re: Vol fans, what are your true expectations for next season?

quote:

---

Follow up question though: If UT fails to produce next season, do you still consider Butch a good hire or just another in a string of bad hires following letting Fulmer go?

---

Good Question. This is the judgment year. He gets free passes for his blunders so far (assuming he learns from them) If we win 7-8 games next season, most will realize that he is a above average recruiter, a decent coach, and someone who embraced the players, program, and fanbase as best he could. But one that cannot get the program to where our expectations are (IMO: be in the top 3 in the east every year, win the east 1 out of every 3 years, SECC 1 every 4-5 years, mentioned in playoff contention) etc. He will not be considered a bad hire, and he didn't do anything to intentionally screw up the program like Dooley and Kiffin did. Id say a solid hire who stocked the cupboard for the next guy but just couldn't get it done in the way we wanted to.