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Frankly, I think we dodged a $30 million mistake

  • I know a lot of people are frustrated with the coaching search, as I am. But I am happy that Tom Jurich decided to overpay for Charlie Strong and keep him at Louisville. Look at this from Strong's perspective - he doesn't have to play SEC powerhouses every year and he gets $4.1 million per year not to do it.

    Yesterday I called a family friend who recently left the college coaching business - played for Barry Switzer at Oklahoma, did a lot of coaching in the Big 12 and is a close friend of Sam Pittman (he said Pittman used to lead the bible study group on one of the staffs that they were on) - and he told me that Strong, like 99% of all coaches, would stay where he had it easy if the money is the same. He said coaching in the SEC is really hard and job security is always a factor and why not stay at Louisville if he has an athletic director dumb enough to pay him SEC money. He also said Jeremy Foley knows Charlie Strong's strengths and weaknesses better than anyone and the fact that he hired Muschamp without seriously considering Strong should tell you something.

    He said we should have known better than to get suckered by Gundy. He said that Gundy has done this before and that he was never leaving OSU because he makes a lot of money, doesn't work very hard at recruiting and can still win 8 - 10 games a year in the "weak ass Big 12" and the fans are happy about it. He also said Gundy is a "base defense guy" and would get killed in the SEC. He said we should be thankful that we didn't get Gundy and that if he had to choose between Gundy and Strong for an SEC job then he would choose Strong.

    He told me that they guy we should have hired right off the bat was Larry Fedora. He said that Fedora did all the heavy lifting for Gundy when he was at OSU and that he was going to be a star. I told him that I had heard that Fedora had said he didn't want to leave Carolina after only one year. He said we need to make like the Godfather and make Fedora an offer he couldn't refuse. Sounds like a plan to me.

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    RunThruThe T

  • I wanted Strong as well but 4.1 mil us a lot

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    AtomicCityVol

  • I like the idea of Fedora.

    The Bubster

  • I just like the idea of having a coach lol

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    AtomicCityVol

  • I agree on Fedora but we need to make sure he understands this is a destination job not a stepping stone job. Make it happen Hart.

    motownvol

  • I agree. I was concerned about Strong's game management. Dude can recruit, but good players will win 8-9 games in Big East with mediocre coach (not saying he was, just a potential call out). Not sure he was worth THAT kind of money.

    follow me on twitter: WESinTN

    WESinTN

  • RunThroughTheT, I hope you're right and your comment regarding Foley holds water to me. I think that we can still be in good shape if we can get Fedora or Roman, but this coaching search has been very frustrating thus far.

    silver fox

  • RunThruThe T said...

    I know a lot of people are frustrated with the coaching search, as I am. But I am happy that Tom Jurich decided to overpay for Charlie Strong and keep him at Louisville. Look at this from Strong's perspective - he doesn't have to play SEC powerhouses every year and he gets $4.1 million per year not to do it.

    Yesterday I called a family friend who recently left the college coaching business - played for Barry Switzer at Oklahoma, did a lot of coaching in the Big 12 and is a close friend of Sam Pittman (he said Pittman used to lead the bible study group on one of the staffs that they were on) - and he told me that Strong, like 99% of all coaches, would stay where he had it easy if the money is the same. He said coaching in the SEC is really hard and job security is always a factor and why not stay at Louisville if he has an athletic director dumb enough to pay him SEC money. He also said Jeremy Foley knows Charlie Strong's strengths and weaknesses better than anyone and the fact that he hired Muschamp without seriously considering Strong should tell you something.

    He said we should have known better than to get suckered by Gundy. He said that Gundy has done this before and that he was never leaving OSU because he makes a lot of money, doesn't work very hard at recruiting and can still win 8 - 10 games a year in the "weak ass Big 12" and the fans are happy about it. He also said Gundy is a "base defense guy" and would get killed in the SEC. He said we should be thankful that we didn't get Gundy and that if he had to choose between Gundy and Strong for an SEC job then he would choose Strong.

    He told me that they guy we should have hired right off the bat was Larry Fedora. He said that Fedora did all the heavy lifting for Gundy when he was at OSU and that he was going to be a star. I told him that I had heard that Fedora had said he didn't want to leave Carolina after only one year. He said we need to make like the Godfather and make Fedora an offer he couldn't refuse. Sounds like a plan to me.

    Best post i have read in a while. Go get Fedora. Make him a offer he can't refuse. Give the man three years to make the turnaround, plenty of cash to hire a good DC, and the rest of the coaches spots who were not retained. Tennessee will be on the road again. By the way he would keep the best coaches on staff. money saved on buyouts.

    Phil77Vol

  • I wasn't in love with Strong like some people on this board, but when Gundy said no Strong became kind of the best coach available for me. I never thought he was a homerun hire and he certainly isn't worth that kind of money. I agree- glad we didn't pay him that.

    VolBaller33

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    GhostofNeyland

  • silver fox said...

    RunThroughTheT, I hope you're right and your comment regarding Foley holds water to me. I think that we can still be in good shape if we can get Fedora or Roman, but this coaching search has been very frustrating thus far.

    I hope we can get it together and get Fedora. He has such a good track record everywhere he has been. Mike (my friend) really spoke highly of him and he is a Sooner through and through who hates OSU.

    By the way, my friend told me that Pittman told him how much he and his family love the Knoxville area and how much he likes working at Tennessee. Pittman won't have a problem finding a new job but he really wants to remain at Tennessee.

    This post was edited by RunThruThe T on 12/6/2012 at 10:19 AM

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    RunThruThe T

  • I agree with the OP. That contract wouldve been the deah of both Strong and Harts careers. Its not that Strong is a bad coach either. I think he is a great coach. But hiring him for a price above his pay grade puts extra pressure on him and the UT program in general. He is not a 4mil a year coach at this point in his career by SEC standards. Maybe he is by ACC/ Louisville standards but for 4 mill a year in the SEC no one wants to hear about rebuilding. I think UT and Strong benefited from his decision.

    EDJR30

  • I was a huge supporter of getting strong but that is a massive overpay. Urban Meyer money without Urban Meyer track record.

    SRDC Vol

  • I also think Larry Fedora could be a good hire with the right DC. He looks like a good recruiter and his style of offense could bring some excitement back to Tennessee. However, the only thing that worries me with him is that I think Wes, or one of the guys, has reported Fedora may be reluctent to leave NC after one year. With a fan base already in panic mode, Hart better make sure his next hire attempt is a succsess because another "NO THANKS" may just kill any positive public opinion left in Big Orange Country.

    Tennspot33

  • Excellent post, very good info. I was a Strong fan for the recruiting aspect, and you make some very good points.

    streamwalker

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    Dougs Rug Vol

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    GO BIG ORANGE!!!

    tom cat

  • I for one agree that we will probably be better off not paying CS over $4 million! That's a lot of jack for a coach that still seems a little bit unproven!
    I have no idea where DH is headed with the hiring if a new coach! Nor does anyone else looks like!
    I do believe we will be fine.

    GO BIG ORANGE!

    BigOrangePete

  • You all are hilarious.

    You take Wade Houston to get his son from UL.
    You attempt to take UL's AD...FAIL
    You are so excited to take UL's F-Ball coach...FAIL.
    Now all of a sudden he's not that good?
    I used to have respect for your program, not anymore. You're the laughing stock of College F-ball.

    Signed, a fan from a little basketball school in Louisville

    Xman05

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    Rocklion2000

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    RockytopATL

  • Xman05 said...

    You all are hilarious.

    You take Wade Houston to get his son from UL. You attempt to take UL's AD...FAIL You are so excited to take UL's F-Ball coach...FAIL. Now all of a sudden he's not that good? I used to have respect for your program, not anymore. You're the laughing stock of College F-ball.

    Signed, a fan from a little basketball school in Louisville

    Thanks Xman05. Those were very nice sentiments that you expressed.

    No one said he wasn't good - just not "a sure thing". Everyone knows he's doing a good job there, but no guaranty that he could be what we desperately need. And $4M is a high salary for the risk.

    We're just trying to put a good face on it and move on.

    But thanks for sharing.

    GoBigO

  • Xman05 said...

    You all are hilarious.

    You take Wade Houston to get his son from UL. You attempt to take UL's AD...FAIL You are so excited to take UL's F-Ball coach...FAIL. Now all of a sudden he's not that good? I used to have respect for your program, not anymore. You're the laughing stock of College F-ball.

    Signed, a fan from a little basketball school in Louisville

    we will see who the laughing stock is when you get the crap beat out of you when you play florida. i could have cared less about this game but i do now. moon
    GO BIG ORANGE!!! volsvols

    GO BIG ORANGE!!!

    tom cat

  • Xman05 said...

    You all are hilarious.

    You take Wade Houston to get his son from UL.
    You attempt to take UL's AD...FAIL
    You are so excited to take UL's F-Ball coach...FAIL.
    Now all of a sudden he's not that good?
    I used to have respect for your program, not anymore. You're the laughing stock of College F-ball.

    Signed, a fan from a little basketball school in Louisville

    Van Pelt and Russilo just roasted Louisville for paying Strong that much and laughed at them. Said if Strong is worth $4 million then Saban is worth at least $10 million. Who us laughing now? And you will not find one post on here where I ever endorsed Strong.

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    RunThruThe T

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