Official Jon Gruden Thread XLIII

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#5,754
#5,754
daj2576 said:
Here is what I think, and I’m going to use a political example because I think it’s easier for people to visualize. Please don’t mistake this for any sort of political pundantry.

Clinton won the popular vote but lost the election. Clinton’s polling numbers predicted a relatively nice win for her, and when she lost it was shocking to many pollsters because they had her ahead by about 3%. The problem is the national polling didnt effectively account for the electoral college, but it did accurately reflect the popular will. One always has to remember, the national popular vote doesn’t matter, only the distribution of the votes that effect the electoral college.



That said...

Our “insiders” are like the pollsters. They have access to information that looks very favorable to a specific outcome. The information is largely correct and deciminated in good faith. The problem is, just as the previous Gruden mania, that they didn’t have access to an understanding of the electoral college. In our case the electoral college is apparently Haslam. It is, if the story is to believed, irrelevant what everyone else wants if he doesn’t agree.

I’ve always been skeptical of these sources, not because I didn’t belief the people who were sharing the info were doing so in good faith (well at least most of them) but because after 2012 it was apparent that we didn’t have access to the sources that matter. And, much of our information this time seemed to have originated from similar sources as last time.

As I’ve said before, people making decisions at the highest levels don’t freely desiminate information as that information is highly coveted for its value. And, if you’re getting free information that would seem to have value, you aren’t the intended recipient but the product. By that I mean that you are being used to attempt to influence those that are making the decisions, in one way or another. That seems to be the case here, and Beaver is the perfect example of that type of wielding of influence. In fact, if memory serves, Beaver even stated as much once when he said “I’m sent to influence” or similar.

I say all this to remind those who want to direct anger at our “insiders” that this is not their fault. Any anger at the lack of Gruden is our own collective doing as we didn’t understand how to effectively parse and weigh information. It should serve to remind us that handling information requires a level of caution relative to confidence in the veracity of said information.
There are those that bit fully, and are evidently suffering some severe let down or remorse associated with reality not matching their desires. If enough of those people get together and create enough noise, it is detrimental to the fan base as a whole as our already precarious reputation takes another hit as we seem to irrationally spin off into orbit when viewed from the outside.
Going forward we need to just be more careful with information and each other. I have no doubt some trying times are ahead but the Volunteer handle wasn’t earned by people who were afraid of risk or a challenge. The name Volunteer was earned by those who were willing to give their all for a larger cause regardless of the price.
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Nice analogy well said.
 
#5,755
#5,755
Calling it a night. Poor showing today UTAD, excellent showing today VOL fans. I now fully expect that we are going way down the list to make this hire. I can't even fathom what they might have penciled in below Schiano's name.

#FireJohnCurrie, and forget about that $340M in renovations.
 
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#5,757
#5,757
Reports are out saying Manning and Haslem backed the hire of Shiano.
I think its true Manning said he's a good hire.
Tn is so out of touch with fanbase I swear I think they don't care as long as Tickets are sold
 
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#5,759
#5,759
UT PaulVol said:
I really wish more people would respect and appreciate this family. They have done more for the University than nearly anyone else, in history.
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Nope. Not if they had a hand in this.

You can't just give a bunch of money and expect to control every move. If you donate that much, you definitely deserve to have your voice heard.. but you should not get to make any actual decisions OR have so much influence that you can force the hand of the decision makers.

That's what the Haslams want. They want control. They don't want a coach who can call his own shots.

Having that control is more important to them than the success of the team. They can keep their money for all I care. Go buy the Browns a new coach.
 
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#5,760
#5,760
VolArmy74 said:
So you actually believe the Haslam family are morons, they hate UT football and give 10s of millions of dollars to the University in order to keep it mediocre?
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I think they are morons who tried to shove a turd named Schiano down our throat today, and don't give a crap if they are right or not. This is Tennessee's team, not the Haslams. Did you show up here to help push a lie that Currie acted on his own so Jim can wash his filthy hands? BS BS BS BS..Currie is his puppet, and has been from the beginning. Not only is Schiano coaching garbage, he is human filth too. Either way UT deserves better.
 
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#5,761
#5,761
Jake said:
I do contracted work for some of the wealthiest people in America...i see it regularly. I’m not saying they are actively sabotaging UT, but I don’t think their priorities revolve around anyone beyond themselves.
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Me to.. I have to go up to Columbus, and do some work for one of their boosters. Not going to be the best 3 weeks I’m sure!
 
#5,762
#5,762
Jake said:
I do contracted work for some of the wealthiest people in America...i see it regularly. I’m not saying they are actively sabotaging UT, but I don’t think their priorities revolve around anyone beyond themselves.
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Some here actually seem to believe they are purposely sabotaging UT football. Big Jim is a VFL and wants nothing more than to see it restored before he leaves the world. That's why he paid Butch's buyout, that's why he gave his resources to court Gruden.

As UT Paul pointed out, we would not be what we are as far as facilities to attract recruits without them. Nor would many other aspects be the same if they were "forced out".
 
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#5,763
#5,763
UT PaulVol said:
Can no one grasp the amount of money this family has donated? Does no one realize that Tennessee Athletics facilities (mind you is one of if not THE biggest selling points for recruits) is one of the best in nation, due largely to this family?

People have this assumption that just because someone is worth an exponential amount of money, the amount they donate (even when it's in the 10mil+) is minuscule and meaningless.

Edited: I just re-read this. I'm sorry if this came off as me being rude. That was not my intention.
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This has worked out so well for us. Seems every times they help we get worse.
 
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#5,766
#5,766
Volnation, I posted earlier today for the first time in years. Been a longtime lurker though and consider this one of the best sources to get my UT fix on. I don't bring a ton of inside information other than a couple of former UT football buddies that occasionally share info. With this said, please hear me out. Before throwing Chucky and some of these Volnation "insiders" under the bus, consider all the information that has been shared on here over the past couple of weeks. Although I can't say that I know any of these insiders, much of their info does add up with much of the stuff that I heard as well.

No doubt about it today was a **** show, and not a good day for our University and our storied football program. Like many of you all, I have been angry texting family and friends trying to wrap my head around this crap today. But after a whisky drink or two tonight and reflecting on all that has happened, I do believe this: Power was restored to our University today and that is pretty cool. The **** show that most Vol fans and college football fans saw play out today goes back to last fall (2016) and earlier this year when we were searching for a new AD. Blackburn was the leading AD candidate most UT alumni, including, several big boosters wanted, yet somehow we ended up with Currie compliments of an intervention by Jimmy Haslam. At best, the Currie AD selection was a compromise between Haslam and the Charles Ergen Camp (like 70/30 type compromise).

The Gruden thing (believe it or not negagrudes) was a very real possibility and at a minimum an MOU was agreed upon. Charles Ergen and several other prominent boosters appear to have been trying to make this happen long before Butch was canned. I believe the Ergen Camp felt that Currie was on board with this plan, and I believe Gruden was very much interested in being our next HC as well. Obviously something happened, and Currie stuck with Haslam and his preference. Likely, this was tied to Currie's loyalty to the man that got him into this AD role as much as anything. It has been reported that Currie is also friends with Schiano. But who knows. So the question I have is this: I know Jimmy Haslam is a big fan of Schiano, but what was/is his beef with Gruden? Why not Gruden? It's been pretty well documented that Haslam did not want UT to the hire him in 2012. Is it because Haslam feared that Jon Gruden would be a man not be easily controlled? Did Gruden say no to his Browns once upon a time? This is a serious question and would love to hear if folks have any insight into this.

Regardless of the answers to my above questions, today was (I believe) a successfull first step in the process of overthrowing the old regime of power (Haslams). It was also more than about Gruden, but also a difference in coaching philosophy - bringing in "UT blood" (Including former UT alumni coaching staff). This is where all the leaks occurred a couple of weeks ago - Former UT players (current coaches like Tee Martin) who were contacted by Gruden about joining his potential staff. Problem was that Currie ultimately sided with Jimmy Haslam. And I believe this was likely part of his plan all along. Play along with the Ergen Camp (and Volnation). Passify them while finding "problems" in the final contract that could ultimately not be ironed out between both sides. Over the past few days, this plan was esecuted by Currie and he goes with "Plan B". He notifies the Ergen Camp of his decision. The Ergen Camp says "hell no" and they execute their back up plan in the event Currie and Haslam go rogue.

So Volnation, what happened today wasn't about Schiano's role in the Sandusky case as much as it was an absolute revolt from Ergen, 6-8 other superboosters, and the entire Volnation family. I really believe that, at a minimum, a couple of the "insiders" that we have seen in the Gruden threads are absolutely part of this Ergen group and their agenda (and also became volnation's agenda). Think about it, there were over 73 state legislators and 3 different UT sports, websites, social media, etc fighting back against this thing within an hour of the Schiano news breaking. Not a coincidence. The negative publicity campaign used to combat this hire won today. Power restored. Now granted, there is no way this group wanted the **** show that insurred today, but no way were they going to let the Haslams screw up another hire either.

Currie is done. Look for Fulmer to step as Interrum AD or some kind of special role for making our next coaching hire. Blackburn will be pushed as our next AD. Blackburn is close to Gruden. I'm not saying we will get Gruden now, but look for whomever the new coach to either be a UT alum or someone committed to hiring a **** ton of assistants that are of UT blood. It is apparent that Ergen and his group don't want outsiders. They obviously think that this is the whole reason we are in this mess to begin with (I.e Kiffin, Dooley, Jones).

Call me a crazy conspiracy theorist folks, but I do believe we are seeing a civil war play out before our eyes right now. So I ask all of my fellow UT brothers and sisters, whether you thought Gruden was/is coming or not, let's not fight amongst each other. No more casting stones. At the end of the day, we all want the same thing and that is to Be relevant again. Let this process play out before we all jump off the ledge! GBO!
 
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#5,767
#5,767
Man, what a day.

Wake up feeling good and then a swift kick in the family jewels.

Everything that transpired after is really hard to bring into focus. Almost like a train crashing in very slow motion.

Its true what they say, nobody does a coaching search like UT.

I've enjoyed the threads again immensely though would have preferred that it not turn out like the offspring of a cluster **** and a **** show.

I guess deep down I knew it would, otherwise I never would have come back on VN.

Cheers to all and go vols.
 
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#5,768
#5,768
Ulysees E. McGill said:
I think they are morons who tried to shove a turd named Schiano down our throat today, and don't give a crap if they are right or not. This is Tennessee's team, not the Haslams. Did you show up here to help push a lie that Currie acted on his own so Jim can wash his filthy hands? BS BS BS BS..Currie is his puppet, and has been from the beginning. Not only is Schiano coaching garbage, he is human filth too. Either way UT deserves better.
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No and I have no idea how/why Currie did what he did. I was and am fully against it and am fully against Currie keeping his job.

Everything you say about Haslam is from tinfoil land though, until someone directly confirms that Haslam forced this on Currie.
 
#5,769
#5,769
knoxswim890 said:
To an extent, yes. But, I've talked with many professors and faculty members of UT (some who don't particularly care for football at all), who all acknowledge the importance of football to academics. Football success drives applications, program reputation (warranted or not), and many donations. Yes, Jim gives a lot, but he certainly doesn't donate everything.

What if it's not that Jim is trying to sabotage the program, but is just incapable of steering it towards success? Doesn't that seem far more likely than a conspiracy theory that he wants to see it fail? Jim's ego is so far up his @ss he is incapable of getting out of his own way. To me, that seems far more likely...
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This^! He has gave money, and in his mind he probably feels he is right or even entitled to make all the big decisions and have all the influence. But that is not healthy, and his record as a owner and his other troubles should be a red flag for the University to think long and hard before letting him have so much power and influence. Plenty of people have gave lots of money to UT, and none of them should have a monopoly on how things are done. UT is bigger than Haslam, there is nothing wrong with academics at UT, what is wrong is they don't care about giving the athletic department enough control and their control is driving us into the gutter.:rock:
 
#5,770
#5,770
Hey ya'll, I was just suggesting some dignity for you guys. Do what you want. I'm out. Have your fun! Peace.
 
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