Official Jon Gruden Thread XIII

[Stevorino]

If we would have known that all the riff-raff would have bolted this quick, we should have had the OGs say it was dead a long time ago.

Now that they're heading out, we can finally return to the more pleasant Gruden threads of the past with the true believers.

I'm still a believer! Fire hart, hire gruden!

 

[Gruuden]

Dammit Lex and Beech, quit being so damn calm about everything. The sky has fallen.

AHHH finally, Somebody looking out the same side of the car as me. I was starting to wander

 

[Lexvol]

I don't know if we can say that. Yes, he probably should have been upfront with the public about Gruden, but to his defense he never has said a word. He let us think for ourselves, he let us decide what we thought. IMO we will have a coach by Monday or Tuesday and this will all be over...Do not hate Hart until we know what is going on, for all we know the media is just being stupid and the situation is misconstrued...

With all the coaching vacancies, I don't mind the secretive nature, as long as we don't end up with a dumb hire. Close to the vest can keep you out of bidding wars.

 

[jes]

Why can't they understand this ....? Hart may have felt the pressure and just bought some time to to stop the leaks untill he and Gruden could work this out.

When Lamonte says there has been NO TALK with ANYONE from Tennessee... I KNOW THAT IS A LIE

Hart is not FROM TENNESSEE :blink:

 

[SobeVol]

No ones been hired. Gruden hasn't said NO himself. Hart hasn't said it's not Gruden. Until one of those there things happen, Gruden is a viable option, regardless of what his agent says. Look, this guy just EMBARRASSED a very proud fan base. We've seen some dark times, and don't deserve the position we're in. Hart should at least have the balls to say Gruden's out, and we're looking at Coaches A & B. But instead, we are the laughing stock of college football. The University should have debunked the Gruden rumor from the beginning, cause now it's Gruden or bust, and NOBODY will be good enough to coach us after this.

Thats what I'm afraid of and serious candidates might shy away from us thinking they are doomed from the start.

PS- hello from fellow Miamian

 

[Vol2424]

It happened. But nobody was there to report on it. We'll never know what happened.

You mean Rucker wasn't there?

 

[BeecherVol]

Dammit Lex and Beech, quit being so damn calm about everything. The sky has fallen.

Nothing to get worked up over really.

 

[AJeray4TN]

AJ, your avatar is giving me mixed emotions. I want to laugh, but I also want to cry.

Then it's doing its job. This how it feels to be a Vols fan.

 

[{OrangeBlooded}]

In my opinion, what happened today was orchestrated to officially burn down the "Gruden Rumor" house. The new "Gruden to UT" house will now be officially constructed by Dave Hart and Dave Hart only. In the end Hart will get all credit and the booster rumor portion of the story (boosters worked behind the scenes back in October to get this deal done) will be in ashes.

You and I are of the same opinion.

 

[Volz80]

And it does seem promising the Chattanooga Crew not backing down at all

 

[EZE]

No ones been hired. Gruden hasn't said NO himself. Hart hasn't said it's not Gruden. Until one of those there things happen, Gruden is a viable option, regardless of what his agent says. Look, this guy just EMBARRASSED a very proud fan base. We've seen some dark times, and don't deserve the position we're in. Hart should at least have the balls to say Gruden's out, and we're looking at Coaches A & B. But instead, we are the laughing stock of college football. The University should have debunked the Gruden rumor from the beginning, cause now it's Gruden or bust, and NOBODY will be good enough to coach us after this.

If Gruden and his wife are true Tennessee fans, they shouldn't be too happy with Lamonte embarrassing UT like that...unless it is a negotiating ploy.

 

[TENN MAN 13]

Are you sticking with ... that you know for sure the Dec 14 date????????

It's the 13the is what I heard.

 

[mrorange211]

I'd hate to see how personal you took real life. You are ebitter, how sad.

Personal shots now that your savior isn't coming? And I am bitter?

 

[golfballs]

You mean Rucker wasn't there?

Idk ask him

 

[Jake]

Hell with that. I just mixed my second Bloody Bull.

Atta baby!!!

 

[Gruuden]

If Gruden and his wife are true Tennessee fans, they shouldn't be too happy with Lamonte embarrassing UT like that...unless it is a negotiating ploy.

Stop it.. You giving me hope again:bash::bash::bash::bash::bash::bash:

 

[Coastypop]

Hello all, first time poster, long time lurker. Still firmly pro-Gruden and here's my $.02 as to why it (JG to UT) AIN'T over:

Take LaMonte for what he's worth–a slimy sports agent with everything to gain and nothing to lose by saying what he did. As others have alluded to in their posts, this is a negotiation between two parties who have done this before; lying is an art and it's all about leverage. Look at what Les Miles just did to Ark. as an example! AGENTS SHOULD NOT BE TRUSTED WITH PUBLIC COMMENTS.

Similarly, ESPN simply cannot be trusted on this matter either. As a longtime Deadspin reader I am, like most of you are, aware of the way that the network is run. Best interests always supersede editorial validity (they just mandated that Sports by Brooks not be credited on air for breaking a story that SBB did indeed break). ESPN is looking out for itself, and has probably informed Gruden that whatever the decision is, they want it first. This is likely why they have been quick to sensationalize Gruden's comments on M&M and why they're pushing Low (whose sources are Knox/AD based) out front on this. They want the story first! The longer everyone believes them now, the higher their traffic counts will be should Gruden decide to make the leap. I'm not saying that ESPN is universally wrong, but that they have shown themselves to be FAR from honest brokers.

Thus far, I have seen NO evidence that Gruden is out of the conversation. It is clear that the Chatty sources are boosters and Knox sources are AD, who have a vested interest in feeding the Knoxville media what they want them to know. If we accept the long held wisdom of the OGs that the $$$ makes the final decision, then Gruden to our beloved alma mater is not dead yet.

Keep the faith, Gruden is still a real possibility–just not by today at (now passed) 3 PM.eace2:

I have always placed my eggs in this basket.... still do

 

[JayVols]

Hey Jay, so the other side just punked Hart with the TFP story and the agent comments, do you think we see David in as AD soon or is this Hart's chance to save the day?

I would love to see David Blackburn as the AD. I have not nor likely ever will trust a bammer. Hart could make himself a hero if that happens. If not, I think his tenure at UT will be brief.

 

[ACvol3]

Just more "news". When has it ever been "good" coming from the AD or the local media?

LaMonte just said the same thing that Hyams said yesterday.

Which gives Hyams credibility for once... Scary

 

[Smokeyshowl66]

My question is:

What is Stephen Hargis thinking at the moment?

He basically put his career on the line only to have Lamonte come out and say any precedings with UT was a FANTASY.

If I were Hargis and had this much at stake, I would be preparing to fire back.

Media and agents completely loathe each other. No way Hargis engages in that kind of tit for tat.

 

[Evol]

Chattanooga still hasn't budged yet. Article still up.

Stephen Hargis, the guy who wrote the article, was just on the radio in Chattanooga. He said he was absolutely certain that everything his source told him was true. Said his source spoke to Gruden directly about being an assistant on staff (that narrows it down quite a bit I would think), and the only hang up was that Gruden wanted more money for assistants. He stands by everything he wrote.

 

[VolMater]

Funny how soon we forget 3rd and Chavis.... when he was here he could not stop 3rd and 20. and he can't recruit..don't want

Besides I know for a FACT Cheif does not want to come back here as DC

Wasn't it 3rd and Long that cost LSU the game against Bama this year, too??

 

[AJeray4TN]

Don't understand the fighting. B!tching about the situation I get.

 

[Vol2424]

Idk ask him

Were you there Wes?

 

[Jake]

It's the 13the is what I heard.

That's the second time I've heard that date today.