I am excited about the prospect of getting coach Kelly but he will have large shoes to fill.  With all due respect to Div. II, the Big East and all the other places/levels, Kelly is moving into the SEC East (the toughest division in college football).   Saying Fulmer does not hold a light to Kelly completely disregards the fact that Fulmer's teams have had 9 seasons with 10+ wins, a 14 year bowl streak,  won or shared 7 SEC East titles,  won 2 SEC Championships and a BCS National Championship Game during an undefeated season.   Tennessee plays Florida, Georgia and Alabama every year.  If Kelly can surpass Fulmer with the speed that you predict,  I'll be lovin' life.  But I don't think it will be that easy.  

If Kelly plays for a SEC title in the next 4 years,  he will probably not do it with any QB's on Tennessee's current roster (they all suck).  In the SEC you talk about conference titles first...because you can't win it all without winning your division and then the SEC crown.  Tennessee could have played for the National Championship in 2001,  if it had skipped the SEC title game (we were ranked #2 in the BCS going in).  The Big East, The PAC-10  and the BIG 10 have one less hurdle than the SEC, BIG 12 and ACC...it makes a difference.

All that being said, I hope you're right.

This coming obviously from a Tennessee Volunteer. 

 

OK, comparing Tennessee to Baylor is a complete joke. Lets not forget that UT played in the SEC title game last year and was a poor throw away from knocking off the eventual national champ. So, comparing them to Baylor just makes you look like a moron. Last I've heard though (from sources who claim to have inside info) is that UT will be announcing Lane Kiffin as their next head coach next Monday. The sources I've heard have been split on whether he's bringing Ed Orgeron or Monte Kiffin on as DC. But regardless, that's what I've been hearing and it makes a lot of sense to me.

Tennessee needs to take whatever coach they can get........  It's kind of slim pickings this year and it's not like we are talking about an opening at OU or USC......  Its freaking Tennessee...... Getting pissed about Kelly would be kind of like Baylor getting pissed that they couldn't land a top tier coach....  Tennessee isn't exactly the program they once were.... 

Have you taken a look at Miami, Va Tech, and BC lately? I'd take cincinnati over all three of um. This whole story in nonsense anyways, Cincy is getting ready for a huge game against Pitt on saturday that'll most likely decide who goes to the Orange Bowl, there is no way that Kelly's wasting time talking to tennessee or that his assistants are trying to find other jobs. This deal may get done eventually, but i'll asure you that at this point, its nothing more than just hype.

"assistants making discreet calls", right, let's see, Kelly has had the same assistants for years going back to grand valley state. now, all of the sudden, they aren't going with him to tennessee, and are checking around for other opportunities. not a group that would likely not be with him, or would leak information. this is just another stab in the dark as they have no other ideas on candidates.

to UT VOLS ROCK about TigerSockRocket:

I understood what you meant by saying Cincy is a Conference USA squad.  The Big East use to be a respectable conference when they had Miami, Virginia Tech and Boston college.  Cincy does not even do justice trying to replace one of those 3 teams, so to real football fans-- their still a conference USA team.  

Red rage were talking about the sec here where there are the best coaches in the nation.Kelly would be at the bottom of that poll.i mean come on you honestly think kelly could compete with miles,saban,meyer,nutt,spurrier,richt?you need to examine yourself b4 you start talking outta your ass.

I have to laugh when I read many of these posts. SEC fans like to think of themselves as knowledgeable about college football. It's clear that most have their heads up their collective behinds.

Kelly would be an absolute home run of a coach. Cincinnati is an extremely well-coached team and Kelly is a dynamic recruiter. Combine that with the tradition of UT and you have a winning combination.

These moronic SEC fans, the ones who are complaining that Kelly isn't "big-name" enough or doesn't have the coaching chops to compete in the almighty SEC (which isn't even the best conference this season - Big 12 hands down), need to become better educated when it comes to the sport outside their own little, narcissistic world.

Kelly is the real deal. Just watch Cincy play football. This guy can coach and he's held the team together with a ridiculous amount of injuries to his QBs. They play hard, they play together, and the play-calling is excellent.

I remember when Pete Carroll was being named Head coach at USC no one wanted him here. But he put his stamp on one the best programs in the country. The best recruting coach in the last ten years. So UT don't knock it before  you try it 

I am laughing my a$$ off at a Michigan State fan claiming Brian Kelly "will win a national championship in the next 4 years" if he takes the UT job!!  Now that is GREAT comedy!!  Brian Kelly is nowhere good enough to beat the likes of Mark Richt, Urban Meyer, Nick Saban or Steve Spurrier.  Not even close.  He may win 8,9 games occasionally, but he will not win much more than that.  It is IMPOSSIBLE to follow a legend in the SEC.  Ask any other school!

Looking forward to blasting Michigan State in the Cap One Bowl!!  Another W for the Bulldogs over a Big 10 team!!