re: Who else thinks Tennessee will botch this hire

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Tell me why this is such a hot job?

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1. ELITE INSTATE TALENT BASE - The state of Tennessee is turning into a recruiting hotbed. In 2017, it had the 6th most players of any state sign scholarships with FBS teams. The highest rated player in the 2017 class according to ESPN (composite 5-star OT Trey Smith) was from Tennessee, he signed with the Vols. The top rated player in Clemson's great 2017 class (composite 5-star WR Tee Higgins) was from Tennessee. And the top rated player in LSU's great 2017 class (composite 5-star ATH Jacoby Stevens) was from Tennessee. That's 3 composite 5-stars all from the state of Tennessee in 2017. And that wasn't just a one year aberration. The 2018 class was similarly talented. Maybe not in terms of top-end talent, there was only 1 composite 5-star in the state of Tennessee in 2018 (OT Cade Mays). But there was more depth. Tennessee currently has a consensus top 10 recruiting class in 2018 and 6 of the top 10 ranked players from the class are from the state of Tennessee. So contrary to what people typically think about Tennessee needing out of state players to make up the majority of their top end talent, the 2018 class proves that you can have a consensus top 10 class at Tennessee that is made up mostly of instate players. Especially at the very top. And as great as the 2017 and 2018 instate classes were at Tennessee, the 2019 and 2020 classes blow them outta the water. The 2019 class currently has 20 players projected as composite 4-stars by 247sports. That 5th most in the nation after Florida, Texas, Georgia, and California. And in the 2020 class, the state of Tennessee currently has more players rated in the top 109 according to 247sports than every other state in the country except for Florida, Texas, Georgia, and California. According to the 2019 and 2020 recruiting classes, Tennessee is now a top 5 producers of elite college football talent. That is a major reason why Tennessee is now back to being a GOLD STANDARD JOB in college football.

2. CLOSE PROXIMITY TO OTHER TALENT LADEN RECRUITING BASES - Knoxville is less than 3 hours from 3 huge metropolises that produce tons of talent each year (Atlanta, Charlotte, and Nashville). The rise in population in Nashville is a big reason for the explosion in talent across the state of Tennessee. Middle Tennessee is producing a lot of the elite players from Tennessee that are now playing all across college football. But beyond Nashville, Knoxville is a short 3 half car ride from Atlanta. That has always been a place Tennessee has recruited talent. And Tennessee is also 3 hours from Charlotte. Another huge metropolis which produces a good number of power 5 caliber players each year. These 3 cities form a nice recruiting base that is just 3 hours from campus. You can build a national title contender with players just from these 3 cities and they never need to get on a plane to visit campus.

3. ELITE FACILITIES - Everyone knows that Tennessee has as good a facilities as anyone in the country. Neyland Stadium is as impressive as any stadium in the country. And the athletic facilities are as good as it gets. Players who come to Tennessee will never feel short changed that there is something they could get elsewhere that they can't get at Tennessee.


Tennessee in 2017 is in far better position to build a consistent winner than Alabama was in 2006 when Saban arrived. Tennessee currently has more talent on the team. There is also more instate talent in the state of Tennessee moving forward than there was in Alabama. And the SEC East is weaker in 2017 than the SEC West was in 2006. The right coach could make Tennessee into a dominant force in college football rather easily. Everything you need is already there.

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imagine what a guy like Chip Kelly could do with that talent.

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While fun to think about, do we really think that after his failed attempt in the NFL that he is going to take the risk of having to go up against SEC defenses every week?

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Can't speak on the leather helmet era but they were so dominant in the 90s because goff and donnan couldn't keep the elite GA/ATL talent home and they went to UT. Cosey Coleman, deon grant, jason respert, jamal lewis, etc. You started to see the worm turn when Richt got here and now that it's kirby vs butch (lol) you're seeing that pipeline basically come to a dead halt.

Without the combination of state of GA talent and a very good/great coach it's a hell of a lot more difficult for UT to be successful. Currently they have neither.

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First of all the pipeline to Georgia will never stop. There are just too many elite players in Georgia for any one school to get. Tennessee will always get their share.

And although you are right that in the past without talent from Georgia, Tennessee could not sustain a championship caliber team. THAT IS NO LONGER TRUE. The last couple of years have shown a stark increase in talent across the state of Tennessee (primarily in the Middle Tennessee-Nashville area). Tennessee is now a recruiting hotbed. The class of 2019 currently has 20 players rated as composite 4-stars. That's 5th most in the nation behind Florida, Texas, Georgia, and California. And the 2020 class looks to be even more talented. 247sports currently has only the top 109 players ranked for the class of 2020 and the state of Tennessee once again has the 5th most players of any state after Florida, Texas, Georgia, and California.

If the 2019 and 2020 classes are the NEW NORMAL, then Tennessee is no longer a program that needs out of state talent to build a consist championship program. Tennessee could become the new LSU. A team that can build a perennial national title contender on just talent from the state of Tennessee (if they can get most of those instate kids to stay home). Now that is probably unlikely. I think Tennessee kids are similar to Georgia kids. They don't have a loyalty to the instate school simply because its instate. You already saw in 2017 that most of the top-end players (Tee Higgins, Jacoby Stevens, and Jacob Phillips) went to schools outside Tennessee. And in the 2018 class, a couple of Tennessee kids are already committed to Ohio State's elite #1 rated class and another is already committed to Alabama. But Tennessee with the right coach can close that gap and sign most of the highly rated kids from the state.

Tennessee is a potential GOLD MINE job. Under the right coach it can be as good as any program in the country. It has everything you could ask for. A top 5 instate talent base, close proximity to other talent laden regions, elite facilities, rabid fan base, and lots of media focus. There is no excuse for why Tennessee can't be a perennial top 5-10 program. NO EXCUSE.

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The only exciting time for a Tennessee fan is during the off-season.

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You better hope we don't get Jon Gruden.

Give an elite coach like Gruden the resources Tennessee has as well as the instate talent base that has now exceeded that of Louisiana and you could see him building another Alabama at Tennessee.

I'll keep repeating this. Tennessee in 2017 is in far better position than Alabama was in 2006 before Saban. Way more talent currently on the roster. Much better instate recruiting base. Hell even an up and comer like Scott Frost could have Tennessee looking like a dominant force in 2 years with the resources here.

I'm kind of thinking that Tennessee has to finally get it right this time.

One word - sweater vest.

That Les Miles gif is the best

It calms me. I need that running in my office 24/7

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So you don't consider Louisiana to be elite? Tennessee is 2019 and 2020 is projected to have almost 2x the number of elite prospects as Louisiana.

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Irony? Top rated 2019 guy that is currently committed out of the state of TN is committed to LSU.