OakRidgeVol
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Rather than settle for a coach that doesn't deserve an SEC gig right now, why not steal one of the top coordinators and put the "coach in waiting" title on him. Pay him a solid chunk of money to be a coordinator that bumps up whenever he becomes HC. Here's a couple names I'd love to see as CIW (Coach in waiting):
Pat Narduzzi (Michigan St.) - Consistently has strong, aggressive, high performing defenses. He's 46, which in coaching years is young, he's high energy and he has learned from some really good coaches.
Manny Diaz (Texas) - He knows the SEC, he even knows Tennessee (spending time at Middle TN St.), and he knows how call a defense. And he's a young guy (38).
Todd Monken (Oklahoma St.) - He's a young guy, in his 40's, and has been around. He's spent time in the SEC (LSU), in the NFL (Jacksonville), and in the Big 12 (Oklahoma St.). He's done a really good job for OSU and has their offense running as well as it did under Dana Holgorson.
Now the CIW route has some advantages and some disadvantages:
The big advantage is you attract a top talent coordinator and you get to see if his scheme can actually have success in the SEC. This is important because some schemes just don't work in the SEC and some schemes just really work and if they work then you can elevate your coordinator to HC right away. You also give your CIW time to learn the ropes from veteran coach.
The big disadvantage is that you are shelling out a lot of money initially. You also have to bring in a retread old coach if you don't have one place. Florida St. was lucky that they had Bowden in place and just transitioned. In my mind, Tennessee would have to bring back Phil Fulmer to the lame duck. I'm not a super pro-Fulmer guy, but here are a few reasons why I think he would be successful as the lame duck coach:
1. He needs to repair his image around town. He alienated some fans with the way he handled his last couple years. What better way to become Knoxville's golden boy again than to lead the program back to success and groom the future HC? And make a good deal of money.
2. He seems to want to get back in the mix. That tells me that he still has the fire in his belly. He may not be the national championship HC anymore, but if he can be the Bill Snyder for TN (i.e. winning 9-11 games) then it's worth it.
3. He will attract a really good staff. In addition to the CIW, I believe he could put together a top notch staff.
4. He knows what it takes to win at UT. If you don't think that's big then you're mistaken.
He's not a perfect candidate, but he could and would do a good job grooming a CIW. A couple years of Fulmer and then transition to the CIW and I think UT would be MUCH better off than hiring someone not ready for primetime like Butch Jones or Willie Taggart.
Pat Narduzzi (Michigan St.) - Consistently has strong, aggressive, high performing defenses. He's 46, which in coaching years is young, he's high energy and he has learned from some really good coaches.
Manny Diaz (Texas) - He knows the SEC, he even knows Tennessee (spending time at Middle TN St.), and he knows how call a defense. And he's a young guy (38).
Todd Monken (Oklahoma St.) - He's a young guy, in his 40's, and has been around. He's spent time in the SEC (LSU), in the NFL (Jacksonville), and in the Big 12 (Oklahoma St.). He's done a really good job for OSU and has their offense running as well as it did under Dana Holgorson.
Now the CIW route has some advantages and some disadvantages:
The big advantage is you attract a top talent coordinator and you get to see if his scheme can actually have success in the SEC. This is important because some schemes just don't work in the SEC and some schemes just really work and if they work then you can elevate your coordinator to HC right away. You also give your CIW time to learn the ropes from veteran coach.
The big disadvantage is that you are shelling out a lot of money initially. You also have to bring in a retread old coach if you don't have one place. Florida St. was lucky that they had Bowden in place and just transitioned. In my mind, Tennessee would have to bring back Phil Fulmer to the lame duck. I'm not a super pro-Fulmer guy, but here are a few reasons why I think he would be successful as the lame duck coach:
1. He needs to repair his image around town. He alienated some fans with the way he handled his last couple years. What better way to become Knoxville's golden boy again than to lead the program back to success and groom the future HC? And make a good deal of money.
2. He seems to want to get back in the mix. That tells me that he still has the fire in his belly. He may not be the national championship HC anymore, but if he can be the Bill Snyder for TN (i.e. winning 9-11 games) then it's worth it.
3. He will attract a really good staff. In addition to the CIW, I believe he could put together a top notch staff.
4. He knows what it takes to win at UT. If you don't think that's big then you're mistaken.
He's not a perfect candidate, but he could and would do a good job grooming a CIW. A couple years of Fulmer and then transition to the CIW and I think UT would be MUCH better off than hiring someone not ready for primetime like Butch Jones or Willie Taggart.
