The CheckerBoard

He's an awesome coach and could recruit top 10 classes instantly

He's a rock star. Why would you not want him?

He's 1-0 against Nick Saban.

Because Gruden choosing to resume his coaching career at UT immediately validates us to the rest of the nation. Because he can get in the door with any recruit in America. Because he brings the legitimacy of a professional to a position that has been amateur hour. Because we need to make a statement with this hire or we risk falling even further behind our peers. Because fans are nervous about how the UT administration allowed us to fall this far and wants some grand gesture to restore their faith.

And finally, because he is a damn good football coach and I believe he would win huge here. Look at what Jim Mora has done at UCLA and multiply it by about 10 and that's the shot in the arm Gruden would be for this football program and university.

He won a Super Bowl

Thanks, guys. I just don't see anything in his coaching record at the college level and his win percentage that seperates him from other good prospects. He does have great name recognition, which would take him a good ways in the area of recruiting, one would think. He's a natural motivator, so I guess it would be a good hire.

Guys I'm just a die hard VOL fan that wants this program to return to success. With that said I think Gruden would be an absolute awesome hire for us because of the following reasons:
1. Recruiting- instant credibility with recruits with his MNF & Qb camp show plus winning a super bowl. He would be able to get some of the best assistant's which would get us out of the bottom of the conference in recruiting.
2. Straight up football IQ of X's & O's- Gruden is one of the best @ film study & opponent breakdown.
3. He's a grinder- this conference is the toughest & it takes a competetive grinder type that will not accept failure. We need a guy like this.
4. Energized fan base- I know Volnation would be jacked if we got Gruden. Neyland would be electric & the players would be fired up for a guy like him.
5. I think he honestly loves TN- that is just awesome in the fact that he feels this way which will restore pride to our program.
6. Credibility- ultimately will be due to wins but initially everyone will take notice that we got the coveted guy who had turned down so many other jobs.
7. Personality- Gruden has the personality to handle the microscope of the TN job & the competetive drive to prove he can dominate in the most dominant conference.
Like I said I just think Gruden would be an unbelievable hire that would set this fan base on fire & make recruits & the conference take notice that we will not be kicked around anymore. GO VOLS!!

I think actually he said TN was a great place with a winning tradition. He said this when asked about the TN job back in the late spring/early summer in an interview. I should have worded that better but I do think he thinks more of TN than any other college job.