My prediction, FWIW

[BanditVol]

I will only say this once, then I will support Jones 100% and root for success with my usual overly optimistic spin.

This is just a WAG.  My guess is that Jones will have winning seasons and go to second tier bowls.  His best record will be 9 or 10 wins in a better than second tier bowl, but not BCS.  We will at least come close to making the SECCG and might even make it in that same year.  Then  in a rebuilding year a season or two later he will be let go and we will move on to the next coach.

Prediction over, won't mention it again.

Hope he does much better than that, but what I outline above is acceptable to me and much better than the last 5 years.  MUCH better.  

[WoodstockVol]

I will only say this once, then I will support Jones 100% and root for success with my usual overly optimistic spin.

This is just a WAG.  My guess is that Jones will have winning seasons and go to second tier bowls.  His best record will be 9 or 10 wins in a better than second tier bowl, but not BCS.  We will at least come close to making the SECCG and might even make it in that same year.  Then  in a rebuilding year  as season or two later he will be let go and we will move on to the next coach.

Prediction over, won't mention it again.

Hope he does much better than that, but what I outline above is acceptable to me and much better than the last 5 years.  MUCH better. 

I think Tennessee will be stuck at 3rd or 4th place in the East for a while. Hopefully with hard work,Tennessee can leap over USC for 3rd place

[Inspector Vol]

We just need better players and more of them than we have had. He has to be a better coach.

[FranklinVol]

I will only say this once, then I will support Jones 100% and root for success with my usual overly optimistic spin.

This is just a WAG.  My guess is that Jones will have winning seasons and go to second tier bowls.  His best record will be 9 or 10 wins in a better than second tier bowl, but not BCS.  We will at least come close to making the SECCG and might even make it in that same year.  Then  in a rebuilding year a season or two later he will be let go and we will move on to the next coach.

Prediction over, won't mention it again.

Hope he does much better than that, but what I outline above is acceptable to me and much better than the last 5 years.  MUCH better.  

This  pretty much matches up with my expectations.  We will move from a bottom tier SEC team (where we have been last 2 years) to a 2nd teir team. That is imporvement.

[73Volgrad]

If he follows form, he will be go in three years to another program.  Face it, if he can turn this program around into a 9-win program in 3 years, some school will make a run at him and buy him out. The way salaries and TV is going, some school will pay $4M to steal him away. Louisville just paid Strong $4M.

So no, I do not think he gets fired unless he plateaus at 7-8 wins. He has a good enough talent base here that with ANY coaching ability at all, he can win 6 games next year or maybe 7.  More than that, he will be a miracle worker.

[BanditVol]

If he follows form, he will be go in three years to another program.  Face it, if he can turn this program around into a 9-win program in 3 years, some school will make a run at him and buy him out. The way salaries and TV is going, some school will pay $4M to steal him away. Louisville just paid Strong $4M.

So no, I do not think he gets fired unless he plateaus at 7-8 wins. He has a good enough talent base here that with ANY coaching ability at all, he can win 6 games next year or maybe 7.  More than that, he will be a miracle worker.

Really?  Where would he go, that would pay him top $$$ just for winning 9 games at UT?   Is that really a huge selling point?   Did Petrino, who has a reputation for job jumping, leave Arkansas or show any sign after winning 10 games 2 years ago?  Did Richt ever go anywhere?  I don't follow the logic.  And UT can outbid just about anyone out there, if we really want to keep him.

I agree that we should win at least 6-7 games next year, but 7 is really the standard he needs to set.

And to be clear, I am not saying he gets fired for winning 9 games, just that I think that might be his peak.  But I really hope I am wrong!