Vols Take Down #1

 

What a game!  The way the second half of the game started yesterday, I was preparing myself to have to write a negative blog about how the basketball team came up short again against one of the top teams in the nation.  But thanks to Admiral Schofield, I don't have to do that!

One thing I have learned early this season is that this team is going to be something special.  What Admiral Schofield did yesterday in Phoenix reminded me so much of a Chris Lofton or Bernard King.  It was a legendary performance that will be talked about for years to come.

I can't wait to see what this team has in store for us the rest of the season.

Another Staff Loss

Lost in the hoopla about the OC search, was the loss of another member of the coaching staff.  This time it was VFL and support staff member, Montario Hardesty.  He left to become the RB coach for Tyson Helton at Western Kentucky.

I have no problem with a VFL leaving to gain more coaching experience elsewhere.  Especially since he wasn't even a position coach on the staff.  There was speculation that Hardesty might have become the RB coach if OL coach Will Friend was to become the new OC at Tennessee.

With the departure of Hardesty, I think it is safe to assume that Friend is not at the top of the OC list for Jeremy Pruitt.  Especially since names keep getting added to the list and Friend's name keeps getting mentioned less and less.

Freeze Leaves Vols Out In The Cold

Hugh Freeze decided to become the head coach at Liberty University.  That's right.  He chose to be a head coach at an FBS school instead of being the OC at a Power 5 school.

Why an evangelical school would hire him is beyond me.  Freeze resigned in disgrace because he lied to his former employer about using his school issued cellphone to call escort services, got his former employer on NCAA probation and was given a one year show cause by the NCAA.  Then again Liberty's Athletic Director is Ian McCaw, who resigned his positioned as the Athletic Director at Baylor following his mishandling of the sexual assault scandal involving the football program.  Have fun with those two Jerry Falwell, Jr.

New Name

I heard a new name yesterday in the search for a new OC at Tennessee.  The name was Matt Canada.  This name has started circulating in Knoxville sports talk and at the water cooler after he was not named the head coach at Maryland on Tuesday.  That job went to former Alabama OC, Mike Locksley.

I'm sure Canada was not very happy being passed over by Maryland after he was put in charge of the program following the death of Maryland offensive lineman, Jordan McNair.  Canada lead the Terrapins to a 5-7 record this season.  While it isn't a great record, the dark cloud that was former head coach D.J. Durkin loomed over the entire season and made it very challenging for the entire program to focus on playing football.

To make things worse for Canada, Mike Locksley's career head coaching record is 3-31.  But Locksley has no ties to the prior staff, like Canada does.  So I can see why Maryland would want to cut all ties to Durkin and his entire staff.

So Matt Canada is now available.  Instantly he should be in consideration for Tennessee.  He has had great success as an OC at Pittsburgh, NC State, Wisconsin, Northern Illinois, Indiana and LSU.  Canada is considered to be one of the best offensive minds in college football and is known for his smart scheming.

However, we need to pump the brakes.  Canada was the highest paid OC in college football at $1.5 million when he was at LSU...for one season.  Canada and LSU head coach Ed Orgeron clashed throughout the entire 2017 season.  Why?  Because Orgeron is a headstrong coach who wants it his way.  Sound familiar?