re: Tennessee, Michigan, Florida State ...

Tennessee and Michigan are historic programs whose time has come and gone. They were dominant in an era where college football wasn’t as widespread as it is now. The last time Tennessee played for a SECC was about the same time UCF joined the FBS. Historically, Michigan and Tennessee could recruit nationally because there were only so many powerhouses in CFB. Now schools have figured out that football can be a huge revenue source, and a way to recruit students.

In today’s CFB arena, you need a good in-state base to draw from, or you need to have name recognition regionally. Tennessee has neither, really. The kids they’re recruiting have not seen them play for anything in their lifetime. And their home base of blue chip HS players is pretty thin, and being picked over by other schools. What does Tennessee have to sell other than a large studium that they seldom fill anymore.

Michigan used to be one of the strongest states for HS players, but other states have surpassed them. And the rise of the SEC has made the Big 10 a second rate conference. Players who might have looked at Michigan in the past now want to play in the SEC in order to win a title or have a better path to the NFL.

FSU is in a different boat. They have more in state talent, but now have more programs, like UCF, vying for that talent. And they have won big more recently than Tennessee and Michigan, so they still have some mojo.

I think Tennessee’s in the worst shape of the three. Michigan can win their conference but they have to get by OSU. FSU could climb back up with a home run HC hire.

All three are behind the eight ball right now.

FSU looked completely awful. Even we could beat them by a couple TD’s if they play the same way.

Michigan...well, we beat dat arse in the bowl. What the hell is a Michigan to anyone anymore?

Tennessee can’t score a touchdown to save their lives. Last season and Game 1 here. Pruitt was just hired tho, so I’m saving judgement until year 2 or 3. Seems like calamity in the makings tho.

I would not want to be any of these programs right now.

4 year, $60-80M guaranteed and whatever resources/authority he wants. At this point, I really don't think UT has another option outside of buying a proven winner. There is a culture problem up there.


May have to outbid the other UT. They may actually be more disappointing.

It's almost like recruiting becomes more difficult the further away you get from states with a deep high school talent pool.
Michigan is running on name and a flashy HCing name (and that's wearing thin).
FSU will come back before Tennessee and Tennessee before Michigan. It's geography.
The only way to beat geography is a great coaching staff with ties to southern high schools.

Michigan is the LSU of the north. Good defense but terrible offense. Will probably win 8-9 games a year, but won't beat OSU until Meyer is gone. Florida State just needs an o-line. They have talent everywhere else.

Tennessee will be one of the worst P-5 teams in the country this year. The question will be if Pruitt can keep what recruiting momentum they had when the L's start to pile up. A great coach could bring them back, but I doubt we see them being a consistent Top 5-10 program again.