confirmed by UT but NONE of the schools you are referencing are confirming rumors. So, essentially, you're mad that UT isn't confirming anything right now but neither are any of the other schools. Are there official releases from any of the schools searching now saying, "We interviewed 'X' candidate today?" None of the schools release information and we have as many rumors as any school. If I were you, I'd focus more on the result than the process.

    Is there a rumor we interviewed anyone? Didnt think so.

    BigOrangeBeer

  • TracyB467 said...

    If Hart did give a play-by-play on the process, it would hamper the search. If he came out said "I am meeting with Coach X today" and then didn't hire that coach for whatever reason, the next one is going to know he was not the top choice, which may not be a big deal to some, but to others it is VERY IMPORTANT to feel the love. As the process went on it would get worse. After threee or four highly publicized meetings, coaches would turn down the job based on perception and principle. Does this process sound familiar? Think back a couple years. Hart will get a good coach.

    You guys are putting words in my mouth. I never said I wanted a play by play, or to let the entire office know who I am interviewing. I said I would like TANGIBLE evidence the process is moving forward. In the office, when there is an opening, you at least know somebody is being interviewed even though you may not know who. We dont even know that.

    BigOrangeBeer

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