Jeremy Pruitt asked about his job status at Tennessee following Gus Malzahn's firing at Auburn
It’s been a rough season on Rocky Top for Jeremy Pruitt, but at least he still has a job.
That’s not something Gus Malzahn, Derek Mason or Will Muschamp can still say.
Of course, if some Tennessee fans get their way, Pruitt will be next on the chopping block. Pruitt’s team may have to impress this weekend to keep him employed as the Volunteers currently sit at 3-6 on the season with No. 5 Texas A&M set to come to Knoxville in the regular season finale on Rocky Top.
Should Tennessee fall to the Aggies and finish the season with a 3-7 record, that’s only going to add to the current level of frustration in Knoxville.
You know things are rough when Pruitt is being asked about his job security during his press conferences but that’s where things are currently at for the Tennessee coach.
Here is what Pruitt said when asked if Fulmer has assured him that he will return next season.
“We’ve been focused on every day at practice, the teams that we are playing,” Pruitt answered on Monday. “All of that stuff is always at the end of the season. We’ve been working hard to be the best that we can possibly be.”
Not much of a response there.
Pruitt was then asked to share his thoughts on Gus Malzahn being fired at Auburn. If you read between the lines, that means Pruitt is sitting on the hottest seat in the SEC at the moment.
Did he see all those coaching changes coming, considering the pandemic and the financial difficulties surrounding the pandemic?
“Well absolutely, it’s an unusual circumstances, right? And nobody knows the circumstances around each individual job,” Pruitt said. “I got a lot of respect for all three of those men, coaching against them, getting to know them while I’ve coached in this league. I think they’ve done a phenomenal job at the places they’ve been. It’s really the rough part of this, when there is a coaching change, whether it’s somebody leaving or somebody getting another opportunity.
“The people that suffer are the student-athletes because you build the relationships. Recruiting them to come to a certain school. I’ve had it both ways, right? We’ve been fired before and we’ve gotten opportunities before. The worst part of it in either scenario in the people that you’ve created these relationships with and bond with to recruit them to come to a certain school. That’s the people that suffer in all this.”
That’s an interesting response and one that suggests Pruitt is asking for Tennessee’s leadership to think of his players before making a final decision on his job status.
I think Pruitt and his staff did a terrible job with the QB position this season and that really cost them. His post game comments don’t instill a lot of confidence either. Auburn firing Gus had to get the leadership’s attention, but I doubt Tennessee is ready for another coaching search just yet.
I read something on another site that said Auburn is the best available job unless Tennessee comes open. Why on earth would Tennessee be a more desirable job than Auburn? Maybe they aren’t in the same state as Alabama, but they still have to play them every year. And Auburn certainly seems to have a roster that’s much more ready-to-win-now than Tennessee. We could have a debate over which program has a higher ceiling, but I don’t see how anyone could argue that it would be easier to win right now at Tennessee than at Auburn.
Kody, 10 years ago I would have argued this point with you. Now, not gonna do it.
Auburn has shown—even with Malzahn underachieving—that they are a more organized, and more competitive program top to bottom. (Recruiting, preparing their players, and on the field.)
Tennessee needs to find someone NOW and that’s problematic as Phat Phil is apparently stricken with indecision at the worst possible time. Any prospective coaches are certainly going to be snatched up prior to Tennessee getting off their butts and doing the right thing.
And the top 5 recruiting class we had two months ago is quickly bleeding out; after a beating from A&M this weekend and a probable loss in the “Everybody Gets to Play This Year Bowl” the class will likely not even be in the top 25 and we’ll be looking for a coach when there’s none to be had.
This sounds really familiar.
I really feel for Tennessee fans. I’d like to see the program become consistently relevant again, as my almost yearly visits to Pigeon Forge are much more enjoyable when the residents are eager to talk SEC football. For the most part, I’ve found it to be a fairly knowledgeable fan base, and I know we share a common enemy out in Tuscaloosa.
Well, Tennessee does have potential. And oddly, their tolerance of Butch Jones and now Pruitt could actually be a positive to an up and comer or even an experienced coach like Freeze. Go to Auburn and go say 7-5 or 8-4 for three years and it will get hot again. Tennessee might see it as progress and going in the right direction. Just sayin.
I agree that Tennessee has potential, but it just seems to me that if I were a coach, I’d take my chances with the school that is ready to win now than the one that is a work in progress. With the right coach, Auburn has the roster to make a run next year with the number of guys we’ve got returning.
He’s a ” Dead Man Walking ” if not this year, it will be next. The real men in power are just giving Fulmer all the rope he needs to hang himself. Of course he knows they’ll give him a large sum of $$$$$$$ to go away. Not a bad gig if you can get it.
Tennessee needs to not Muschamp this. #HIREMALZAHN
#FirePruitt
DON’T FIRE PRUITT!! No, let’s wait until all the other teams make their moves and get the guys they want…then we will be left fighting for someone who hasn’t proven that they can win in the SEC. Maybe if we are lucky we can get an unproven coach from The MAC or Sunbelt conference! That way of thinking has worked so well for us! WAKE UP FULMER!! IF YOU LOVE THIS PROGRAM AS YOU SAY YOU DO, YOU WILL PUT YOUR EGO ASIDE, ADMIT THAT PRUITT WASN’T READY FOR THE BIG LEAGUES AND GO HIRE A COACH WHO CAN GET US BACK TO BEING RELEVANT. ANYTHING ELSE SAYS THAT YOU ARE SPITEFUL ABOUT BEING FIRED AND TOO PROUD TO ADMIT THAT YOU SCREWED UP. THE TIME IS NOW. NOT 2 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD!!!!