Of all the people who are responsible for our program being where it is, Jeremy Pruitt did more to bring it down than anyone. No way I'll ever wish him luck anywhere.
(Not that I'm wishing Butch Jones luck. I hope he fails spectacularly. As for Dooley, I actually like him and hope he does well. He was just in over his head at UT.)
Fair enough. But Pruitt didn't even publically try to fight his firing (not sure what he did behind the scenes or what his attorneys were saying, but my impression is that he kept his mouth shut and took it like a man).
But you have persuaded me Creek. fizzle Pruitt, I hope he fails at his next assignment, though it's probably hard to fail at being an analyst. If he ever does get an actual coaching job again, maybe it won't work out. But I still dont' want him to fail more than I want Jones to fail.
I will also disagree that Pruitt did more to destroy the Vols while he was coach. He was hands down better than Dooley. Dooley inherited way more talent (Fulmer had the no. 3 class in 2007 and Lane recruited well in 2008), but never managed a single winning season. Dooley's record in the SEC was an astonishing 5-18, Pruitt's was 10-16, and against teams not named Kentucky or Vanderbilt Dooley was 1-18, and the "one" was against an Ole Miss team that went 4-8 in 2010, probably their worst team of the last 30 years. Dooley's signature win was Cincinnatti (who ironically we hired the coach of), Pruitt's was beating a ranked Auburn team at their place for the first time since 98. Pruitt was hands down a better coach than Dooley IMO. It's not even really debateable if you look at the performance on the field.
Having said that, if you mean that Pruitt left us in worse condidtion, that would be hard to argue. With only 71 schollies and potential probation hanigng over our heads, not to mention what happened on the field for most of last season, you make a very strong point. But let's not underestimate how bare the cupboard was under Dooley. I recall that in Butch's first year, we had a DB reputed to be the fastest guy on defense run a 4.7 at the combine. A 4.7! I personally sat and watched Auburn wax us in Neyland by just mostly running past our slow footed D. Dooley did leave a solid O line (who all left after Butch's first year).
So did Pruitt leave us in worse shape than Dooley? Let's see how the season plays out. But even if you are correct CW, and Heupel goes 7-5, that's encouraging right? I think so. There is a lot of football left to play though.
