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Vols' search changing course

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    Senior Writer, govols247 Email: wrucker@247sports.com Twitter: www.twitter.com/@wesrucker247 Facebook: www.facebook.com/wesrucker247

    Wes Rucker

  • Wes Rucker said...

    I am not mentioning the name J__ G_____ another day in my life unless I have reason to mention it.

    I do not, at this point, have any reason to mention it.

    Well, Mr. Fill-in-the-blanks or someone else in the "nationally perceived as a huge win" category, I remember posting at least three times that we either needed to come right out and be prepared to pay 6-8 mill. per year for a "splash" hire, or forget about them and just start out with the "B" tier coaches. You respectfully disagreed at the time. I still think I was pretty close. Starting out with more than the ego-splash coach was even going to ask for says he's a god, and would be worshipped here, and we want him as much as life himself. Those kind of guys tend to think they're worth it, and it takes that to get their attention.

    I'd still like to know what would have happened if we'd thrown out 6 per year for starters for a big name and worked our way up quickly, then forgotten about it and moved on. We reportedly threw out $4.7 mill. to Strong today and were nationally humiliated, w/some reports having Hart, his wife, and Cheek left all alone holding flowers on the runway. If we came at him, or Gundy, with a ton of money a week earlier, we might could have hired either of them for less than $4.7, if they didn't already think they were our second and third, if not third and fourth, choices.

    Hart's not only boogered up this hiring process, he's (and Cheek's) made us a national laughingstock in a way that even losing, and then losing some more, could not. Say what you will, that isn't good at all for recruiting, when the kids turn on the radio or get on twitter and hear/see everyone laughing about what bungling idiots we are. Even if not true, in this day and age, perception becomes reality.

    And I agree that, as you stated, he may now have to just come out and admit he goofed and wrote checks with his mouth about a HC w/HC experience that his persuasion and negotiation skills couldn't cash, except in the form of checks from his targets' current employers.

    We can't evaluate completely until this whole mess is over, but it's looking entirely possible that when you consider what Hammy had to work with in context, versus what Hart had/has now, Hart may not be doing a better job of finding us a coach than Hamilton did. In other words, there's a good chance that we may all say after the hire that, "Good grief! Hammy could've hired THAT guy!"

    Hart's hire better win and win quick, or Hart will inherit the wind, along with his new hire, and Cheek.

    "Bravely taking to his feet, he beat a very brave retreat." Sir Robin's Minstrels.

    doberVol

  • still say if we had stayed away from gundy we would have strong right now. i think that was a bone head move.
    GO BIG ORANGE!!! volsvols

    GO BIG ORANGE!!!

    tom cat

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    volrob24

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    givethemsix

  • tom cat said...

    still say if we had stayed away from gundy we would have strong right now. i think that was a bone head move. GO BIG ORANGE!!! volsvols

    Among what I fear we'll later confirm were many boneheaded moves.

    "Bravely taking to his feet, he beat a very brave retreat." Sir Robin's Minstrels.

    doberVol

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    GBO

    stooks5786

  • All we can do with this list is pray for a diamond in the rough just like Florida, Texas A&M, and Auburn did. All I'm gonna say is that if it's Kirby Smart or some scrub coordinator you're gonna see me burning some shit on Peyton Manning Pass. I'm hoping it's Larry Fedora because if he's good enough for Jeremy Foley, one of the best ADs in the nation, then he's good enough for us. Other than him, Here's my wishlist:

    Butch Davis
    Butch Jones (Not the sexy hire, but if you look at his track record, you won't be disappointed)
    Greg Roman (He wants the job, give him a look, Dayfart)
    Dan Mullen

    i know we're trying to go for the home run here, but remember that there are about 40 coaches better than the clown we dealt with for the past three years.

    KnoxDubs

  • KnoxDubs said...

    All we can do with this list is pray for a diamond in the rough just like Florida, Texas A&M, and Auburn did. All I'm gonna say is that if it's Kirby Smart or some scrub coordinator you're gonna see me burning some shit on Peyton Manning Pass. I'm hoping it's Larry Fedora because if he's good enough for Jeremy Foley, one of the best ADs in the nation, then he's good enough for us. Other than him, Here's my wishlist:

    Butch Davis Butch Jones (Not the sexy hire, but if you look at his track record, you won't be disappointed) Greg Roman (He wants the job, give him a look, Dayfart) Dan Mullen

    i know we're trying to go for the home run here, but remember that there are about 40 coaches better than the clown we dealt with for the past three years.

    disagree! Im fine with going that route if need be, but my motto is win at all costs. i still think we could get gruden or his equal if we come back with our tails tucked and throw the whole freaking bank at him! i mean top 5 nfl salaries we would make it up in tickets concessions and chucky shirts alone lol!

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    GBO

    stooks5786

  • That was depressing...I hope chuck strong chokes on a papa johns pizza...

    Manndingo

  • Wes - given the current morose nature of the Vol Nation what type of realistic hire would best serve to improve the morale of the fans and, possibly, recruits? Realizing the defense was a total disaster, do you still hire a coach with a high-octane offensive background for sizzle or a middle-of-the-road veteran coach with either SEC roots or NFL ties? Thanks for the commitment to providing us on the Board with accurate and timely updates. Keep up the great work!

    Vols PowerT

  • Manndingo said...

    That was depressing...I hope chuck strong chokes on a papa johns pizza...

    he will probably end up at ky. in about 4 yrs. good enough for him.
    GO BIG ORANGE!!! volsvols

    GO BIG ORANGE!!!

    tom cat

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    Beej34x1

  • Changing course?! HaHaHa! Thats a good one! Is that what the Titanic did when it hit that iceberg--change course?

    tel614

  • I'm not knocking what anyone thinks, but it blows me away with how many people say they think if we throw X number of dollars at Gruden or any other coach they will come to UT. Fans that have only read about a coach or seen them on TV suddenly have an idea of what it will take to get them to Tennessee. If it was that easy, I believe, Dave Hart would have a coach in place.

    I love Tennessee and my blood runs deep orange. I think it's the best job in the country, but I'm a little bias because I still get chills down my back when I hear Rocky Top played whether the Big Orange is winning or not.

    Bobby Petrino rates only slightly above the devil as who I would want to see as the next Tennessee coach, but if Tennessee hires him, which I still don't ever see happening, I'll support him as long as he doesn't do something stupid.

    There are a lot of good football coaches out there that most of us haven't heard of that would jump at the Tennessee job. People say we are a laughing stock because of the things that have happened this week, but I don't buy it. I don't know of a guy out there that hasn't been turned to by a pretty girl he wanted to date. And, but the same token, at one time or another, there's not a football program in the country and that includes Alabama and Notre Dame that haven't been turned down by the coach or coaches that were on the top of their list.

    Maybe some fans might see us as a laughing stock, but real football people that are more than casual fans understand this is a process that goes well at times and not so well at other times.

    No matter who we hire it's going to be a gamble because we need someone that not only wants to be at Tennessee, but will embrace Tennessee. Derek Dooley didn't live up to what we hoped for but he wanted to be at Tennessee and he embraced the heritage that is Tennessee.

    At the end of the day, or I should say by the end of the week, Dave Hart will have hired a coach. And I can assure you of one thing, and that's the fact that there will be some fans that think it's a terrible hire and will start hating on the guy before he unpacks.

    The sky is not falling. I love Tennessee football, but at the end of the day, it's only football.

    FWBVol

  • ericstubb said...

    I hope we _don't_ rehire Fulmer. I think he was a great coach in his day, but there was a reason UT fired him in 2008. He lost the ability to recruit, for one, and that's crucial in the SEC, especially in TN which lacks a lot of native talent.

    I question if things are as bad as many/most on the board are saying. Gruden was a long-shot; Gundy was unlikely to leave OSU. Strong surprises me, but I still think we're objectively the best coaching job opening out there. We weren't in 2009 because of the NCAA cloud over the program, the roster being decimated and it being 10 days before signing day.

    I think a lot of people are shell-shocked from the Fulmer->Kiffin->Dooley transitions in 13 months or whatever. I suspect many coaches around the country see it differently -- the program as it is today and the likelihood of them being able to build it up.

    I don't think Fulmer lost his edge. He had a couple of classes that didn't pan out. If you remember when he was fired Clemson's QB Boyd was committed to us and so was the safety at South Carolina Sweaniger. He had a really good class going into that next year.

    Tjdudley33

  • Man, I was really warmed up to the Strong idea. Disappointed that we seemed to whiff again.

    Fedora would be good at Tennessee.

    Roman is an intriguing possibility. Why is he not receiving any more interest from UT? His resume is impressive. If he could bring in someone that could recruit and coordinate the Defense, I think his offensive prowess would fit WRU (Wide Receiver U) very well.

    VolBol ●

  • Several people have claimed insider knowledge about Jimmy Cheek botching up the potential hires and sabotaging the Athletic Department.

    Lots of talk in this way could be 1. scapegoating or 2. the smoke of a real fire.

    Please, if you have real information about anyone, Joe Bob or Jimmy Cheek, doing things that are hurting this university, bring it to light in a legitimate way. Otherwise it is just message board badmouthing. That doesn't help anything.

    Fedora or Roman. Go Vols.

    VolBol ●

  • Tjdudley33 said...

    I don't think Fulmer lost his edge. He had a couple of classes that didn't pan out. If you remember when he was fired Clemson's QB Boyd was committed to us and so was the safety at South Carolina Sweaniger. He had a really good class going into that next year.

    If Fulmer didn't lose his edge, why was he never hired to be head coach somewhere else? He may have been on the way to a good class for 2009, but he'd had 2 losing seasons of his last 4. '07 was a good year when he went to the SEC Champ game, but '08 & '05 weren't.

    I will say that Fulmer's worst season 3-5 SEC records look a lot better than where we are today. I just question whether or not Fulmer could rebuild the program from where it is now. Remember when he was hired in '92 he took over a team from Majors that was routinely 9-3 or 10-2. He never as a head coach rebuilt a program from the state our's is in today.

    ericstubb

  • W-K-R, not sure if any of y'all are still on but have any of the following names had any buzz: Kyle Whittingham, Dabo Swinney, or Pat Fitzgerald?

    drewfh17

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    Tpivaughn

  • Look guys I wanted Gruden still do. but i know its 99.9% that he is not coming ok Im realistic! I still believe that it is possible though if we did give him an unbelievable deal! moving on though I agree that firing fulmer a hall of fame legen that bleeds orange and is loyal to this university to a fault was the downfall of this program! in a way we deserve this for doing fulmer that way! I honestly wish if he could secure a very good staff like graham pittman chavis tee martin maybe trooper taylor or whomever that the university would swallow its pride and bring him back!

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    GBO

    stooks5786

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    GBO

    volsr4me

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    #RiseToTheTop #RoadTo7 "Give him six"

    MiddleTNVol

  • Wes, or anyone who may know,

    Has Strong actually had a press conference turning down the job? Could this not also be a little smoke and mirrors similar to that of Saban saying he would not coach at Bama?

    I have to admit, I am a little un-nerved. I felt Strong (even over Gruden) was a better fit for UT. I still feel that way. I know what this program used to be. I know where we are now. I have no clue where we are headed. It's a sad day when a program as Dominant as Tennessee struggles finding a coach.

    Just my opinion, but i figured when you'rehiring a coach, it's similar to recruiting a player. The players on the top of your list, you should probably visit yourself. I still have some hope that Hart will counter L-ville, and get strong.

    I am also hoping that this is some misdirection Strong is pulling and will inevitably accept our offer.

    My list: 1.Strong 2.Strong 3.Fulmer/Chavis

    P.S. If you guys have any video links forStrong talking about the position please post them

    Thanks

    UTshanetrain

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