Hey, Vols fans we have a coach… Pruitt making strides in turning Tennessee into a contender
Published 11:23 pm Wednesday, October 30, 2019
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File Photo/Ivan Sanders Tennessee head coach Jeremy Pruitt is in bewilderment after an obvious facemask call was missed in Saturday's game against South Carolina. Pruitt would later earn a 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct in asking questions about obvious missed calls that went against his team.
BY IVAN SANDERS
STAR SPORTS EDITOR
Just like many Tennessee fans at the start of the season when the Vols dropped their contest to Georgia State and BYU, I was concerned if Coach Jeremy Pruitt would be able to get the job done as he dove into his second season at the helm in Knoxville.
Move forward after the eighth game of the season and I can truly say with confidence that yes Vols fans we have a coach that will turn the ship around and is doing so before our very eyes in 2019.
I have been blessed to watch every home game this season and I have seen growth all the way around from the coaching staff to the players and even the fans who were ready to go and help pack up the U-Haul for Pruitt and his family after the early-season debacles.
The one glaring thing that continually stands out to me is Pruitt’s willingness to stand up for his players and move beyond mistakes – costly ones at that – and show his trust in his team.
Case in point obviously is red-shirt junior quarterback Jarrett Guarantano who after one week removed from the worst decision he has made as a signal-caller in the game at Alabama came back onto the field with confidence to help the Vols in their huge 41-21 win over South Carolina last weekend before breaking a bone in his wrist.
That doesn’t come from having a coach bash him but while bashing continuing to believe that he still can provide value to this team.
Secondly, watching Pruitt work the sidelines prove that he is deeply invested in the Tennessee Volunteer program as he constantly fights for each and every one of his players especially during times of horrendous officiating that has been on display this season.
And if that isn’t enough, just listen to his players and its easy to see that they believe in their coach, as should Vol Nation, and not only the current players but those recruits that have three, four, and five stars in front of their names that are committing to helping Pruitt build a legacy in Knoxville.
Here are just a few comments from Pruitt’s players that verify what was just mentioned above courtesy of UT Athletics:
“Coach Pruitt, he’s a player’s coach,” said freshman linebacker Henry To’o To’o. “He loves his players and he’ll do anything for his players. That’s kind of coach who you want to play for. Coach Pruitt is a real genuine dude and he’ll do anything for you.
“That’s kind of who you want to play for. When you guys see him yelling and all this, it’s the usual for us. He does that for us on a daily basis.”
“Coach Pruitt, it’s obvious that he has our backs,” senior linebacker Daniel Bituli said. “You can see how fired up he is and that’s him each and every time.”
With players, even the young freshman, feeding off Pruitt’s energy, I will go out on a limb and believe it’s safe to say that future Tennessee opponents need to sit up and take notice and make sure to get the licks in this season because going forward it’s going to be a different environment and atmosphere on top of Rocky Top.
Pruitt has encouraged fans to stand by this team and keep on coming to bring energy to Neyland Stadium each week the Vols play at home. Saturday was a prime example of fans heeding the coach’s wishes as the crowd’s energy was over the top reaching a crescendo so loud that the referee couldn’t even get the time clock adjusted due to the decibel level in the stadium.
The result – a 20 point win over Coach Will Muschamp and the South Carolina Gamecocks.
Yes – we have our coach Vol fans and the future gets brighter every week.
