Tennessee fans growing increasingly impatient with Jeremy Pruitt as Vols hit historic low point
After falling to 2-5 on the season, some Tennessee fans would be fine if the team left Jeremy Pruitt in Auburn.
That’s the sense we get from reading over comments from Tennessee fans as the Vols have now dropped five games in a row after falling to Auburn 27-17 Saturday night.
It isn’t so much that Tennessee is losing, it’s how they are losing.
The Vols jumped out to a 10-point against the Tigers before surrendering 27 consecutive points to Auburn, with the turning point in the game coming when Jarrett Guarantano threw a 100-yard Pick Six with the Vols knocking on the door of taking the lead in the game.
Tennessee never recovered from that moment.
According to Peter Burns of the SEC Network, Tennessee has never lost five consecutive games by double digits in the program’s history — which dates back to 1891.
That record was broken Saturday night on The Plains.
If this score holds, it will be 5 straight losses for Tennessee football by double digits.
That's never happened in the history of their program dating back to 1891.
— Peter Burns (@PeterBurnsESPN) November 22, 2020
That’s a remarkable stat.
To no surprise, fans are directing their anger at Pruitt — with many calling for Liberty coach Hugh Freeze to take over on Rocky Top:
If Tennessee loses to Vandy next week — and they very well may do it — it’s time to fire Jeremy Pruitt and go hire Hugh Freeze. Talent isn’t bad at all. Freeze would win nine or ten with this team within two years. It’s way past time to do what must be done to be truly good.
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) November 22, 2020
Tennessee is his dream job. He would 1 billion % take this job in a heartbeat. https://t.co/XIB8fwubkV
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) November 22, 2020
Dear @Vol_Football fans,
Romans 8:18
“The pain that you have been feeling can’t be compared to the joy that is coming!”
Hire @CoachHughFreeze pic.twitter.com/zQdQbsMLZ7
— DRFreeze (@DRVawl) November 22, 2020
Hugh Freeze to Tennessee. Make it happen @phillipfulmer pic.twitter.com/SCSglDnRy7
— Bryant Crabtree (@BTree4UT) November 22, 2020
Help us @CoachHughFreeze pic.twitter.com/JqR5MiCB2S
— Josh's Journal 🍊 (@Joshes_Journal) November 22, 2020
Maybe Tennessee can hire Greg Schiano
— Adam Kramer (@KegsnEggs) November 22, 2020
All that equity Jeremy Pruitt built up with that win streak has been completely nullified by this losing streak.
— NICK KAYAL (@NickKayal) November 22, 2020
If you're keeping score at home @Vol_Football has now been outscored 105-7 last 5 second halves combined. #Vols
— Tony Basilio (@TonyBasilio) November 22, 2020
If a QB puts your team in the best position to win until it really matters but then consistently implodes and loses games, is he your best option?
Getting really hard to understand how that’s true.
— Wes Rucker (@wesrucker247) November 22, 2020
Jeremy Pruitt and Jim Harbaugh watching college football together this time next year. pic.twitter.com/TYYOgOV0oE
— Not Worth Following (@1JasonMitchell) November 22, 2020
What’s his excuse for not going on this losing spree before they played Missouri
He hadn’t yet realized that he was never meant to be a HC. Pruitt wants to be fired and he’s doing everything he can to make it happen. He’s a man over his head looking for a way out.
Hes not THAT bad
I could be wrong and you Bama fans can correct me on this but I’m thinking that all Pruitt did on defense at Bama was hold Saban’s clipboard because he can’t even put a good defense together. Another busted coverage last night at Auburn. No communication whatsoever. UT’s defensive secondary can’t cover a slant pattern. They get beat deep every game. More importantly, Pruitt is showing no signs of knowing how to be a head coach, which is why I would have never hired him. Yeah, there are people who say there weren’t many options at the time, but there were some who had head coaching experience.
A few things could save JP’s job.
1. Start HB(even if you lose, your building the future).The QB position is,”the one position” where cogwheel mentality does not apply,if indeed it does apply anywhere.
2. Stop saying its not your job to address fans and only coach football. Show us you are emotionally invested and not entitled sir.
3. Don’t be so opposed to criticism that could help you. It’s ok to second guess yourself to be more creative, play more youth and take chances. Your not coaching Alabama your coaching TN.
4. Fire Chaney (the entire season proves he can only be effective calling for an established offense a Bama or UGA).And he plays it too safe in play calling and too conservative to for building an offense.
5. Stop firing and inspiring coaches to leave with positive resumes. Nine coaches have left under Pruitt with only one promotion. The results of this are showing in player development.Yes,firing Brumbaugh was a huge mistake as we see the D look worse in every aspect since his departure. You might have a different philosophy but good basic fundamental basics can be taught by any good coach.What you think you knew worked at Bama may not be as up to date and as good as Brumbaugh’s basics being taught. You never built a D from scratch at Bama. Time you admit that.
Another ugly thing, among many I saw in the game was the constant shuffling of players in and out. Especially the young players. They’d make a great play and they’d be taken out right after,especially receivers and backs. This goes against establishing a rhythm in their development. Cimaglia might have missed two field goals tonight because you killed his confidence and opportunity to make a third field goal in a game that mattered against AR, because it was too far after making two in the same game from a longer distance in that game.(Unforgivable bad coaching). JP needs to give more praise,attention and opportunity to the young players that have stepped up. Stop the nonsense of taking them right out after one play where they were successful. If your player feels like an expendable cog wheel and worth is measured in one play, they will give you exactly that and will regress in skill.
One thing that’s unusual about Pruitt is his seeming lack of emotion…Where’s the fire ? In the postgame presser he was asked about the losing-streak & refused to answer that question ? He just does not seem invested in his own Vol football program. Plodding along seems to be O.K. with Jeremy. With that huge buyout maybe he does not care any more.
I have been a Vols fan my entire life. At the age of 62 I have seen a few games for sure. However… This Vols game was pitiful !!! I can’t say what I would like to say right here right now but our COACH and QUARTERBACK SIMPLY SUCK !!!! We DEFINATELY need a NEW COACH AND QUARTERBACK !!! I have to wonder WHAT JG caught JP doin that keeps him playing. Regardless of the COST JP needs to GO… ASAP !!! AS IN NOW !!! SO DOES JG… AND,GOD, PLEASE DON’T LET JG DECIDE TO COME BACK NEXT YEAR DUE TO THE NEW COVID RULING!!! IF HE DOES AND PRUIT IS STILL HERE WHICH I PRAY HE’S NOT, I WOULD BET THE FARM HE WOULD START, SMH…. GIVES US THE BEST CHANCE TO WIN MY TAIL !!! PLEASE GET HUGH FREEZE HERE NO MATTER WHAT THE PRICE. IF THIS IS NOT FIXED WE COULD VERY WELL LOOSE ALL OUR COMMITMENTS, AFTER ALL WHO WANTS TO PLAY FOR A LOSER AND AN ALABAMA REJECT FOR REAL.. IF THIS MESS IS NOT CORRECTED NOW TENN. FOOTBALL AS A LOT OF US KNOW,LOVE,AND REMEMBER, IT MAY BE OVER, IF NOT FOREVER, AT LEAST TOTALLY JACKED UP FOR YEARS TO COME… HOW MUCH SHAME AND EMBARRASSMENT MUST WE SUFFER BEFORE UT, PHIL FULMER, AND WHOEVER ELSE IS INVOLVED REALIZE WHAT WE HAVE IN PLACE AIN’T GETTIN IT DONE AND NEVER WILL. AND FOR GOD’S SAKE STOP TRYING TO BLAME CHANEY,THE MAN CAN NOT CALL PLAYS THAT WE DON’T HAVE THE COACH AND QB TO EXECUTE THEM. HOW MANY TIME HAVE THERE BEEN OPEN RECEIVERS AND MR. I GOT ONE PASS I CAN THROW TO THE CORNER OF THE END ZONE SOME TIMES THROW IT TO DEEP,TO HIGH, BEHIND OR TO FAR IN FRONT OF THE OPEN MAN OR EVEN INTO THE GROUND… DON’T GET ME STARTED ON TO THE OTHER DOG GONE TEAM…SMH… I’VE SEEN BETTER GRADE SCHOOL QB’S… WILL ALL THE VOLS FANS BAN WITH ME TO PUSH FOR SOME SERIOUS AND FAST CHANGE ON ROCKY TOP ??? SAVE OUR BELOVED VOLS AND GET SOME PRIDE, RESPECT AND A LIL BIT DIGNITY BACK ? LET’S SPEAK OUT AND MAKE OUR VOICES HEARD ONCE AND FOE ALL… PLEASE CAN WE DO THAT Y’ALL ? ARE YOU WITH ME DEDICATED VFL FANS ???
35-68 SEC record including Fulmer’s last year when the coaching carousel started.
The guy is gone..Freeze is in. Michigan is tickled for Fickell if they make the call. Pruitt shows up as a DC next year in the SEC. Arkansas finally gives up on the Pittman experiment after 2022. Sark gets a call from Liberty (which has been invited to join the AAC) because Tennessee will never again call on an Alabama assistant. Before he accepts, Sark gets a call to replace Fickell or Chip Kelley or Tom Herman if Freeze is off the market. Hey, I can make up crap too. As with most predictions, if I’m way off no one remembers, if I get a hit, same thing. Time for breakfast.
Tennessee is reaping the whirlwind. Greg Schanio was a done deal, a proven HC who won at Rutgers( Rutgers!!) but instead decided to hire a coordinator with no HC experience.
If Tennessee beats Vandy then Pruitt may be safe for another year if for no other reason than saving some bucks on a buyout. If Tennessee loses then Pruitt may be thumbing a ride back to Knoxville.
35-68 SEC record including Fulmer’s last year when the coaching carousel started.
You make an intriguing point. What if Saban actually coaches the entire defense and hires the dumbest DCs he can find and then lavishes praise on them so other schools will hire them as their head coach. Genius.