John Gruden

by JDPhinFan on Nov 4, 2008 6:41 PM EST Comment 16 comments

Some are wondering if Gruden would come to UT, and, if so, why? Well, PFT gives a little insight to this topic. Enjoy:

WILL GRUDEN LOOK TO UT?

Posted by Mike Florio on November 4, 2008, 3:46 p.m. EST

So with more and more NFL head coaches realizing that they can get almost as much cash and a lot more control at the NCAA level, the biggest question involving a current NFL head coach and a coming NCAA vacancy is whether Bucs coach Jon Gruden will flirt with the folks at the University of Tennessee.

Chris Harry of the Orlando Sentinel writes that Gruden’s contract with the Bucs doesn’t prevent a jump to the college level, but the throw-in nature of the statement makes us wonder whether that’s actually the case.

Though Gruden could never leave the Bucs for another NFL team absent permission, the Bucs can’t physically keep him from coaching at the college level. But the Bucs could sue Gruden for damages if he were to leave the Bucs in a manner that violates the terms of his contract. (Likewise, UT could be subject to liability for tortious inteference if it lures Gruden to break his deal.)

As we discussed earlier today with the Killer B’s at ESPN Radio in Tampa, the specific contents of the contract will go a long way toward determining whether Gruden could leave for the Tennessee job without an ugly fight. It’s possible, for example, that his contract specifically identifies the Tennessee job as one that he could pursue, if/when it ever becomes available.

If the language of the deal presents an impediment to Gruden’s departure, the Glazers could decide to let him go, just as the Falcons did last year with Bobby Petrino.

The biggest factor in all of this is whether Gruden wants to make the jump. Even if he says that he doesn’t, the Nick Saban experience of two years ago requires Gruden to be over-the-top unequivocal before anyone will begin to believe him.

If Gruden wants the Tennessee job, he needs first to study his contract and second to explain candidly and honestly to his current employer than he is interested in talking to UT.

The reality is that this process will take time. And until Gruden knows what he wants to do, he needs to have a solid plan in place for dealing with the questions that inevitably will come. And if there’s any chance that he’ll eventually get the job, saying “I’m not going to be the f–king Tennessee coach” isn’t the right answer.

But it’s likely that, in this case, there is no right answer. Refusing to discuss it will only fuel speculation that Gruden is interested. Saying that he’s interested will only create a distraction.

Stay tuned, because he’s bound to be asked the question soon enough. And until Tennessee hires someone else for the job, we won’t rule out the possibility of Gruden eventually singing the praises of good ol’ f–king Rocky Top.

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what happens

If the Tampa goes deep into the playoffs? You guys might be looking at Mid January before you have a HC. A HC coach who has never recruited before. Man thats not a very good situation if you think about it.

When you are an Alabama fan you have to hate Auburn, I hate Tennessee because i want to.

by bammer on Nov 5, 2008 11:29 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

It also makes it more unlikely that he’d be interested, I think.

Go Vols!

by Joel on Nov 5, 2008 11:38 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah.

If Tampa goes deep in the playoffs, I doubt he’s leaving.

by wvvol on Nov 5, 2008 6:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

But hey,

Both Pete Carroll and Jon Gruden served as assistants at Pacific (1983 and 1989 respectively). So woo! for random connections!

by hooper on Nov 5, 2008 12:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

never gonna happen

john gruden will never come to tennessee and coach or any other college team nor will any head coach of a pro football team because coaching college football is not about money it is about the love for the game and i think that the reason why pro coaches (like gruden) go to the nfl and coach is for mainly one thing and every one knows what it is $$$

by cody_32 on Nov 5, 2008 9:30 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

john gruden

john gruden is a scientologist…for what its worth

by Gene Swindoll on Nov 5, 2008 9:51 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

So we got to worry about Tom Cruise hanging around?

Leering at the boys…

by wvvol on Nov 5, 2008 10:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yikes

Cruise completely freaks me out.

Go Vols!

by Joel on Nov 6, 2008 6:27 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Gene Swindoll is an idiot!!!!

by bengal on Nov 6, 2008 1:45 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Gruden...It's Jon

Why don’t you guys learn how to spell his name before you start guessing whether he’ll become the next coach for the University.

Listen, it’s great that you guys are fans and all, but c’mon, let’s not start getting carried away. There is no way in hell Jon Gruden would come to the University of Tennessee to coach college football.

Bruce Allen and Gruden are busy re-constructing the salary cap of the Bucs and have made some great decisions to put the team in place to compete for Championships well into the future now that they have worked hard since 2002 to get the team out of salary cap hell, to put it lightly.

After all that work, no-way they bail out now. They love in Tampa, and even if he decided to leave, multiple NFL teams would pounce on the idea of having a coach with the passion and energy he brings to the table. So No way….You’re better off talking about other notables like Will Muschamp or Lane Kiffin.

IMO, Lane is the front-runner for the job by default. If you want to tie anything to Gruden, you’d be taken much more seriously to tie Gruden and Lane’s Father Monte’, who remains the Defensive Coordinator for the Bucs and has been easily one of the top 5 best Defensive Coordinators in the game.

If anything, Gruden has placed a courtesy phone call to Hamilton endorseing Lane Kiffin as being very qualified for the job.

The other twist (if you want one) is that Monte’ is in a contract year and could opt out to help his son run the defense should the University opt to hire him. The combination would be setup for instant success IMO, and their is no family that loves the game more-so than the Kiffin’s.

I’d say Lane stands the best chance at landing the job.

by UTFAN47 on Nov 6, 2008 2:31 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Agree

I agree with Lane Kiffin being the best choice. I LOVE the West Coast Offense, and some of these guys that have commited would fit perfectly into the system. There are rumors that he would bring his father, Monte, along as the Defnsive Coordinator, and I believe that would be a great move too! I also hear that he has interest in Bringing in Orgeron (who is a coach at the Saints) to be Recruiting Coordinator/D-line coach. Some may think that Orgeron sucks, but he can recruit 2nd to none, and he was a beast of an O-line coach at Southern Cal. I wasn’t excited about Kiffin at first, but he is slowly becoming my very favorite of the people on the list.

Go Vols!
Go Dolphins!

by JDVolPhin on Nov 7, 2008 7:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

If they can guarantee Orgeron, I'm for it

Let’s not forget that Ed Orgeron was the defensive line coach or all those Miami Hurricanes National Championship teams. If we can get a guarantee on a package deal that has Lane as head coach, Monte as Defensive Coordinator, and Orgeron as Defensive Line Coach, Head of Recruiting, and maybe assistant head coach or something, then I for one am all for it.

by Colonel Corn on Nov 8, 2008 12:08 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, compeltely agree...

Have you noiced how under Sarkisian at Souther Cal, their offense hasn’t flourished like it did under Lane Kiffin? That just makes me want him even more. He had all that talent, and he was able to take advantage of it, unlike Sarkisian has.

Go Vols!
Go Dolphins!

by JDVolPhin on Nov 8, 2008 11:53 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

a scientologist would not go over very well in Tennesse

guys you can x his name off the the list, his religious beliefs would kill recruiting here in the south.

by Gene Swindoll on Nov 10, 2008 3:34 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Sorry Gruden Fans

For those of you speculating that Jon Gruden might be the next coach of the Vols, better check his name off your list and stop spreading those rumors, as the old coach shot them down this afternoon…Here’s the comments made and you can find them www.pewterreport.com

On Monday, Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Jon Gruden responded to the rumors linking him to the head coaching position at the University of Tennessee.

Gruden started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Tennessee in 1986 under then-Volunteers head coach Johnny Majors. With his wife also being from Tennessee, Gruden was quickly rumored to be a potential replacement for Volunteers coach Philip Fulmer, who was recently fired. Gruden was asked if he had any interest in the position at Tennessee, and about the rumors linking him to the opening.

"No. I’ve said it from the beginning, this is the only job I’ve really ever wanted," Gruden said. "As long as the Glazers will have me, I’ll be here. I have a lot of respect for Tennessee. I grew up down there a little bit, my wife is from there, but this is where I want to be. I can only make myself that clear.

"I don’t want to even start that. I’ve wanted to be in the NFL my whole life. This is something I’m really excited to do, and this is where I want to be. I’ll leave it at that."

Gruden was then asked if he had been contacted regarding Tennessee’s head coaching position.

"I haven’t been contacted," said Gruden. "I don’t get involved in speculation. I haven’t done a lot of reading on the internet stuff lately. I enjoy where I am. I’m eager to finish this season with the players that we have, and I’m excited."

by UTFAN47 on Nov 11, 2008 8:05 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Standing Ovation

Yes, sometimes you gotta pat yourself on the back when you get it right. Don’t say I didn’t give you guys a hint that Lane was coming..Just check out my post back on Nov. 6th…Sometimes you just nail it…Feels good..I gotta be honest. Welcome aboard Lane Kiffin and family.

by UTFAN47 on Dec 4, 2008 2:15 PM EST reply actions 0 recs