2013 College Football off-season

[Tracer Bullet]

Butch to Tennessee

 

Dave Hart is announcing at 2:30 today that he's happy with Tennessee being nationally irrelevant for 3-5 more years.

Hard to be nationally relevant when you're getting turned down left and right (including by one guy who would rather coach at Louisville).

 

Right, we're clearly not nationally relevant now but it should be the goal of the program to reach national relevance. I don't see how hiring a pretty good Big East/MAC coach does that.

 

Even after getting turned down by Gundy and Strong, there were still better options ou there. But we chose the safe route over the route that likely has us winning at a very high level again.

 

Likely? What coach likely has TN winning at a high level soon? I agree that there were riskier options that were more likely to lead to a shot at a division title, but also more likely to blow up in your face. I don't agree that any of the viable candidates were likely to win 10+ games a year at TN in the near future.

[fiver]

Well, Reuben Foster just decommitted from AU. Carl Lawson will soon. I'm officially in meltdown mode along with dew.

[E.J.]

Well, Reuben Foster just decommitted from AU. Carl Lawson will soon. I'm officially in meltdown mode along with dew.

 

I wonder what Foster does with that ridiculous tattoo now.

[fiver]

Well, Reuben Foster just decommitted from AU. Carl Lawson will soon. I'm officially in meltdown mode along with dew.

 

I wonder what Foster does with that ridiculous tattoo now.

 

 

wear long sleeves?

 

To continue with the meltdown....I don't think Rhett Lashlee has any business being AU's OC. I understand that Gus will be calling the plays. However, Lashlee doesn't have the experience on the recruiting trail to go head to head with Bama, LSU, Georiga, Florida, etc. The head coach isn't going to be able to visit players as frequently as the assistants, so we still need a strong presence at OC.

 

There was a surge when Gus was hired, and most were placated by the hire. However, recruiting is an important piece of the puzzle, and I fear we now have a DC who isn't getting any younger (old as dirt) and may find it difficult to connect with players on the recruiting trail in the Twitter era, and no one other than Auburn fans know Rhett Lashlee.

[dew1679666265]

Evaluating college coaches at a macro level seems to be a really unreliable means to do so. Jones also wasn't dealing with Tennessee's resources or prestige when recruiting and coaching in the MAC and Cincy.

 

He did improve his resources and prestige going from Central Michigan to Cincinnati, but his record got worse (9 win avg at CMU, 7 win avg at Cincy). It's hard to believe he'll deviate considerably from his 6-year track record when his resources improve considerably, but his level of competition does so as well.

 

I don't think he's a bad coach by any means. He's proven he's a pretty good coach that can keep a program stabilized. After the mess that has been the post-Fulmer era, though, we needed more than that. That's my real problem with this hire. I'm hoping Jones proves me wrong and over the next 6 years, leads us to an SEC title or two. But I just don't see from his track record and from watching a few Cincy games in his era that he's capable of doing that.

[dew1679666265]

Likely? What coach likely has TN winning at a high level soon? I agree that there were riskier options that were more likely to lead to a shot at a division title, but also more likely to blow up in your face. I don't agree that any of the viable candidates were likely to win 10+ games a year at TN in the near future.

 

Nobody was winning 10 games next year, I don't dispute that at all. However, I truly believe the talent level was considerably better on this team than the record indicated. We were held back this year because the switch to a 3-4 completely befuddled our defense and we couldn't win a close game to save our lives (except Troy).

 

With that in mind, I think guys like Butch Davis, Mike Leach, June Jones, Phil Fulmer, Gary Patterson could have come in here and within 2-3 years had us seriously competing for an SEC East title. And that's not even mentioning a guy like Petrino or NFL coaches like Hue Jackson and Greg Roman who reportedly expressed interest in the job and would have been intriguing hires.

[dew1679666265]

Well, Reuben Foster just decommitted from AU. Carl Lawson will soon. I'm officially in meltdown mode along with dew.

 

As critical as I've been of this hire, if Jones comes in and starts well by keeping Jim Chaney, Jay Graham, and Sam Pittman and putting together a good staff around them with national ties, I'll start to feel a bit encouraged.

 

The staff is probably going to be critical with this hire - every coach has to be able to recruit exceptionally well and be able to develop talent extremely well.

[Old Style]

Well, Reuben Foster just decommitted from AU. Carl Lawson will soon. I'm officially in meltdown mode along with dew.

 

I wonder what Foster does with that ridiculous tattoo now.

Maybe he can change the AU to TAMU.

[SpongeWorthy]

Well, Reuben Foster just decommitted from AU. Carl Lawson will soon. I'm officially in meltdown mode along with dew.

 

If there's one thing being an SC fan has taught me it's that holding a recruiting class together during a transition is inconsequential if the man at the helm is an incompetent boob. I'll trade our recruiting class and Lane for Malzahn and yours.

[Guest]

Well, Reuben Foster just decommitted from AU. Carl Lawson will soon. I'm officially in meltdown mode along with dew.

 

As critical as I've been of this hire, if Jones comes in and starts well by keeping Jim Chaney, Jay Graham, and Sam Pittman and putting together a good staff around them with national ties, I'll start to feel a bit encouraged.

 

The staff is probably going to be critical with this hire - every coach has to be able to recruit exceptionally well and be able to develop talent extremely well.

 

I heard Tennessee is going to get Tee Martin back from USC. Martin is a great recruiter.

[dew1679666265]

I heard Tennessee is going to get Tee Martin back from USC. Martin is a great recruiter.

 

I've heard that too and adding Tee to the 3 I mentioned would help my mood as well.

[Old Style]

Well, Reuben Foster just decommitted from AU. Carl Lawson will soon. I'm officially in meltdown mode along with dew.

 

I wonder what Foster does with that ridiculous tattoo now.

Reuben Foster ‏@reubenfoster_FG

Not getting rid of the tattoo supporting my big cuz Ladarius Phillip R.I.P #keepingit

[Tracer Bullet]

Can someone help me out? I like Old Style's idea of using a national award as my profile pic but I can't figure out how to get all 6 of Te'o's awards to fit into the allotted space.

[CubInOK]

I kinda wish RedFlash was around to post only in this thread.

[Guest]

I kinda wish RedFlash was around to post only in this thread.

Yessssss!

[OleMissCub]

Well, Reuben Foster just decommitted from AU. Carl Lawson will soon. I'm officially in meltdown mode along with dew.

 

Lawson may well stay at Auburn if Gus gets on the phone ASAP. However, it'd be a pretty epic win for the Rebels if they were to get him. He's taking an official to Ole Miss soon and one of his best friends and teamate is Peyton Barber, a RB that has already committed to Ole Miss.

 

Regardless of whether they are able to steal Lawson or not, it is simply amazing what Hugh Freeze has done with recruiting at Ole Miss. They are without doubt the front runner for the #1 player in the country, Robert Nkemdiche, and are currently the large favorite for Laquon Treadwell, the #1 WR and 10th ranked player overall, with Oklahoma being the only other team in the running for him. If those two guys sign, the Rebs will have the 9th or 10th ranked recruiting class. That's an incredibly impressive turnaround coming just one year after a 2-10 season.

[illiniguy]

Can someone help me out? I like Old Style's idea of using a national award as my profile pic but I can't figure out how to get all 6 of Te'o's awards to fit into the allotted space.

Are you gonna be around after Saban teabags you guys?

[fiver]

Well, Reuben Foster just decommitted from AU. Carl Lawson will soon. I'm officially in meltdown mode along with dew.

 

Lawson may well stay at Auburn if Gus gets on the phone ASAP. However, it'd be a pretty epic win for the Rebels if they were to get him. He's taking an official to Ole Miss soon and one of his best friends and teamate is Peyton Barber, a RB that has already committed to Ole Miss.

 

Regardless of whether they are able to steal Lawson or not, it is simply amazing what Hugh Freeze has done with recruiting at Ole Miss. They are without doubt the front runner for the #1 player in the country, Robert Nkemdiche, and are currently the large favorite for Laquon Treadwell, the #1 WR and 10th ranked player overall, with Oklahoma being the only other team in the running for him. If those two guys sign, the Rebs will have the 9th or 10th ranked recruiting class. That's an incredibly impressive turnaround coming just one year after a 2-10 season.

 

Gus has tried contacting Carl Lawson several times, but Carl told ESPN that he was busy with homework each time Gus tried to call. It's not looking good, and I don't think he'll be committed to AU by the end of next week. I've heard Ole Miss is a possibility, but Clemson seems to think they may get Lawson to flip to them.

 

Freeze is doing a great job.

[UK1679666180]

Here's a copy of Jones' Memorandum of Understanding.

 

http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/tenn/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2012-13/misc_non_event/butch_jones_mou_12072012.pdf

 

Ironically, I like the idea of Jim Fassel (who is interested in Col) more than Butch Jones.

[dew1679666265]

Here's a copy of Jones' Memorandum of Understanding.

 

http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/tenn/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2012-13/misc_non_event/butch_jones_mou_12072012.pdf

 

Ironically, I like the idea of Jim Fassel (who is interested in Col) more than Butch Jones.

 

Not sure how I feel about Fassel. My first thought is I doubt he'd make a great college coach, but he can definitely coach.

 

I'd probably prefer Butch Jones to him. Thankfully the buyout is pretty minimal after the 3rd year, which is the soonest we'd be firing him (if we do). 6 years, $18 mil is a pretty ridiculous contract to a questionable hire who, at best, was the 3rd or 4th candidate on the list.

[SouthSideRyan]

Can someone help me out? I like Old Style's idea of using a national award as my profile pic but I can't figure out how to get all 6 of Te'o's awards to fit into the allotted space.

Are you gonna be around after Saban teabags you guys?

 

That ought to be a penalty of some sort.

[illiniguy]

Can someone help me out? I like Old Style's idea of using a national award as my profile pic but I can't figure out how to get all 6 of Te'o's awards to fit into the allotted space.

Are you gonna be around after Saban teabags you guys?

 

That ought to be a penalty of some sort.

It is to all of us. Stupid Oregon and purple Kansas.

[TruffleShuffle]

Can someone help me out? I like Old Style's idea of using a national award as my profile pic but I can't figure out how to get all 6 of Te'o's awards to fit into the allotted space.

 

just go with a photo of him rubbing his spit into an old wretch's eyes and curing her blindness.

[shnsajax]

Can someone help me out? I like Old Style's idea of using a national award as my profile pic but I can't figure out how to get all 6 of Te'o's awards to fit into the allotted space.

Are you gonna be around after Saban teabags you guys?

 

That ought to be a penalty of some sort.

 

Not with SEC Officials.

[Old Style]

So Te'o isn't good enough to win the DPOY award for his own team?

 

http://www.wndu.com/home/headlines/Notre-Dame-team-awards-182627481.html