Remember back in 2012 when our biggest targets were Charlie Strong and Mike Gundy?

[Vols till I fall]

Lol it's crazy how time changes things.

 

[TAF]

I thought Lovie was still circling Knoxville then, too...

 

[volfeeva]

I remember Mullet head laughing at using the Vols to get a salary increase.

 

[kcvols1]

Hey, he’s gonna need those negotiated buyout funds to make his boat payment.

He’s a man, he’s 40, he lives in a landlocked state, he’s got a boat payment.

 

[IndianaVol]

I thought Lovie was still circling Knoxville then, too...

Gruden had just bought property outside Sevierville too...

 

[JMSqb11]

Lol it's crazy how time changes things.

I still stand by my stance that Charlie Strong would have been a rockstar hire here had we simply offered him enough money for him to not go back to Louisville to "mule it over" for 24 hours. Once he backed out and decided to stay, we panicked and rushed into hiring Butch who's only suitor was Colorado.


That was one of the main reasons he did not take the job. He was never embraced at Texas and the donor class there was on the fence with him from day 1.

Strong had an axe to grind with one of our big rivals at the time, Florida.
Strong had extensive in roads with Florida high schools for recruiting and could have likely gotten Bridgewater to transfer

 

[Volizona]

I think Strong, Patterson or someone of their caliber would have been better than the path we followed over 12 years would have at least kept the program stable.

 

[JMSqb11]

I think Strong, Patterson or someone of their caliber would have been better than the path we followed over 12 years would have at least kept the program stable.

I was very die hard on landing Charlie Strong given his success at Louisville couple with the Dooley Debacle.

I don't think Dave Hart was the AD to get the deal done as we were still in that mindset of "oh my goodness we have to pay these buyouts to fire and these buyouts to hire" instead of just ripping bandaid and getting the deal across finish line.