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What is so great about Strong?

  • I haven't been hanging on every twist and turn of this coaching search, but reading through some of the posts this morning it seems that the general consensus is that strong is the overwhelming choice among the candidates left. So i thought I would check his resume.

    It looks like he has had decent, but not great results. Certainly an upgrade over what we had - so i wouldn't have any complaints if we hired him. But I'm not sure I get the overwhelming chorus of "we must have this guy". 24-14, 13-8 at Louisville. had only 1 game in 3 years against a ranked opponent (at least he won it). Winning record in road games which is good. Lost multiple games at home that he never should have lost.

    Again, seems like a decent hire and an upgrade over our last coach, but nothing to freak out about if we don't get him. What's the deal?

    pdlglm

  • Personally I think issue is where search goes if not Gundy or Strong. Strongs sec background is most crucial to me. Also being a defensive specialist is what Tennessee needs at this moment. Though mostly speculative what I've heard about highly touted recruits he could get possibly that weren't interested in him only bc he was at Louisville makes me very excited.

    pnalle0

  • Good post OP +1

    To me, Strong is basically like hiring a rich mans Kirby Smart; head coaching experience, turned around a broken program, and a stronger reputation as a recruiter.

    I'm all for it. In two years, I think the D would be top 5 in the SEC, and the boost in recruiting would be tremendous.

    bavw

  • My feelings are like yours, but be careful, you'll get your head bitten off.

    DaddyHink

  • It seems like most people are in favor of Strong for the following reasons:

    1) Recruiting: no question he would be a stud on the recruiting trail. The 2012 class could finish top 10 or better with him.
    2) Recruiting
    3) Recruiting
    4) Recruiting
    5) SEC experience: led very good if not great defenses at S. Carolina and UF.

    smasher423

  • Strong took over a dumpster fire at Louisville and has them in BCS game in 3 years. He coordinate 2 NC defenses (trust me, Urban had nothing to do with the D). He held the most powerful offense in the history of cfb at the time to 14 pts in 2008 NC game. He recruits all over Southeast and especially Florida like a madman. He most likely brings in a staff that includes Tee Martin. I can go on and on and on....

    If anyone not named Jon Gruden is hired over him, I don't know ab anyone else but I am going to go bat-$hit.

    mangelou

  • pdlglm said...

    I haven't been hanging on every twist and turn of this coaching search, but reading through some of the posts this morning it seems that the general consensus is that strong is the overwhelming choice among the candidates left. So i thought I would check his resume.

    It looks like he has had decent, but not great results. Certainly an upgrade over what we had - so i wouldn't have any complaints if we hired him. But I'm not sure I get the overwhelming chorus of "we must have this guy". 24-14, 13-8 at Louisville. had only 1 game in 3 years against a ranked opponent (at least he won it). Winning record in road games which is good. Lost multiple games at home that he never should have lost.

    Again, seems like a decent hire and an upgrade over our last coach, but nothing to freak out about if we don't get him. What's the deal?

    In theory, he could be a really good coach. In practice, he hasn't been. That's my problem with hiring a question mark at this point. Gundy is a proven winner in a legit conference and that's why I support him

    VolBaller33

  • pdlglm said...

    I haven't been hanging on every twist and turn of this coaching search, but reading through some of the posts this morning it seems that the general consensus is that strong is the overwhelming choice among the candidates left. So i thought I would check his resume.

    It looks like he has had decent, but not great results. Certainly an upgrade over what we had - so i wouldn't have any complaints if we hired him. But I'm not sure I get the overwhelming chorus of "we must have this guy". 24-14, 13-8 at Louisville. had only 1 game in 3 years against a ranked opponent (at least he won it). Winning record in road games which is good. Lost multiple games at home that he never should have lost.

    Again, seems like a decent hire and an upgrade over our last coach, but nothing to freak out about if we don't get him. What's the deal?

    Agreed. Strong is obviously a heck of a recruiter and top notch talent will win a lot of games in the Big East, but I question is in-game management. I've heard from a few friends in the Louisville area that he seems unorganized during the games at times. Bringing in the talent helps, but I'm not sure he is an SEC coach. That being said, I support whoever Dave Hart hires

    Also, I hate Alabama. twocents

    follow me on twitter: WESinTN

    WESinTN

  • I want him badly because I think he'll be a great recruiter, and because if we don't land him, we're going to have to hire another Dooley type clearance rack coach. This Gundy stuff is all just to get him a raise. Strong is our only "big" option left. I think Fedora would be OK, but he's not gonna leave after one year at UNC. If we strike out on Strong, we're gonna be in scrambling mode again.

    UT Smyrnavol

  • Ok. those are fair enough.

    i think my opinion remains the same; with the caveat that i do agree that if we don't get Gundy or Strong that the candidates after that appear to be pretty slim pickings. But then again, no one was even talking about the Wisconsin coach going to Arky, so you never know.

    pdlglm

  • I also think is has alot to do with pedigree. You could have made the same arguement with Stoops in 1999.

    It is not just that he is a great recruiter. Ed Orgeron and Larry Porter were great recruiters, but could not develop talent they recruited. Look at those Flordia defenses and even as talented as they were, you could tell they were very well coached defensively. Even his USCe defenses were not near as talented as Flordia but were very tough especially against us.

    Louisville was a bad situation when he took over. Between Petrino leaving and Kragthorpe mismanagement, they were in bad shape in for Big East standards. He has turned them around very quickly with his guys and did it without leaving the cubboard bare (assuming he leaves). That will be a very good team next year.

    I also think that the players would run through a brick wall for him, which would be a nice change from the previous head coach. That is my twocents and if you paid that, you paid too much.

    ChuckieReturns

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