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Why I Want Strong

  • I've been saying for a while now that Strong was my first choice - above even the Great Gruden. Now that we've been left at the altar by Chuckie, let me throw out some thoughts as to why I like him so much.

    1 - SEC Coaching Experience.

    Strong has been DC at South Carolina and Florida - won a National Championship at UF. He knows what it takes to succeed in this league. He understands the makeup and will recruit and coach to that end.

    2 - Recruiting Ties

    It is no secret that if you are going to win at Tennessee you have to be able to recruit Florida. Guess who can? You got it. And the Carolinas have produced a few good ballplayers, too. Those ties won't hurt. So happens that he's been coaching at a neighbor state to TN for the past few years as well, so he knows his way around the region. Could we hand pick a guy with a better recruiting background for Tennessee?

    3 - SUCCESSFUL Head Coaching Experience

    Strong didn't exactly inherit a juggernaut at the City school in Kentucky. He came to a basketball school. It is a basketball school that just won the Big East... in football. He has done more with less. He has run the program well and consistently had his kids ready to play - emotionally, physically, and intellectually.

    My biggest question hasn't been should we want him. It is can we get him and what does it take?

    I've seen a lot of people posting that they don't want Strong. I'd love to get inside your heads. Temper my expectations. Why don't you want him in Orange? Tell me that the Cuonzo and Charlie show couldn't do some huge things in Knoxville!

    This post was edited by TexasseeVol on 11/30/2012 at 9:34 PM

    TexasseeVol

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    VolNMobile

  • TexasseeVol said...

    I've been saying for a while now that Strong was my first choice - above even the Great Gruden. Now that we've been left at the altar by Chuckie, let me throw out some thoughts as to why I like him so much.

    1 - SEC Coaching Experience.

    Strong has been DC at South Carolina and Florida - won a National Championship at UF. He knows what it takes to succeed in this league. He understands the makeup and will recruit and coach to that end.

    2 - Recruiting Ties

    It is no secret that if you are going to win at Tennessee you have to be able to recruit Florida. Guess who can? You got it. And the Carolinas have produced a few good ballplayers, too. Those ties won't hurt. So happens that he's been coaching at a neighbor state to TN for the past few years as well, so he knows his way around the region. Could we hand pick a guy with a better recruiting background for Tennessee?

    3 - SUCCESSFUL Head Coaching Experience

    Strong didn't exactly inherit a juggernaut at the City school in Kentucky. He came to a basketball school. It is a basketball school that just won the Big East... in football. He has done more with less. He has run the program well and consistently had his kids ready to play - emotionally, physically, and intellectually.

    My biggest question hasn't been should we want him. It is can we get him and what does it take?

    I've seen a lot of people posting that they don't want Strong. I'd love to get inside your heads. Temper my expectations. Why don't you want him in Orange? Tell me that the Cuonzo and Charlie show couldn't do some huge things in Knoxville!

    7-6 in 2010 in a bad league
    7-6 in 2011 in a bad league
    92nd rated recruiting class this year - there's zero excuse to be that bad and it's a non-starter for me

    So "successful" is a subjective term, but 14-12 in his first two years is bad, but he also has lost games this year to UConn and Syracuse. I think the coach Tennessee needs is one that has had more success than that on the field and recruiting. If we get Strong, I am not very excited for the future of our program.

    VolBaller33

  • No strong. Other poster nailed it. Listen just because he recruited Florida well for Florida does not mean he can pull top FL talent to TN. Remember when we hired Thompson from Alabama because of his recruiting and all of a sudden he could not use all of those ties he had and get those kids to TN. Just because you can recruit Louisiana kids when you coach at LSU does not mean you bring all of those relationships with you to a school outside of Louisiana. Why do people always make this mistake! 7-7 7-6 in the Big least, lost two out of last three games this year. No Strong

    gomoneywall

  • VolBaller33 said...

    7-6 in 2010 in a bad league
    7-6 in 2011 in a bad league
    92nd rated recruiting class this year - there's zero excuse to be that bad and it's a non-starter for me

    So "successful" is a subjective term, but 14-12 in his first two years is bad, but he also has lost games this year to UConn and Syracuse. I think the coach Tennessee needs is one that has had more success than that on the field and recruiting. If we get Strong, I am not very excited for the future of our program.

    That team was 4-8 the year before he got there and in his first 2 years his recruiting classes ranked like 30th @ louisville and this recruiting year is truly just getting started again you jave to look at what hes done and include where he is at and the situation he is in. He has them going to a bcs bowl with 5 seniors.

    mcharris87

  • VolBaller33 said...

    7-6 in 2010 in a bad league
    7-6 in 2011 in a bad league
    92nd rated recruiting class this year - there's zero excuse to be that bad and it's a non-starter for me

    So "successful" is a subjective term, but 14-12 in his first two years is bad, but he also has lost games this year to UConn and Syracuse. I think the coach Tennessee needs is one that has had more success than that on the field and recruiting. If we get Strong, I am not very excited for the future of our program.

    Before he got to Louisville it was 6-6, 5-7, and 4-8. He won a share of the Big East title in his second year. Third year BCS bowl. That is success by any fair minded definition of the word.

    This post has been edited 2 times, most recently by DCVolunteer on 11/30/2012 at 10:49 PM

    DCVolunteer ●

  • I don't care. 92nd in recruiting is pathetic and there is no excuse for it. Down vote away

    VolBaller33

  • VolBaller33 said...

    I don't care. 92nd in recruiting is pathetic and there is no excuse for it. Down vote away

    i hope on of your other 413 posted showed more intelligence than your last two.you have got to take into account where he is coaching and whether he has made them a better team than before he arrived.i personally would rather have fisher(dont think he would leave fsu)or butch davis.(think he took a bad rap for the nc scandal)that being said you cant say that strong is not a qualified coaching candidate.

    volmanchris

  • VolBaller33 said...

    I don't care. 92nd in recruiting is pathetic and there is no excuse for it. Down vote away

    I believe they are only at 9 commitments to date this year, that's why they are "ranked" so low. Most of the higher rated kids will commit later in the process. That ranking don't mean chit until signing day. And by the way, he took over a team that was 1-6 and 1-6 in the league and has been ranked 1st or 2nd in all three years in conference recruiting since he's been there. Yeah, the guy can recruit, and he can coach too!

    Jersey Vol

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    kyvolunteer

  • Don't forget that if he is not able to recruit all 4/5 star Florida talent that he must have some talent evalution skills too!

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    FBSmokers

  • I've been full Gruden, but am starting to really like the idea of Charlie Strong. The biggest reason for me is that it seems like he wants to be here more than any of the others, and experience in the conference. With a good staff, I believe he could recruit much better than we have been, and win many more conference games.

    allwillbeorange

  • I agree. I like Strong as well.

    armyvol16

  • VolBaller33 said...

    I don't care. 92nd in recruiting is pathetic and there is no excuse for it. Down vote away

    If your Vonn Bell, Derrick Green or Marquez North do you go to Louisville over Ohio St, USC and SEC schools?

    If you give Strong the TN brand and facilities, recruiting will be fine imo

    wataugavol

  • Was listening to TSR radio yeserday, Jabari Davis was on and stated he wanted Strong, Swain also noted he wanted Strong. J-Train has talked to Chris Leake and CL stated CS is the real deal, hard on kids but a great father figure, would be great recruiter, players play hard for him, is great in mom/grandma/aunt's living room when recruiting and would bring in some bad dogs and keep them out of trouble. Both VFL's hinted DD didn't get borderline kids and this may have hurt, you need some borderline kids that ball out on game day, as long as you have someone watching them 24/7 off the field.

    SC Vol fan

  • VolBaller33 said...

    I don't care. 92nd in recruiting is pathetic and there is no excuse for it. Down vote away

    I would never downvote you for an opinion that has a basis in fact, but if you are just looking at the number without proper context you don't really understand what you're looking at. For instance, among other things, Louisville only has 9 kids committed right now. Do you know how many they can take this year? I know I don't.

    DCVolunteer ●

  • Since a point has been made about the Cardinals being ranked 92 so far in recruiting, I took a look at what is on their board. It appears Strong is after some OT's, having 3 commits so far out of the 9 total commits. All three are "just" 3 stars. However, I did not realize the vast majority of OTs are 3 star and below. There are 2 5 star OTs and 25 4 stars. The rest are 3 star or lower . . .

    For the record, his QB commit is a 4 star . . .

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    volviking

  • Volballer,

    We know it isn't Gruden. So, if not Strong, who fits your criteria and please explain why.

    Vick33

  • TexasseeVol said...

    I've been saying for a while now that Strong was my first choice - above even the Great Gruden. Now that we've been left at the altar by Chuckie, let me throw out some thoughts as to why I like him so much.

    1 - SEC Coaching Experience.

    Strong has been DC at South Carolina and Florida - won a National Championship at UF. He knows what it takes to succeed in this league. He understands the makeup and will recruit and coach to that end.

    2 - Recruiting Ties

    It is no secret that if you are going to win at Tennessee you have to be able to recruit Florida. Guess who can? You got it. And the Carolinas have produced a few good ballplayers, too. Those ties won't hurt. So happens that he's been coaching at a neighbor state to TN for the past few years as well, so he knows his way around the region. Could we hand pick a guy with a better recruiting background for Tennessee?

    3 - SUCCESSFUL Head Coaching Experience

    Strong didn't exactly inherit a juggernaut at the City school in Kentucky. He came to a basketball school. It is a basketball school that just won the Big East... in football. He has done more with less. He has run the program well and consistently had his kids ready to play - emotionally, physically, and intellectually.

    My biggest question hasn't been should we want him. It is can we get him and what does it take?

    I've seen a lot of people posting that they don't want Strong. I'd love to get inside your heads. Temper my expectations. Why don't you want him in Orange? Tell me that the Cuonzo and Charlie show couldn't do some huge things in Knoxville!

    Fisher first choice for me and maybe Strong second. Fisher has better record and even though ACC is weak it is stronger than the Big Least. and Fisher meets/exceeds all of your 3 points 1, 2, and 3.

    This post was edited by muddy waters on 12/1/2012 at 9:25 AM

    muddy waters

  • I am not going to engage these mouth breather anymore. Asked for an opinion, give one based on FACTS, and people get pissy cause it doesn't sound like what they want to hear. Everything the op said is subjective - recruiting ties, coached in the SEC. Saying he's had success as a head coach is simply not true. You can make excuses all you want but he hasn't done anything exceptional at Louisville to warrant being labelled th guy that's going to bail us out. We are in a crisis here and people want to hire the guy based on guesses - yeah he wi be great because he coached in the SEC or he recruited great at FL. Well, lots of people could have had success as the DC at fl in that time period and lots of people can have success recruiting to Florida. Doesn't mean he can b a successful head coach in the SEC.

    If my opinion hurts your feelings, hit your little downvote button to make yourself feel better. I'm done with the simpletons.

    VolBaller33

  • Volballer,

    Please at least answer my question.

    Thanks!

    Vick33

  • I've always liked Strong as well, but could someone explain to me why he wasn't a finalist for the Florida job?

    Imallvol

  • I think the anti-Strong people are right when they say that anyone could recruit at Florida. Pretty sure some people in this board could land a couple 4 star kids just by selling the school. So yeah, him recruiting well there doesn't really tell us anything. Same goes for Fisher.

    However, I think the more important aspect of his history at Florida (and the past few years recruiting the South from UL) is the relationships he already has with the high schools down there. If Dooley's failures taught us anything, it is that pipelines in to high schools are critical and coaches need to foster good relationships with the coaches there. That is probably just as important as pure recruiting ability (ie, salesmanship). In assuming he already has solid relationships in place there that will carry over to whatever school he lands at.

    Also, take his recruiting classes in context of his conference. I think someone posted in another thread that his three recruiting classes never finished below second in the conference. Someone correct me if I'm wrong but I think I remember reading that. This year's class doesn't show much because (1) it's not finished and (2) rumors of him leaving affect kids committing to him now, just like kids with UT high on their list weren't committing until our coach situation is clear. The 92nd ranking really shows nothing of his recruiting ability.

    This post was edited by smasher423 on 12/1/2012 at 11:39 AM

    smasher423

  • VolBaller33 said...

    Everything the op said is subjective - recruiting ties, coached in the SEC. Saying he's had success as a head coach is simply not true.

    Please tell me what is "subjective" about him having coached in the SEC? If taking over a 4-8 team and having them in the Orange Bowl in three years is not a success, I'm not really sure what you would consider a success. And you're calling us Simpletons???

    We get it. You don't like the guy. That's your right, and he might not be the right guy for us, but there's no reason to criticize those that do like him. Especially when we're the ones bringing "objective" information, and you're not.

    Jersey Vol

  • I wanted Strong when we hired Kiffin and Dooley

    mangelou

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