The CheckerBoard

Personally think Chavis, Smart, or Grantham would be great hires for UT. Basically people who have coached in the NFL or at least sent a ton of players to the NFL (Chavis) IMO.

I said "a couple" ... and meant to say "a few"

Yes, 2 outright, 1 tie.

3 SEC championships.

He also had 3 losing seasons

I think for many, like myself, we see the SEC as a different animal from when Fulmer was here and certainly it has changed since Dickey was here. Right now, the SEC has some very good head coaches, much better than when Fulmer had his best days, but even more important, to me, is the perception that certain state schools, the alums of those schools, even the state high schools have better systems in place for funneling kids to the big state school and keeping them away from interlopers. Since Fulmer left and even before, GA, LA, AL, and SC have all done a better job of keeping kids in state. Even MS, which has always kept alot of its kids in-state, appear to be doing even better with Mullen and Frieze and alum that have really done a better job of supporting and taking pride in their programs.

Bringing in a guy with no HC experience, at this time in SEC football to a state without a great recruiting base exacerbated by Franklin's presence and success at Vandy in building relationships in state, is a little scary. But I believe its even more than that and this is probably the unrealistic part for many us. UT has been down for awhile. If you're honest, you'd take out 2007, the year Cut came back, as an outlier. Many of us were hoping for someone who on their name and resume alone could bring a top 15 or better class this year, with their coaching skill give us atleast one you didn't have enough talent to win that game win next year, and as a result build some real momentum and make it more likely than not that UT would right back into the thick of things for the 2014 season.

You are right about assistant coaches, but for every Fulmer or Dickey, there's a Charlie Weis or Orgeron or more recently Ellis Johnson. There is no guarantee of success for whoever walks to the podium, but setting parameters for the hire, including HC experience is all about increasing your odds of getting it right. It may be now the powers that be may need to revise the parameters. I'm still not sold on Smart and this has nothing to do with Dooley. Muschamp had success as a DC independent of Saban, but Kirby has not. Anyone that hires Kirby is hoping that he channels Saban and that is a mistake.

I have no problem with an outstanding coordinator becoming head coach. However, in the context of the UT situation I believe the thinking was that a successful HC has a higher likelyhood of success than a coordinator. It's an easier sell to the fans and appears to give a quicker return on the investment. The powers that be have made their decisions, so far, based on internal and external pressure, their denials notwithstanding.

+1 - great points

Our program has been in a constant state of flux for the last 4 years and I think an unproven assistant just brings too much risk. Hiring an assistant comes with an inevitable learning curve having never been a head coach before. Besides coaching, how are they with the media, fans, boosters, and all the other things that come with coaching in the SEC? So many unknowns. I also think we got burned by bringing in a position coach, Sal, as a defensive coordinator.

I wouldn't be opposed to it as clearly Franklin, Mullen, and Muschamp have proven to be successful shortly after making the jump to becoming head coaches. But we are just desperate for stability and a return to national relevance that hiring a known commodity seems to be the safest bet.

I am fine with an assistant not named Kirby Smart. I have had enough Bama for a while.

I frankly think the NFL assistant is the way to go. Greg Roman comes to mind......

I'm not sure the "powers that be" are even thinking right now...

This fanbase is just like any other - you have to wade through the more outlandish/hysterical stuff to get to the core. It's just that after the last five seasons, this fanbase is more than chomping at the bit for a big hire/immediate impact in the football program than most.