I think Punch is pretty well connected and he's no slouch when it comes to common sense. He's been in NASCAR since before he graduated from high school. He knows the importance of keeping a secret. I do believe he is a UT fan as he now lives in Knoxville, married a Tennessee gal. People in NASCAR trust Punch because he once saved Rusty Wallace's life on the track and he can keep a secret. If the people in NASCAR tell him secrets (and they are the most secretive of all in sports because they all bend the rules), I trust that others in the sports management field do the same.
Punch works for ABC/ESPN; he has enormous contacts available to him and he is a really smart feller. He has great contacts. I love listening to him on the Sports Animal because he is such a common sense guy without spilling the beans on anyone.
So, if Doc says he believes Hart has his guy I believe him whole-heartedly. That being said, it leads to a new dicussion: who was available when Hart made his decision and when did he make that decision? I think Hart has been looking around since before the season started, if he was smart and I believe he is. I do believe he had an instinct that this season would develope the way it did; hell, we all did but we had hope. Hart had to deal with the reality of the season and I believe he went to work early.
So, where does this point us? I would think it would not be an active coach. When I read Punch thinks Hart has his man, it was the first time I really thought Gruden was a possibility.
G
