Morale Sinking

[CSpindizzy]

It does not take a rocket scientist to deduce that morale has to be a concern now. For the fans, we can just get over it. But for the players, this has to be degrading. We've gone through many names either officially or unofficially. And the front door has no one knocking that we are aware of. I've seen many players' tweets - some no doubt tongue in cheek but some are clearly dealing with the fact that no coach is actively desiring to come here in a visible and vocal manner. The fact we're dealing with Plan H through L type coaches and even toying with names like Petrino shows we're in serious image and reputation sagging levels. We've dealt with the crap of Kiffin and the festering Dooley era.

Hart and Cheek must really step back and assess this situation and take the next step carefully. The level of secrecy talked about back at the beginning needs to be upped for this next round. No more fails. Clamp down on rumors. Hide the cars, the jets, etc. Do what it takes to get the best. Meet with the players to instill confidence back into the program. Assure them this program is top notch.

UT cannot afford another mediocre to failing round of coaching. As competitive as the conference is now a wrong choice could set us back even a decade.

If Hart fails and Cheek rides with this failure both should be run out of town. If this were a Fortune 500 company, would a board tolerate this sort of action? Would they allow another failed decision from the office that's primarily focused on delivering a top product run by a top manager?

 

[Gary10ec1]

The writing is certainly on the wall. Good post btw. Hope things turn soon. Keep the faith and Go Vols.

 

[Volstylexx]

imagine how the recruits must feel

 

[TacomaJPP]

Hart and Cheek must really step back and assess this situation and take the next step carefully.

It's a little late if they are just now starting. They were supposed to be doing this when they decided it was time to get rid of CDD.

I'm withholding my critique of Hart until a name is announced. Maybe the PR wouldn't be as bad if everyone else did the same.

 

[Ashevillevol]

imagine how the recruits must feel

Probably won't need to worry about a lot of recruits.

 

[efeezell]

The reason they TRY and keep everything secretive is because when coaches turn you down it looks bad on your program. Now the next coach will be feeling like "hey im the 4 or 5th choice at UT". This shouldnt be considered a negative for UT that two good coaches decided to stay with there current teams. I felt Gundy was a long shot at best since OSu is his Alma Mater and I was surprised by Strong, but he made a good decision for him. Maybe we will swing for the fences in privacy and go for someone like Stoops, Shaw, or Fisher.

 

[JFBanicki]

Probably won't need to worry about a lot of recruits.

At least the recruits we WANT and NEED to bring in. Honestly we'll get a full class but after all the embarrassment I doubt were gonna end up with any recruits that are SEC level and certainly non that would be good enough to help turn this around starting next year.

 

[99Vols]

This reminds me of a song:

Aerosmith - Full Circle - YouTube

 

[theFallGuy]

there's no reason to panic until we actually make a bad hire.

Besides, there were about 18 threads about how we shouldn't hire Strong, now that Strong has decided he isn't coming everyone is freaking out? Wtf

 

[JFBanicki]

The reason they TRY and keep everything secretive is because when coaches turn you down it looks bad on your program. Now the next coach will be feeling like "hey im the 4 or 5th choice at UT". This shouldnt be considered a negative for UT that two good coaches decided to stay with there current teams. I felt Gundy was a long shot at best since OSu is his Alma Mater and I was surprised by Strong, but he made a good decision for him. Maybe we will swing for the fences in privacy and go for someone like Stoops, Shaw, or Fisher.

Well this is why ADs normally hire a search firm, so the candidates can reject them. But Harts ego has cost us and because he thought he didn't need a search firm all the rejections will be VERY public and known to all.
Hart allowed this school to embarrassed by keeping Dooley a year too long and now he's embarrassing the school because his ego told him he would get whoever he wanted in this hire and he didn't need a search firm. Hart either needs to come with Peterson, Patterson or Gruden or he needs to pack up and GTFO of town tonight.

 

[n_huffhines]

This is the kind of **** that happens to a program that has fans who treated (and still do) Fulmer like he was garbage. Who wants to come here and have 14 successful seasons in 17 years and be hated by a large part of the the fan base?

 

[g8terh8ter_eric]

It's getting a little Grude outside honestly.

 

[VolFan4Life87]

You couldn't pay me to come to Tennessee if I was a recruit. It's just sad. When I was 12 we won the national championship. Peyton manning was my hero. Now, these 17-18 year old kids only know about Tennessee sucking.

 

[CSpindizzy]

imagine how the recruits must feel

Very true. Why would you want to go to a school that has held a top 10 program reputation but cannot even get a top 50 coach. I would love to know the behind the scene aspect of whether anyone has even approached UT with the desire to coach. We've been seeking. But has anyone come to us seeking? Is there something out there where for two hires in a row we've wound up with Dooley and (fill in the blank)? I'm not a tinfoil kind of guy but what have we come to as a program?