Vitello deserves to be in the same breath as Neyland and Summitt

#1
zjcvols

zjcvols

"On a Tennessee Saturday night."
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#1
Some people will immediately scoff and Neyland/Pat’s contributions to their particular sport trumps Vitello’s of course, but in terms of actual coaching, he’s up there.

As a casual (I watch SEC games and the tourney games, not gonna pretend I’m a diehard by any stretch) this program was dead. As someone who lived in Knoxville for 20+ years, no one gave a damn about the baseball team. I remember going to a Tennessee basketball game in 2011 and you got a free ticket to watch the baseball game with it right after the basketball game and there wasn’t 300 people. And that was 2011.

This was probably the worst program in the SEC. No support, no fanfare, no hope. And Vitello by year 5 has the best team in the country and about as incredible a 4 year run you can have in college baseball. The player development, the recruiting, the ability to get the most out of his players. The total package.

And it’s not just because they win. I know the nation thinks he’s a jackass but Tony was the exact dude they needed. He built this program from ground zero. No talent, no enthusiasm. This forum used to get 20 posts for an SEC series and we had 15K posts over the three games. A truly incredible feat. What he has done in seven years is borderline miraculous.

Best baseball coach in the country. A true Tennessee legend. Give him a lifetime contract. Thank you Tony Vitello. What a team. What a ride. Go Damn Vols.
 
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#5
#5
Time will tell but I think he may actually steal the mantle for the state’s premier baseball program away from Vanderbilt just like Neyland did with football a century ago. Hell, he probably already has when you look at the last 4 years. If the current trajectory continues, I think you’re right, he’ll be baseball’s Summitt/Neyland.
 
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#6
#6
kiddiedoc said:
Maybe a bit of a stretch at this point, but it's undeniable that we have exploded onto the baseball scene.

Tony is THE MAN
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I want to say that what Pat did for women’s basketball, not just UT, is GOAT stuff and Neyland’s impact at UT to establish the football program plus was such an innovator (people do not realize the things he brought to college football) that no one will touch them in Tennessee Athletics lore. But my main point was what Vitello has done at UT deserves to be included in discussions
 
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#9
#9
Vol in Buckeye Land said:
Time will tell but I think he may actually steal the mantle for the state’s premier baseball program away from Vanderbilt just like Neyland did with football a century ago. Hell, he probably already has when you look at the last 4 years. If the current trajectory continues, I think you’re right, he’ll be baseball’s Summitt/Neyland.
Click to expand...

Already happened.
 
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#11
#11
zjcvols said:
Some people will immediately scoff and Neyland/Pat’s contributions to their particular sport trumps Vitello’s of course, but in terms of actual coaching, he’s up there.

As a casual (I watch SEC games and the tourney games, not gonna pretend I’m a diehard by any stretch) this program was dead. As someone who lived in Knoxville for 20+ years, no one gave a damn about the baseball team. I remember going to a Tennessee basketball game in 2011 and you got a free ticket to watch the baseball game with it right after the basketball game and there wasn’t 300 people. And that was 2011.

This was probably the worst program in the SEC. No support, no fanfare, no hope. And Vitello by year 5 has the best team in the country and about as incredible a 4 year run you can have in college baseball. The player development, the recruiting, the ability to get the most out of his players. The total package.

And it’s not just because they win. I know the nation thinks he’s a jackass but Tony was the exact dude they needed. He built this program from ground zero. No talent, no enthusiasm. This forum used to get 20 posts for an SEC series and we had 15K posts over the three games. A truly incredible feat. What he has done in seven years is borderline miraculous.

Best baseball coach in the country. A true Tennessee legend. Give him a lifetime contract. Thank you Tony Vitello. What a team. What a ride. Go Damn Vols.
Click to expand...
We should pay whatever it takes for him to die a vol.
 
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#12
#12
zjcvols said:
Some people will immediately scoff and Neyland/Pat’s contributions to their particular sport trumps Vitello’s of course, but in terms of actual coaching, he’s up there.

As a casual (I watch SEC games and the tourney games, not gonna pretend I’m a diehard by any stretch) this program was dead. As someone who lived in Knoxville for 20+ years, no one gave a damn about the baseball team. I remember going to a Tennessee basketball game in 2011 and you got a free ticket to watch the baseball game with it right after the basketball game and there wasn’t 300 people. And that was 2011.

This was probably the worst program in the SEC. No support, no fanfare, no hope. And Vitello by year 5 has the best team in the country and about as incredible a 4 year run you can have in college baseball. The player development, the recruiting, the ability to get the most out of his players. The total package.

And it’s not just because they win. I know the nation thinks he’s a jackass but Tony was the exact dude they needed. He built this program from ground zero. No talent, no enthusiasm. This forum used to get 20 posts for an SEC series and we had 15K posts over the three games. A truly incredible feat. What he has done in seven years is borderline miraculous.

Best baseball coach in the country. A true Tennessee legend. Give him a lifetime contract. Thank you Tony Vitello. What a team. What a ride. Go Damn Vols.
Click to expand...
I love Tony V!!!!! But you really need to look up what Robert Neyland did as a football coach, and a human being. Maybe TV can get there, but this would only be the beginning of that journey.
 
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#13
#13
zjcvols said:
Some people will immediately scoff and Neyland/Pat’s contributions to their particular sport trumps Vitello’s of course, but in terms of actual coaching, he’s up there.

As a casual (I watch SEC games and the tourney games, not gonna pretend I’m a diehard by any stretch) this program was dead. As someone who lived in Knoxville for 20+ years, no one gave a damn about the baseball team. I remember going to a Tennessee basketball game in 2011 and you got a free ticket to watch the baseball game with it right after the basketball game and there wasn’t 300 people. And that was 2011.

This was probably the worst program in the SEC. No support, no fanfare, no hope. And Vitello by year 5 has the best team in the country and about as incredible a 4 year run you can have in college baseball. The player development, the recruiting, the ability to get the most out of his players. The total package.

And it’s not just because they win. I know the nation thinks he’s a jackass but Tony was the exact dude they needed. He built this program from ground zero. No talent, no enthusiasm. This forum used to get 20 posts for an SEC series and we had 15K posts over the three games. A truly incredible feat. What he has done in seven years is borderline miraculous.

Best baseball coach in the country. A true Tennessee legend. Give him a lifetime contract. Thank you Tony Vitello. What a team. What a ride. Go Damn Vols.
Click to expand...

Best celebratory moment last night was Tony Vitello hugging his dad after the win.

Congratulations to this team and there will be many more exciting moments ahead for this program.
 
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#14
#14
zjcvols said:
I want to say that what Pat did for women’s basketball, not just UT, is GOAT stuff and Neyland’s impact at UT to establish the football program plus was such an innovator (people do not realize the things he brought to college football) that no one will touch them in Tennessee Athletics lore. But my main point was what Vitello has done at UT deserves to be included in discussions
Click to expand...
Discussion yes, but what Neyland and Summit accomplished, they did over decades. IOW 10 years more, more championships, and more runs at the Championships, He is great, but it is way to early. Time will tell.
 
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#17
#17
I’ve loved baseball my whole life. When I was a kid, my parents were kind and fortunate enough to give me a baseball themed bedroom suit. My dad made me a pitchers mound in the back yard and a homemade batting cage. I had a necklace that said “I love baseball”. But I quit watching baseball as an adult because my favorite teams sucked and it wasn’t fun. Tony V brought back my love for the game. Build the statue.

BUT Neyland and Summit are arguably the best coaches ever in their respective sports. Have some respect.
 
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#18
#18
CTV has that level of talent of those coaches. Only time will tell if he delivers to that level. It will be a fun ride.
 
#19
#19
I’m sure he would rather wait when he retires with a handful of natties before said statue is built
 
#23
#23
I don’t know if he’s reached their heights yet, that comes with a long career of dominance and Vitello is just getting started.

But he certainly is capable of it and has cemented his status as a legend
 
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