Alec Abeln new TE coach

#102
#102
We
G-boro Vol said:
There are only 2 questions to ask 1. Does this and the OC hire help us take the steps to move closer to Bama, Georgia, Michigan and Clemson, 2. Do you see Saban, Smart, Dabo or Harbaugh making these kind of hires?
Click to expand...
Well refreshing your memory we beat Alabama and Clemson so I say we're pretty close already
 
  • Like
Reactions: VAVol85
#103
#103
vol_in_ga said:
Underwhelming. Really wanted the guy out of ucla.
Click to expand...
Yeah that's what they said about Heupel. I think the jury is still out, but he seems to have a system that he knows (and has proven) that works from culture, to operations, to scheme and he mainly wants people that know it, get it, believe in it and will follow through with it. I thought the promotion of Pope was a questionable decision. Lol...

I'm don't questioning Heuepel. In fact, if his teams continue to have success at a 10+ win level, I may just get more excited each time he hires someone he knows.
 
  • Like
Reactions: swampfoxfan
#106
#106
BigOrangeTrain said:
Big difference. Heupel had been doing his job for 3 years. Also this guy has never recruited before. Even AP and Hubbs voiced concern over the fact that he has never recruited.
Click to expand...
So let's see... Heupel isn't getting enough "stars" to suit you... Doesn't know player/recruit talent... Doesn't know coaching talent... Doesn't know how to hire the right staff... Doesn't know how to build a championship roster... Get's paid too much...

Basically the guy who just took a terrible situation and produced UT's best season in at least 15 years... has no clue what he's doing according to you.

You're so smart! I just don't know why you weren't hired instead of Heupel.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bullet20, Titan&Volfan4life, VolFreakJosh and 1 other person
#107
#107
Some folks in response to those negative about the hire have downplayed the importance of this hire. You only have 10 guys who can be a face for your program with recruits. I trust Heupel to hire someone who will do that well, coach the position, contribute to the O overall, and support the culture. HOWEVER... EVERY guy on the coaching staff matters a lot and especially in recruiting.

I imagine... someone correct me if I'm wrong... that Heupel has seen Abeln interact with recruits on campus throughout their history together. Since Heupel is a bright guy whose job is basically on the line every time he makes a decision like this... I suspect Abeln is a guy he fully believes can relate to recruits and be a positive impact on recruiting.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DuckInAPen, Woodlawn VOL, O.G.HomeGrownUTVOL and 2 others
#112
#112
Deebowbear said:
True but could have used someone with recruiting experience which he doesn’t have from what I have read. Hope he does well go vols
Click to expand...

How much experience do you need to get along with 17 year old kids and their parents? You’re either good with people or you re not. There’s 3 ways to be a great recruiter. Be a HC with a proven track record of success and draft picks. (Saban and Kirby). Be an ex HS coach from a fertile area (Dell McGee or Frank Wilson), or be able to walk into a living room and explain to people that you’ll treat their child like your own and get them to like you. (Rodney Garner).
 
  • Like
Reactions: butchna
#114
#114
sjt18 said:
Some folks in response to those negative about the hire have downplayed the importance of this hire. You only have 10 guys who can be a face for your program with recruits. I trust Heupel to hire someone who will do that well, coach the position, contribute to the O overall, and support the culture. HOWEVER... EVERY guy on the coaching staff matters a lot and especially in recruiting.

I imagine... someone correct me if I'm wrong... that Heupel has seen Abeln interact with recruits on campus throughout their history together. Since Heupel is a bright guy whose job is basically on the line every time he makes a decision like this... I suspect Abeln is a guy he fully believes can relate to recruits and be a positive impact on recruiting.
Click to expand...
I questioned…for some of the same reasons expressed by Price and Hubbs. If he was a certainty (or strong possibility) all along, HE not Max Thurmond should have been on the trail developing relationships…now he has to wait until May. Leads me to believe another choice or a couple fell through first. That possible reality in no way damns this hire to failure. As I previously posted, Heupel EXTENSIVELY vets his hires…unlike our previous three HC’s and Fulmer. This decision was heavily thought out…no flyers. Works for me until it doesn’t.
 
  • Like
Reactions: VAVol85 and sjt18
#115
#115
sonofUT62 said:
How much experience do you need to get along with 17 year old kids and their parents? You’re either good with people or you re not. There’s 3 ways to be a great recruiter. Be a HC with a proven track record of success and draft picks. (Saban and Kirby). Be an ex HS coach from a fertile area (Dell McGee or Frank Wilson), or be able to walk into a living room and explain to people that you’ll treat their child like your own and get them to like you. (Rodney Garner).
Click to expand...
Plus he’s not too far removed from his playing days…he speaks their jive.
 
#117
#117
OrangeVolMan said:
Why? TEs at UCLA did nothing. One caught 20 passes and one caught 15. Do you want him because he was born in Knoxville?
Click to expand...
Under Chip Kelly"s run/run/go long offense. Worked the TE's well under Cut at Duke.
 
#118
#118
It’s amazing how a few deem a hire like this as a bad hire before ever given a chance. I am more than willing to trust Heupel into making good decisions. It’s what he is paid to do. He may end up being a very good one you never know. Most all coaches were unproven at some point. I will trust Heupel here. GBO
 
  • Like
Reactions: NighthawkVol
#119
#119
G-boro Vol said:
There are only 2 questions to ask 1. Does this and the OC hire help us take the steps to move closer to Bama, Georgia, Michigan and Clemson, 2. Do you see Saban, Smart, Dabo or Harbaugh making these kind of hires?
Click to expand...
Only question 1 matters. Question 2 is irrelevant. Makes zero difference what Saban, Smart, Dabo or Harbaugh would do. None.
As long as question 1 is answered positively, question 2 doesn't matter.
 
  • Like
Reactions: sjt18
#120
#120
Woodlawn VOL said:
It’s amazing how a few deem a hire like this as a bad hire before ever given a chance. I am more than willing to trust Heupel into making good decisions. It’s what he is paid to do. He may end up being a very good one you never know. Most all coaches were unproven at some point. I will trust Heupel here. GBO
Click to expand...
I think some have "observed" (maybe not so perfectly) how it has been done successfully by others so they think it can only be done that way. Honestly, a succession of coaches now have tried to do it the "established" way... shoot for the "stars" in recruiting... hire "name brand" assistants... run the "in" system on O and D... speak the same coach speak... say/don't say the same things... and all the rest. All of those coaches failed miserably. Turns out that trying to take Saban's 5* players away from him (who may well be 5* instead of 3/4* because Saban prioritized them) doesn't work all that well. You just can't make a living at it.

So now Heupel comes in with the freedom to do things "his way" from a scheme standpoint... emphasizing culture above recruit buzz or coaching resumes... saying/doing things different... speaking different... and they're in a panic. "You can't win that way... that's not the way Saban/Smart/Day/Dabo do it."

The thing about that fear is that all 4 of those guys in their own way "zigged" when everyone else was "zagging". They brought some "novel" way of doing things to the job. Heupel may fail... but that seems to be what he's doing. He's approaching the "problem" in a different way.
 
  • Like
Reactions: knox73
#121
#121
G-boro Vol said:
There are only 2 questions to ask... 2. Do you see Saban, Smart, Dabo or Harbaugh making these kind of hires?
Click to expand...

If your answer to that question is "yes" then you are trying to beat those guys at THEIR game. Heupel's "gamble" is that the guy he hired will be BETTER than the guy those coaches would have hired in the same situation- more energy, smarter, more relatable, more committed, better culture fit, better leader, hungrier, etc.

The correct question then isn't whether they would do it but rather if this hire is better than having a bidding war for whatever guy they might have hired.
 
#122
#122
Let me see if I follow some of you, one gentleman said well we beat Bama and Clemson, beat Bama for the first time in how many years? What other top 10 or even 15 team hired an OC that has never called plays in a college game? We all want to beat Bama, Georgia, Clemson, Ohio State and even the Fighting Amish on a regular basis, not once every 5, 10 or 15 years. So can you even admit that always hiring unproven coaches is taking a huge risk? I agree Heupel has done thing with this team that none of us thought would happen this quickly but blindly trusting. I agree you don't have do everything the same way Saban, Smart and Dabo do it. But those teams are where we all want to be, so they have done something right. I'm not trying be negative or a hater. I hope all the coaches he hires turn out great but questioning is not crazy. Who wins in a race between a Gremlin and GTO? Some of you may to to young to know what a Gremlin is but it's not the movie but is just as ugly.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Titan&Volfan4life and Deebowbear
#123
#123
LadyinOrange said:
Everybody has to start somewhere, right?
Click to expand...

Yes. But recruiting is the life blood of a program. If we want to take the next step and compete for SEC championships we have to recruit better. I mean do you really think UT is the place to break in a guy that has NEVER recruited before?

Hopefully it works out.
 
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top