I know we swung for the fences but how did we miss on EVERYBODY?

#2
#2
Put too many eggs in for the blue chip players and not enough into the realistic ones I suppose. I do like that he swung for the fences. But the whole staff being mainly UGA, Bama, and Florida coaches are used to getting the 4 and 5 stars so they are likely in uncharted territory as well. Lets hope they can coach up our less talented players.
 
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#3
#3
Any answer to the question of "how" is going to be pure speculation. Different reasons maybe for each guy we lost. Our bad season... UT losing esteem on the national scene...guys wanting to play for a sure winner. Could be any reason and each one different from another. There is no way to spin it. It was a very deflating and disappointing day.

Perhaps our expectations were too high. Imo, we are a fanbase for the most part who feel like we have as good as facilities in the nation...a rabid, involved fanbase...rich tradition etc and that it's our rightful place to be among the nations elite...and we've been waiting way too long to get back to that.

I think there was hope that Pruitt would come in right away and snag at least a top 10 class...because it seemed we were very close to that happening. Things turned the wrong way today, and there is definitely pain and disappointment with that happening.

On the bright side we finished ahead of many other notable programs. Arkansas...Michigan to name just a couple..so it wasn't a complete disaster.
 
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#4
#4
It’s just the first recruiting class for Pruitt and he had very little time to catch up on top guys we weren’t even contacting before. Lots to rebuild and Pruitt is still a bit of a mystery as a head coach. We’ll be fine going forward as he proves it on the field.

I’m just glad we didn’t end up with Schiano. Could have been bad recruiting and mediocre coaching.
 
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#5
#5
We got Peterson. Going 4-8 to be the skunk of the sec is not a good way to close blue chip players. Regardless of how secure our coach may be, other coaches negative recruit the fails and messes. Our team was not good last year. It did not even go bowling.
 
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#6
#6
Vol Main said:
We got Peterson. Going 4-8 to be the skunk of the sec is not a good way to close blue chip players. Regardless of how secure our coach may be, other coaches negative recruit the fails and messes. Our team was not good last year. It did not even go bowling.
Click to expand...

Tell that to Florida
 
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#7
#7
Because big time players had options they viewed as better. Tennessee is already at a disadvantage geogrphically so we need to be winning for it to be worth the risk for these caliber of players to sign with us.
 
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#9
#9
The truth is the Tennessee brand isn't half as strong as fans want to believe. Most people put themselves in an echo chamber and Tennessee fans are no exception. If you step out of it though you will see we are viewed as a middle of the pack SEC team nationally. Fanbases, coaches, recruits, everybody thinks Tennessee isn't anything special.

Now something that does make Tennessee different is that we absolutely have the resources to be great, but it isn't going to be easy. Pruitt coming in and pulling a top 10 class with a few weeks of real recruiting time wasn't realistic. Georgia and Clemson rolling only makes it that much harder.
 
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#10
#10
Catbone said:
Tell that to Florida
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You tell them. As bad as Florida has been, Tennessee has been worse. Gators won three sec games last year and beat us. Tennessee won zero sec games. We are THE skunk. Tennessee beat Florida how many times in the past years, is it one out of twelve?
 
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#11
#11
0-8 SEC + new coaching staff + early signing period = Recruiting class that is not ranked as high as everyone would have liked.
 
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#13
#13
It's not hard. Success breed success. UGA played for the title. They're winning and red hot right now. Kids want to play for winners. Why do kids sign up with Bama knowing how stacked they are and that they'll have to wait their turn? Because they win. UT has nothing going for it right now other than some nice facilities. 4-8....unproven coach...likely to struggle to make a bowl next year. What's the draw to an 18 year old? In the SEC, we're akin to stale, moldy bread....better than starving, but hardly something to look forward to.

Hell, I've been a fan since '65, and when I consider the spring game and season next year, I'm not the least bit excited by it. I've gone from annual contributions of 5 figures and terrace seating to hardly passing interest anymore. Think I watched half of the USC game last year and that's it. So tell me...how is an 18 year old from another state going to be excited by this program and its brand??
 
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#14
#14
The "swinging for the fences" is what I'm happy about. We haven't been doing that. Which meant we've really had no chance to be successful. Now we have a coach who at least understands what it takes to win down here. He is actively trying to do it. Snagging Peterson was good enough in the first class to make his presence known. We all expect more in the first full cycle and I think we'll get it.
 
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#15
#15
All the New Coaches Hired this Year: (recruiting rankings per 247)
FSU/Taggart 11th
Florida/Mullen 14th
Oregon/Cristobal 16th
Texas AM/Fisher 17th
UCLA/Kelly 18th
Tennessee/Pruitt 20th
Nebraska/Frost 22nd
Mississippi St/Moorhead 27th
Ole Miss/Luke 31st
Arizona St/Edwards 36th
Arkansas/Morris 55th
Arizona/Sumlin 58th
Oregon St/Smith 70th
UCF/Heupel 77nd

Just for reference, it isn't as bad as some are making it out to be.
 
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#16
#16
Pruitt got a reality check. He's NEVER been in a situation where he has been the bullied and not the bully.

Bama, FSU, UGA and back to Bama.
UT just went 4-8 and Pruitt was tone deaf. Plus signed a rapist in an act of desperation to fill schollies.

His a Bammer and I'm still in shock that a UT legend hired a ****in Bammer to lead this program.
 
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#17
#17
FSU/Taggart 11th. Has deep ties in Florida
Florida/Mullen 14th. Proven HC and former OC at FL
Oregon/Cristobal 16th. On staff and took over for Taggart
Texas AM/Fisher 17th. His resume speaks for itself
UCLA/Kelly 18th. I expected his class to be higher

Tennessee/Pruitt 20th.

If Pruitt landed Walker and ITS, he would be ranked higher.
 
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#18
#18
Roustabout said:
Pruitt got a reality check. He's NEVER been in a situation where he has been the bullied and not the bully.

Bama, FSU, UGA and back to Bama.
UT just went 4-8 and Pruitt was tone deaf. Plus signed a rapist in an act of desperation to fill schollies.

His a Bammer and I'm still in shock that a UT legend hired a ****in Bammer to lead this program.
Click to expand...

Gtfo here. Nobody knew Norwood was involved in anything and Pruitt will be just fine.
 
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#19
#19
short memories. but what happened last season on the field, combined with what happened between thanksgiving weekend and the date Jeremy pruitt was hired, put a big stain on TN, that CJP and his staff could not overcome.

someone said the brand name took a hit....to some degreee that's true, but the reality is if the brand was hurt that bad, we wouldn't have gotten a lot of these kids to even show up, they all basically said as much....and hiring CJP immediately helped fix that, at least to the point that they'd come listen.

not enough that he could close the deal. especially in the time frame he had.

big gucci sosa posted a couple things from simonton and hubbs last night with their commentary on this particular subject, and they too basically said the same things, in addition to CJP having to learn the difference in recruiting as a postiion coach or coordinator to that of a head coach, and how that transitin is sometimes difficult. they also said familiarity with campus, facilities etc...hurt. while some of those top prospects had relationships wiht some of the coaches, several had never been to knoxville, and only got the one trip. and that's simply not enough to sway a kid, in most cases, to flip or committ if he has familiarity with other teams' campuses, facilities, current players etc...

both went on to say that this staff will most certainly bounce back and not have this happen again. most of these guys have been on championship staffs, recruited championship caliber players, they know what it's supposed to look like, and all of them are capable of lading big time players. said they probably learned a few things as well, and that will help them going forward.

so it's a "yeah, today sucked", but it doesn't mean TN whiffed again on a coach.....

(at least not yet anyway.... lol)
 
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#22
#22
Roustabout said:
Pruitt got a reality check. He's NEVER been in a situation where he has been the bullied and not the bully.

Bama, FSU, UGA and back to Bama.
UT just went 4-8 and Pruitt was tone deaf. Plus signed a rapist in an act of desperation to fill schollies.

His a Bammer and I'm still in shock that a UT legend hired a ****in Bammer to lead this program.
Click to expand...
Weren't you done with the program a couple of years ago?
 
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#23
#23
Yesterday after NSD was over I was highly disappointed because I thought we would have landed a few more higher rated guys than we did. However, after looking at the final rankings and finishing with a consensus top 25 class I don't feel as bad. Given the circumstances of 4-8 in 2017 and media circus with the coaching search I Guess it is what it is unfortunately. Hope 2019 class is full of studs and CJP makes us proud. GBO!
 
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#24
#24
ScornedPapaVol said:
The "swinging for the fences" is what I'm happy about. We haven't been doing that. Which meant we've really had no chance to be successful. Now we have a coach who at least understands what it takes to win down here. He is actively trying to do it. Snagging Peterson was good enough in the first class to make his presence known. We all expect more in the first full cycle and I think we'll get it.
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Pruitt swinging for fence, Butch Jones bunts
 
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#25
#25
PEPPERJAX said:
Yesterday after NSD was over I was highly disappointed because I thought we would have landed a few more higher rated guys than we did. However, after looking at the final rankings and finishing with a consensus top 25 class I don't feel as bad. Given the circumstances of 4-8 in 2017 and media circus with the coaching search I Guess it is what it is unfortunately. Hope 2019 class is full of studs and CJP makes us proud. GBO!
Click to expand...

The in state class is loaded for ‘19 and ‘20, so we’ll definitely see what he’s got these next two recruiting cycles.
 
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