The CheckerBoard

Serious question: Why do so many UT fans think HC experience is a must for this hire?

I don't get it.

Tennessee has had two guys in the past 50 years have great careers in Knoxville that did NOT have HC experience.

Doug Dickey won 2 SEC titles, and if he wouldn't have been so dumb to leave for his alma mater might have won many more. ZERO HC experience when he was hired.

Phil Fulmer obviously is the other.

Between them, 4 SEC titles and one NC.

-Majors had HC experience: Three SEC titles, but he was inconsistent.
-Kiffin had NFL HC experience. No comment needed
-Dooley had HC experience.

I know some fans think UT doesn't need to go that route. It's an all-time power, an elite program. Etc.

I agree that it's an elite historical program. That's a no-brainer.

But so was Oklahoma when it hired Stoops. So was Georgia when it hired Richt. Florida isn't a historical power but is college football's winningest program in the past 22 years. It hired an assistant.

I guess it takes a strong AD to pull it off. A guy with a proven track record.

Personally, I think a TON of people could win in Knoxville. A TON.

Sometimes, rather than focusing on where a coach is today, I think you have to focus on where he will be tomorrow.

There are great assistants out there right now. In 10 years, some of them will be coaching giants.

Someday, people will ooh back and think, "Dear God, why didn't we hire that guy when we had a chance?"

Anyway, my two cents.

I'm curious what the thinking is on your end. I'm just offering an outsiders POV.

Take it easy guys ...