Bruce or Bust?

#152
#152
For those asking what Cheek has done well, I would like to know what affiliation you have with the university. Not being a jerk, just serious. The people I know that work there like him and what he has done. Part of that has to do with the AD not having the power it once did. The level of student is better - I entered UT 15 years ago with great scores and GPA compared to most Freshman but would barely be average today. Research still isn't where they want but has grown. Lastly and most importantly, Cheek has slowly changed the culture. UT isn't the good ole boy haven it was just 10 years ago. Some of the most powerful yet most unethical have moved on or now have lesser roles.

I want Bruce as much as anyone and have thought Cheek has been bad with the AD until the past year or two. But I think they have made progress. Butch being what he is probably has a lot to do with that. But Cheek is still the boss. Unless Cheek has changed his tune or the powers that be tell him to, Bruce unfortunately is most likely not an option. FWIW, my opinion is that the powers that be to which I refer all have the same last name.
 
#153
#153
bleedingTNorange said:
Well for probability of Pearl returning sake, I'll hope that's the true version. It still leaves a giant hurdle in Cheek, but 1 hurdle is easier to jump than 2 I always say.
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I don't think Slive will be a hinderance. I do find it improbable that Cheek and Pearl could ever work together but not impossible.
 
#154
#154
Things are different and much more stable now. Hamilton was both a lame duck and an idiot. Cheek did not have a boss. Haslams were most concerned about being new Governor. Football was in turmoil.

I'm not a fan of Cheek when it comes to AD, but I think he understands his role now. I'm not a big Hart fan either, but I think he has the power to make this happen if he wants, but it will take some major politics and behind the scenes deal making.
 
#156
#156
bjsvols1 said:
Things are different and much more stable now. Hamilton was both a lame duck and an idiot. Cheek did not have a boss. Haslams were most concerned about being new Governor. Football was in turmoil.

I'm not a fan of Cheek when it comes to AD, but I think he understands his role now. I'm not a big Hart fan either, but I think he has the power to make this happen if he wants, but it will take some major politics and behind the scenes deal making.
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I am a fan of UT, and I have been for most of my life. After reading your last post and this one, it's amazing any top coach would want to ever come to UT, Football or Basketball. Letting the folks that run the academic side of the house make business decisions for the athletic department is a formula for disaster.

If UT wants to return to the glory days of winning championships they need to let Hart run the show much like Dickey used to back in the day.
 
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#157
#157
gunner said:
I am a fan of UT, and I have been for most of my life. After reading your last post and this one, it's amazing any top coach would want to ever come to UT, Football or Basketball. Letting the folks that run the academic side of the house make business decisions for the athletic department is a formula for disaster.

If UT wants to return to the glory days of winning championships they need to let Hart run the show much like Dickey used to back in the day.
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This is true but since Dickey left there has been a fundamental change in structure of how the UT AD functions. Before, the AD reported to the University System president, (now DePetrio). Since, the UTAD was placed under the UTK chancellor, Dr. Cheek.
 
#159
#159
Aesius said:
It would be a disaster on so many levels. Alabama fans would take over TBA for that game, like they did Neyland when Saban crushed Fulmer.
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I'm highly skeptical of that. Alabama fans don't care about basketball, and I'm not convinced even Pearl can change that. They couldn't draw flies back in 2004 or so and they were ranked #1 a while.
 
#160
#160
InVOLuntary said:
This is true but since Dickey left there has been a fundamental change in structure of how the UT AD functions. Before, the AD reported to the University System president, (now DePetrio). Since, the UTAD was placed under the UTK chancellor, Dr. Cheek.
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Well that needs to change.
 
#161
#161
gunner said:
I am a fan of UT, and I have been for most of my life. After reading your last post and this one, it's amazing any top coach would want to ever come to UT, Football or Basketball. Letting the folks that run the academic side of the house make business decisions for the athletic department is a formula for disaster.

If UT wants to return to the glory days of winning championships they need to let Hart run the show much like Dickey used to back in the day.
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Loren Crabtree lobbied for years to move the AD under him and the Knoxville campus instead of the President. From what I understand, was one of the main he reasons he lost his job, retired, whatever. Then Cheek comes in and they almost immediately put the AD under him. Very strange.

I think things are better, but put me in the old way camp where the AD is under the President, who is usually more adept at the political type dealings and perception issues that come with the AD. I'm not defending Cheek so much except to say he's largely done the job he was hired to do, which was not athletics.

I say things have gotten better, but UT still has a long way to go IMO before I send my kids there. Charismatic personalities like Butch and Bruce often have ways of overcoming certain obstacles to where the issues aren't as big a deal and everyone can compromise. It's when adversity hits that the problems show up.

UT needs a more political minded leader that can navigate the good ole boy network while remaining ethical. Someone that understands TN. A Joe Johnson type that can bridge everything. The problem is that the BOT have set academic and research goals that call for individuals like Cheek and Joe Dipietro that are more academic wonks than Joe Johnson types. Personally, I think the university as a whole has gone in the wrong general direction with the whole research garbage instead of just focusing on being a land grant institution for the citizens of this state.

My point is these things really go beyond Cheek and even Dipietro, who I think is a lot worse than Cheek.
 
#164
#164
bleedingTNorange said:
Petrino was good for business but Slive told everyone in the SEC to not even think about it.
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What could Slive do to any SEC team that hired Petrino if they wanted to do so. He can't rule what coach a team hires. If he did tell em "not to think about it", someone would have leaked that by now and he would be taking some serious heat...IMHO
 
#165
#165
Godfatha said:
Nah, just not going to rehash what's already been posted 1000 times over on this board and what's been played out in the games. Sorry if you can't see that Stokes didn't get the ball the last 11 minutes of the game with multiple Missouri post players in trouble. Sorry that you can't see I'll timed timeouts when we are gaining momentum. Sorry that you can't see that there has been no apparent offensive strategy or defensive strategy for that matter. Sorry that you can't see that we have one, perhaps two NBA prospects, a ton of experience, and we are still playing our way into the bubble and likely out of the NCAA. If you can't see any if that, there's no help for you. Even Martin's most adamant supporters are coming around.

How about telling us why Martin is doing a good job and why he should be retained.
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+1
 
#166
#166
bjsvols1 said:
For those asking what Cheek has done well, I would like to know what affiliation you have with the university. Not being a jerk, just serious. The people I know that work there like him and what he has done. Part of that has to do with the AD not having the power it once did. The level of student is better - I entered UT 15 years ago with great scores and GPA compared to most Freshman but would barely be average today. Research still isn't where they want but has grown. Lastly and most importantly, Cheek has slowly changed the culture. UT isn't the good ole boy haven it was just 10 years ago. Some of the most powerful yet most unethical have moved on or now have lesser roles.

I want Bruce as much as anyone and have thought Cheek has been bad with the AD until the past year or two. But I think they have made progress. Butch being what he is probably has a lot to do with that. But Cheek is still the boss. Unless Cheek has changed his tune or the powers that be tell him to, Bruce unfortunately is most likely not an option. FWIW, my opinion is that the powers that be to which I refer all have the same last name.
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The increase in the quality of incoming freshmen academic background has everything to do with the HOPE scholarship and the recession and pretty much zero to do with Cheek. I can see why the egg heads who want to be tenured would like Cheek but taking control of the UTAD from the president was the worst decision the board ever made and that decision was only possible because Phil Bredesen, who knew or cared less about UT than any governor we've had in my lifetime, bowed to the pressure of the left wing of his party and appointed a few radicals to the board who were obsessed with destroying the football program as part of some crazy feminist cultural agenda.
 
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#167
#167
InVOLuntary said:
I was told that Slive went to bat for Pearl with the AA. TIFWIW
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Well of course. If he's fiscally smart he did; even if he didn't like him. Pearl was a big personality who drew a lot of media attention to Tennessee and the SEC. In addition, his team's success was a media dream for the SEC as well. Look at the SEC now vs 5 years ago. An SEC with Pearl, Cal, and Donovan was good for business. Those were three programs you could bank on making it to the tourney and being visible doing it.
 
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#168
#168
Although nothing would make me happier than to see Bruce wearing the orange blazer and bringing the Vols back to the NCAA tournament. I just don't see it happening and I'm afraid we will see him on the opponents sideline as several SEC teams are expressing interest in hiring him. (Bama will get rid of Grant after this season, and the bama fans are wanting Bruce. ) thats the last thing I want to see
 
#169
#169
VolunteerHillbilly said:
The increase in the quality of incoming freshmen academic background has everything to do with the HOPE scholarship and the recession and pretty much zero to do with Cheek. I can see why the egg heads who want to be tenured would like Cheek but taking control of the UTAD from the president was the worst decision the board ever made and that decision was only possible because Phil Bredesen, who knew or cared less about UT than any governor we've had in my lifetime, bowed to the pressure of the left wing of his party and appointed a few radicals to the board who were obsessed with destroying the football program as part of some crazy feminist cultural agenda.
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This sounds about right.
 
#170
#170
Ralley59 said:
If not Bruce then why not go after Rick Byrd? Why is his name not in the conversation?
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We need a salesman. Somebody who can push basketball and sale it because we are a football school. Byrd is not a press conference winner. Just my opinion, I think the majority if SEC coaches should be good pr guys due to football overshadowing other sports.
 
#171
#171
bjsvols1 said:
For those asking what Cheek has done well, I would like to know what affiliation you have with the university. Not being a jerk, just serious. The people I know that work there like him and what he has done. Part of that has to do with the AD not having the power it once did. The level of student is better - I entered UT 15 years ago with great scores and GPA compared to most Freshman but would barely be average today. Research still isn't where they want but has grown. Lastly and most importantly, Cheek has slowly changed the culture. UT isn't the good ole boy haven it was just 10 years ago. Some of the most powerful yet most unethical have moved on or now have lesser roles.

I want Bruce as much as anyone and have thought Cheek has been bad with the AD until the past year or two. But I think they have made progress. Butch being what he is probably has a lot to do with that. But Cheek is still the boss. Unless Cheek has changed his tune or the powers that be tell him to, Bruce unfortunately is most likely not an option. FWIW, my opinion is that the powers that be to which I refer all have the sam
e last name.
Click to expand...

I agree, but why didn't he just fire Hamilton hire Hart and keep Bruce on a short list. Cheek should have never retained Hamilton after Kiffin fiasco.

IMO This is the real issue...Cheek's failure to properly identify the problem and execute accordingly.

Hamilton should have been fired before Pearl.

Second, they hire 2nd rate coach Dooley with a payout cclause that of a gift. Who ok that crap. AD was incompetent
 
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#172
#172
smokey0625 said:
We need a salesman. Somebody who can push basketball and sale it because we are a football school. Byrd is not a press conference winner. Just my opinion, I think the majority if SEC coaches should be good pr guys due to football overshadowing other sports.
Click to expand...

We need a winner. We really shouldn't need a salesman. Pearl happens to be both, but if we NEED a salesman, then our fanbase kinda sucks.
 
#173
#173
Sudden Impact said:
I agree, but why didn't he just fire Hamilton hire Hart and keep Bruce on a short list. Cheek should have never retained Hamilton after Kiffin fiasco.

IMO This is the real issue...Cheek's failure to properly identify the problem and execute accordingly.

Hamilton should have been fired before Pearl.
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Ditto
 
#174
#174
Sudden Impact said:
I agree, but why didn't he just fire Hamilton hire Hart and keep Bruce on a short list. Cheek should have never retained Hamilton after Kiffin fiasco.

IMO This is the real issue...Cheek's failure to properly identify the problem and execute accordingly.

Hamilton should have been fired before Pearl.
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I thought Hamilton told Cheek Pearl should be retained, and Cheek ignored him.
 
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#175
#175
VolsSportsFan said:
I thought Hamilton told Cheek Pearl should be retained, and Cheek ignored him.
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If He did but it does not change the issue that Hamilton was AD making these obscured deals with coaching staffs at UTK.

Cheek failed to supervise his AD....
 
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