2017 College Football Thread

[cardsfantx]

Other than being a big name, I don't get the appeal of Gruden. Sure he won a Superbowl and is well known.

But, how good/committed would he be at recruiting. What type of system would he run? He's had ample opportunities and his name gets thrown around a lot for college/pro jobs, but he's never taken one....why?

It's not hard to deduce that he doesn't want the work/responsibility/pressure associated with the job.

And, sure, he may be able to recruit on name recognition, maybe, but does he really provide a better opportunity than any other program for a player to develop and win?

I think TN fans look at it and think, Step 1: Hire Gruden. Step 2: Win national championships when in reality it is much more difficult and complicated

just take a look at lovie smith...a very good NFL head coach it would seem...how's that working out for Illinois?

[go birds]

I think the appeal, for tennessee fans, is that he has ties to the university. He coached under majors, has a wife that was a cheerleader there (and family that still lives in the area) and a son that's currently enrolled at the university.

He sees the writing on the wall with ESPN and the NFL as a whole. Sure he could step right back into coaching in the NFL. In fact he's been approached by numerous teams and declined.

Regarding recruiting--not an issue imo. He's gonna surround himself with a great staff (its been stated that part of the reason he didn't accept the job in 2012 was because they couldn't come to terms with the amount for his staff) that will do the recruiting.

Tennessee fans look at it this way:

Get Gruden
Get the best QB recruits in the nation
Other talent will follow
Get to Atlanta
Make playoffs

[AWvsCBsteeeerike3]

So Jon Gruden won't have to recruit but will be a great recruiter? That's really underselling the vast majority of head coaches in America that are busting their asses to get recruits. An assistant coach for The Jon Gruden will be able to land a player that Jim Harbaugh or Nick Saban or Mark Richt or Tom Herman or [insert HC here] can't? No way. Gruden can probably recruit as well as anyone, I'd guess, though it's been a long time since he's had to do it. But, he'd have to get involved in the process. Every program worth a lick has throngs of coaches that recruit - it's not like TN is going to reinvent the wheel in that regard no matter how much $$ they throw at it.

I can see the appeal TN has for him above, Texas, let's say. But, really, I think we can all agree that announcing for ESPN is a much cushier job that gives him almost infinitely more free time for comparable money. Sure, in 2, 5, or 10 years that gig may dry up, but there's really no need to jump the shark at this point.

[go birds]

i get it. you think the idea is silly. it's not my job to convince you its not

[tlombard]

Why would Gruden?

Here's my thoughts on why Gruden would be stupid to take a college (or NFL) position while he has a sweet job with ESPN. There's no real upside for him.

He's already got a job that pays him plenty of money based on his reputation as a coach. If he goes back to coaching, sure he could win a title in college, but would that really add much to his status and earning potentially after he leaves coaching for good? I don't think it would but at the same time, there is a chance (slight of course) that he fails miserably and hurts his future earning potential.

Of course if he gets let go by ESPN then maybe he'll return to coaching but as long as he has his job there he would be stupid to leave ESPN for the rigors of being a head coach at any level for what would likely be the same money. I just don't see the upside. If he really loved coaching that much, he would have left ESPN years ago to take another position. He hasn't done that so clearly his current intentions are to maximize his announcing career and reputation by leveraging his past success as a coach and not taking a chance of screwing that up.

[CardsofSTL]

Harbaugh is trash.

[AWvsCBsteeeerike3]

i get it. you think the idea is silly. it's not my job to convince you its not

Of course not, but if you want to have a discussion I'm more than willing. I've had this argument with numerous fans in Arkansas that were convinced they could get Gruden, and while TN undoubtedly has more of a shot than Arkansas (say like 10% compared to 0%), there's also the reality that he's not a Nick Saban ala 2006 type figure that has had prominent success in college football both in recruiting and winning championships.

[stormspencer]

i get it. you think the idea is silly. it's not my job to convince you its not

Go Birds, I want the best for you and Tennessee. I had a fantastic time there in 2015 when I traveled over for the OU game. IMO Gruden, for many reasons stated more eloquently in this thread than I could ever postulate, is not the right hire. The college game has so many different variables (off the field) compared to the professional game. There are time limits (practice, film, etc.) that restrict the amount of time you can spend with the players (and he is a film junkie) as well as all of the recruiting and "glad-handing" that is required for a program like Tennessee. I don't know that these requirements and limitations will align with his personality.

I'm not saying he wouldn't succeed, but I do have my doubts that he is the right fit at Tennessee right now. Chip Kelly isn't an option (I see him staying on the West Coast...likely UCLA). Thus, if you want an established coach, you probably need to either go with Dan Mullen (who knows the SEC) or Chad Morris (a really good offensive mind) who could shake up the SEC.

Just my .02

[stormspencer]

finally the end of the long national nightmare

It's a new day go birds. I don't know who Tennessee is looking at, but if I were them, I would take a good hard look at Matt Campbell at Iowa State. He's young, energetic, sharp, and been a winner everywhere he has been thus far.

no
no
no
no
no
NONONONNONONONONNONONONNO

Not another up and comer. UT needs a proven coach. i know matt campbell is the hot name,but no. 150% no.

No.

Good because you can't have him anyway. I'm sure he'll bolt for another big name job in the next year or two but Campbell has Iowa State finally moving in the right direction and I'll be irate when another team throws a ton of money at him to get him to bail on Iowa State.

Campbell kicked OU's a$$ this year so I have mad respect for that guy.

[CardsofSTL]

Vols athletic director John Currie spelled out the requirements for what will be the fifth Tennessee head coach within 10 years.

• “The highest integrity and vision to propel Tennessee to championships.”

• “A commitment to doing things the right way.”

• “Someone who understands the magnitude that comes along with [this job].”

https://www.seccountry.com/tennessee/te ... dates-vols

1. Jimbo Fisher, Florida State

2. Scott Frost, Central Florida

3. Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State

4. Dan Mullen, Mississippi State

5. David Cutcliffe, Duke

6. Pat Narduzzi, Pitt

7. Jeff Brohm, Purdue

8. Matt Campbell, Iowa State

9. Jon Gruden, Monday Night Football

10. Brady Hoke (Tennessee interim)