fizzle 

Curious. Who did you expect? Who did you want?



BG

Here's an update:

http://gridironnow.com/tennessee-jeremy-pruitt-continue-moving-toward-hiring-head-coach/

BG

Regarding Tee Martin, this is being reported on other UT sites so please don't accuse me of trolling. In fact, I just became aware of it yesterday. I'm passing on what has been reported elsewhere. His wonderlic testing was very, very low which could be alarming to someone who is looking at him for a head coaching position.

http://footballiqscore.com/wonderlic-score-database/tee-martin
BG

Lupoi would not be a lateral move if he gets a promotion to DC

He is titled as co-defensive coordinator and was expected to take over at DC at Bama. So, yes, it would be a lateral move.

BG

As far as recruits, I sure hope not, but if Pruitt, Tosh and Wright are suddenly at UT there is of course a chance.

Everyone knew Jeremy P. would eventually get a head coaching position so this is no surprise. However, if Tosh leaves that is unexpected as most thought he would take over for JP since he is the co-defensive coordinator.

BG

FWIW, if Pruitt gets a head coaching job, many expect he will bring Jody Wright Alabama's director of player personal with him. I got this from a post from a very knowledgeable source on our Rivals Tide site.

BG

I have no idea how successful he would be as a head coach, but he is both an excellent defensive coordinator and recruiter. I'm sure his toughness would match what Fulmer is looking for. Jeremy P. has a lot of confidence in himself and isn't afraid to disagree with Saban when he thinks he's right. He's style is both a mixture of Saban's and Bill Oliver's. He particularly likes to bring a lot of blitzes, and very much like Oliver, likes quicker players at LB etc. over larger players that Saban in the past preferred.



BG

BTW, these rumors are coming from UT sites and of course reported secondhand on our Tide sites.

On the surface, I find it hard to believe Tee Martin and Tosh Lupoi would be part of the staff as these would be lateral moves but we don't know what's going on behind the scenes. Perhaps Martin just want to get back to UT, and for Lupoi perhaps he would rather work for Pruitt than Saban who demands much.

Again, at this point these are just the current rumors.

BG

Jeremy Pruitt rumors everywhere. He was also given a second interview this morning, and posters are saying he will get the job. Again, just rumors at this point but I did read last night that one source reported he "killed" the first interview. The rumors are Tee Martin would be the OC and Bama's Tosh Lupoi would be the DC. Note all three are excellent recruiters with Lupoi being Bama's current best.


BG

From the point it became evident that Butch wasn't going to make it (let's say it was the UGA game, but YMMV) the fans expected a big-time hire, and I believe they were justified in doing so.  The only thing the fans were unrealistic about was in trusting our administration to handle this in a competent manner.  Even in the presser announcing Butch's firing, Currie stated that money would be no object.  Laugh it off if you must, but there are several well-respected media folks who were and still are saying that a Gruden deal was basically done until Haslam pulled his little power play and tried to install Schiano.  The fans were absolutely justified in reacting the way they did, as it appears to have removed Haslam from the equation.  That's a very good thing in the long run, but short-term, it's probably going to cost us any chance at a quality hire.  Maybe we can finally get it right next time.  But barring a miracle, it's not happening right now.

Oh yeah, one other thing BDV. As far as the sheer idiocy of wanting to name Schiano for the position, imagine our utter disbelief in the late eighties when at the request of the UA president the Tide search committee picked Bill Curry over Bobby Bowden who had wanted the job for eons. Hand me a rock and show me the next window...


BG

Generally agree. I do not blame the fans for the Schiano debacle. However, it is evident fan expectations are wildly disproportionate to our reality, or the reality we are given by the "powers that be". I blame the admin for a ridiculous shroud of secrecy. Rule out Gruden. Up front! However information is leaked then fizzleing properly manage it! State the facts! So & so didn't like our terms for whatever reason. Further, how exactly is an outside party, a "booster" involved in the hiring process? I honestly can't get my head around it. I guess it IS nothing more than power. Haslam out to be embarrassed. He should butt out! Thanks for the "love" but you fubar everything you touch... Diddys lil feller that you are, Jimmy boy! I haven't seen a coaching search this embarrassing since Bama post Stallings & before Saban!  

...and why I relate. I've followed this search first because it is UT and I want to know, and second because it became like a book you couldn't put down; you can't wait for the next twist and turn of the events.

From a fan perspective, yes, I also lived through it.

BG

Riiggghhhtt.  And we should believe everything we read.   

Seriously though...the same was "widely reported" of Bob Shoop.  It doesn't matter if Tucker is doing the day to day, which I am sure he is, Smart is still looking over his shoulder, offering advice, making decisions, etc.  The background of the HC absolutely affects the success of the coordinators IMO.  No matter where Saban and Muschamp have been, the defenses are excellent.  And it's "widely reported" that Saban delegates to his DC, but there has yet to be any drop off no matter who the DC is.  But when the various DCs have left the performance at the next school has adhered to the  "your mileage may vary" rule.

As far as Saban is concerned, those assistants are running what Nick wants and expects, but it doesn't mean that during a game his DC isn't the one making the calls on D. If Saban disagrees, both the assistant and the viewing audience at home will clearly know.

BG

[Edited to add]

They've supposedly looked at Venables, and he told them no.  He's had MANY opportunities for HC jobs over the past couple decades, and turned them all down.  Sounds like he's happy to be a career assistant.

Thanks. I wondered what it is about him that has prevented him from getting a head coaching job. I did read this from Dobbs from couple of years ago. He said that maybe since he's a defensive coach rather than a current in vogue offensive one may have also hindered him in the past.

https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/brent-venables-is-overqualified-so-why-isnt-clemsons-defensive-boss-a-head-coach/

Regardless though, I still say Tee Martin has less than two years experience as a coordinator contrasted by many more years by the ones in question, and this is a difference.

That's not to say he isn't a better prospect for the position though. Note Dabo Swinney went from a wide receiver position coach to head coach. It's rare but possible. He too was/is a great recruiter like Martin.

Edited to add Venables' agent admittedly had been contacted about the Arkansas job. Perhaps he did turn that down as Morris has now been named to the job. Did some digging on the subject and according to one Clemson source, Venables is going to be very selective about taking a head coaching position.

BG

 

Experience is the difference. Again, look at Venables background and experience; very impressive. I'm thinking with his prior success, he would make your team tougher the minute he walked on campus.


BG

Venables would be much better than Tucker. I think Smart is running the uga D.

Leach near the top of my list of potential hires, but hard to see Fulmer hiring him

If he hires Leach it would really surprise me. I certainly could be wrong, but got a feeling he looks at this UT team and believes the first thing they need is toughness, and Leach's teams don't necessarily fit that description.

Surprised Venables' name hasn't been brought up much  in these recent coaching searches. I have no idea how he would interview but he certainly has an impressive record as a coordinator.

BG

Multiple sources says that is NOT true

Agree. He has tons of experience and like-minded with Smart when it comes to D. Sure they may jointly discuss strategy and changes, but Kirby sure doesn't have to micromanage Mel Tucker.

BG

Best I remember it's been a long time......Back many years ago you saw it pretty often.

Perhaps the last was Archie Manning, with a broken arm, leading Ole Miss to a Gator Bowl win over Auburn in '69 or '70???

BG

I knew you could

You bet I can! The Crimson Tide will have to play over their heads to have a chance but at least they have this opportunity. Dabo and Saban seem so different personality wise, yet they get along great and have spent time together with their wives in the off season. Nick has genuine respect for Dabo and his program.

BG

I was wrong. The committee did the right thing. You just don't take a beat-down like Iowa put on OSU just weeks before selection time.

Not the best Bama team of recent memory, but still deserving to get in.

BG

The Crimson Tide will not get in. Too much fatigue of Bama success coupled with memories of Big-10 whining when Bama was selected in the BCS in 2011.

Even though Iowa beat OSU like a drum, if they win tonight even with two season losses they're in.

RTR, though!

BG

I don't this Fulmer is going to go Cut's way with the hire or even Les Miles. I think he wants to make a long-term stamp on this program with this hire and not some 2-3 year patch.

As much as I think UT's administration missed when bypassing on Cutcliffe years ago, I agree I doubt he would be the answer now, other than bringing stability to your program.

BG

Exageratwd sense of self worth by the West.

But yeah....Malzahns a force aint he?

He's a bit of a nerd, but a good coach most of the time but as soon as I say that he does another head-scratcher.

BG

Michael Flynn gave up John Currie.  John Currie colluded with Russia.  Jimmy Haslam changed his name from Aleksandre Putin and obtained fake paperwork from the Governor, Sergei Putin, also know as Bill Haslam.  Phillip Fulmer is a CIA agent, and Beverly Davenport secretly replaced Comey as FBI director, a fact known only to Jeff Sessions and Nancy Pelosi.  It is no coincidence that the Michael Flynn story hit the same day as the John Currie story.  Stay tuned, as I learn more I will share it through the usual channels.  Oh, and Keri Russell is a real babe.

Makes perfect sense to me. I'll alert Fox and CNN. I think for sure at the very least Geraldo Rivera will run with it!

BTW, +1 on your post! :)

BG

Well the Vols haven't held up their end of the bargain for sure. Is there a more manic/depressed program than the Barn?   Your team will go through another Dubose, Price, Fifthchoicionne, Shula, RichRod phase I feel sure. Bama never goes this far down but if Bama can turn it after the aforementioned run then the Vols can surely get back to respectability!    

It's amazing how much program success is based on timing. We Tide fans were so lucky that Saban wanted back in college football at the same time Alabama was looking for a head coach.

Performance is of course cyclical, but we all hope to keep the downturns to a minimum while having very knowledgeable people in position to make these coaching hires, and of course therein lies the potential problem. Bama certainly had their share of coaching problems, and you guys have recently experienced the same. At the time, while not the homerun you wanted, I personally didn't think the Jones hiring was necessarily bad. The UT hire that floored me and was so surprising was the Dooley choice. That was mind boggling.

BG  

Several bama & ocryo fans on Twitter were very vocal with disparaging commentary on this move today. I like it!  

It does bring more Crimson Tide fans' fire back when discussing this series, and that has been seriously lacking. Trust me, especially after last week's game, Crimson passion for the Orange series still won't burn nearly as bright as the one for Orange and Blue, however it will now flame up nicely from it's recent flicker   :)

BG