Is Butch Jones the best recruiter Tennessee's ever had?

#52
#52
Fulmer had some excellent classes (three in the top 5 from 2002-2007), but he also had some absolute duds that ultimately got him fired.

I think Jones is just as good, if not better, considering he's recruiting for a program that most people thought was dead in the water. Hell, we haven't really proved on the field that we're NOT dead in the water yet.
 
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#54
#54
ETV said:
Fulmer had success recruiting and even excelled once certain staff members came aboard for a short period of time during the 1990's. One thing to consider though is that Fulmer, even the great recruiter that he was, really had only 2 other schools to compete against for verbals/commitments during that time frame. The remainder of the SEC back then was not on the same level as it is in it's current state.

For Jones to continue having success on the recruiting trail against the likes of Saban, Miles, Spurrier, Sumlin and Richt shows his gifted abilities as a recruiter. It's just time to begin seeing some results in the W/L columns.
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Fulmer recruited nationally and brought in studs, Tennessee being a dominant program makes our perspective different. The 1990's Tennessee teams would be rolling right now in this Eastern Division. Florida even sucks now. LSU and Bama have replaced Tennessee and Florida.
 
#55
#55
Fulmer was good. The scene was much different though. For one, social media wasn't around. Two, SEC coaches weren't as strong. South Car, Fla, bama, lsu, ole miss, miss stz Vandy, all had inferior coaches and programs vs what Butch is up apainst.
 
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#56
#56
Vol logic said:
Fulmer in his prime did not have to recruit when we were this horrid. However, Butch has taken great advantage of our facility upgrades and legacies. The kicker will be putting trophies in the case.
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Using that criteria the best has been Douglas Adair.
 
#59
#59
Butch is doing the "workin like heck" that Fulmer only talked about.

Fulmer is still the best recruiter, but Butch came in working harder than anyone I've ever seen. If he can keep this pace up for a good 5 years, we're going to see NC's come back to the Hill.
 
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#60
#60
Garner left after the 97 season and was only here for 2 years IIRC. He was an outstanding recruiter and our 98 class took a hit when he left. Fulmer got burned by giving Garner too much power. However, Fulmer was a great recruiter and was more than successful after Garner left. He just had to shoulder more of the burden. UT and GA had some bitter recruiting wars in the late 90's but we still pulled some great talent out of GA. Fulmer cherry picked SC,NC, and even Alabama to some extent and very rarely lost the top in-state talent. I agree that Jones is doing well but will need to have several more great years before besting Fulmer's recruiting success.
 
#61
#61
Since General Neyland, Fulmer is still number one. Jones needs to recruit this class as well as last year's class, then the year after that and win a SEC Championship. Then it might be close between Fulmer and Jones.

Just think about the big time players Fulmer hauled in. It was incredible. Considering the lack of talent in Tennessee, and having to recruit nationally, Fulmer was arguably the best recruiter in the nation.
 
#62
#62
I think Phil had a folksy personality and it worked with kids and families. Then a newer generation started preferring a brashness in head coaches. Even the ole ball coach talked smack. That just wasn't Phil's darn way. Anyway I think that Butch is the hardest working and most innovative head coach as far as recruiting goes. JMO
 
#63
#63
Brave Volunteer said:
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What is that suppose to be?
 
#64
#64
Franklin Pierce said:
Since General Neyland, Fulmer is still number one. Jones needs to recruit this class as well as last year's class, then the year after that and win a SEC Championship. Then it might be close between Fulmer and Jones.

Just think about the big time players Fulmer hauled in. It was incredible. Considering the lack of talent in Tennessee, and having to recruit nationally, Fulmer was arguably the best recruiter in the nation.
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Fulmer followed Majors, who was an excellent recruiter in his own right.

Jones followed Dooley. Nuff said. (Not criticizing the ones he got, but for the ones he missed on.)
 
#67
#67
volfan5589 said:
Hes recruiting crazy good on strictly telling these kids that tennessee is going to be back on top soon. Imagine what he can do once we start putting wins and it translates directly to the field. Im sure thats whats holding back some of the guys that has us in there final 4 or 5. There jus waiting to see how we do during the season.
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or taking the flip side, how bad is it going to be if he doesn't produce in the next year or so?
 
#68
#68
Spartacavolus said:
Fulmer was good. The scene was much different though. For one, social media wasn't around. Two, SEC coaches weren't as strong. South Car, Fla, bama, lsu, ole miss, miss stz Vandy, all had inferior coaches and programs vs what Butch is up apainst.
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Oh please....give it a rest. Let's make sure Butch's recruits live up to expectations before even comparing Fulmer to butch. It's a bunch of nonsense at this point. The sec has always been strong and Fulmer was recruiting the entire nation not just southern states. You people just love to criticize Fulmer.:good!:
 
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#69
#69
Jones is competing against a lot more schools then Fulmer ever had to, think thats why so saw such a decline in his later years.

At the same time, Butch has been a pretty lucky in that some of these highly ranked kids are legacy. (Berry's, McKenzie, Bates, Kelly, etc) and TN talent is better the last couple years then in previous years.

He caught the cycle at the right time, but it still all comes down to winning.

15 is going to be a rough year we all know that, but if he keeps getting people focused on 16 and produces, then the skies the limit on what he can bring in here.
 
#70
#70
Eastsidevol said:
Garner left after the 97 season and was only here for 2 years IIRC. He was an outstanding recruiter and our 98 class took a hit when he left. Fulmer got burned by giving Garner too much power. However, Fulmer was a great recruiter and was more than successful after Garner left. He just had to shoulder more of the burden. UT and GA had some bitter recruiting wars in the late 90's but we still pulled some great talent out of GA. Fulmer cherry picked SC,NC, and even Alabama to some extent and very rarely lost the top in-state talent. I agree that Jones is doing well but will need to have several more great years before besting Fulmer's recruiting success.
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He never cherry picked alabama. He stole a couple like weary and tee Martin but that's about it. Joey Kent was wanted by neither in state school. We rarely if ever have gotten a player from that state that was wanted by auburn or alabama.
 
#71
#71
BeattieFeathers said:
Oh please....give it a rest. Let's make sure Butch's recruits live up to expectations before even comparing Fulmer to butch. It's a bunch of nonsense at this point. The sec has always been strong and Fulmer was recruiting the entire nation not just southern states. You people just love to criticize Fulmer.:good!:
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did you even read my post? Fulmer recruited great talent. And the recruiting and coaching scene was different. If you don't agree with one of those points, then counter it. If you can't, keep your bs to yourself.
 
#72
#72
Spartacavolus said:
did you even read my post? Fulmer recruited great talent. And the recruiting and coaching scene was different. If you don't agree with one of those points, then counter it. If you can't, keep your bs to yourself.
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The way butch is recruiting was status quo for the late 80's and throughout the Fulmer era. We got chuck Webb from Toledo Ohio which had nothing to do with our southern counterparts.
Even as late as 2007 when crompton was signed Fulmer was bringing in top classes on paper. Let's hope that Butch's signees live up to the hype and until they do it's just hype.
I'm excited just like everybody else but so e are getting carried away with the hysteria of having a coach that works hard at it unlike Fooley the fool.:eek:hmy:
 
#73
#73
Comparing recruiting before schollie limits is apples and oranges, but I wouldn't be so quick to put Fulmer ahead of Majors.

By most accounts Fulmer had the gift of finding the "decision maker" in the families of the kids they were recruiting.
 
#74
#74
Yes... Yes.. Yes... 3 5-7 years and He is putting together a class like this than yes he is the best... Period!!
 
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#75
#75
thebjd said:
Fulmer recruited nationally and brought in studs, Tennessee being a dominant program makes our perspective different. The 1990's Tennessee teams would be rolling right now in this Eastern Division. Florida even sucks now. LSU and Bama have replaced Tennessee and Florida.
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I'm not doubting Fulmer's abilities as a recruiter, that speaks for itself. However, the state of the program was in MUCH better condition at that point in time when Fulmer took over as HBC "officially" in 1993 than it was when Jones took over the reigns in 2013.

The five years prior to Fulmer taking over : Tennessee was 43-15-2 and four bowl appearances with only one season below .500 (1988). The five years prior to Jones, UT was 28-34 with two lower tier bowl appearances (both losses). Though CBJ's recruiting classes, which is a total of 2, have yet to make a significant impact on the field but for comparisons sake, CPF didn't face an uphill battle and complete rebuilding project in his first two seasons either.
 
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