Meh…
My thoughts?
I could easily jump on the “tar and feather” Pruitt bandwagon. It’s loading to the point of straining the axles, so it would be a pretty easy hop.
But I think back to the 7 (was it?) game winning streak. I think of the first two wins this year. Not impressive, but…
I think back to the first half against UGA. The goal line stands. I remember texting someone, “this is a good football team!”
And then JG comes out the second half and hands them the game.
Whatever culture, whatever chemistry, whatever confidence had been established over the course of the streak seemed to go down the toilet in 30 minutes. It’s as if the entire team seemed to say “what’s the use? We bust our butts — and this… er, ‘dude’ just throws it all away…”.
With two QBs behind him who, for whatever reason, couldn’t overtake him. And a promising frosh who didn’t get spring training, and precious little fall camp. In this strangest and most effed up of years. A year in which Notre Dame and Bama — arguably the marquee programs in all of CFB history — meet in the Rose Bowl, “the granddaddy of them all” (a RB, I come to find out, that was not even played in Anaheim).
And I find that I couldn’t care less.
I also think about the recruiting successes — and tons of near success, interest from top flight recruits — “UT in the top 5 for…” whoever. The buzz around the program for awhile.
And what I’m saying is:
Road is probably right. Pruitt isn’t going anywhere for awhile. At least a year. Maybe two.
Now I’ll admit my interest in UT football is at the lowest ebb since the late 70s and early 80s, when I was a young buck with a lot better things to do than follow a mediocre football program, back in the days when there was no internet or television every game, but there damn sure was beer and… I’ll say “girls”, to keep it clean.
My vote — for what it’s worth —
keep ol’ tater head around. See what he can do in a more normal year, with his recruits, building the program around a big QB who passes the eye test, what little I bothered to watch of him during the midst of this debacle of a season.
Maybe Pruitt will grow into the job. Maybe he’ll “find something inside of himself”, or whatever, and we’ll get to enjoy one of those feel-good, out of the blue, turnaround success stories.
I don’t see a viable alternative. Taking the chance on giving the keys to another “project” coach, imo, is not one. The definition of insanity…
I just wish Fulmer had made CJP’s extension incumbent on undergoing a speech class, or Toastmaster’s, or something.
I’m tired of Saban and Dabo and Fisher and Stoops and Mullen — and virtually everybody else, even Smart — sound like they know what they’re talking about.
And our coach sounding like he works with Gomer and Goober at Wally’s fillin’ station.
It’s an embarrassment.
