Butch Jones has won over some University of Tennessee fans already without even coaching a game.
New coaches tend to do that to a certain degree because fans want to have hope and "the new" opens the door for that.
Butch Jones has done more than just win the opening press conference. He’s said the right things. He’s talked about and acted-on some issues from the Derek Dooley tenure (being accessible, embracing with open arms the football letter-winners, heightening the importance of in-state recruiting, etc.)
Just seeing the head football coach of a big-time university being introduced (see article photo) after his staff at a basketball game this weekend walk-out and see the mascot, tap his chest asking for a chest-bump and then do it in front of 17,000 fans shows you that he's committed to get the fans excited about where the program is going.
There are many hurdles and things to overcome to completely win over the fanbase. He and his staff have to have success in recruiting and then ultimately you must win games or none of the above will be remembered.
John Adams and I had an opportunity to visit with Tennessee’s head football coach on the “News Sentinel Sports Page” radio talk show just a few days ago.
To hear our entire interview with Butch Jones, click the video to the left.
Here are some of the topics we discussed with Vols coach Butch Jones:
-The big recruiting weekends left before NSD
-Selling the University of Tennessee in recruiting
-Recruiting JUCO players vs. high school players
-Evaluating returning players
-First round draft prospect Eric Fisher who he recruited & coached
-NFL players he coached
-Mental conditioning of players
-6am standard periods & bringing in a group of Navy Seals for training
-Would more face-to-face time w/recruits help coaches?
-The topic of an early signing period
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