Gruden Thread Daily Cliff's Notes **INFO ONLY - No Discussion Please**

[phowell23]

11/24 10ish PM

TOS - Hubbs

Honestly, I have created some confusion here in the last 30 minutes. Sorry for the length, but I'm going to try and make clear where I am with all the Gruden stuff.

Back in late October (week of Alabama game, is when he reported it) some third party people started doing some serious exploring particularly with Gruden.

From that point, Gruden really started looking at Tennessee as a possibility. We did mention that if Gruden came to Tennessee we thought it would have an orange feel, but that didn't mean to me that he was assembling his staff. I think he had talked to some about joining him in his return to coaching and that included the possibility of Tennessee. And some of those candidates were former Vols or had coached at Tennessee like a Ron Zook.

The Gruden talk kind of died down 2 weeks ago or there about. Then the talk resurfaced after the tweet from the CBS Sports NFL reporter.

I don't believe it's ever been close to being done and I have said that I would have to see it to believe it. Obviously last weekend the Gruden talk again hit a fever pitch that was only heightened by the firing of Dooley.

Peyton Manning and Gruden are friends and have spoken. I don't think that Manning has recruited Gruden to the Vols. I think he would endorse the hire. I have no one telling me that Manning is set to give big money for the hire.

Now on Tuesday, athletics director Dave Hart and some powers that be (some who I believe was the October 3rd party people) met following the announcement that Jimmy Cheek was giving money to the athletic department. I understand that meeting was about timetable of a hire, finances of the hire, and candidates for hire.

Following that meeting the word from people on Wednesday was very little to no optimism that Gruden was going to end up with the Vols.

And our stance has continued to be that I gotta believe it to see it. I don't think they hit some snag over money as I don't think it's ever gotten to that point with Hart's pursuit of Gruden.

From what people are telling me, Tennessee doesn't seem to be pursuing him as much as everyone has thought and implied the last couple of weeks.

I believe some third party people pursued or explored Gruden as early as late October. I don't think those third party people and Hart are pursuing him at this point.

I honestly don't know what happened to change the third party people's mind in their pursuit of Gruden.

 

[phowell23]

11/24 11pm

Someone should ask Hubbs why he is shooting down the Gruden talk when a prominent 1980's era Volunteer is spreading joyous news as we speak to many former players.

Either Hubbs knows about this and is lying through his teeth or he is oblivious to something that ALOT of people just became aware of. My guess is the former. The cat's out of the bag to former players.

 

[phowell23]

11/24 11:30 pm

man hubbs has got everyone worked up tonight calm down folks, gruden will be our coach come monday and all will be right in the ut world

 

[pattiycake]

@DINOCOSTA u still confident about Gruden to Vols #volfaninneedofgoodness

DINOCOSTA ‏@DINOCOSTA
Confident in the sense that the job is his and he knows that already...if he chooses to take it is the question.

 

[jordan4vols]

Yay4Bray (422)
01:53 AM Today (#P) ( Report! )
MOU just means terms are agreed upon. It is not binding to either party. Don't worry guys. This has been done for a while. If something happens I'll be the first to admit I was wrong. For that to happen a disaster bigger than Kiffin leaving in the middle of the night will have to happen. Stay calm.

 

[VFLCodyGBO]

11/25/12 1:32am Gruden thread 10 pg 705.

To clarify my earlier post:

Since Gruden 3, I've said I had a source that told me this is a done deal. I really wish I could say my source but I can't. There was a meeting in Nashville 2 weeks ago between Hart, Cheek, Jim Haslam, and one other individual. This is where I received information that Gruden was a done deal. Tonight, I received more information from the same source that the deal is 8 years, $55 million and that it will be announced by Friday (Nov. 30) at the latest.

Great time to be a Vol.

 

[phowell23]

11/25 9:50 am

i have never said its 100% done. Only that i am >99% it will get finalized. When someone sends a list of salary demands and they are agreed upon to work out final details i state i believe it will happen. Do not remember boro, jay, dto or myself state we know a date, timeframe, or details to an absolute certainty.

Not posting as much for the same reason i do not take my 7 year old son to toys r us to walk around and look every day only to have to say no 100 times and endure a hissy fit. That's what this thread has been the last 48 hours.

 

[smyrnavol]

This is the only time I'll ever have something like this, but I spoke with someone today who has heard from Haslem that they were putting together a 5 year, $30 million deal to approach Gruden with. That lines up with what a ton of other people have said, so I believe that to be fact. Again, this is from Haslem.

Now, it is entirely possible that things haven't, or won't get worked out and I think we need to remember that. This isn't a "done deal" post or anything like that. Just stating that we either had or still have this offer ready to present to him, and it's his to turn down and Haslem wants him.

 

[m1al]

Doc_Vol... 11/25 12:47pm

Not changing my story only the date, according to a conversation I had this morning with the person giving me info it could be Friday before an announcement but there is still a chance it comes tomorrow. Gruden will be our coach it is a matter of when not if. Get ready folks, i can't wait for recruiting to get rolling.

 

[thadolphinman]

From TOS. Don't post often but I think this should be put here. From Babyvol..


I was told list looks like this

1. Gruden
2. Stoops
3. Fisher
4. Patterson
5. Strong

Then I was told it won't be Strong so maybe replace him with Golden.

For the record....I still think we have a great shot at Gruden. I know for a fact some of what media is reporting is total bunk. I also know for a fact money wants Gruden. Some believe media is a complete smokescreen to temper frenzy that was building til we are ready to announce. I'm not sure what to believe right now but I'm digging lol
so difficult when u are getting complete opposite stories from media and people that should know. I definitely wouldn't say Gruden is out at this point and until something else happens more substantial with someone else I'd say he's frontrunner.

 

[phowell23]

11/25 3 pm

here is what i've heard:

1. An agreement was reached two weeks ago
2. From the beginning gruden wanted distance between the fire and the hire.
3. There are only a handful of people that really know what is happening.
4. Gruden has called several coaches about coaching with him at ut. Most of which have been covered in the gruden thread.
5. Gruden really wants to be here.

Here is what i know:
1. Ut has been dealing with gruden since the spring.
2. Academic/financial issues between the ad and the administration have been addressed.
3. Dooley is gone.
4. There are some big boosters who still don't think gruden is a possibility (found this out on thanksgiving day). One is a big spender, but not among those most discussed frequently on this board.


Here is what i think:
1. Dave hart needs credit for the hire.
2. Even if things were signed, we have always been on gruden's timetable.
3. If a deal is not signed by now, i doubt that it is gruden.
4. I still think it is done and we will hear soon.
5. Most of the stuff linked from the ad including the coaching list, is bunk.

 

[I_Bleed_Orange77]

I know ya'll don't like negativity in this thread and it'll probably be deleted but I think it's noteworthy at least.

Originally posted by Crookruss

Originally Posted by jmoore_21
Per Hubbs, Dave Hart has not spoken to Gruden & doesn't plan on speaking to him. He is NOT an option as HC.

All of this talk about a deal being in place ect is all Booster driven & Hart has nothing to do w/ it.
A friend who is family to someone in the coaching family says Gruden has declined and we made an offer to another very prominent college HC that was politely declined.

 

[yoyoyoyo]

@johnclarknbc10: Source tells me Jon Gruden (here for MNF) met with Juan Castillo last night in Philly. Gruden is talking with Juan about being on his staff. Gruden is interested in Juan joining his coaching staff, if Gruden returns to coaching next season.

John works for a local NBC station in Philly. No reference to any specific job opening. This is a combination of two tweets.

 

[coffeevol]

VOLREPORTER 11//25 @ 5:24

Well back to UT football. Major development and it's a big one. A quick lesson on how coaching searches unfold. And now it has shifted into high gear. I heard that a UT media personnel has now been granted full disclosure within the athletic department. I am unaware of how this unfolded with the past hires but this is huge for the fans and public of Tennessee administration.....


Was not told who was granted control but after asking a few questions.... AND I DID ASK guys.... Simply put. This means you will now be hearing or reading the coverage as soon as tomorrow. As you know there has been zero coverage of this situation. But after today you will begin to hear the UT football search. This is the best way for administration to gain popular style control similar to pro teams using a spokesman. This is really also how media reports become available sooner than it's officially been reported.


Another source of good news for Vols fans is last night (found out this morning) that major Vol players in this search spoke to Jon Gruden once again.


So this is all good news for us. And hopefully in the next few days we will begin to hear as everything goes public.


And for those trying to crack it.... you are extremely close as it's almost there. And it will make sense and you will know the real _______.

 

[Coastypop]

Orginally posted by JAKE on 11-25-12

First of all, let me make it very clear that I am in no way trying to discredit or even disagree with Lex's list of information. He is obviously very well respected and even more importantly a respectful poster. Heck, given the confidence I have in my sources...his posts, like others, make me think hard about the information I receive...sometimes it makes me think twice about it. We do not know each other but we onviously know people in the same crowds. Perhaps one day we will.

Secondly, I have several sources of information that range from the Haslem camp, a former player, relatives of former players, colleagues in the sports television industry, friends that own and operate businesses in the Knoxville and Nashville restaurant and bar industry that are friends of their regular customers that come from Board of Trustees, members of the UTAD community and former players. I think that's it. Lol

It's not hard to have access to information coming directly from very real and legitimate sources.

Having said that, every time I hear something from each angle, there is a variation in each story. Not every single variable aligns exactly or perfectly. Everyone of these people I have within this network of sources are intelligent, unassuming adults that do not make chit up. They all care about the University of Tennessee and are very emotional about it, just like all of us are. They just happen to be well connected in a variety of ways.

As this information comes to me, I see correlations that do line up that bring an undeniable set of common denominators. Ultimately, it turns into a melting pot of information, very similar to the OG's Cliff Notes. In fact, it's so close...it's scary.

Therefore I have no reason to exploit any one story, only to conclude that there is a lot of truth in a lot of areas...sprinkled with some doubt, gossip, and perhaps some miscommunications.

I believe that the upper hands in the top of the UT food chain will see this through. That's common sense, because they have been through this times before and are sick of losing just like the rest of the fan base. No one with heart and passion likes to lose. They have, at the very least, a very indicative model that is foreshadowing what could happen if we let this opportunity (Gruden) slip away AGAIN!!! Reiterating Lex's thoughts, there are only a handful of folks that know EXACTLY what is going on...which is in our favor, because the majority of those people want to the same thing...a head coach named Jon Gruden. I believe that at the end of the day, power, money, influence and majority rule....Gruden wins!!!

The Dooley hiring saga was explained to me last night in acute detail. As I understood the conversation, he was actually #9 on the list of coaches that was developed as Kiffin was packing his bags. After having these same types of bumps in the road with our top 4-5 candidates, they bailed out. So, specific boosters ended up flying to Maryland to interview Randy Edsall. He was very interested and so was UT. These said boosters flew to Maryland to meet with coach Edsall only to get completely blown off. He didn't even show up to the scheduled meeting. He signed to be HC of the Maryland Terrapins a short time later. After that development, two or three more coaches bailed off UT's list and we were left staring at the #9 person on that list...Derek Dooley.

Do you really think the big hands that ultimately control UT are going to let that happen again....I personally, do not. We shall see.

I intentionally input my comparing and contrasting info nest to Lex's in parenthesis as to compare or contrast each point. Not to debate only to compare notes...that is it.

Lastly, is like to note that this group of OG's have stuck their necks out to provide very informative information to this forum and thread. It's amazing and indicative of how important this is to ALL OF US!! They have been super generous and taken a lot of heat from skeptics and doubters only to stand in their pool of information never doing anything but supporting this fan base. Thank you to all of you that have provided any piece (large or small) of this complex jigsaw puzzle. I think what we are looking at is an almost complete puzzle with a few more pieces missing...but the artwork in the puzzle is very clear.

Go Big Orange!!!!! Gruden baby!!

 

[zidanefan]

Interesting note from Rucker:

"We hesitate to even mention this because of the questions that could follow it — questions we can’t answer at this point, unfortunately — but we’ve heard now from multiple sources that UT athletic director Dave Hart has told several high-level boosters that they “won’t have to wait long” after Saturday’s win over Kentucky to have a replacement named.
"

From Gruden XXXXLLLCII Thread...

 

[phowell23]

11/25 8 PMish

LWS (Larry) via TOS

lws said its still in progress and ut is gonna have to fix some stuff he wants!! for you guys that listen to his every word!

 

[KappinSpaulding]

"Just got the call ive been waiting on for 6 days.......there no longdr is a doubt in.my mind who the Vols will intro as their new head football coach.....NO DOUBT..monday at 4 sport talk 102.3 fm

Again, I repeat...NO DOUBT"

Gary Haskew from Chattanooga Talk Radio 102.3 (Sports Talk) on Facebook at about 10:05pm.

EDIT: He has been saying Gruden for a little while now.

 

[GAVol]

Another reminder . . . We're having to delete a ton of posts. This thread is for news only. No discussion please.

 

[jordan4vols]

Do not listen to the media who say anything close to, "Dave Hart told me...," or "This is Tennessee's Top-5" or "Gruden is not coming for a fact."

Any journalist/reporter/etc reporting this way is essentially a puppet for Hart and the AD and Hart knows it and is using that. Look no further than the "full disclosure" comment made recently. Do you honestly think Hart is going to be 100% forthcoming with every step of what he's taking. Come on.

The truth is, in this search, (which hasn't been a search at all), nothing official will come from the AD until Gruden is ready to take the podium. Any Knoxville media member reporting that they have been told by the AD that Gruden is not coming, only substantiates the above misdirection.

Again, what we are seeing are two different groups of people with two completely different stories. The "official" AD people saying it's not happening--even to the point of some pretty severe misdirection in the form of throwing out names like Dykes, Cutcliffe and Petrino--three people whom you would NEVER see here. The AD people are trying waaaaay to hard to misdirect what has been going on and has been in place for weeks now.

The second group we are seeing are people that are connected to the ones that really have spearheaded this deal--the major money players. In searches like this one, with all the misdirection and closed lips from the AD, this is the group that it is feasible to assume are telling more of the truth than the first group. This wasn't the case during the Hamilton searches--Hamilton and his people could not keep a secret. It appears Hart is much better at doing this, so information will not come from the, and definitely NOT from the Knoxville media. Pay them no attention.
Like[7]
Quote

 

[jordan4vols]

Sorry. Above quote from Doc_vol

 

[DocVol]

Sorry. Above quote from Doc_vol

DocVol. ^^^

(NOT Doc_Vol)

 

[bowlinggreenvol]

Orginally posted by JAKE on 11-25-12

First of all, let me make it very clear that I am in no way trying to discredit or even disagree with Lex's list of information. He is obviously very well respected and even more importantly a respectful poster. Heck, given the confidence I have in my sources...his posts, like others, make me think hard about the information I receive...sometimes it makes me think twice about it. We do not know each other but we onviously know people in the same crowds. Perhaps one day we will.

Secondly, I have several sources of information that range from the Haslem camp, a former player, relatives of former players, colleagues in the sports television industry, friends that own and operate businesses in the Knoxville and Nashville restaurant and bar industry that are friends of their regular customers that come from Board of Trustees, members of the UTAD community and former players. I think that's it. Lol

It's not hard to have access to information coming directly from very real and legitimate sources.

Having said that, every time I hear something from each angle, there is a variation in each story. Not every single variable aligns exactly or perfectly. Everyone of these people I have within this network of sources are intelligent, unassuming adults that do not make chit up. They all care about the University of Tennessee and are very emotional about it, just like all of us are. They just happen to be well connected in a variety of ways.

As this information comes to me, I see correlations that do line up that bring an undeniable set of common denominators. Ultimately, it turns into a melting pot of information, very similar to the OG's Cliff Notes. In fact, it's so close...it's scary.

Therefore I have no reason to exploit any one story, only to conclude that there is a lot of truth in a lot of areas...sprinkled with some doubt, gossip, and perhaps some miscommunications.

I believe that the upper hands in the top of the UT food chain will see this through. That's common sense, because they have been through this times before and are sick of losing just like the rest of the fan base. No one with heart and passion likes to lose. They have, at the very least, a very indicative model that is foreshadowing what could happen if we let this opportunity (Gruden) slip away AGAIN!!! Reiterating Lex's thoughts, there are only a handful of folks that know EXACTLY what is going on...which is in our favor, because the majority of those people want to the same thing...a head coach named Jon Gruden. I believe that at the end of the day, power, money, influence and majority rule....Gruden wins!!!

The Dooley hiring saga was explained to me last night in acute detail. As I understood the conversation, he was actually #9 on the list of coaches that was developed as Kiffin was packing his bags. After having these same types of bumps in the road with our top 4-5 candidates, they bailed out. So, specific boosters ended up flying to Maryland to interview Randy Edsall. He was very interested and so was UT. These said boosters flew to Maryland to meet with coach Edsall only to get completely blown off. He didn't even show up to the scheduled meeting. He signed to be HC of the Maryland Terrapins a short time later. After that development, two or three more coaches bailed off UT's list and we were left staring at the #9 person on that list...Derek Dooley.

Do you really think the big hands that ultimately control UT are going to let that happen again....I personally, do not. We shall see.

I intentionally input my comparing and contrasting info nest to Lex's in parenthesis as to compare or contrast each point. Not to debate only to compare notes...that is it.

Lastly, is like to note that this group of OG's have stuck their necks out to provide very informative information to this forum and thread. It's amazing and indicative of how important this is to ALL OF US!! They have been super generous and taken a lot of heat from skeptics and doubters only to stand in their pool of information never doing anything but supporting this fan base. Thank you to all of you that have provided any piece (large or small) of this complex jigsaw puzzle. I think what we are looking at is an almost complete puzzle with a few more pieces missing...but the artwork in the puzzle is very clear.

Go Big Orange!!!!! Gruden baby!!

Edsall wasn't the coach at Maryland till 2011, a full year after Dooley was hired. That part of your story from your source makes absolutely no sense.

 

[thebjd]

John Adams: No shame for UT in a big-name rejection » GoVolsXtra

 

[LexingtonVol]

Sources tell footballscoop.com that Jon Gruden remains primary target. Also, reportedly Gruden has requested a 4 million a year salary for assistants.
The Scoop