Who will be the UT coach

[12 rings]

The absolute best choice for the viles would be if they could convince Butch Davis to come down. I for one do not understand how many feel like chucky would just be a GREAT choice:conf2:. Too many questionmarks. The man has never been a head coach in college football, much less the toughest conference in america. How would he recruit? With the exception of that TB team that was set on cruise-control when he walked in the door, he's really been mediocre at best imo.

 

[Bama323]

I'll go down the list:

1) Gruden - It ain't gonna happen. Gruden is an NFL guy through and through. He is not like Nick Saban in that Nick spent 10-15 years as a head coach in college. Gruden is in a good spot down in Tampa Bay, and I don't see why in the world he would want to leave the Bucs to take a step down in pay and in stature. It just doesn't make any sense for his career.

2) Muschamp - I'm not sure Muschamp is a good fit. My guess is that UT will go after a proven head coach, not an assistant. Muschamp may be on the list, but not high enough to get the job IMO

3) Cutcliff - Too close to Fulmer. UT fans will want a fresh breathe of air, not someone who has been on Fulmer's staff almost his entire career. Not to mention that Cutcliff is in his first year at Duke, and has also had health issues.

4) Leach - IMO, also not a good fit at UT. It would take him a while to install his type of offense and recruit the players he needs for it. Also, Leach is a bit essentric, and may rub some people in the UT fan base the wrong way. Not only that, but Leach has things going pretty well where he is at, and he is in Texas, one of the best recruiting bases in the country. Not to mention, he would have to compete in the SEC.

5) Brian Kelley - He would be my #1 choice if I were a UT fan. He's been very successful everywhere he's been. He runs a disciplined program and seems to get alot out of his players. IMO, he would be a major step forward for UT.

6) Gary Patterson - Another good coach who has been very successful. He would be a good choice for UT.

7) Mark Dantonio - Would he leave Mich St. for UT? I'm not so sure he would leave after just a two year tenure there. He seems like more of a Big 10 guy. Good coach, but I'm not so sure he'd leave.

8) Chris Peterson - I just don't see him leaving the West Coast, or Mid West. He is in a good spot at Boise, and to leave for the SEC would be a major change. I just don't think he is a good fit at UT.

9) Bill Cowher - Forget about it

10) Kevin Steele- Has UT ties. Is a good recruiter. However, he didn't show much when he was at Baylor. He's probaby a good fit for UT, but he is not the big bang hire they are looking for. The only way this happens is if some of the others on the top of the list falls through.

11) Charlie Strong - Would UT consider a minority candidate for the job? Strong is a good coach, who at one time seemed to be on the verge of landing a head coaching gig. In my opinion though, it's just too much of a stretch, similiar to Muschamp.

12) Skip Holtz - Over rated coach in my opinion. Bama and UF fans will be dancing in the streets if he is hired. Didn't he just sign a big contract with ECU? I know he was close to signing it.

13) Butch Davis- Don't see it. It's only his second year at UNC. He's in the ACC where he can compete every year for a conference title, and he has a pretty good recruiting base. Why move to UT to have to compete in the SEC against stiffer competition with a worse recruiting base? It makes no sense.

In my opinion, the next head coach at UT will be Brian Kelly. But, we'll see.

 

[GulfCoastTider]

Good analysis, Bama323.

I also think Kelley or Patterson would be great choices. Cutcliffe though, seems to be an old-school UT fan favorite. The fellow I know who is a UT booster and who told me repeatedly that this would be Fulmer's last year, wants him badly.

IMO, Cutcliffe is a very good offensive coach and knows how to teach quarterbacks. However, as he showed at Ole Miss, he is lousy on the recruiting trail and would not improve UT's position as the #4 team in the SEC East.

Which is why Coach David Cutcliffe gets my hearty, full throated endorsement.

 

[Rook]

Corso

 

[BamaSC]

I agree with the posters who say Clemson gets first choice. SEC money and fan base but without SEC competition.

I figure any coach that would pick Clemson over Tennessee is a coach Tennessee would be better off not having in the long run. I don't think they have to pull a "home-run" type coach, just get a solid one. UT has some issues, but nothing like what we had when we hired Saban. I also don't see them taking a chance on an assistant.

Patterson would be an excellent choice, and really might be the best fit. Cutcliffe would be an okay coach, but you probably don't get a lot of years out of him. Also like the Boise St. and Utah coaches. Don't think they get Butch Davis or Gruden.

 

[RiverCityTider]

If the have a brain in their pumpkin heads, they will throw every dollar in Tennessee at Leach.

I think he is the real deal.

 

[1LoudTideFan]

kind of an aside thought....

this really makes it hard on Auburn to get rid of Tubberville this year.

UT is a much better job and they will get the pick of the litter as far as coaches looking to get into the sec furnace.

That said, Gary Patterson would be a smart hire as would Gary Pinkel whose name I haven't heard mentioned yet.

If they could get Butch Davis, that would be a home run and someone who could compete with Saban for recruits. Fortunately for us, we got a two year start on rebuilding so even if they do hire a winner, its gonna take a couple years to compete. JMHO

 

[BEATtutorsee]

If I were wanting to hire a guy I think is a top flight guy. I would go to East Lansing and pluck out Mark Dantonio. He learned under Saban at MSU, and learned under Tressel at Youngstown State, and Ohio State. He built the Cincinnati program from scratch, and now has Michigan State back on the right track. He's a tough no nonsense disciplinarian. I think he'd be a bargain for the vols.

Dantonio would be a good hire, let's hope they go another direction.

 

[GulfCoastTider]

kind of an aside thought....

this really makes it hard on Auburn to get rid of Tubberville this year.

UT is a much better job and they will get the pick of the litter as far as coaches looking to get into the sec furnace.

That said, Gary Patterson would be a smart hire as would Gary Pinkel whose name I haven't heard mentioned yet.

If they could get Butch Davis, that would be a home run and someone who could compete with Saban for recruits. Fortunately for us, we got a two year start on rebuilding so even if they do hire a winner, its gonna take a couple years to compete. JMHO

I just don't see Davis leaving UNC after just one year.

The UT job is going to attract a top name coach, though. There's just too much money and too much potential glory there to keep the big egos waiting for the next vacancy.

I'm still strongly recommending Cutcliffe.

 

[1LoudTideFan]

I just don't see Davis leaving UNC after just one year.

The UT job is going to attract a top name coach, though. There's just too much money and too much potential glory there to keep the big egos waiting for the next vacancy.

I'm still strongly recommending Cutcliffe.

I second your recommendation.

Butch Davis won't go there either, I agree. Much more realistic than Gruden, Cowher, and some of the other stars they think are lining up to wear puke orange though.

 

[BamafanNPC]

I think the whole Gruden thing is stemming from his wife being a UT grad and himself being a GA back in the mid 80's. Other than that I dont see why his name is coming up for this position.