Just now noticed your edit. The "crap" I refer to isn't necessarily losing games, it's losing games and badmouthing the fanbase. I fully realize that he inherited a tough situation, and I'm not expecting him to contend for championships at least until year 3. I think most reasonable Vol fans would agree. But he'll shorten that leash considerably if he's constantly berating this fanbase. We've been through a LOT, and we're not putting up with the BS anymore. Ask John Currie.

I personally don't think it's a big deal. He wanted a large crowd to help show the team it's support, and for the resulting recruiting benefits it can bring.

Perhaps he should not have mentioned his disappointment, but that's Pruitt for you; he is a no B/S type of guy who speaks his mind.

BG

Don't leave BG. You add good stuff.

As for Pruitt, I don't care what he says. He can call me out personally so long as he entertains (wins).

But I don't solicit his advice on how I spend my time any more than I do a street corner juggler's. Yesterday I went hiking, and was glad I did.

Thanks murf, but it really is time to move on.

Enjoyed it!


BG

I don't mind what he said about the team, but he went too far when he called out the fans. I know his old boss used to do the same thing, but his old boss had banked enough capital that he could get away with it. Pruitt has no such goodwill built up with this fanbase. Of course, he hasn't lost yet, either, which is probably why many are giving him a pass. But remember- it wasn't so long ago that lipreaders thought they caught Butch Jones badmouthing the fans on the sideline, and he caught absolute hell for that. If Pruitt loses a few games, the fans aren't going to put up with that crap for long.

Having said that- while I don't like what he said, maybe the fact that he even said it is a good indicator. Because you know that Fulmer would never say such things. Likewise, I wouldn't think that he would condone his subordinates saying such things unless he's granted them a good deal of autonomy. So maybe this goes a long way towards dispelling the notion that Pruitt is Fulmer's puppet.

Besides, I think that 65K (announced) turning out for a glorified practice is pretty darn good for a team coming off the worst season in its history. And they didn't do the pregame autograph session this year, either. In the past, many fans turned out just for that.

For those that think he may be a Fulmer puppit...

If he's willing to strongly disagree with Nick Saban, I highly doubt your head coach would shy away from disagreeing with Phil Fulmer. According to someone who is very close to Jeremy Pruitt, he defended his opinions in a very strong manner with Saban.

In fact he disagreed with Fulmer right off the bat during the hiring process. Fulmer wanted Pruitt to immediately head to Knoxville fulltime as UT's new head coach, and Pruitt wanted to coach his defense in the playoffs. You know who won that argument!

While I don't know anymore than anyone else if he will be successful at Tennessee, I do know how stubborn and how willing Jeremy Pruitt is in fighting for what he believes is right.

Edited to add, when your Vols lose a few games, and UT fans aren't "putting up with that crap for long" as you said, why the heck did Tennessee fans put up with it in Butch Jones first two years? This guy is the polar opposite of Butch Jones, and isn't going to tell the fans what they want to hear. I doubt he's your kind of coach either, as he is completely different from the Mike Leach types in the coaching profession.

BTW, this is all too weird for me defending the Tennessee head coach. Now is really the time for me to leave. C-yall.  


BG

There are several (Botch Quitters) still on this team and Pruitt will weed them out in due time. He will not coddle quitters like Botch did. He damaged the program more than folks know. The team became really divided last season between the winners and the quitters.....it got really bad.

Time to run them off. As you more than most know, this is step 1. He's going to demand toughness.

It's time like this that I wish UT hired someone else.

BG

He's tough.

No B/S and he's not going to sugar coat a thing.

BG

An exceptional man. I remember Sandman from a joint Tide and Vol tailgate on the Quad in T-Town after the 6-3 game in 2005.

After the game, Sandman passed out plenty of cigars to us Tide fans. He brought all of those stogies from Tennessee for fans of the winning team to smoke in the Third Saturday in October tradition, regardless if those fans wore Orange or Crimson and I've never forgot it.

Just a great guy and my entire pleasure to be around him. My prayers for a complete recovery for Sandman!

BG

Actually, it blows because bamer sucks so hard ...

...No what really sux is we can't kick a field goal!

http://www.al.com/alabamafootball/index.ssf/2017/09/sec_shorts_-_alabama_fans_duri.html


BG

Actually, it blows because bamer sucks so hard ...

Why, everyone knows that's Barner country!

So, just for you...

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkOP-yVpP9s


BG

Oh I care about them in the context of sports, but in the real world they don't mean squat.   Your entire state thinks they do, but that's because they are delusional.

I could add a whole lot of other less polite words, but I feel like being nice today.   

My initial post was only a small joke. Geez, you are the one who takes it so seriously. Pure irony that you accuse others of the same.

BG

Not bitter at all.  Just pointing out that sports don't actually mean anything in real life.  Nothing, nada, zilch.  But your fanbase gets very confused about that.   

OK, you don't care about wins and losses now.


BG

A state ranked 45th in HS graduation rate and 44th in per capita income needs something to feel good about I guess. Too bad the football thing doesnt actually mean anything, other than lining the pockets of a few coaches and administrators. 

Why such a bitter reply?!?

Didn't you notice the disclaimer at the end clearly stated "no trophies were harmed in the making of this video."

BG

I've just driven through, but I would much prefer 'nooga and your own Ooltewah area, which I admittedly know much better than Columbus.

BG

Everyone is fair game. Here's one after the Tide's loss to Auburn:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=r8zjpUZ84t8

BG

I really enjoy these SEC shorts. They're made by the guys in the film who are from the Birmingham area-Note Legion Field in this particular episode.

Here's one after the Tide/Vol game this season.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-Q0q0mGPn3E

BG

This is for Bandit only...

Alabama also has a trophy problem.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=v2wADH-AMSY

BG

The Bama fans react to this news:

https://mobile.twitter.com/bigbam3/status/968308616418725893/photo/1


BG

The University of Alabama, known nationwide for their state of the art coaching rehab facilities.

You hire and fire them, and Bama retrains them!

BG

I think he just won a Gold Medal.

BG

Show me where I said traditions are meaningless. I also never said they were silly.  What is silly -- IN MY OPINION -- is people dismissing the use of the grey uniforms due to tradition.  I love Tennessee's traditions, many of which I mentioned.  But, none of them are "traditions" if one goes back far enough.  Rocky Top started being played in the early 70s; checkerboard end zones started in 1965, then disappeared from 1968 until 1989; running through the T started in 1965; Vol Walk in 1990; Power T is relatively new and followed the block T, which started in 1964; the interlocking UT was used for a long time, even at the 50 yard line, then virtually disappeared due to trademark issues with Texas; etc.  Heck, white cleats were used in the 70s, so why aren't they considered to be traditional?  What's next?  No more checker Neyland, which I consider phenomenal?  Take out the video boards?  Again, the silliness is the unwillingness to accept newer "traditions" based essentially on what one personally views as "tradition."  So, I stand by everything I actually wrote before. What people are calling "tradition" in this context is much ado about nothing. Silly.

Due to your clarification, the only difference I now have regards semantics, and I assume you too would agree that's not worth debating.

BTW, as a young teen I was in Neyland in '72 when Rocky Top was first played.  That was an incredible game, and one of my personal favorites.

BG

"Tradition" is much ado about nothing, and depends entirely on how far back one goes. Silly.

IMO, that's just not true. You state that traditions are meaningless, yet one of the fundamental factors in uniting a fan base are those same "silly" traditions that most college fans look forward to each year.

IMO, many of those "silly" traditions are what make college football so colorful and different in contrast to the NFL.

BG

Intro to The Third Saturday in October.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Caqcei4TQuw

BG

The greatest.

BG

You are incorrect.  It was Cornwell who had graduated, not Bateman.  Look it up yourself, I'm not your editor.

  The fact is, Saban was seriously pissed that Barnett transferred.  He usually doesn't comment on such things and went well beyond his usual stoic non-comments.

http://gridironnow.com/nick-saban-blake-barnett-transfer-comments/2/

https://nypost.com/2017/08/08/ex-alabama-qbs-nick-saban-screwed-us/


But who gives a rip if they started at their new schools or not?  It's obvious that Saban was pissed because he knew that Jalen basically sucks as a passer and wanted Barnett in particular to stay for insurance reasons.  Which is my real point.  What they are doing at their schools now is irrelevant. 

“Obviously, I didn’t expect them to be happy in any way. Them being upset and holding a grudge — that was expected to me,” Barnett said. “The only thing I took offense to is that Saban goes out to media and tried to diminish my reputation for a decision I made that was best for my career individually. It was kind of offensive that he would go out and bash a 20-year-old.

What a classy guy that saban is! 


And congrats to Tua's daddy at getting such a good job in bammer .  He must be mighty skilled at what he does.   

You're simply wrong...again. I'm not going to waste anymore of  my time on you.

https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/report-ex-tide-qb-cooper-bateman-to-switch-positions-at-utah/


BG

Looked it up.  Barnett had to sit out the first four games of this season anyway, while  Bateman had to sit out the entire year.  Cornwell's career was pretty much over with anyway.

I heard the same about Tua from a couple local bammers prior to the game.  It was a well vetted option.  Satan IMO has never been happy with Jalen, but given his enormous popularity with his team mates was stuck with him for a while.  Saban is probably celebrating not having to play the guy anymore almost as much as the NC.  

Oh I forgot to add...who is Jalen going to back up if when he transfers?  Will anyone even want him?  

Like I said, none of them won the starting job. Best look it up again. Cooper Bateman was a redshirt senior graduate and thus he didn't have to sit a year. He had used his redshirt as a freshman in 2013.

BG

What is amazing is that the kid would go to Bama instead of a PAC12 school, like most of the Hawaian/Samoan kids do. Just not a typical Bama QB. But he was one of the top recruits in the country his senior year. Bama cheats.

If Bama cheats, then so does Pruitt.

BTW, Tua is a very spiritual young man and is a practicing Christian. He went to church with others on the team while on his recruiting visit to Tuscaloosa, and said he felt much more at home in Tuscaloosa with fellow Christians than he did in the much more secular world of glitzy Los Angeles when visiting USC.

BG