Why Vols assistant feels 'sense of comfort' in new role on staff

John Adams | Knoxville

Since Tennessee prepares to begin spring football practice Thursday, this seems like a good time to compare the two highest paid members of the coaching staff.

One is current UT football coach Jeremy Pruitt. The other is former UT football coach Butch Jones.

You might argue that Jones is no longer on UT’s staff. Technically, you’re right. He’s currently employed at Alabama as some sort of an analyst/assistant, who’s probably responsible for keeping coach Nick Saban supplied with coffee and the junk food of his choosing.

View | 116 Photos

UT Vols: 40 years of Tennessee sports photos by Michael Patrick

But Jones is on Tennessee’s payroll. It’s paying him millions of dollars not to coach since he was fired after the 2017 season. Alabama is paying him thousands of dollars not to be an on-the-field coach since he joined the Tide before the 2018 season.

Jones and Pruitt have something else in common. After Jones’ last season as Tennessee’s coach, it was last in the SEC East. After Pruitt’s first season at UT, it was last place in the SEC East.

Here’s a more detailed accounting of how they stack up after having gone through one season and signing two recruiting classes.

Record: Jones and Pruitt each went 5-7 in their first season.

Even.

SEC record: Jones went 2-6 in 2013. Pruitt also went 2-6.

Even.

Power 5 wins: Jones had two. Pruitt also had two.

Even.

Big wins: Jones beat one nationally ranked team, South Carolina, in his first season at UT. Pruitt beat two, Auburn and Kentucky.

Advantage: Pruitt.

Bad losses: Jones’ first Tennessee team lost three games by more than 25 points. Pruitt’s first team lost six by more than 25 points.

Advantage: Jones.

Michael Patrick/News Sentinel

First signing class: Jones’ first class finished No. 25 in 247Sports composite team rankings. Pruitt’s first class was ranked 21st.

Advantage Pruitt.

Second signing class: Jones’ finished seventh. Pruitt’s finished 12th.

Advantage: Jones.

Catchphrases: Jones 327, Pruitt 0.

Advantage: Pruitt.

Media availability: Jones had his assistant coaches available on a regular basis. Assistants are off limits for the most part under Pruitt.

Advantage: Jones.

View | 110 Photos

Butch Jones, former University of Tennessee football coach

Players injured falling on a helmet: Jones 1, Pruitt, 0.

Advantage: Pruitt.

Margin of loss to in-state rival: Jones lost to Vanderbilt by four points in his first season. Pruitt lost to Vanderbilt by 25.

Advantage: Jones.

Margin of loss to three biggest rivals: Jones lost to Florida, Georgia and Alabama by a combined 52 points in his first season. Pruitt lost to Florida, Georgia and Alabama by a combined 89 points.

Advantage: Jones.

Score: Jones 5, Pruitt 4.

Notice I didn’t write “final score.” After all, this is just the first quarter.

I’ll crunch the numbers again after the 2019 season.