Jeremy Pruitt’s proud legacy

David Ubben looks over UT’s 2021 schedule in order of importance ($$) and has this to say about the Georgia game:

Three of Tennessee’s proudest moments under Pruitt came against Georgia, despite being rolled in all three games. A third-quarter rally in 2018 left Pruitt choked up in the postgame press conference as he recounted it. In 2019, Brian Maurer hit Marquez Callaway for a 73-yard touchdown pass in his first career start to ignite Neyland Stadium and make Maurer feel like the future. And in 2020, the Vols trotted into halftime after a goal-line stand preserved their lead and felt like they might be turning a corner before the bottom fell out on the season and the Pruitt era. This is not a game Tennessee can win, but can it produce another memorable moment? I wouldn’t rule it out.

Just a reminder:  Georgia’s average margin of victory in those three games was 26 points.  Proud!

If Ubben’s being sarcastic, that’s pretty funny.  Hell, even if he isn’t, it’s pretty funny.

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UPDATE:  He wasn’t being sarcastic.

I'd say "proud" moments in the sense that all three offered promise of what was to come and ultimately delivered very little.

Moments, not games

— David Ubben (@davidubben) June 1, 2021

Prime time

Tennessee's opener against Bowling Green has been moved up to Thursday, Sept. 2, and it will be televised by the SEC Network.

— David Paschall (@DavidSPaschall) May 11, 2021

Nothing says “opportunity is now here!” like playing some sweet Thursday night MACtion in your season opener.

“… after Tennessee seemed to have recruiting momentum a year ago.”

Ooof, what a mess you are, Tennessee recruiting ($$).

On top of that, the numbers (No. 13 class in 2019 and No. 10 in 2020) lie here, considering the attrition through the transfer portal. Three of the Vols’ top four signees in 2019 are gone, and that doesn’t include Gray, who led the Vols in rushing and was second in receptions. The Vols’ top signee in the 2020 class, defensive back Key Lawrence, is with Morris at Oklahoma, too.

Last spring, amid the recruiting shutdown, Tennessee had the nation’s No. 2 class for 2021 and was aiming to finish in or near the top five. Then the losing started. That, combined with the coaching change, contributed to the Vols losing seven once-committed four- or five-star players from the class. Then the top two signees who enrolled early (Willis and Salter) were suspended for all of spring practice for an off-field incident. Four players who signed with the Vols during the early signing period were released from their letter of intent, including four-stars Dylan Brooks, KaTron Evans and Cody Brown. The Vols ultimately tumbled to No. 22 in the 247Sports Composite, which places the 2021 class eighth in the SEC.

That Phil Fulmer sure could pick ’em.

The best thing the Vols have going for them is the schedule.  This year’s non-conference slate is led by a home game against Pitt and goes downhill from there.  Outside of Florida and Georgia, the East isn’t overwhelming.  You could almost see a bowl game in UT’s immediate future, but you’re not the NCAA.

A death penalty by any other name

So, just how deep a hole has Tennessee found itself after the talent drain that came after Pruitt’s departure?  Historically speaking, pretty damned deep ($$).

I surveyed our college football staff at The Athletic and the closest examples are Baylor in 2016 and Penn State after the Jerry Sandusky scandal. Obviously, Tennessee’s issues are nothing like that, but the coaching change combined with immediate eligibility for transfers led to a perfect storm of talent drain.

Even with a free transfer after a tragic scandal, Penn State lost only about half the total number of players Tennessee did. The Nittany Lions managed to win 15 games the following two seasons but didn’t hit double digits until the fifth season after the scandal, which was James Franklin’s third season at the helm.

Even Baylor didn’t lose these kinds of numbers. The Bears lost seven players from their 2016 recruiting class and Matt Rhule basically had to rebuild the 2017 class from scratch.

If you’re a Georgia fan, there’s only one possible reaction to that.

Opportunity is nowhere.

It just so happens that when you’re a linebacker in the transfer portal, nowhere is located in Knoxville.

“I definitely noticed the linebacker group don’t have that much depth,” Mitchell said. “I definitely paid attention to that. I definitely feel like I can come in and help the defense right away.”

Heupel’s staff, led by first-year linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary, has made it clear to Mitchell that he should have every opportunity to play a major role in Tennessee’s defense from the moment he arrives on campus.

“They never said a specific linebacker position, but they definitely said it’s basically going to be on me to mess it up,” Mitchell said. “Basically, I’m starting when I come in.”

Gotta admit, “Have a pulse?  You start tomorrow” is an effective sales pitch.  Luckily for Tennessee, it’s not a one-shot offer.

Orange crushed

Shot.

Have learned that Tennessee redshirt freshman linebacker Martavius French has entered the transfer portal.

Former four-star recruit.

— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) May 1, 2021

Chaser.

Amari Rodgers asked why he went to Clemson instead of Tennessee "Because I wanted to win."

— Matt Connolly (@MattOnClemson) May 1, 2021

Thursday morning buffet

There’s always something to fill the ol’ chafing dishes.

• As expected, the NCAA Division I Board of Directors ratified the adoption of a measure that will allow athletes in all sports to transfer once without sitting a season.  The gold rush is officially on!
• Last night, the Florida legislature passed a bill delaying the start date of its NIL law by one year.
• The SEC announced the coaches’ appearance schedule for this year’s edition of Media Days.
• Does the news that Bank of America Stadium is changing its field from grass to artificial turf in time for Georgia’s opener make anyone the least bit nervous?
• This is what a house cleaning looks like.
• Danny White wants a full Neyland Stadium sooner rather than later:  “For our fan base, we’re asking for everyone to consider getting vaccinated.”  One slight problem with that — “… the state of Tennessee is fifth nationally as far as the fewest percentage of residents to receive at least one vaccine dose. The Volunteer State, according to the same survey, also has the fifth-highest percentage of residents who are still uncertain whether they will get vaccinated.”
• Dennis Dodd itemizes all the potential road blocks an expanded college football playoff would face.  To which I can only retort, “but all that money!”.
• Apparently this was said with a straight face:  “LSU interim President Tom Galligan said Friday night that administrators were looking for some additional way to discipline Ausberry that would be meaningful to him and decided on not allowing him to attend football games for the upcoming season.”

Today, in thought experiments

So, here’s something for you to chew over:  would a point ever come when you could see yourself feeling sorry for Tennessee football?

None of Tennessee's top five December signees will compete in Saturday's Orange & White game:
LB Dylan Brooks (now at Auburn)
LB Aaron Willis (suspended)
QB Kaidon Salter (suspended)
DT KaTron Evans (released from NLI)
RB Cody Brown (now at Miami)

— David Paschall (@DavidSPaschall) April 21, 2021

I’m not saying that’s the moment, just wondering if such a thing even exists.

“Adverse situations”

Need a laugh?  Here’s what Tennessee’s linebackers coach had to say about one of his charges:

Jean-Mary said Albright is the first long-snapper he’s coached at the position, adding, “he was recruited here as a long-snapper, but he’s an athletic long-snapper.”

Vince Dooley would have a field day with that.

“They looked slow, way too slow to beat a decent SEC team.”

If you self-impose a bowl ban, nobody can accuse you of not achieving bowl eligibility.