By Jimmy Hyams
ATLANTA — Tennessee coach Jeremy Pruitt was composed, confident and humorous – yes, humorous – as he bounced from station to station during his first SEC football media days.
With Tennessee taking center stage Wednesday, Pruitt visited with local and national media in private, hit radio row, the print room and the electronic media area, delivering the same message: He’s thrilled to be Tennessee’s head coach.
Pruitt bragged about his staff and the three players he brought to media days – Eli Wolf, Marquez Callaway and Kyle Phillips. He said offensive lineman Trey Smith, who missed the spring with an undisclosed illness, will be back this fall.
When Smith expressed concern about missing reps in the spring, Pruitt reassured him: “I promise you, Trey, you’ll be fine.’’
Pruitt even handled a tough question with poise.
During an interview with a Nashville station Tuesday, former Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray said he didn’t think Pruitt had the personality to be a head coach and that he didn’t show proper respect to his boss at Georgia, then-head coach Mark Richt.
Asked about those comments, Pruitt praised Murray as a player and competitor, and told the story of his dad, Dale, a high school coach, saying fans have a right to their opinion and you can’t worry about what others say.
“I’ll worry about things I can control,’’ Pruitt said.
Pruitt also added: “Fifteen years ago, I was a kindergarten teacher. Now I’m the head coach at Tennessee. You don’t do that without knowing how to treat people.’’
Some of Pruitt’s media day highlights:
He said eight of the 32 players taken in the first round of the most recent NFL draft were recruited, coached or developed by members of his UT staff. He said eight off the 11 members of his staff started out in high school. And his staff has been a part of 13 national championships.
He said the “Power of the T’’ allows him to recruit nationwide.
He said 10 seniors on the team already have their degree and that by Christmas, 22 will have degrees.
He said defensive end Kyle Phillips has gained from 260 pounds to 275 or 280 and “has done everything asked of him.’
He said when he first met Eli Wolf, he thought he was a trainer or manager. When Wolf told Pruitt he was a tight end, Pruitt asked if Wolf had blocked an SEC defensive end. Wolf said no, but he ran a 4.5 in the 40, according to Pruitt. Wolf has gained about 20 pounds since before spring ball.
Pruitt said 12 players didn’t compete in the spring due to injury, 15 newcomers arrived in the summer and three grad transfers have signed. Thus, Pruitt said, 30 players on the roster didn’t compete in the spring. He said those additions will add competition at most every position.
Pruitt was asked why UT football has struggled in the past 10 years, not winning the East Division since 2007 and recording just one winning record in SEC play in a decade. “I can only try to assess the last six months,’’ Pruitt said. He said from the administration to boosters to the fan base, “we’re all running in the same direction as fast as we can.’’
Pruitt was asked about the importance of in-state recruiting. “It’s important to get the right players that fit,’’ he said, noting UT has a national brand. He said he wants recruits with character who can handle adversity and have a positive effect on teammates.
Pruitt was asked about calling out fans who didn’t attend the spring game. “We have phenomenal fans, phenomenal,’’ he said. “I’m excited about the opportunity to give back to the fan base. Our goal is to put a football team on the field they can be proud of.’’
Pruitt said he wants four to six running backs due to the attrition of the position. He mentioned the top four – Ty Chandler, Tim Jordan, Jeremy Banks and Mondre London – along with Trey Coleman and converted tight end Princeton Fant.
Asked why he is the perfect fit for Tennessee, Pruitt said: “I don’t know that I was the perfect fit.’’ But he said if he knew he’d become a head coach, he couldn’t have picked a better athletic director than Phillip Fulmer. “Everything that made Tennessee great over the years, he knows why. When they were not great, he knows why.’’
Asked if he would be more like Nick Saban, Jimbo Fisher or Mark Richt, Pruitt said none. He talked about going from a P.E. coach 15 years ago to an SEC head coach. “I didn’t get here by trying to be someone else.’’
He said he would adopt Saban’s philosophy of one voice and wouldn’t let his assistants talk to the media. “They’ll appreciate that,’’ he said.
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