The CheckerBoard

Might take a nap.

I sure hope this works.

Maybe not my first choice but at least i feel we have someone who WANTS to be here. DC better be a home run hire. I have lost all faith in Hart at this point so i don't know.

If we had gone after Strong from Day 1 he'd already have some new 4/5 stars coming to Knoxville. Jones better be smart and at least keep Graham and Hinshaw on board. Hopefully there is another Ellis Johnson hanging around out there...

I had thought for some time that Hart would be our savior. This whole search has been a disappointment. It appears that Hart does not really understand this hiring game. I am first to admit that none of us know all, or maybe even many, of the factors Hart has had to consider. BUT, forget about what did, or might have, transpired with ESPN, Florida State, Miami, and so on, Hart probably could have hired Strong. These high-level coaches have very big egos. My perception is that Hart interviewed Strong on Friday, put him on the backburner, and went after Gundy until he said no, then after three days of being put off, Hart offered Strong. Now Strong had to decide if he wanted to work for Hart who just put him and his family through this three days of who knows what or work for his current boss who has backed him through thick and thin and holds him as the first choice by a long, long, shot—no brainer. Given where Tennessee was at the time and knowing Strong, he should have offered him on Friday night.

Now we seem to have Jones. Our AD decided to go at this alone, and now he appears to be hiring a coach that only he favors. Could this be a bit of a panic? It certainly is a risk.

I think it's less of a risk than hiring Dooley was. Proven record of winning at multiple schools, four conference championships, could recruit players from Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee to Cincinnati (none of which Dooley could lay claim to when he took the job). Coaches and recruits alike have heard of him (check Vic Wharton's comments on Jones), and several people who cover the game have stated that Jones might be the steal of the offseason as far as HCs go.

I agree. If people took the time to look him up they'd see he's thought very highly of by a lot of people that know football. Sure, Kirby Smart is too, but Jones has experience as a HC to back it up.

Never did I talk about anyone turning us down, but there was definitely a long period of checking things out.

I did not say that Jones is a bad coach.

I stand by my speculation that Hart could have hired Strong if he had offered him after interviewing him. Hart showed Strong he favored Gundy. And all of the things you said about Srong's relationship with his current boss are definitely points well taken, so it was a no brainer.

Again, I am not saying that Jones is a bad coach nor that he will not do a good job for us. This was about Hart's process, not about Jones. If Jones winds up in Orange, I will cheer as loud as anyone.

And Texas and USC have had great recruiting classes, filled with talent, but can't put together anything better than a mediocre season. To me its more important that he was able to succeed than flounder, because it shows he can coach. Butch Jones has done the only thing he could, and that's succeed with what he's been given.

I'm not saying that he's going to do what brian kelly did and go to a NC in his 3rd season, but dont try and discredit what the guys done. He beat Louisville twice and lost by 3 to him this year.

As far as us beating them last year...big deal.

To reinforce my point about coaching with other peoples players...look at Southern Miss this year. Ellis Johnson took over after Fedora went 10-2 last year and with all that talent that fedora left him went 0-12