(09-29-2019 03:25 PM)Crazier Wrote:  

(09-28-2019 09:56 AM)pmantiger Wrote:  

(09-27-2019 10:29 PM)Crazier Wrote:  If Fuente hadn't left when he left we would be in the same boat. His recruiting is suspect. He caught lighting in a bottle with Paxton Lynch and Larry Porter's recruits but I am very grateful for what he did for our program. We owe him major gratitude.

Recruiting is clearly not his biggest strength but we wouldn't be where we are without the foundation he set. I certainly wouldn't give Porter's recruits much credit as we had 50 something scholarship players on campus when Fuente came in. Porter got the signatures but couldn't get them in and couldn't get some to stay that got in. Fuente is simply not willing to do what it takes to recruit at the highest levels, hence the reason he rebuffed the overtures from several SEC teams. I have it on pretty good authority that he said he would never be interested in coaching in the SEC because of the 'stuff' you had to do in recruiting to be competitive. He thought he could be clean and still competitive in the ACC but it is getting tougher everywhere. He told his staff that it was a very tough decision to leave Memphis but it really came down to he and his wife wanting their daughters to grow up in a small town like he did. Can't blame him for that.

And yes, I would take him back in a flash the next time we have an opening!

Part of that Miami Beach bowl season was Porter's recruits. Porter recruited some of our most iconic tigers; Bobby McCain, Martin Ifedi, Lonnie Ballentine, and Terry Redden just for example. Porter was a lousy coach but give credit when it's due. Fuente had alot success with Porter's recruits and there was a huge drop of on defense when they graduated. Fuente recruited diamond in the rough type players and had success at Memphis. That type of recruiting won't cut it at those big jobs.

Honestly I am not sure that Fuente would have been able to surpass the success that Norvell has had in Memphis. Fuente's defense had already started to crumble and I just don't believe he would have been able to have the same level of success that Norvell has had on the offensive side of the ball without Lynch. First successful year the defense carried us...Second year the offense carried us with Lynch being a key piece.

Fuente left at the perfect time. He left with Memphis on the rise making it much easier for Norvell to recruit, but Fuente also left a ton of offensive talent on the roster that Norvell took advantage of...The kids Fuente left may not have been highly rated but Fuente and staff molded those guys into good college players.

Fuente also left a bunch of good leaders and an environment of winning and hard work that Norvell has also been able to maintain.

(09-30-2019 11:37 AM)macgar32 Wrote:  Honestly I am not sure that Fuente would have been able to surpass the success that Norvell has had in Memphis. Fuente's defense had already started to crumble and I just don't believe he would have been able to have the same level of success that Norvell has had on the offensive side of the ball without Lynch. First successful year the defense carried us...Second year the offense carried us with Lynch being a key piece.

Fuente left at the perfect time. He left with Memphis on the rise making it much easier for Norvell to recruit, but Fuente also left a ton of offensive talent on the roster that Norvell took advantage of...The kids Fuente left may not have been highly rated but Fuente and staff molded those guys into good college players.

Fuente also left a bunch of good leaders and an environment of winning and hard work that Norvell has also been able to maintain.

This. Fuente left a good foundation for Norvell to continue to build upon, plus he didn't steal the snowcone machine or run to the hills while leaving the program under NCAA violations like some other slimeball coach who shall not be named. Either way, even if he did tank a few games at the end I'm thankful for his overall accomplishments and his timing as we have continued to rise with one hell of a good coach.