That’s right. We are in the mess we are because of you guessed it. Fulmer. That’s right. Phil was so good at recruiting he started a phenomenon in this place that until Wednesday was unchecked except for a very brief period in 2009. What do I mean you ask? Well, that’s what this thread is about.
Tennessee hiring Heupel may be the best hire in most people’s lifetimes. He is certainly the best football coach that has been hired in most people’s lives. In fact, if you weren’t alive when the general coached here, chances are you’ve never seen a better coach on Rocky Top. Yes lane was here and he’s a great coach. I’d argue Josh is better. Lane was a better hoopla guy.
See, media, admin, the coaches and fans alike have said since the days of Fulmer the only way you can win at Tennessee is to have the best recruiters. Well, that’s looking at the problem backwards and one of the issues that’s kept this program in reverse so long. As sad as it is true, people felt like Fulmer was really a very sub par coach but he was and maybe is the greatest recruiter that’s ever done it. He recognized talent and he closed them. Because of this people incorrectly began to believe that recruiting had to be first and coaching could be secondary. The truth is, that’s incorrect. Of course, Recruiting has to be good. But, Tennessee will recruit itself at a “good enough” level. It’s up to the coach to win enough to recruit it at “that” level.
Josh Heupel may not look or act the part. His recruiting prowess may not seem the greatest but I’d argue this. He’s the best pure football head coach since Robert Neyland, and he knows how to get the most from lower ranked recruits. He will pull the very best from higher ranked recruits and he WILL win. When he does, this university and its football program will EXPLODE in much the same way that Clemson has in the past several years.
It’s ok to doubt but hold on. For the first time in a long time, we have a coach and he can’t wait to just show you..