We have three Elite 11 QBs on the roster, coached by a Heisman-winning QB, and we have no offense. Teams do a happy dance to have us on their schedule, and Vandy probably considers us their best shot at an SEC win. I think the illusion of competence has been shattered.
The only potential to sell are the young guys-- that's who recruits will look to. How this staff uses young talent, and how that young talent feels about the program and the future, influences recruiting. We're at a tipping point.
I agree with you in theory. In a season gone to hell, start developing your building blocks of the future.
But I don’t think football coaches, and Jeremy Pruitt in particular, think that way. His goal is to win on Saturday, as short sighted as it seems to us on the outside. And his goal is to keep all of his “future” ammunition unused, that way he can sell the potential to boosters and fans who are calling for his head.
As soon as HB comes out and throws three interceptions and we keep losing, what can he point to as justification for keeping his job?
I don’t think recruiting can be “saved.” We had that great run in May and still topped out around 10th in the country. A very average class for Tennessee - we just did it in the Spring vs. Signing Day.
Now our class is likely to be picked apart by teams actually selling a winning product. I don’t think “hey, we’re still losing, but now we’re losing with younger players!” stems the bleeding at all.
Opposing coaches are telling our prospects, and our current players, that Pruitt is a dead man walking. And they’re right. Whether the ax falls this year, next year, or the year after is irrelevant. Prospects see the guillotine being readied, and the sight of that has spooked them and it’s the only thing that matters.
