(03-17-2023 09:09 AM)BaseballPops Wrote:  In Doc Sander we trust. He has made home run hires throughout his career. From outside looking in. Morehead State's Spradlin would be very attractive if I were calling the shots. HC experience with phenomenal recruiting abilities, vs another assistant who hasn't proved anything in the 1st chair as of yet. Again, in Doc we trust.

Anyone know how much recruiting Savage has done? His PR abilities (can't have another Shay/Oliver in that dept.).

Also, what happened to Betsy's Morrell and a possible homecoming?

These are the same questions I have. Can Savage make the move to the head coaching position? Morrell and Spradlin have made that move successfully and are doing well. Maybe Doc sees something in his evaluation and thinks he can do the job.

I’ve felt like Savage would be the guy as soon as his name came up. I don’t hate it. I just hope that we’re not grasping desperately at connections to the glory days and hiring out of emotion as we did with Shay. I don’t think Sander would do that. It would be nice to get someone more established like Spradlin or Morrell but those guys are primed for bigger opportunities. A couple big years here and they’d be gone. Hopefully Savage will be someone that can build like Wes Miller or Richey and be around for a full contract.

I am hoping for coach who has spent no time in Knoxville, but I trust this A.D. to make a good hire. Too many at ETSU, both in its athletic programs and academic life, have viewed the world through orange-tinted glasses. Of course, Sander is not one of these folks. I wish to disparage neither the athletic programs of UT nor its academic standing, but the sun doesn't rise and set over Knoxville. President Noland, a Ph.D. grad of UT, certainly realizes this, and I am glad he is leading my alma mater.

(03-17-2023 11:06 AM)Bucbacker Wrote:  I am hoping for coach who has spent no time in Knoxville, but I trust this A.D. to make a good hire. Too many at ETSU, both in its athletic programs and academic life, have viewed the world through orange-tinted glasses. Of course, Sander is not one of these folks. I wish to disparage neither the athletic programs of UT nor its academic standing, but the sun doesn't rise and set over Knoxville. President Noland, a Ph.D. grad of UT, certainly realizes this, and I am glad he is leading my alma mater.

Exactly my feelings. We trust Doc with this hire. I am not saying to not ever, ever hire anyone from ut but please let us broaden our horizons to the entire country. Go Bucs!

(03-17-2023 09:09 AM)BaseballPops Wrote:  Anyone know how much recruiting Savage has done?

He was the main recruiter under Forbes.

If it is Savage then I am wondering if we even spoke to Morrell or Spradlin. And if we did then what is the reason for going with an assistant with no head coaching experience vs someone with head coaching experience. I trust Sander, just like everyone else, I would just like to know who the candidates were and why go with another Forbes assistant.

Ok, yes Savage spent some time in K-town. But that was over a decade ago. He's been on this 'track' since Forbes hired him. Remember, he's been attending that TopConnect thing Sander started way back at VCU. Which now is part of ETSU's Center for Global Sports Leadership - of which Sander is Director. And which offers doctorates. It's where Mike White got his Ed.D., BTW. It's a serious thing.

A couple of years ago Sander expanded that program to include juco coaches and ADs. But the point of all this is that one could almost say Savage has been "groomed" for this type of position, under Sander, for at least 4 years - and that's not even counting the time Savage was here before that under Forbes and Sander. I doubt Sander specifically expected Savage to get *this* position - but not unlikely that that thought was always in the back of his mind, too, as he has a great capacity to keep a huge number of ideas, concepts, projects, etc. mulling around in his head at once. It's probably too generous to say Savage has been a protégé, but there's maybe nobody Sander better knows the capabilities of, who's more ready to take this step, than Savage.
Just sayin' - but the pieces all seem to all fit together.

And even beyond that...........whoever Sander and Noland pick........we couldn't, in our wildest dreams, have a more qualified AD for this task. Sander builds not just programs for success, but people, too. That's why I earlier said that there's not a whole lot of sense just flapping our cyber-gums about all this. He *will* make the best available choice. Can he make mistakes? Well, sure - he's still human. But his track record speaks for itself - and I suspect some here have been underestimating his masterful control of the knobs.

Looks like it is Savage.

And now it's apparently a "done deal", to be announced soon-ish. Don't take that to the bank, but you can get your car keys ready.

done. thread created with link.

I assume most here know by now, but just in case.....

Oliver lands as asst. at USF

If that link doesn't work.......

https://www.wjhl.com/sports/college-spor...h-florida/