The "Gruden-Gate" Cover-Up (Long)

#1
TNHopeful505

TNHopeful505

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#1
I honestly now believe that this may be the biggest cover up in the history of UT Sports.

Folks, listen very clearly. You cannot trust the media on this.

Think about it:

If Brent Hubbs (For example), saw a picture of Dave Hart and Jon Gruden standing together over a contract and saw the signatures, and heard an audio clip of Jon saying "I'm excited to be the next Head Coach of Tennessee," but Dave Hart said "Brent, I want you to keep this under wraps until ___________."

Does anyone honestly think he would break it?

Does anyone honestly think he would throw away his career by breaking something that isn't supposed to be broken yet?

As soon as (Hubbs) breaks that story, UT would expel him from reporting on UT again. No practices, no game coverage, no interviews. (Hubbs) and the company he works for would be in deep stuff. He would probably lose his job. His company would probably be in trouble without being able to cover the Vols.

Jon Gruden is receiving buyout money from Tampa Bay and a contract with ESPN. He CANNOT be hired by another job yet, for risk of ruining those things, as well as hurting our reputation and his. THAT is why this has not been broken yet, it seems. Smokescreens are being put out to allow things to simmer more. Do you not notice every time it seems things are coming to a point, we hit a "snag" or "something is happening?" It's only to be able to get closer to the date we need. We will interview other candidates to prolong this. We are working on Jon's timetable to make sure he gets all of his affairs in order.

I honestly think that there are people who FULLY know what is going on even within the media.

In a world where I can't even hide what I'm eating for lunch if someone wants to find out, SOMEONE knows what's going on.

These boosters have been talking. They have dropped a lot of money, and you better believe they want to be told the truth about where their millions of dollars are going. That's the people I'm listening to, are the ones making the investment. Based on that, it sounds like Gruden is coming, or it's close to done.

But you CANNOT listen to the media. All of them say they want to report the truth, but when their butt is on the line, they will not risk their job to break the biggest story in the past two decades of UT Football.

I repeat, DO NOT LISTEN TO THE MEDIA. The ONLY media worth listening to are the outside sources that don't have a dog in the fight. The guy from CBS, anyone who covers other teams. If they break it, if they give hints, UT can't punish them.

But as much as I respect Hubbs, Fortenberry, etc, they aren't going to give you anything until its time.

I personally believe and hope that we are truly witnessing one of the greatest sports cover ups in our generation.

Disclaimer: I do not have any sources, I just read this board religiously, and I have a shred of common sense about me.

This is a post I posted yesterday that further explains my thinking

Here's the bottom line.

1. Today's Mike and Mike interview shows just how terrible journalism is. They phrased that question terribly, and they had their facts wrong, AND they didn't follow up. What were they expecting? "Jon, is it all true?" "Yes, guys, it's true, and I'm quitting everything right now, before telling anyone else, I'm making 'The Decision' on Mike and Mike at 7:15 in the morning." Total garbage. Does not tell me anything.

2. Gruden sounded as though he wanted to prevent them getting to anything deeper. He moved on very quickly. Because you know the next question would have been "Have you spoken to UT?"

3. Folks, let's be real here. Dave Hart is an idiot if he has 50%+ of the fanbase calling for a particular guy, and he doesn't go get him. Therefore, to say that Gruden hasn't been OFFERED, or to say that he hasn't talked to Tennessee, or to say that we haven't been involved with Gruden, if true, is Dave Hart asking for a death wish. Especially when the major boosters want him.

4. Here's the facts, as far as I can see them:
A. Dave Hart, or at least Tennessee Brass has spoken to and negotiated with, and even possibly signed Jon Gruden. I don't think there is any doubt that he has spoken to, and has serious interest, and maybe even has a deal with UT.

B. Unlike what others have said, the longer this goes on, the better it looks for us with Gruden. We are on HIS timetable. He is the one still getting buyout payments from Tampa Bay. He is the one who is on ESPN MNF under contract for a few more weeks. He is the one that is putting this announcement off. It's not that it's not done, it very well may be. But Gruden is doing nothing but protecting our reputation, and his. And even saving Dooley some embarrassment. There is no need to fear, until it does come out that he publicly states that he has turned down the UT offer. Not that he denies any truth to a "deal in hand, and a share in the Cleveland Browns." I want to hear him deny that he turned down the UT job.

C. Jimmy Stanton says that we refuse to comment on any rumors. THAT is huge to me. If Jon Gruden is not coming, then save him and us the humiliation and questions, and just squash the rumor. "We have spoken to Jon Gruden, however, after gauging his interest, have decided to pursue other candidates." But no, they won't say that. They're not denying it. Which is as good as admitting it.

D. Our AD is not going to spend 11 days negotiating with one particular person. At least, I don't think they would. We are in a race to get the best candidate possible. Auburn and Arkansas are trying as well. If Gruden is not a strong possibility, then we would not allow 11 days to go by with these rumors floating like crazy. We would say what's going on, and shut down candidates as we rule them out.

E. Hart is a mastermind at smokescreens. He has put all sort of them out. Nobody in the AD knows what's going on. But the key is, listen to the money. People who are ponying up money do not do so if there's no knowledge of where or who it's going to. And you've got some people who just dropped a million that are probably out there bragging about the fact that they just dropped a million to help UT get Jon Gruden. And the buzz from the people who are dropping the money is what we're hearing. The media knows nothing, and even if they did, they would not say anything. It would ruin their position with UT to break it before anyone wanted it broken. I'm listening to the people who are close to the boosters. The boosters have to know. They have to. They're not ponying up money for Kirby Smart, they wouldn't. You have to give a plan worth investing into.


5. My final thoughts: I think Gruden is very near to done. I don't think he's mulling any other offers. I think he's just tailoring his contract to get it as close to perfect as he can. He is taking a big risk here too. He needs to make sure that he has plenty of time to figure out the college game, he needs a little cushion for a rocky start, and he has to make sure that if this tarnishes his reputation, he will be okay financially. I would guess everything is just contract work. I'm sure he's putting out things to make people think he's still interested in NFL, but someone said that he and Andy Reid are very close, and he would never take the Eagles job, because of that. I can see that.

I can see Gruden being ready to roll with a near complete staff. I think he's been trying to research what he wants, and then tell UT, this is what I want. Normally, coaches are approached by the university and told "This is your budget, get who you want." This time, Jon Gruden is getting to say, "This is what I want, make this my budget." I can see that as the reason he is talking to Raheem and Bisaccia. "Hey guys, what would it take to get you to come down to the college game?" He's adding it all up, taking it to Hart, and saying, "okay, this is how much I require, now, this is who I want as assistants, and this is how much they are requiring." I think now, it's just a matter of negotiating, and making sure that we are meeting all of his terms.

I can see the timeline playing out as such:

December 17th - Jets vs. Titans, Monday Night Football. This is in Nashville, and is the last technical Monday Night Football. There is a "Monday Night Football" game on a Saturday. Dumbest thing I've ever heard.

December 18th - Gruden is announced as the Head Coach of The University of Tennessee Volunteers.

I realize that is during the dead period, but that gives Gruden the chance to get settled, hire his assistants, and use the dead period as a chance to honestly assess the prospect board.

Then they have 23 days to recruit the class. Thanks to the work of Dooley and staff, it shouldn't be as hard as you think. It could be very easy to pick up a class, and it could be very easy for the new staff to land several that we didn't have on our radar before.

Signing Day - We can probably land a solid Top 10 class. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.

But anyways, all of that to say: I'm not worried. I think the timeline is still on our side. I think he's ours. I don't think he goes to the NFL this time. He doesn't want to become public enemy #1 of the University he loves.

Gruden 2012. It's happening.
Click to expand...

Also, let me add this for you to consider:

Gruden has done himself a TOTAL disservice if he does not plan on taking this job, by not squashing the rumor early, like he did with Arkansas.

He is at the point now, to where if Tennessee signed ANYONE other than Jon Gruden, the ENTIRE FANBASE would know that we signed someone else because Jon Gruden said no.

If he wanted the University where he got his coaching start to hate him, then he would sign with someone else. But he didn't squash the rumors. He let them linger. Therefore, it's either that he walks across the gold lined bridge we're building for him, or he burns a big one.

This is Gruden's last chance at Tennessee. I honestly don't think after this, if it doesn't work out, we would ever go after him again. If he ever wants to coach here, this is his final chance. I just think the fans would sour on him after this. You can only have a girl toy with your emotions so much before you decide you don't want her anymore.

So, I think for that reason, among the others I listed...he's ours.

He's let it go on for too long not to be.
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#4
#4
I appreciate your hope in this. I just don't see it. I think we are on to plan b as Skeeter mentioned.
 
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#7
#7
I'm going to keep thinking this until someone not named Gruden is introduced as coach.

If we have to wait until the 15th or whatever, we have to do something to kill the buzz. We have to get people to look elsewhere.

I respect Skeeter more than anyone else on this board. But I am really thinking this is all ploys to be able to get people to leave the Grumors alone until its time. Otherwise, Jon and his family keep getting these odd situations where they have to answer questions, and Jon gets heat put on him by ESPN and Tampa Bay that could cause him to lose money.
 
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#9
#9
Gruden likes pit bulls. Tennessee has a blue tick coon-hound. This is the reason he is not coming. It is simple people.
 
#12
#12
The hyper-optimists are just as amusing to watch as the hyper-pessimists. All in one thread sparked by:

31009774.jpg
 
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#13
#13
someone tell me if this is worth reading. otherwise i'm going to continue eating lunch and prepping for the girls of Oregon thread
 
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#15
#15
mrredskin said:
someone tell me if this is worth reading. otherwise i'm going to continue eating lunch and prepping for the girls of Oregon thread
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I honestly couldn't tell you. Something about the Illuminati, Freemasons and possibly aliens?

In fact, I'm pretty sure Haslam is a Templar.
 
#16
#16
3. Folks, let's be real here. Dave Hart is an idiot if he has 50%+ of the fanbase calling for a particular guy, and he doesn't go get him. Therefore, to say that Gruden hasn't been OFFERED, or to say that he hasn't talked to Tennessee, or to say that we haven't been involved with Gruden, if true, is Dave Hart asking for a death wish. Especially when the major boosters want him.
Click to expand...

I don't blame Hart. He tried and if it don't work it don't work.

I can't see giving complete control over the football operations to a coach that has never even been close to running a college program..
 
#24
#24
TNHopeful505 ... Ignore most of the replies on this thread. If a post is longer then one line, most of these people can't keep their attention long enough to read it. Anything longer than 'Soon' or 'Boom' is asking too much.

Your post is well constructed and has a lot of great points. I've wondered for some time why neither side has denied the rumors. It doesn't do either side any good to let this fester if there's truly no deal in the works. Even now, Skeeter says the deal is dead but we've heard no information from the AD or Gruden. Strange, to say the least. It's also quite curious why local and national media aren't asking the 'tough' questions.

I'm hopeful but not encouraged by the latest news. Still .... why hasn't anybody killed the rumors from either side?
 
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#25
#25
Mike4Vols said:
TNHopeful505 ... Ignore most of the replies on this thread. If a post is longer then one line, most of these people can't keep their attention long enough to read it. Anything longer than 'Soon' or 'Boom' is asking too much.

Your post is well constructed and has a lot of great points. I've wondered for some time why neither side has denied the rumors. It doesn't do either side any good to let this fester if there's truly no deal in the works. Even now, Skeeter says the deal is dead but we've heard no information from the AD or Gruden. Strange, to say the least. It's also quite curious why local and national media aren't asking the 'tough' questions.

I'm hopeful but not encouraged by the latest news. Still .... why hasn't anybody killed the rumors from either side?
Click to expand...

And to those of us that worry about other sites making fun of us ... who freaking cares? Having meaningful dialog about the situation isn't shameful. We're an excited fanbase looking for our next coach. Nothing wrong with that.
 
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