Sorry Vandy

[Vandy Vol]

NOW it's official.

James Franklin is a renter, per his own words:

You can be a renter or you can be a builder. You can rent somebody else's legacy or you can come in and build your own. We talk about how that's a way to differentiate yourself. You can come here and do something that's never been done before. We talk about selling these kids on a dream and a vision of the greatest turnaround in college football history. That's an opportunity you don't get very often. Nowadays, it's very hard to do something that's never been done before. You're following in somebody else's footsteps. At Vanderbilt, we have a chance to walk our own path.

[AUChizad]

NOW it's official.

James Franklin is a renter, per his own words:

I think he set y'all up for long-term success way moreso than anyone else in our lifetime has. Y'all should build a statue of him. He established a mentality that Vandy can actually be a football school. It's no longer a joke for recruits to pick the school. The facilities upgrades that apparently Penn State is now paying for, will pay dividends. Anchor Down, etc. etc. Provided Vandy doesn't fuck up royally on the next guy, he should be able to continue what Franklin built, IMO.

[Vandy Vol]

I think he set y'all up for long-term success way moreso than anyone else in our lifetime has. Y'all should build a statue of him. He established a mentality that Vandy can actually be a football school. It's no longer a joke for recruits to pick the school. The facilities upgrades that apparently Penn State is now paying for, will pay dividends. Anchor Down, etc. etc. Provided Vandy doesn't fuck up royally on the next guy, he should be able to continue what Franklin built, IMO.

Maybe, maybe not.  Sure, Vandy was left with a better record and better facilities.  For that, he gets my thanks, and I do believe that will help in landing a worthwhile coach.

But there's something unsettling I've noticed about Franklin's tenure.  I've noticed that our star players in the past couple of years (Jordan Matthews, Zac Stacy, and Jordan Rodgers) were Bobby Johnson's recruits.  Carta-Samuels, Robinette, Seymour, and Kimbrow are solid players...but outshined by Stacy and Rodgers.  And there's no WR that Franklin has recruited who outplays Matthews; Krause is the closest WR, but he was also recruited by Bobby Johnson.

Our recruiting classes were solid with Franklin.  So why are Johnson's players the ones to excel?  Franklin's recruiting classes were overrated, the coaching sucked, or the players are young and have yet to pan out.

I don't know what the issue is, but it's slightly concerning to me that the talent we've been recruiting under Franklin has yet to perform like the talent recruited by Johnson.  If it's a coaching problem, then we have to bring in a guy who can coach AND recruit, and then maybe we'll be set to continue to improve.  If it's a talent problem, then we're fucked for the next few years (and maybe more depending on the coach we get), especially considering that Franklin's departure could very well screw over our current recruiting class.

[jmar]

Maybe, maybe not.  Sure, Vandy was left with a better record and better facilities.  For that, he gets my thanks, and I do believe that will help in landing a worthwhile coach.

But there's something unsettling I've noticed about Franklin's tenure.  I've noticed that our star players in the past couple of years (Jordan Matthews, Zac Stacy, and Jordan Rodgers) were Bobby Johnson's recruits.  Carta-Samuels, Robinette, Seymour, and Kimbrow are solid players...but outshined by Stacy and Rodgers.  And there's no WR that Franklin has recruited who outplays Matthews; Krause is the closest WR, but he was also recruited by Bobby Johnson.

Our recruiting classes were solid with Franklin.  So why are Johnson's players the ones to excel?  Franklin's recruiting classes were overrated, the coaching sucked, or the players are young and have yet to pan out.

I don't know what the issue is, but it's slightly concerning to me that the talent we've been recruiting under Franklin has yet to perform like the talent recruited by Johnson.  If it's a coaching problem, then we have to bring in a guy who can coach AND recruit, and then maybe we'll be set to continue to improve.  If it's a talent problem, then we're fucked for the next few years (and maybe more depending on the coach we get), especially considering that Franklin's departure could very well screw over our current recruiting class.

Butch Jones will make a name for himself at Vandy's expense if the AD doesn't act quickly to lure the right guy.

[WiregrassTiger]

Kirby Smart to Vandy per nobody yet. I'm trying to start that.

[Stone Tiger]

Kirby Smart to Vandy per nobody yet. I'm trying to start that.

The bloom is off that rose. 

Besides, why would you want him to leave?  Saban might actually get a DC that could coach at that point. 

I want Smart as Saban's successor.  That would be a comedy of Dubosian proportions.

[Vandy Vol]

Butch Jones will make a name for himself at Vandy's expense if the AD doesn't act quickly to lure the right guy.

I have faith in David Williams.  He's shown that he is willing to do what it takes to build a better program.  My only concern is who's available and willing to take a chance on fully buying into an upcoming team.  As much as I liked Bobby Johnson, Franklin is the only Vandy coach that I can remember who bought into the program enthusiastically, or at least put up a facade as if he did.  Widenhofer was good for our defense, but wasn't a great overall coach, recruiter, or hype man.

We're left with options like Chad Morris, Derek Mason, and Jim McElwain.  I'm not scoffing at any of those options as being below Vandy, but I don't know much about them, and that's what concerns me.  Of course, I felt the same way when Franklin was hired.  Which is why I have faith in David Williams as an AD to make the right decision again, even if it's only for another three years.  As long as we're heading upward, maybe we can eventually land someone who truly wants to be with the program.

[WiregrassTiger]

I have faith in David Williams.  He's shown that he is willing to do what it takes to build a better program.  My only concern is who's available and willing to take a chance on fully buying into an upcoming team.  As much as I liked Bobby Johnson, Franklin is the only Vandy coach that I can remember who bought into the program enthusiastically, or at least put up a facade as if he did.  Widenhofer was good for our defense, but wasn't a great overall coach, recruiter, or hype man.

We're left with options like Chad Morris, Derek Mason, and Jim McElwain.  I'm not scoffing at any of those options as being below Vandy, but I don't know much about them, and that's what concerns me.  Of course, I felt the same way when Franklin was hired.  Which is why I have faith in David Williams as an AD to make the right decision again, even if it's only for another three years.  As long as we're heading upward, maybe we can eventually land someone who truly wants to be with the program.

Williams has proven he knows what he's doing. I liked having Franklin in the conference. Vandy is now more of a springboard than a crash landing spot.

[jmar]

The bloom is off that rose. 

Besides, why would you want him to leave?  Saban might actually get a DC that could coach at that point. 

I want Smart as Saban's successor.  That would be a comedy of Dubosian proportions.

I had my heart set on the nitwit Dabo.

[Vandy Vol]

Williams has proven he knows what he's doing. I liked having Franklin in the conference. Vandy is now more of a springboard than a crash landing spot.

My crash landing spot has always been Jumbo's anus.

[jmar]

Williams has proven he knows what he's doing. I liked having Franklin in the conference. Vandy is now more of a springboard than a crash landing spot.

Very visual WT. I liked.

[jmar]

My crash landing spot has always been Jumbo's anus.

It's like you envision it and...post it.

[The Prowler]

Vandy will take a few steps back, and unless they hire someone like Franklin again (a coach that will cheat his ass off in recruiting), solid players will start looking at UT again. This was Vandy's time to take control of UT...but that's not going to happen now, UT will be back up while Vandy will slide back down.

[AUownsU]

Maybe, maybe not.  Sure, Vandy was left with a better record and better facilities.  For that, he gets my thanks, and I do believe that will help in landing a worthwhile coach.

But there's something unsettling I've noticed about Franklin's tenure. I've noticed that our star players in the past couple of years (Jordan Matthews, Zac Stacy, and Jordan Rodgers) were Bobby Johnson's recruits.  Carta-Samuels, Robinette, Seymour, and Kimbrow are solid players...but outshined by Stacy and Rodgers.  And there's no WR that Franklin has recruited who outplays Matthews; Krause is the closest WR, but he was also recruited by Bobby Johnson.
Our recruiting classes were solid with Franklin.  So why are Johnson's players the ones to excel?  Franklin's recruiting classes were overrated, the coaching sucked, or the players are young and have yet to pan out.

I don't know what the issue is, but it's slightly concerning to me that the talent we've been recruiting under Franklin has yet to perform like the talent recruited by Johnson.  If it's a coaching problem, then we have to bring in a guy who can coach AND recruit, and then maybe we'll be set to continue to improve.  If it's a talent problem, then we're fucked for the next few years (and maybe more depending on the coach we get), especially considering that Franklin's departure could very well screw over our current recruiting class.

Definitely agree. Bobby Johnson laid the foundation for Franklin's success.

[DnATL]

Definitely agree. Bobby "Golly Gee" Johnson laid the foundation for Franklin's success.

fixt

[Jumbo]

My crash landing spot has always been Jumbo's anus.

Mmmm I like it like that, Vandy werking that back I don't know how to act.

[Tiger Wench]

One source saying Mack Brown is in consideration for the Vandy job.

Brown versus Lord Sabinz... could be amusing.

[Vandy Vol]

One source saying Mack Brown is in consideration for the Vandy job.

Brown versus Lord Sabinz... could be amusing.

David Williams said that 25 people have voluntarily contacted Vandy about the position, and that 5 of those are people who turned us down when we were last looking for a coach.

I would be kind of surprised if Brown were interested though.  I think the only reason that he's being mentioned is because he's from Tennessee and played at Vandy for a year.

Although he kind of shit the bed at Texas this past year, I think bigger schools would still want him.  Not to mention that at his age, I don't think he's going to be in for the long haul of building a program.

[DnATL]

Sure it wasn't Watson Brown?  (Since everything old is new again)

[The Prowler]

Vandy might have to do something quick. James Franklin has a charter bus that he's filling up with current Vandy commits and bringing them, or trying to bring them, to Penn State. Vandy's 20 commits, at this time, less than a handful are considered solid verbal...the others are looking, some of them have a new PSU offer. Remember what that Coach Franklin stated when he got to Vanderbilt? Players without honor and integrity are the ones that've decomitted from his new Vanderbilt (Nevermind the fact that he'd gotten a couple players from other schools to decommit and commit to Vanderbilt).
Sounds to me like I was right about Coach James Franklin. He's a piece of shit, used car salesman, snake in the grass type coach. Vandy will be thanking their lucky stars that he left when he did, the NCAA will catch on to him, maybe while he's at PSU.