Tennessee is a middle of the road SEC job...
- Thread starter CoastGuard2018
- Start date
Tennessee is in a similar spot as Nebraska. Their glory years were a product of a by-gone system. The world has changed and it will by systematically much harder for them to regain their status as perennial contenders.
They almost need a Peyton Manning or two (and coaches who know what they're doing) to bring them back.
They almost need a Peyton Manning or two (and coaches who know what they're doing) to bring them back.
Wonder if other fan bases said the same thing about PSU anytime in the last 15-20 years.
Heck, if you are going by IN-State talent for ranking teams in the SEC then even S. Carolina is ahead of TN. If you are ranking SEC schools based on IN-State talent:
1. Florida
1.a. Texas
2. Georgia
3. Louisiana
4. S. Carolina
Not exactly sure where the State of TN would rank for producing D1 players vs. the State of AL. But the advantage both Alabama & Auburn have is that they are much closer to the hotbeds of Florida and South Georgia.
1. Florida
1.a. Texas
2. Georgia
3. Louisiana
4. S. Carolina
Not exactly sure where the State of TN would rank for producing D1 players vs. the State of AL. But the advantage both Alabama & Auburn have is that they are much closer to the hotbeds of Florida and South Georgia.
Without taking a look at the rosters, I think UT gets a nice chunk of recruits from Georgia, notably the Atlanta area.
I was down in Knoxville for the game last weekend. I will say this: they have a tremendous gameday atmosphere down there. Neyland Stadium is really impressive and all of the fans I met were really great.
The team is awful, though, and while everyone agrees that Butch has to go, there is no agreement on who the obvious replacement is. I heard a few mentions of Chip Kelly, a few of Bobby Petrino. But the mood down there is pretty somber. I think everyone realizes they are a long way away from where they want to be.
That being said, again, if you ever have a chance to see a game down there I would highly recommend it. Great experience that I would put right up there with the best places I've been.
The team is awful, though, and while everyone agrees that Butch has to go, there is no agreement on who the obvious replacement is. I heard a few mentions of Chip Kelly, a few of Bobby Petrino. But the mood down there is pretty somber. I think everyone realizes they are a long way away from where they want to be.
That being said, again, if you ever have a chance to see a game down there I would highly recommend it. Great experience that I would put right up there with the best places I've been.
Tennessee has a great deal of talent in the student body. Key word....body.
My neck is still sore from going to a game last year in September.
My neck is still sore from going to a game last year in September.
That's spot on. Back in my Knoxville days I had an office in Ayres Hall and I'd work all morning and then walk down the hill to the stadium for the game. Loved going to Neyland.
My office window was the one in the upper left corner of the central part, below the tower.
That's spot on. Back in my Knoxville days I had an office in Ayres Hall and I'd work all morning and then walk down the hill to the stadium for the game. Loved going to Neyland.
My office window was the one in the upper left corner of the central part, below the tower.
Very cool. I thought it was very unique how Neyland sits right in the middle of campus -- they actually still have academic offices in the stadium structure.
I was also impressed with the Vol Navy. That's a great way to spend a gameday.
Chip Kelly might be an interesting option. His stock has fallen to the point where he might need to humble himself a bit. In addition, I think his system might even work well enough for him to move "up" to a different college program, before the SEC figures him out. He wouldn't even have to win an SEC championship to regain his college credibility. Would just need to get the program to a spot similar to where Spurrier got South Carolina.
I went to HS in Tn back when we beat the crap out of them in two Fiesta Bowls. Huge trash talking fan base typical of SEC teams...however...TN is getting exactly what they deserve when they basically screwed over the best coach that they have maybe ever had in Fulmer. Like a poster above said...very similar to Nebraska and if you recall they did Solich the same way
OK, so a month into the season, we have the following potential (and one definite) job opening in P5
Ole Miss
Nebraska
Tennessee
Louisville
Texas A&M
Arizona
Arizona State
Arkansas
any others?
Syracuse? BC? UVa? BYU? ND?
Ole Miss
Nebraska
Tennessee
Louisville
Texas A&M
Arizona
Arizona State
Arkansas
any others?
Syracuse? BC? UVa? BYU? ND?
bwifan
Well-Known Member
I think Chip is their best option. He has proven he can take programs up to the next level. As well as recruit nationally. At Oregon he was recruiting kids from all over the west. Something he would need to do to get the Vols back up. Petrino wins but is a headache and he always seems to bolt to the next available job. I still think Les Miles would be an interesting candidate. He knows the league, has relationships with coaches for recruiting.
bwifan
Well-Known Member
Agree on LSU. Boston College for sure will be coming open, I think that is a graveyard job. I think Syracuse is very happy with Babers.
All you have to do to confirm the OPs point is look at UTs last two hires - Dooley and Davis. Obviously those are not the guys they expected to hire when they began their searches. While it is certainly a very nice job, it is not a program that is going to get an established highly regarded HC. IMO they will be looking for another young up and coming coach (like Dooley and Davis), an SEC coordinator, an NFL assistant or an out of work "veteran" like Les Miles.
I would be shocked if Chip Kelly lands a D1 HC job. Remember, he left Oregon with a "show cause" sanction which effectively meant he could not be hired. While that penalty may have expired, how do you square that hire with the values every program claims to model?
I think the favorite is going to be Tee Martin. QB on their MNC team, lots of experience at USC, accomplished recruiter... IMO he checks all the boxes.
I would be shocked if Chip Kelly lands a D1 HC job. Remember, he left Oregon with a "show cause" sanction which effectively meant he could not be hired. While that penalty may have expired, how do you square that hire with the values every program claims to model?
I think the favorite is going to be Tee Martin. QB on their MNC team, lots of experience at USC, accomplished recruiter... IMO he checks all the boxes.
It's not just overall state talent. It is recruiting area / # of scholarships (Div 1 schools)
This is where Penn State excels and why the Florida schools just aren't overall where they once were. At one time there were four Florida schools and FSU could stockpile kids at JC.
Also, in the north athletes lean towards basketball (hence all the bball schools) whereas in the south they lean towards football.
I could see Chip Kelly holding out for another Pac12 job. With back-to-back jobs at Oregon and then in Philly, Kelly saw the big time difference between a laid back west-coast fan base and a fan base that's in your face questioning every breath you take. Kelly knows that Knoxville is not Philly, but the SEC fans are known to be crazy. Every SEC program believes they should be Alabama and winning national titles every year.
My guess. Kelly sees openings at ASU this year. Good chance Mora does not last too much longer at UCLA. Kelly passes on any SEC job and gives back to Pac12
My guess. Kelly sees openings at ASU this year. Good chance Mora does not last too much longer at UCLA. Kelly passes on any SEC job and gives back to Pac12
I think the comparison to Nebraska is a good one. Both have the history and tradition of top teams but have fallen to a more mediocre level the past few years. Both have gone through some bad coaching hires and are kind of spinning their wheels at the moment.
I have no doubt Tennessee will get back to being a top SEC team sooner or later. Outside of Alabama and Georgia (this year) the SEC seems pretty average. If Tennessee makes the right hire they could be back into the top tier in their conference relatively quickly IMO.
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anon_1eeb2b426hv3y
Guest
There are plenty of things to knock about TN, but recruiting isn’t a problem there at all. They have no problem with recruiting in-state or in neighboring states. All they need is to develop and use what they have and will continue to get.
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anon_1eeb2b426hv3y
Guest
I wonder where this leaves Shoop? Tangled in legal issue and possibly owing PSU over a million dollars and out of a job. In hindsight it was a really bad career move for him but I believe their were other issues at play for him but man what a free fall - not seeing the TN fans gloating any longer.
It's a beautiful campus, for one thing. Knoxville in the spring just can't be beat for sheer loveliness.
Coach O buyout is a crazy big number, IIRC 15-20 mill. Rumor is they are stuck with him for 1-2 more years. Ed had no leverage, why the AD gave him that is beyond me. That's why the LSU AD sucks even harder.
Tennessee is in far better shape than Nebraska. While the overall talent in-state isn't great, their 3-500 mile radius has plenty of high-end talent to put them back where they were. They got caught in a double-whammy with regime change and then sanctions, and while much of that was of their own doing, they're still a blue blood that will be fine once they ultimately right their ship.
Nebraska's problem is that they're on an island and have to go well beyond their 3-500 mile radius to find even adequate talent. Yes, they are a blue blood, but they need a splash hire just to have a shot at turning things around and not many top coaches are willing to take such a chance with their career.
Nebraska's problem is that they're on an island and have to go well beyond their 3-500 mile radius to find even adequate talent. Yes, they are a blue blood, but they need a splash hire just to have a shot at turning things around and not many top coaches are willing to take such a chance with their career.
Chip is an egomaniac, but he can get away with it in college football. Most college football coaches are egomaniacs. They have total control, unlike the NFL coaches. I could see the Chipster taking that job, if offered.
That's Joe Alleva, who came to the LSU job from being AD at Duke.
Suffice it to say, many Duke fans were NOT upset to see him leave. One of his highlights was a boating accident involving alcohol and his son taking the rap.
http://www.wistv.com/story/5719532/son-of-duke-athletic-director-pleads-guilty-in-boating-accident
yeah. i think its going to be tough for Nebraska to regain their status among the elite.
the move to the B10 was good from a financial standpoint, but not from a recruiting standpoint IMO.
in their hey day they recruited well in California and in Texas, not sure how many of those kids want to play all their games in the NE and Midwest....
I’d argue that kNU is in better recruiting shape with fewer powerhouses in its direct area.
UT has to get through murderer’s row to land a kid.
