Jeremy Pruitt Update - Tennessee's Last Chance? (Late Kick Cut)

[@leedill9419]

People would never think Tennessee is 2nd in the SEC in all time wins. Because of the last 4 coaching hires than have ruined Tennessee football who use to be elite for 100 years.

[@vilheard3030]

I tell people this all the time,I'm an Auburn fan unfortunately but I've always respected Tennessee.

[@vilheard3030]

5 national championships right?

[@robjohnson8861]

@@vilheard3030 5 national championships right? AP 2 (1951, 98) According to school 7. Ha! Princeton claims 28

[@robjohnson8861]

"Because of the last 4 coaching hires than have ruined Tennessee football who use to be elite for 100 years." Elite program for 100 yrs? What? TN has been ranked #1 in ONLY 6 AP polls in the last 69 years. 5 of those polls were in 98. Lets say an avg 15 polls per season. That would be 1035 polls.

[@corybraswell510]

@@vilheard3030 6

[@sbolden123]

Remember that Jeremy Pruitt was not the first choice for Tennessee 🤷‍♂️. He was the 6th

[@markcrenshaw9562]

But Fulmer like him because of his way of thinking was pretty much his.

[@dhuck470]

He still could be the coach if he isnt tied up into this stuff at tennessee. Yall had gotten a lot better this year. Everyone had noticed , and then this.

[@tylermcmillan5286]

@@markcrenshaw9562 I think another reason Fulmer likes him is he knows he’ll never show Fulmer up and surpass him

[@eddiewilkinson9794]

As a Bama fan I can attest that we wandered the wilderness for nigh unto a generation.

[@tiguhhhh5415]

As a bandwagon Bama fan****

[@jeremyhutchings5578]

I am not a Bama fan but I'm not a hater either. I remember the days when so many Bama fans were livid about the Saban hire and the $$ he was paid. Saban swept 99% of that hate out the door within 2yrs. Its crazy that some dilusional people still think that Bama could have done better smh. He is only the best college coach ever. I luv Josh Pate's show and absolutely agree that the Vols could become contenders again but they ABSOLUTELY gotta get it right with the next hire. I'm not saying that UT or anyone else will dethrone Bama as top contender year after year but at least be in the mix. I know that Saban is aging and who knows how much longer he will want to coach. I do think that as long as he wants to coach that Alabama will be the team to beat and possibly continue that legacy after he is gone. They went 11-2 last season and nearly every casual fan thought their reign was over and what happens...they come back in 2020 with one of, if not the most dominant offenses ever. I mean, one of those offenses that could have still won playing 6-8 guys on defense. I better stop, I'm starting to sound like I am a Bama fan lol. Seriously, I'm no hater and happy for Bama.

[@JohnnyLoveseat]

Alabama wasn’t THIS bad between the 92 and 09 natties they still had several 10 win seasons and major bowl games .. lol

[@Britton_Thompson]

Alabama prior to Saban was never modern day Tennessee, Josh. Yes, Bama had a rough patch prior to Saban, but they never reached Tennessee's depths of depravity. Players were still willing to go to Alabama back then, it was mostly NCAA issues that prevented them from stockpiling enough of those guys to continue winning with. Everything Tennessee is suffering from currently is entirely the result of incompetence. When Alabama hired Saban, they were only 8 years removed from their last SEC Championship; 15 years removed from their last national championship. It's been 23 years on each count for Tennessee by now. Alabama and Tennessee became rivals in the mid 20th century because they were typically the two best SEC teams each year, and the winner of that game would emerge with the inside track on the conference title crown at the end of the year. It was a rivalry based entirely on quality of opponent and mutual respect. Sure, it got heated at times during the 90s and early 2000s, but historically it was always one of sportsmanship and competitive spirit. It's 2021, and Alabama still holds their parking pass to that game each year, but Tennessee has been forced to surrender theirs to LSU instead. The LSU game is Alabama's #2 rivalry now. The First Saturday in November is the new Third Saturday in October. Bama spends 0% of time thinking about Tennessee in the offseason, whereas Alabama remained a huge priority for Tennessee each year even when Bama was at it's worst pre-Saban. Which echoes another component that needs to be addressed here. When Alabama was bad, it was mostly bad by Alabama standards. When Spurrier was ruling the SEC back in the 90s, he still almost always had to go through Alabama in the SEC Championship Game each year. 9-3 and 8-4 were considered bad seasons for Alabama back then. Tennessee is routinely posting losing or .500 seasons currently, and they haven't gone to Atlanta since 2007. My overall point here is that even when Alabama was absolutely beclowning themselves with the Mike Dubose, Dennis Franchione, Mike Price, and Mike Shula hires; the utter laughingstock they became when their lawyers filed cases against the NCAA for judicial unfairness; they still weren't as bad as Tennessee is now, and they still had more capital as a prestige program that they'd accrued over their lifetime than Tennessee. Bama's had 5 head coaches win national titles in Tuscaloosa. Five! Tennessee's had 2. Even Bama's worst hires would post at least one 10 win or SEC Championship season before ultimately being fired later, while the last guy to do that at Tennessee has been promoted to Athletics Director, and is routinely worshipped as a deity in this state for some reason. *Bottom Line:* Alabama's highs have always been higher than Tennessee's highs, and their lows were never this damn low. It's a lost cause in Knoxville, Josh. There's no saving this program at this point. This is a Titans' state now, not a Volunteers state.

[@cameronfranklin5004]

Sooooo you dont remember being shut out by Southern Miss.... Bama had a bright spot here and there during that time but they were not much better than we are now.

[@harolddenton6031]

Blow hard bammer.

[@mistermexelplitskin647]

Whats the fascination with Kevin Steele ?? The dude was atrocious at Baylor as an HC and average as a DC at AwBarn

[@Ram-zc4fi]

it’s SEC good ol boy culture - and it’s why the top of the SEC isn’t elite/untouchable like it used to be. the muschamps, the steeles, the bobos, the rockers, etc just float around making ass loads of money as mediocre SEC coaches

[@jjjones7915]

What was Pete Caroll's record for The NY Jets and New England Patriots? Exactly

[@gamingdreams2142]

Kevin Steele was doing nothing but running to the boosters behind Malzans back. He is a back stabber.

[@jjjones7915]

@UChNb5qZbJmZP9e3Zs9K8UfA before RG3 all you ever had was Michael singletary and really really really bad teams.

[@jasonpaganelli9839]

Coming from a Bama fan you put it right on the money when you said we were a train wreck!! That's why I love this show!! Always great and appreciate the hard work y'all put in!!! Now I think Vols fans y'all need a "Mama called" fellow..... Y'all need that guy that's getting the band back together.... Yup Peyton Manning that's just my thoughts but I hope he doesn't cuz man I love all those commercials!!!

[@dhuck470]

I agree Payton would bring Tennessee back to greatness but i as a Bama fan wouldn't like it, but i would respect Payton and we would have our no 1 rival back. I wish yall luck

[@jasonpaganelli9839]

Sorry I didn't clarify...... B.S. Before SABAN!!! And he got us back on track!!

[@bamahammer3660]

As a Bama fan we would welcome Coach Pruitt back to Coach Saban's rehab center at Bama. But all jokes aside I have great respect for Pruitt and I would love to see him return to Bama as the CoDC. I will gurantee if Tennessee fires Pruitt Coach Saban will reach out to him within 24 hours. Both are extremely close.

[@sulil1938]

What's the word on Pete Golding? Is he staying? There's been rumors about him leaving and following Sark to Texas

[@mynamedoesntmatter8652]

Swing that door one more time, do-si-do. He’d put some Bama fire back into our D. His D mind is akin to Saban’s and besides, after biting off that bad tasting chew, Jeremy could use a break.

[@bamahammer3660]

@@mynamedoesntmatter8652 LOL

[@bamahammer3660]

@@sulil1938 I have not heard that rumor but if it is true I would jump for joy. Before he came to Bama he coached at El Paso. Sarkisian has already taken half of the Bama coaching staff with him already.

[@bluelivesmatter719]

@@sulil1938 As a Bama fan, I'd be fine with Golding bolting for Texas. Should promote Charlie Strong

[@JoshPateCFB]

Thanks for watching guys. Be sure to SUBSCRIBE to the channel and CLICK THE BELL for notifications as we bring you 3 live shows per week. And FOLLOW JOSH on Twitter: twitter.com/LateKickJosh

[@jacobbjohns]

The problem for Tennessee making that home run hire is they might be going on probation. At Alabama, Dubose was a disaster. Sanctions also hampered the program. Shula didn't know it, but he was never hired to be the man. He was only hired to try to hold things together while Alabama waited for it to pass. Once it did, they got Saban. Tennessee may have to do something similar before spending the money to get the right guy.

[@anondescriptobserver6774]

A young-ish, sort of underqualified alum would suit this role, which would imply Tee Martin. Martin is on the current staff, however, and may get caught up in whatever issues are being investigated internally.

[@fredpendergrass6960]

jacobbjohns, Tennessee won't be going on probation- they are just trying to come up with a just cause to let Pruitt go w/o having to pay him big bucks.

[@davidhamilton6870]

11 minutes later and I have NO IDEA what your point was.

[@cmortonwvu]

What are the accusations against Pruitt? What are they investigating behind the scenes?

[@xeverlastingxchaosx9679]

Recruiting violations

[@wtk6069]

No better way to become mediocre than to change coaches like women change hairstyles. Consistency and continuity is the #1 key to building a successful program.

[@mtthw741]

Love your honest/unbiased views

[@JoshPateCFB]

Thanks Matt! - JP

[@ptclaus98]

Fully agree with you on the best course of action being a year long search where the powers that be at Tennessee take the time to actually vet who is good for the program, not who's in with Thunder or the Haslems, not someone Jimmy Sexton gets Nick Saban and Jimbo Fisher to wax poetically about, not a yes man for Fulmer to micro manage. Therein lies the issue, though. The process will have to go deeper than a simple coaching search, and said powers that be need to have a reckoning with themselves that the politics and culture at Tennessee is the foremost issue. If, and it's a mighty big if, they can do that, then they must figure out collectively what the identity of this football program is going to be. Once they do that, then the coaching search has a good chance of not being a failure. Because right now, due to all of the outside noise, even a coach who could be successful at a school that hasn't had nearly as high a ceiling as Tennessee is fighting an uphill battle for success at UT, and that's in general, not absolute success.

[@jamietwigg5152]

Fulmer needs shown the door, he made a mess out of ETSU's AD

[@BeaterJeep]

Coaches stopped Tweeting a while back ……… that’s when the university knew and the behind the scenes stuff started. In my opinion.

[@colinsmith484]

Good catch & fair point

[@tonycrabtree3416]

Fair catch & good point.

[@dhuck470]

What is known? Does anyone there know whats happening?

[@BeaterJeep]

@@dhuck470 from what is reported…… under Fulmer, a giant list of Level 1 and Level 2 violations that borders on “lack of institutional control.”

[@brooksgorman3285]

Pruitt and steele both stay and this train gets back on the tracks💯...we don't need a new coach or any bandwagon fans. Buy in or shut your pie hole💯

[@abfnjewbgalr]

Alabama was never in the place Tennessee is now. They won 10 games in 2002 and 2005 and won an SEC title in 1999.

[@jetmech9287]

Yeah, I think since 2007 that the Vols have had 8 seasons where they were at or below .500, and only two seasons where they finished ranked. I cannot understand how UT got here.

[@abfnjewbgalr]

@@jetmech9287 I really can't either. They don't even have the excuse Nebraska has about not being near where top recruits are from. I'm only 24, but during my time as a student at UF the Tennessee game felt like it had the same intensity as a game vs Kentucky. It's wild how far they have fallen.

[@jetmech9287]

​@@abfnjewbgalr In the 90s it was as heated as any rivalry ever. In the last 15 years, the Vols are 7-38 against their big three rivals: UF, UGA, Bama. Of those games, 37 (82%) came with UF, UGA, or Bama being ranked, average ranking was 7.7. In the 90s they were 17-11. Of those games, 23 (82%) were when UF, UGA, or Bama was ranked. The average ranking was 8.6. For very little change in level of difficulty, that's a massive change in performance.

[@abfnjewbgalr]

@@jetmech9287 god damn that's a hell of a stat. It really does just show how far it's fallen. I feel like now, from UF's perspective, the LSU game has replaced Tennessee when it comes to our rivals. And I'm not sure I see that changing anytime soon.

[@PallahDaOracle]

Us vols feel 😩

[@jakez3171]

You just recommended that Tennessee nail a hire... I laughed. 😂

[@dhuck470]

Lol they will probably tey and hire one of the few Bama coaches left. LoL i just wished they would go after ga. Or florida or texas a&m coaches or others in the sec or acc, maybe clemson

[@dhuck470]

Doing Pruitt this way. Hope Tennessee gets the worst coach possible because they will deserve it. Look how they have treated their past coaches like Butch Jones. You havw to support your head coach not cut his legs out from underneath him. Hiring kevin Steel ,. A snake ive heard from the Auburn fans ( i dont know, just know what their fans have said online about him, some liked him and tryed to get him hired as Auburn's head coach, so i dont know ) but its wrong for anyone at Tennessee but the HC and AD to hire any coach

[@patrickhaynes7540]

@@dhuck470 either way they need a big hire, stop hiring assistant coaches. We need someone with a great resume. Tennessee has the money, to a hire a big name guy.

[@kckc6588]

If you’re a traditionally elite program.... you’re only one great hire away from being back. A great coach will turn a program around over night. Only program I feel like this may not apply to is Nebraska....not sure they’ll ever get back. Texas for example.... a couple dominos fall for them with the 2022 recruiting class with Sark’s ability as a play caller and they’re off to the races.

[@jimbobintennessee5788]

We sure dont need Kevin Steele when our head coach is suppose to be a defensive guru. I just dont understand how teams all over the country go out and score a ton of points against top level teams with players not as highly recruited as Tenn. Obviously Tenn cant develop the talent and hasnt been able to for a while now. I feel thats where the problem is. Develop what you have.

[@killersaxsolo]

I don’t know how somebody can look at Tennessee and not say that college football has left them behind. They’ve been irrelevant since 2005 And they’ve been publicly embarrassed by regularly losing to Kentucky, Vanderbilt, and South Carolina who they have traditionally dominated. Lane Kiffin, Derek Dooley, Butch Jones, now Jeremy Pruitt. I was raised a Tennessee fan without ever attending the University, so it’s very likely that my perspective is different than someone who is a proud alumnus (I feel very differently about Texas A&M seeing as how I am a current student there).

[@fredpendergrass6960]

Ben T. I can say Tennessee isn't irrelevant in football because I'm not 19 years old. Being quite a bit older, I have seen every school in the sec go through similar trying times. Including Alabama.

[@killersaxsolo]

@@fredpendergrass6960 I can say they’re irrelevant because the last time they won an SEC championship, I was in third grade. I’m 32 now with a family.

[@fredpendergrass6960]

So I guess it's safe to say that they are irrelevant to you. Fair enough. I'm going on 64 and have had the pleasure of seeing the Vols beat Alabama 7 years in a row from 1995 up until 2001. (O.k. so it's not 14 in a row like Bama's current streak against the Vols.) We will get things right again someday....I hope. Great win over those Buckeyes!

[@killersaxsolo]

@@fredpendergrass6960 I hope y’all can right the ship. Hire Freeze and I think y’all will.

[@fredpendergrass6960]

@@killersaxsolo well the thing is, they quit calling me to ask for my opinion...oh well.

[@tomblount5635]

Unfortunately I think you are spot on. Jeremy was not the guy for that job. Great assistant but not ready for the spotlight. Maybe he will return to Bama lol 😂

[@sunsetjaden8062]

Tennessee need a new Coach and Fast

[@mynamedoesntmatter8652]

Tennessee football (AD and fan base) is their own nightmare.

[@enclave9614]

@@mynamedoesntmatter8652 yep, said this many times, as long as Fulmer is there TN is going nowhere.

[@wesleysmith2934]

You guys say this every 2 years

[@sunsetjaden8062]

@@wesleysmith2934 Who the hell wouldn’t

[@lokilxix]

Tennesse is dragging this out so that Saban won't bring him back at DC.

[@tylersouthard9299]

Why would that even be a possibility ?

[@lokilxix]

@@tylersouthard9299 Everyone else on the staff just left and Saban already knows him. It's mostly just a joke, only mostly though the Alabama/Tennessee hate runs pretty deep.

[@mynamedoesntmatter8652]

@@lokilxix Saban doesn’t hate Pruitt and Bama fans don’t either. If Saban can get him back on staff as an assistant DC I feel sure he’d do it. If Tennessee boots Pruitt with late slim pickings, that is. Unless they’re going to hire Steele as HC and cobble together a so-so underlings staff.

[@lokilxix]

@@mynamedoesntmatter8652 Wow okay. So yeah Saban and Pruitt no bad blood at all. Tennessee and Alabama though? Yeah the hate is real and deep. I've lived it 40 years The administrators at Tennessee would do anything they could to screw with Bama especially since Bama OWNs the rivalry now. Given that Alabama is almost guaranteed to continue to succeed while Tennessee is almost surely going to continue to be a joke for at least the next 2-3 years letting Pruitt go right back to winning after running them further into the ground is out of the question.

[@gamingdreams2142]

Grow a brain.

[@dhuck470]

If Pruitt and Steel both know about his hiring and are ok with it then i guess it's ok. Who knows who will ens up there. All i know is Saban is going after better NFL coaches to upgrade, not downgrade on coaches

[@tommymorris760]

Why would ANYONE want Steele as HC after what he did behind the scenes at Auburn?? Plus his stint at Baylor was behind terrible..

[@dhuck470]

I think tennessee will let Pruitt go and Alabama will go after him unless he is tied up in some kind of ncaa violation.

[@xeverlastingxchaosx9679]

Hes gone now lol..and yes he violated NCAA recruiting rules. Phil Fulmer is also leaving the program..

[@xeverlastingxchaosx9679]

Hes gone now lol..and yes he violated NCAA recruiting rules. Phil Fulmer is also leaving the program..

[@calebhammons7851]

JP should be our coach. Give him full reins of the program and I bet you’ll see change. Lots of outside pressure from everyone I’m sure.

[@xeverlastingxchaosx9679]

Really? He isnt a good fit for their program LMFAO the man is an absolute joke of a HC!

[@xeverlastingxchaosx9679]

He gone 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@calebhammons7851]

@@xeverlastingxchaosx9679 eh we will see

[@xeverlastingxchaosx9679]

@@calebhammons7851 Not anymore. JP done left the building!

[@jtndds1485]

All the Tennessee’s, Aubarn’s, Florida’s, Georgia’s, and TAMU’s won’t be able to get a seat at the big boy table until coach Saban retires. If they do get to the big boy table like LSU, they won’t stay there long. They will be back at the kids table the following year.

[@tonycrabtree3416]

Every program on the nation will gladly be LSU once a decade.

[@waviiboiitrey6]

Please can they get Hugh Freeze 😢😢😢

[@roncarpenter7240]

You must hate TN. Remember how Freeze departed Ole Miss in disgrace and just a step away from the slammer?

[@kylechrestman6955]

@@roncarpenter7240 I’m a huge UT fan, and I’d be happy to have Freeze. Everyone deserves a 2nd chance. Who’s to say he hasn’t changed? The other side of this argument is that freeze made ole miss a contender. He made them A contender for the Sec Championship, which in turn makes you a contender for the National Championship. He did all of that at ole miss, which doesn’t have the rich tradition of winning that we have at UT. Look what he has done at Liberty, and quickly. I believe that Freeze is the only hire, if getting back to elite status is what our administration cares about. It doesn’t matter what he DID, it matters what he’s DOING now

[@gingobellz4800]

@@kylechrestman6955 he did ALL THAT by cheating

[@waviiboiitrey6]

@@kylechrestman6955 THANK YOU KYLE, people deserve second chances and he is a great coach

[@SS11660]

You can't fire a man for cheat and turn around and hire somebody else proven to be a cheater! The school reputation would never recover.

[@jimbobintennessee5788]

Please hire a offensive genius. Im so tired of great QB recruits wasting their time at Tenn. Hire somebody that can score 40 points a game.

[@dhuck470]

A great coach like Oaytin Manning would let yall get us, Bama your no1 rival game back, it would be a fun game again

[@jeremyhutchings5578]

I knew that the program was in trouble the way Butch left it. While there should be little to no doubt that Pruitt is a fine D coordinator, I never thought that he was cut out for HC. I'm not a player only a fan so I don't know the personal repoire he has with his players but I can't help but see how he conducts himself to the media and fans. Although more dull to the media than Saban, its almost as he is trying to copy Saban with stone face like some other failed coaches from the Saban tree act. However, Saban has command, relationship and respect from his players and staff and rightfully so. I am saying all of this as a VFL fan. It is just hard to watch programs like A&M, Florida even Ole Miss have success with 1st to 3rd year HC's and staff while my Vols are right back where they were 3yrs. ago. Look what Stools is doing at UK with 2 and 3 star recruits. I was mad just like every other Vols fan when Muffin left us high and dry a dozen years ago but I would sure welcome him back now. Anyone that says they wouldn't...well, we just disagree! Muffin was young when he took the job at UT and one year later was offered his dream job. yeah, I was furious but I feel that he has matured. I wonder if he ever wonders how many natty's he would have had he stayed at UT idk ?? Maybe none. I didn't mean for this post to be about Kiffin but if Steele is sticking around, it would be nice to get an offensive minded HC. Sorry, soap box over

[@wesleysmith2934]

Can't change coaches every 2-3 years and expect better results.

[@cravenhunter562]

Wesley Smith can’t hold onto a proven loser and moron just cuz it’s only been 3 years

[@tonycrabtree3416]

@@cravenhunter562 You can because financial aspects of contracts start to compound.

[@joeblow2069]

Butch jones was 34-27 and got fired. How could UT keep any coach with a losing record?(16-19) I thought he should have been fired in 2019 after losing those first 2 games Georgia St and BYU. I'm an Alabama fan who lives in Tennessee. I should not care but UT's standards apparently keep falling.

[@ronsisland18814]

Karma for the way y’all treated Schiano

[@mynamedoesntmatter8652]

They crapped in their own nest on that deal. Poor Gregg. Innocent, and he gets treated like that from smug, less-than perfect Tennessee people who think their ____ doesn’t have any odiferous quality.

[@killersaxsolo]

As someone who hates Tennessee, I can understand fans being upset at the hire. Dude is an underwhelming coach

[@oliverk.401]

Because people are knocking on Schiano's door to be their head coach? Dude was a joke hire from the beginning. If UT hired Schiano, they'd somehow be in a worse position. Pruitt was a gamble, but Schiano was a known commodity. One with very poor returns.

[@fredpendergrass6960]

Hey tonsisland, I wonder what Karma has in store for Schiano for the way he left that kid to be molested by the Penn State coach?!?

[@greggalton3331]

@@oliverk.401 he’s a better coach than Pruitt. That was the point. Say whatever you want. Pruitt can’t be a head football coach. He’s an excellent DC but he’s not a leader for men and young men. That’s not how he’s built. Greg is way more suited to do that. 3-6 with the Rutgers and most of their losses were within two scores. Tennessee in year 3 of Pruitt regressed. I think had Kiffin stayed, Tennessee would of won the east a handful of times and may have a sec championship by now. He’s the best guy they’ve hired in the last two decades. But he didn’t wanna be there lol. That’s where the program is at. Not many well respected coaches want to deal with the lucid fan base. Y’all are absolutely delusional. I live in Chattanooga and I have to deal with it daily. It’s legit like a mental illness at this point. 12 years since a division winner. 20 since a conference champion. It’s sad. Just let Pruitt have 5 years to give the program some stability and assure other coaches they won’t get fired in 2-3 years if they aren’t winning. That’s how you build it back. Not thinking the next nick saban is going to grace the locker room and save you like some football Jesus. Fulmer needs to go because he’s keeping the program in mediocrity but the fans feel like they screwed him over when they wanted him fired so they are lenient towards him and allow him to metaphorical shit the bed with the awful decisions he makes. You have to reestablish the strong foundation that once was. That’s how you build something back.

[@northfloridacowboy8728]

In my personal opinion (a gator, so no dog in the race) I don't think UT should fire Pruitt, he deserves one more year and in firing him, it would just be lending to the same issues they've had the last decade. Now, if or when UT does make their next hire, it should be a long, methodical and well vetted process. The coach poole for quality coaches is shallow. Freeze is intriguing to say the least, but if it were me, I'd give everything the program could to hire Josh McDaniels (NE Patriots OC) to be a HC. That would be a homerun hire!!

[@sunsetjaden8062]

Can’t just they fire him instead interviewing

[@epc782]

He’s got a contract. So if we fire then we owe him millions. If he’s investigated we settle much much less.

[@keegangossett2896]

It isn’t wise. Doing that would hurt the program more than help. If they are indeed trying to fire Pruitt, they are trying to do it with cause so they don’t have to do a buyout. If they fire him without cause (without doing something illegal), then they have to pay him his salary in the contract, which is through 2026 I think. This would cause a financial problem and they couldn’t spend the big bucks to hire what would be considered “a good coach” because they have to buyout Pruitt, and potentially other staff. If they can’t fire him with cause, I think Pruitt gets another year.

[@mynamedoesntmatter8652]

@@epc782 Investigated for what, Tennessee‘a past problems?

[@terrydouglas5008]

@@keegangossett2896 texas had no problem paying 25 million in buyouts to Tom Herman and his assistants plus a high payment to the new coach and staff.

[@keegangossett2896]

@@mynamedoesntmatter8652 apparently for recruiting violations from as early as May of 2019, and even some prior to the 20-21 season.

[@clayspence9832]

Tennessee never fails to throw a shit show in the football program

[@dhuck470]

Maybe it will get straightened out. I remember when Bama was a big rival when i was at Bama in.79

[@arepadetrigo]

Sorry, but you are overstating the comparison between Tennessee 2021 and Alabama pre-Saban. No arguing that Alabama was low. Very low. But Tennessee is in survival mode at this point. I agree that Tennessee can come back, but it will be hard. They have a good winning tradition compared to, say South Carolina. But Alabama did have a more storied history before Saban that Tennessee doesn't have. That history helped Bama restart once they landed Coach Saban. When he came, it had been 14 years since Alabama's last NC. It has now been 14 years since Tennessee beat Alabama! Tennessee's situation is at a whole different level.

[@Stopyhecap]

I think Hugh Freeze would be a strong hire for UT. But nobody talking about Billy Napier out there...

[@markcrenshaw9562]

My thoughts are Steele is the new coach. Haven't been able to get anything on campus from the Students but what I have been hearing off campus that he is going to be the new head coach. As for Freeze. Many students don't want him here and because of his reputation. From what I have heard. This guy could be trouble especially what happened from his last gig at Old Miss and how they handled some of his miss behaviors. Personally I believe because of how Puritt handle the team this year with Garuatano and why we are seeing this ship sinking again. He has to go.

[@mynamedoesntmatter8652]

Hugh Freeze’s “last gig” wasn’t Ole Miss. He’s still HC his present job at Liberty.

[@markcrenshaw9562]

I was referring to his stint with Ole Miss. I know about Liberty.

[@TheScooter1963]

Come back to Bama as DC..

[@johnstoffell6463]

When I was growing up Alabama couldn’t lace Tennessee’s cleats now it’s the other shoe time x10 but I lived in Knoxville born and raised and If you haven’t ever been there and seen what they have you would think it was a third world country but they are cream of the crop big time money behind the football program, I hate it for Pruitt but, Dooley or Jones wasn’t the correct hire kiffin was a stupid hire and Pruitt just wasn’t fit for the job it’ll change and everyone will forget the past 15 years

[@jawjackin6513]

Butch Jones has 2 nine win seasons. Beat florida. Lost to Florida on a hail Mary. Beat georgia. And when he lost to georgia it was by 3. Butch didn't lose a bowl game. Tennessee fans let other fan bases say how bad Jones was. He took Baker Mayfield and oklahoma to double overtime. AND he never had the money to keep a legitimate staff, nothing like what Pruitt has got. I'm just saying.

[@TheJpep2424]

It won't ever change. Ut football is out of business permanently. And ut was only better than Bama for a brief time when Bama was down. Ut has never been on Bama's level historically. Never has been never will.

[@brianbenninghoff3394]

Bama was never in a 15-20 year abyss like UT is currently experiencing... UT is not a national brand like UT once was and will take half a decade to remake itself if it ever can. The obstacles why...1. Nick Saban and Kirby Smart own the recruiting landscape and Saban is not leaving fir at least 5 years and Smart is around for 10 plus The entire UT management from Chancellor(s), presidents, boards alumni base, recruiting etc....and the utter carousel of coaching hires and staff 5 years until UT has a decent foothold again...if these buffons can even figure that out..... The abyss is Football Time in Tennessee!

[@prestonyoung7700]

Could Jeff fisher or Gus Malhzon be a dark horse coach contender for UT?

[@freshtendrills5969]

Malzhan might not win a title, but he could at least get tennessee back to 8 to 9 wins a year I think. But honestly, if you're going malzhan, why not just go after freeze?

[@michaelhammond7115]

Setting the bar really low on both

[@mynamedoesntmatter8652]

@@michaelhammond7115 But, they can’t set the bar any higher than where it is.

[@bluelivesmatter719]

Would LOVE to see Fisher in Knoxville. And LOVE to see Vawl fans lose their minds when he goes 6-6 each year

[@jacobguy3343]

Im 24 and an Alabama fan i remember the 3-9 season 😳 thos were dark times

[@DymaxionDon]

There is one major difference between Tennessee today and Alabama of 20 years ago. The Tennessee situation is 100% self-inflicted while the problems at Alabama were primarily inflicted by Phil Fulmer and the NCAA in collusion.

[@fredpendergrass6960]

Donald Sheree, Alabama was struggling due to alumni infighting over who should replace Bear Bryant when he retired. Many insisted they hire a Bama connected guy. Long before the mismanagement of Alabama's recruiting of a Tennessee highschool football player.

[@DymaxionDon]

@@fredpendergrass6960 You sound like another delusional Tennessee fan. Only in Knoxville would they believe your fairy tale. To make a long story short, Fulmer conspired with the NCAA to bring down the University of Alabama's football program.

[@fredpendergrass6960]

@@DymaxionDon Hey Donny, doing some drinking this weekend? Judging by your text, I'd say so. Or at least I hope so. That way you'd have an excuse for your little tantrum. Not sure if you were alive back then, or sober, but everyone that followed SEC football knew well what the situation was in Tuscaloosa during those times. Enjoy your weekend and please- don't drive.

[@fredpendergrass6960]

@@DymaxionDon that's a cool little dog you have there. I really do like him. Maybe you ought to let him offer his opinions on the state of affairs in SEC football. He might actually know what he's talking about.

[@fredpendergrass6960]

@@DymaxionDonthanks for reminding me that there are fanatical Alabama folks such as yourself that hate mean ol Philip Fulmer because he put a stop to Bama alumni showering a potential football prospect with cash gifts. Even Steve Spurrier, who is no fan of the Vols, said he'd have done the same in blowing the whistle on this type of cheating. Beyond that, there was a lot of anger and hurt feelings on both sides. This rivalry has lost some of it's luster in recent time due to Alabama winning 14 games in a row and it looks like that won't change soon so long as Tennessee continues to play musical chairs with their coaching hires. Am I delusional to hope Tennessee gets their act together in the near future and returns to a time where they compete, and beat, the Alabama's of the world.

[@mikecallahan6577]

I say that UT needs to get rid of Fulmer. He`s struck out with every HC hire he`s made. I love the guy, but I can`t help but believe he`s incompetent, and someone else should hire the next HC. Watching teams like Alabama an Ohio State, it`s just shocking how much better they look on the field. We`re light years behind them. If Hugh Freeze is hired, fine by me. Do what it takes to get this team on the road out of the wilderness!

[@BV9429]

I don't know what to say for Tennessee right now it's just awful

[@dhuck470]

Maybe something good will come about. Hire Payton Manning and we at Bama could get our no 1 rivals back

[@billbutler9122]

I don't believe he can succeed at TN.

[@jakez3171]

Seriously, Tennessee has no chance of competing again in the SEC... NONE! If I am making the decision at Tennessee; I am doing whatever it takes to get out of the SEC and into the ACC so that I can get Alabama, Georgia, Florida off of my schedule. Tennessee needs 4-5 years of 8 and 9 win season in the ACC just to wash the last 15 years of losing football out of their system. It will not happen in the SEC.

[@Joe-ht1ik]

I wish Gruden still wanted the job.

[@TheJpep2424]

LoL

[@kevincollins5257]

Tennessee football program is a dumpster fire and it’s been a dumpster fire for the past 11 years... Pruitt was in over his head

[@deathgrinderb3284]

This is going to be one of the hardest jobs in the country. Very hard to recruit for ut. I live near knoxville. And a kid here just won the butkis award. And hes hoing to dame. Tennessee does not get tn reruits. And they dont get many out of state. Very hard job

[@jaydthamotivator]

MAFA hit by Tennessee! It could be your best friend.

[@kennydodd5681]

Well said....... Go Big Orange 🍊!!

[@xeverlastingxchaosx9679]

Well his time has officially ran out...Him and Fulmer both will be leaving the program. Just got word on that now.

[@rhanlon6891]

Tennessee is better than hiring Kevin Steele as the HC. That would be a lack luster hire

[@David-li4uw]

Alabama was never in the shape Tennessee is. Tennessee has been trash for 14 years. The years Alabama was a train wreck were 2000 to 2006 and a couple of those seasons were actually 10 win seasons.

[@davidbillings8271]

Not true. Tennessee beat Bama 7 years straight in the 90s into early 2000s

[@tylermckenzie7838]

Try 95 - 06

[@bluelivesmatter719]

@@tylermckenzie7838 Nope, Bama won in 02 & 05

[@tylermckenzie7838]

@@bluelivesmatter719 won what?

[@bluelivesmatter719]

@@tylermckenzie7838 Nevermind, I had misread your response.

[@jacquelineeichelberger2194]

Maybe mr fulmer should find another job No body can have a former coach watching over their shoulder especially when maybe they, fulmer, wants to be the coach Tenn fans need to be patient and be fans and leave coaching to those who get big bucks

[@bigpoppa7152]

They better flip some big money and get somebody we cañt screw around this time

[@johnnymassengale6275]

The question is if Pruitt isn't retained who is that one guy that's the "Nick Saben" hire?

[@dhuck470]

Im not sure who you are talking about. Most all of our coaches this year are gone too. So yall have company in the coach hiring world. Good luck

[@jasonbray7862]

Phat Phillip as head coach

[@Gipper3670]

A lot of these guys have or had great Positions as a DC/ OC and making killer Money at big time Colleges, but just cant accept that and want to try to be a Head Coach and fall on there Face,Brent Venables seems to be the only smart one .

[@troywilson9885]

Harley Man the dream isn’t to be an OC/DC. The dream job is to be the head coach. Not many wants to stop at the coordinator position

[@Gipper3670]

@@troywilson9885 agree and we all want to have the head job,be the main man, but not every oc/dc is head coaching material.

[@rhanlon6891]

I dont particularly think Freeze is the best person for UT either

[@holdenwill]

The administration and Athletic Department are kneecapping this coach. His record clearly shows he cannot perform the core functions of his job, dragging this out for a 6 million settlement. I don’t mind after paying Jones, Dooley, Monte and Fulmer to go away. Millions

[@deathgrinderb3284]

lets face it it was stupid to fire fulmer. we havnt been close to good since.

[@jeffkleminsky5877]

Tennessee paid Fulmer to go away then they brought him back. Fulmer hAs been bad karma for Tennessee .

[@deathgrinderb3284]

@@jeffkleminsky5877 all i know is our only modern title. and our best chances to win the title. have been with fulmer. butch jones did good that one year. were we almost beat 3 of the 4 teams in the playoffs, in the regular season. and our last 4 bowl wins. have been against better record big ten teams. so a all sec schedule didnt do pruitt any favors.

[@funkdoktor9099]

Im an Alabama fan just fyi. But I think what Tennessee is doing to Pruitt is awful. This investigation was spearheaded by Tenn themselves just to "find" dirt on Pruitt so they can fire him without paying his buyout. News flash. All coaches have dirt. Tenn was fine with this dirt as just the price of running an SEC program. Until the latter part of this season. Now that they arent sure that Pruitt is "the guy", they want an easy out. And want to avoid paying out on contract terms that they agreed too. It is a terrible way to do business. If you dont want Pruitt anymore, be respectable honorable business people and pay him to leave. Its not Pruitts fault that Tenn gave him a raise and a contract extension. Tennessee has made it impossible for Pruitt to be successful. This is on Fat Phil. Not Pruitt. Tennessee is a bunch of scallywag dirtbags. Pruitt is better off. I wouldnt go coach for them unless my contract was pre-paid in advance for at least 5 years.

[@JTDyer21]

Personally I wish Tennessee would just sit out the 2021, 2022, and 2023 football seasons. The program is just an absolute joke.

[@dhuck470]

Dont feel that way. It only takes 1 good hire. And yall could be our no 1 rival again. Im a Bama fan if you havent guessed. We also went through quite a few duds before we lucked upand got coach Saban. They are few and far between truely great ones, and y'all s program is one of a few that could support a great coaching staff. Keep trying. Good luck from a Bama fan. We need our no1 rivals back

[@JTDyer21]

@@dhuck470, sorry but I think Tennessee is done. The program is too far gone. Tennessee's own players are leaving the program even now. Personally I don't care anymore as long as the SEC rules the roost. If it's Alabama that's cool. The sad part is even if the Vols did sit out the next 3 seasons the results would likely still be the same. Truth be told they would get more respect if they would just completely cancel their football program for good.

[@williambush7971]

I'll tell who needs to go besides Pruitt. Phil Fulmer needs to go. He shouldn't have been hired to start with. Tell me one good thing he brought to the table?

[@quinnshepherd4417]

As a vols fan. It hurts to watch this shit show.

[@dhuck470]

I know what you mean. We went through quite a few dud's before we got Saban. Just keep the faith and searching

[@michaeld5770]

I dont think the coach is the problem. I bet if Saban moved to Tennessee he couldnt turn it around for several years.

[@fredpendergrass6960]

...and you'd be wrong. Tennessee, even though being terrible these past few years, still has beaten Alabama MORE than any other team in the SEC and is 2nd only to Bama in overall wins.

[@brianw5336]

@@fredpendergrass6960 Tennessee hasn't beaten Alabama since saban has been there

[@fredpendergrass6960]

You are right about Saban not losing to Tennessee but I still stand by what I said about the Vols. Congratulations on beating Ohio State! I knew Bama would win big.

[@randyjordan5521]

Saban would do okay at TN because he'd demand to be completely in charge of the program. There'd be none of this meddling from administrators or boosters.

[@MrGili4]

Pruitt's contract should not be renewed for next season at all! His use of Guarantano continuously was so stupid! Guarantano was the 12th man for the other team in every single game he played in. I honestly don't think Guarantano knows what a football is and what it's used for, and Pruitt is not a coach! Do not hire a coach that's outside of the SEC because they don't ever prove to be worthy enough for the job! They don't know what the SEC is all about!

[@mynamedoesntmatter8652]

Saban was way outside the SEC and look at what he’s done. He’s rewritten SEC football, or haven’t you noticed?

[@MrGili4]

@@mynamedoesntmatter8652 Yes I've noticed, but he is the exception rather than the rule. Saban could go anywhere and achieve the same results, but he chose to go where there was already a legendary coach (Bear Bryant) to compete with his legacy, and Saban has exceeded that! UT has chosen several coaches outside the SEC and all have been dismal failures, or haven't you noticed that?

[@mynamedoesntmatter8652]

@@MrGili4 After sixty years of football, yes. I’ve “noticed.”

[@MrGili4]

@@mynamedoesntmatter8652 That's good you notice things like that! I've noticed for 75 years so far and still counting!

[@MrGili4]

@@mynamedoesntmatter8652 And another thing - some who've been hired as UT's coach from the SEC have been pure duds for us, and one perfect example of that was Bill Battle from Alabama! 85% of all the games we lost during his tenure was to Alabama and Auburn! I think he was a mole sent undercover to undermine UT football in favor of Alabama teams.

[@deathgrinderb3284]

i hope they keep pruitt for at least one or two more years. we had a good recruiting class last year. but tennessee is one of the hardest places to recruit for. its going to be a hard job. the next saban is the only one who is going to change it around. i mean i knew this year was going to be rough. an all sec schedule.

[@TheEthanWaller]

I would agree if the bridge wasn't burnt. I think this year was just a bad fluke year and JP could be a great coach. We'll never know because there are too many chiefs and not enough indians at UT right now

[@deathgrinderb3284]

@@TheEthanWaller i mean i didnt know about the allegations. what r they saying he did? it was the all sec schedule. and what i mean by that is a 3-7 miss st. beat tulsa a top 25 team. so ut is in the hardest conference and its not close. they have to beat ga, fl, bama twice, and other sec teams. maybe a and m. so yea.

[@jjjones7915]

Tennessee is not hard place to recruit for.even as we have been down we still recruited in the top 15 in the nation. Tennessee's brand has been tarnished but it's still a national brand with the likes of Peyton manning, Alvin camara, Jason Witten etc.

[@TheEthanWaller]

@@deathgrinderb3284 No one knows what the accusations are. There's strong belief that this is a witch hunt just to get him out. The contract is worded that if there are a number very small rule-break (which we all know there are) he can be fired with cause. Someone above Fulmer wants Pruitt out and this is how they're going about it. It's sickening and infuriating that there are so many people who think they own this program.

[@deathgrinderb3284]

@@jjjones7915 yes they r. we just had a linebacker/running back. in a high school right down the road from me. he won the buckus award and guess where hes going... to notre dame. tennessee does not get tennessee recruits. other teams do. tennessee may be one of the hardest places to recruit for. thats why they suck. they cant get any players.

[@yjjones785]

They just fired him

[@jesselancaster7]

Peyton manning was 4-0 Against Alabama 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@Ananias03]

rogue boosters/trustees and Phil Fulmer have and always will be the Vols problem.

[@armus550b]

If Tennessee wants to succeed at something, try soccer. Maybe equestrian.

[@DrakeBlackwolf]

You always say a lot, but never say anything......

[@JoshPateCFB]

Thanks for watching. - JP

[@jetmech9287]

1:15 the most Pruitt thing ever was the Cornholio look.

[@coreystanfill9064]

Jeff Fisher?????

[@williamnpc8133]

Ain’t a first

[@Bey11ktb]

There culture is horrible! I knew Pruitt was a flop. Can you really imagine him recruiting the type of players UT wanted to get?

[@Chastain8]

Josh ya want an AD job at Tennessee.. why is this so hard to figure out there? Why is this such a shit show, karma maybe but doesn’t it straighten out when ya hire the Ol Battle Captain back as AD, guess not.. tough being a Tennessee fan , always will be.. who knows what their up to.. no clue and I’m sure Tennessee will screw it up somehow..

[@williamnpc8133]

I’ll take doug Monroe more then anyone else on the list

[@Bucks7542]

Tennessee should go after Tom Herman

[@bluelivesmatter719]

Well, Little UT does like to get Big UT's rejects. And it works typically, see Rik Barnes

[@dwight552]

no