despite UT's record over the last decade, they are still a top ten revenue machine. they started this season ranked under no merit of their own - riding the coat tails of players and coaching staffs much greater than them. i reckon that is what we call helmet factor.
performance over the last twenty years would place UT in a crowded room of schools- what they have going for them is there is little else in Tennessee to get excited over if you're an organized sports fan. Tennessee football is it... UT faced a real threat when the Oiler's moved in, but that didn't last too long. I wager there are 20 UT licensed items sold to every one Titan item. so... the legacy is all they have at this point, and they are in a real threat of losing it forever, or at least having to do some real convincing to change that.
UT's legacy gave them facilities as good as any in the nation- that will continue to draw recruits so long as the recruiters stay out of their own way- it may not bring 4 and 5 stars who have their choice of schools, but it will bring good players for the foreseeable future- with facilities like they have, and the fact they're going to at least play contenders several times every year and all the exposure that brings, they'll have decent recruiting classes.
i don't see them packing out that stadium if CBJ stays. that is a big impact to image. if there aren't at least 85k in Neyland, the place looks empty. that impacts image maybe more than anything else.
i've said it here and i will again- this is their crossroads in my opinion- retain CBJ or hire badly, and the hole they've already dug doubles or triples in complexity to exit, while connecting with a roundhouse that started from the floor five feet behind them will make UT considered an elite program all over again, even without production.... having the legacy allows them that.