quote:

It has nothing to do with success. Haslam has this misguided opinion that being good at football ruins Tennessee's reputation as a school.



He'll be dead soon, just ignore him.



This post was edited on 10/19 at 1:39 pm

I've sat down with Big Jim (Or he's been kind enough to let me sit with him) a few times over the last few months and had the opportunity to talk football and the program with him. I think you're way off with your info here. I mean the guy was on the 1951 National Championship team and won at the highest level here under Neyland. Half the time I see him he's got a Power T pinned on his vest and is talking about UT football. Believe me when I say that the man wants to win and win at a high level. When we spoke he was talking about wanting to watch UT make one more National championship appearance before he passes, but that the chances of that happening at this point were slim to none. He and Jimmy are incredible businessmen, but have obviously struggled with front office and coaching hires on the football side of things. I don't agree with him if he's against Gruden or any true A List hire for obvious reasons, but to say that he believes being a football school ruins Tennessee's reputation as a University is disingenuous.