Virginia academy coach to join Tech staff
Coaching in Virginia for nearly two decades, Robert Prunty developed a reputation for building programs and building young men.
Now he’ll take part in helping new Texas Tech coach Tommy Tuberville build his program with the Red Raiders. Prunty, the head coach of the Hargrave Military Academy post-graduate program, stepped down Thursday to join the Tech staff as a defensive assistant.
Prunty
The announcement came from Hargrave, which is located in Chatham, Va.
“We lost a good guy,’’ said William Wiebking, the academy’s director of communications. “They just came and plucked him away. We’re all stunned.’’
Wiebking quoted Prunty as saying the Tech offer was “too good to refuse.’’
Prunty did not immediately return a telephone message. A Tech official said Tech will not announce any football staff hires until after national signing day on Wednesday.
Tuberville retained Matt Moore and Charlie Sadler from fired coach Mike Leach’s staff, elevated Sonny Cumbie from a graduate assistant’s position and is known to have hired six new assistants.
Hargrave is a college prep military academy. Its post-graduate team is a one-year program for high school graduates who lacked the grades, college entrance exam scores or physical readiness for a college program. They don’t lose any college eligibility by playing on the post-graduate team.
About 40 former Hargrave players have made it to the NFL, according to the academy’s Web site, including 27 since Prunty took over as head coach in 2002. Since 1999, six Hargrave alums have been NFL first-round draft choices, including Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Torry Holt, Washington Redskins cornerback Carlos Rogers, who played for Tuberville at Auburn, and two players Tech faced in bowl games: Virginia offensive tackle Branden Albert and Mississippi defensive tackle Peria Jerry, who were first-round picks by Kansas City and Atlanta, respectively.
Wiebking said the academy has had students from as many as 44 states and eight countries at one time, and Prunty got to build his post-graduate team from scratch each year.
“He’d get a new crop every year and have two to three weeks, tops, to jell them into a team before playing the first game against whatever competition,’’ Wiebking said. “That takes a lot of knowledge about personalities and how to manage young men. He did an impressive job with that.’’
Prunty is a Chatman, Va., native and a 1983 Hargrave Military Academy graduate. He coached the East team in the U.S. Army All-America Bowl in 2008.
Before his tenure at Hargrave, Prunty is credited with changing the culture as head coach at Gretna (Va.) High School from 1993 through 2000. He inherited a team that lost 44 games in a row between 1991 and 1995 but was 11-1 in his last season. Gretna went on to become a powerhouse, winning multiple state championships.
To comment on this story:
don.williams@lubbockonline.com l 766-8734
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Another good hiring by coach TT. Looking good I cannopt wait til signing day.
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When will Leach fans wake up to Tech’s potential with Coach Tub? He knows what he is doing.. and also knows how to iron his clothes, unlike the Leach!
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Ride Raider Ride said:
footballscoop is reporting the Robert Punty from Hargrave Military Academy (VIrginia) is going to be joining the TTU coaching staff
http://recruiting.scout.com/2/423912.html
Hmm…….this guy is a HC at a football prep school. Tubes is bringing him to his staff. Might this guy also bring a prize player with him????
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Robert Prunty could also be a great recruiter for that Virginia, Carolina, Maryland area.
There are two players at Hargrave that might be in the mix:
4 Star DT Ego Ferguson is undecided: http://hsvirginia.scout.com/a.z?s=412&p=8&c=1&nid=3797886
3 Star OLB Prince Kent is committed to Baylor: http://hsvirginia.scout.com/a.z?s=412&p=8&c=1&nid=4518830
So, we could have an Ego and a Prince on the field at the same time. I like it.
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Ride Raider Ride said: I
PULLED THIS OFF OF RIVALS.COM. This list was posted by dedfischer. Interesting list speaks highly of HMA.
Originally posted by dedfischer:
HARGRAVE’S
POST-GRADUATE NFL PLAYERS:
Branden Albert (Chiefs)
Brandon Anderson (Colts)
Fred Bennett (Texans)
Darrell Blackman (Lions)
Bobby Blizzard (Ravens)
Chris Bradwell (Buccaneers)
Ahmad Brooks (Bengals)
Andre Brown (Giants)
Anthony Davis (Buccaneers)
Ronald Fields (49ers)
Brandon Flowers (Chiefs)
Jared Gaither (Ravens)
Charles Grant (Saints)
Jermaine Hardy (Panthers)
Justin Harper (Ravens)
Marcus Harrison (Bears)
Jonathan Hefney (Buccaneers)
Anthony Hill (Texans)
Tory Holt (Rams)
Robert Johnson (Falcons)
Peria Jerry (Atlanta Falcons)
Keon Lattimore (Cowboys)
Orion Martin (Dolphins)
Chris McDuffie (Chiefs)
Khalif Mitchell (49ers)
Anthony Mix (Giants)
Soloman Paige (Cowboys)
D.J. Parker (49ers)
Leonard Pope (Cardinals)
Jay Ratliff (Cowboys)
Antonio Reynolds (Giants)
Carlos Rogers (Redskins)
Matt Roan (Vikings)
Keith Saunders (Patriots)
Tony Scott (Jets)
Jon Sullivan (Saints)
Jyles Tucker (Chargers)
TJ Williams (Buccaneers)
Danny Ware (Titans
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gocoachTub, Tech fans are behind the football team & new coaches…(sighs & repeats same mantra)….this is not about Leach as much as it is about right & wrong…Leach was railroaded, the admin blew it, & daddy james & baby james are co-dependent, whinning, “it’s all about me,” self-entitled idiots.
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Not impressed…there’s no really BIG NAME NFL PLAYERS on that list. It just amazes me how easily impressed some people are….If you are gonna hire this guy, I would have bet my money on just keeping Ruff and the team he has put together at ECU….time will tell…
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Ego has “all the tools in the shed” (according to Scout), so another shed incident is something we probably won’t worry about with him should he miraculously commit to Tech.
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Hey Sports Thud, I can see two names on that list without going into detail on the others who are very good (Ratliff for the Cowboys and Tory Holt of the Rams).
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This just keeps getting better and better, I think. I really love this “new start.” Tuberville is the best thing that’s happened to Texas Tech in a long time. Sure, Mike Leach made it exciting, but on a personal level… Oh, I promised myself I’d stop making negative comments about Leach since it seems to me everything is beginning to fade. I’m glad to see so many positive comments on this site. The old days are over. It’s 2010 and a new era is beginning. Go Tuberville! Guns up!
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The key word is this not a school that anyone would go to. So he has to find the talent and bring it out and train these kids in a short time period. I see alot of good things here. Keep an open mind and go TUBBS!!!!!
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Eddie P
Just ignore Sports Nympho they never talk detail about football. They just jump in on everyones post with no substance and nothing to add.
Hargrave Military Academy has become a great Prep school (located in Chatham Virginia). Both the school and Robert Prunty are highly regarded.
This morning, 4 rings and I have posted info on another thread site here ( fabulous 44) 4 rings posted some of it here on this thread. Go to the links and check out the offers these kids are getting. SEC, ACC, PAC and yes the BIG 12.
HMA allows the kids to mature another year, helps on and off the field, gets their grades in order and helps them to get into a regiment that carries over into the class room. Obviously it works.
I think this is a great hire.
It is good to be able to talk football with some folks.
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I honestly believe that some great things are in the works for Tech’s Football Program. I watched an interview with Tuberville where he stated that quality players are now contacting his office expressing a desire to come play at Texas Tech. He advised that this came about after it was made clear that Tech will continue the high flying Offense that they are known for. I also believe that this hiring of Prunty is going to result in the commitment of several highly rated prospects that Prunty was coaching. Any recruits that were lost by the coaching change may very well be replaced with equal or better talent. I expect to see Tech seriously challenging, and winning a Big12 conference title in the next three years. Some very good coaches have been brought in which will draw the talent. Tech has been able to compete with TU and oU the past few seasons because of good defense. If Tech ups the defense any it will put Tech over the top. We will not dominate oU and TU, but we will play at their level. As for Okie Lite, and the ags, they will suffer the consequences.
Wreckem Texas Tech
Best of luck Leach. Dont forget the sun tan lotion.
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ESPN twitter
http://twitter.com/BFeldmanESPN/status/8349047597
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East Techsan,
As you stated above “I watched an interview with Tuberville where he stated that quality players are now contacting his office expressing a desire to come play at Texas Tech. He advised that this came about after it was made clear that Tech will continue the high flying Offense that they are known for”.
Who are these quality players that you state Tuberville claims to have talked to and how many of these quality players is Tuberville going to sign on February 3, 2010?
So far, “I’m a Salesman” Tuberville has done nothing but talk, while we have been losing recruits that Leach and his staff had gift wrapped for Tuberville and staff.
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Wow, this is a huge addition to the coaching staff for Tech, nice job Tubby!
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Post graduate high school (grade 13); are you kidding me??!! And a military school at that. Obviously these underacheiving “football players” are not going to college to get an education so Tech’s graduation rate will take a hit. But hey, it’s all about winning. Most of these kids don’t make the NFL and since most don’t graduate from college either, where’s the list of players who never made anything of their life and are on the “inside looking out”??
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Tubbs could be talking about recruits for the next spring. I think Tech is headed in the right direction with CTT
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Have we received an actual signed contract from Tubs yet?
Still has nothing to do with the fact that Tech fans want the pansy gone from the team….this is not about Leach or Tubbs. This is about right & wrong. Now, who is lying?
1. TT attorney, Ronny Walls, who sent a letter on Dec. 20 saying James was threatening litigation?
2. James claiming he never threatened litigation?
3. Is TT attorney guilty of lying to TX atty general?
4. Is that lying grounds for disbarment?
5. Is James lying?
6. Is James’ lying grounds for TT atty to sue for slander?
7. Did A. James get away with breaking a $1,100 door?
8. Did A. James get away with cussing out his coaches?
9. Was Leach forbidden from cutting A. James from the team?
9. Could it be that A. James was lying from the get-go, & suffering a hangover vs. a concussion?
10. Did A. James have a history of slacking off of practice?
On those suspious facts alone, one is not stretching ones imagination to say that TT or James is lying. The only consistent point from any party involved is from Leach camp.
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By the way, WHO paid for the repairs to the frigging door?!
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What is the new coach’s role gonna be? Is he in charge of helping the marginal students keep their grades up to remain elligible? Don’t have a problem with that or the prep-military school background. Discipline isn’t a bad idea if you are allowed to administor it.
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Big discipline could be a problem for at least one TT player….how will the new coaches deal with over-protective daddies?! Think we need answers…are they gonna put whimp players on 1st string? Or will they deal with the cancer on the team? You are only as strong as your weakest link…
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HOOK ‘EM HORNS!
Sincerely,
I Iuv pie rats
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Good News. Looking forward to next season!. Those who aren’t………………. stay home. Tech does not need you.
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Tubby is building a great staff to take with him to A&M next January.
And this guy is a great addition to that talented group, plus the players he knows at the Virginia school will be ready to play college ball after a year.
This is great news for R.C. Slocum and the group in college station.
Gig’em….,,,er Guns-UP
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Barney said:
“Post graduate high school (grade 13); are you kidding me??!! And a military school at that. Obviously these underacheiving “football players” are not going to college to get an education so Tech’s graduation rate will take a hit. But hey, it’s all about winning. Most of these kids don’t make the NFL and since most don’t graduate from college either, where’s the list of players who never made anything of their life and are on the “inside looking out”??”
Barney Do you know any of the kids that graduated from HMA or have spoken to any of their parents. They do graduate from college and if you look at the list of above that 4 RINGS posted they do play in the NFL. 13th grade as you call it – gives these kids another year to mature, to physically grow, to work on their grades and to learn a regiment that carries over in life. Not all attend HMA for all four reasons. They have a higher rate of NFL players than any other HS. Both HMA and Prunty are well known across the country, especially back east. If you look at College rosters you will see them in the SEC, Big 10, Pac 10 etc. and yeain the BIG 12. And yes, by the way it is a private school and it is not cheap! Read up son before you post.
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Here is a post of a HMA graduate that is going to Penn State. If you read the BIO you can see the impact the HMA has made on this young man. This is just one example of many.
http://www.gopsusports.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/newsome_kevin00.html
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Sound like this guy knows how to get players mentally ready as well as physical. I wonder if he will teach players that in order to achieve you must do for yourself and not rely on your daddy to do things for you? I believe this is a great addition. Having heart can mean more than having talent.
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gocoachTub said: “When will Leach fans wake up to Tech’s potential with Coach Tub? He knows what he is doing.. and also knows how to iron his clothes, unlike the Leach!”
Hey, don’t put us all in the same boat. The vast majority of Tech fans support both Coach Leach and Coach Tuberville. It’s the vocal minority on both sides that are causing the problems. I hate the way this whole thing went down but I’m excited about the future and think this coaching hire is a good one.
Sports Nympho said: “Not impressed…there’s no really BIG NAME NFL PLAYERS on that list.”
Uh, Jay Ratliff – Pro Bowl? Now I’m the one that is not impressed.
Voice of Reason always says a lot of stuff that shows he is wanting Coach Tuberville to fail.
Why?
Barney = hater
Why?
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Welcome aboard Coach Prunty. Welcome to Lubbock and the Raider Nation!!!
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Sports Nympho says that no big names came from HMA, I beg to differ. Just running through the list with out any research.
Brandon Albert: 1st round draft pick
Brandon Flowers: high draft pick, star at Virginia Tech
Jared Gaither: starting LOT for Baltimore Ravens
Charles Grant: starting DE for New Orleans Saints
Tory Holt: one of the best WR to ever play in the NFL
Jay Ratliff: Pro Bowl DT for Dallas Cowboys
Carlos Rodgers: 1st round draft pick
Also like to point out, it looks like Tubbs has some history with this new coach, as both Ratliff and Rodgers played for him at Auburn.
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@ East Techsan – I agree that Tech will improve defensively because of the 3-4. It allows one to attack from several more angles than the 4-3, and it promotes more speed, assumimg you have the right players. What you and so many others fail to see is backward slide offensively, which will keep us from consistently competing with OU & UT. A&M and NU will also be a thorn in our side in the future.
A 55/45% pass/run offense will devastate our current scheme, identity and recruiting niche. It will change everything. The running game will no longer be a “quick hitter” concept and it will have a tremendous effect on opponents pass defense against us. A major key to the “air raid” success is LBs and DBs fatigue in the second half from constantly defending the pass. All you have to do is look at the number of games Tech poured on the offense in the 2nd half to see its validity. This is by design, not chance, and the 15% increase in run will practically eliminate it.
There are other details of the air raid that will go by the way side relegating Tech to a generic spread (Mizzou, KU, Arizona, etc.). I don’t have time to go into each of them. TT just doesn’t understand the air raid. When he hired Franklin at AU, he did so telling him to implement more run which ruined the scheme and proved unsuccessful.
Yes, we will get better defensively, but will suffer big time offensively over the next 2-3 years. Take it from someone who knows. Oh, if all of you knew the morale of the team right now, you’d be very worried.
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Here’s what the change will look like averaging out Tech game stats under ML:
Air Raid: 49 pass & 21 run
New scheme: 38 pass & 32 run
This is significant folks. The plays and reads may look like the old Tech, but it is the proportion and a few other details that change everything. Sad to see it go!
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Looking at Troy’s offensive production and knowing Big 12 defenses, I’d say Tech will average from 10-14 points less per game.
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Who are these quality players that you state Tuberville claims to have talked to and how many of these quality players is Tuberville going to sign on February 3, 2010?
So far, “I’m a Salesman” Tuberville has done nothing but talk, while we have been losing recruits that Leach and his staff had gift wrapped for Tuberville and staff.
How do you expect me to answer your question Idiot ? Im not Tuberville, and I dont work for his staff. As far as Tuberville doing something other then talking what do you expect him to be doing ? Do you think he is just sitting behind a desk or what ? He is bringing in quality Coaches. Should Tuberville hold a gun to Leach’s recruit’s heads to get them to come to Tech ? Some of this stuff is beyond the control of Tuberville. The recruits that dropped out said they did it because they wanted to play for Leach. Is it Tuberville’s fault that Leach got fired ? Think before you talk Idiot.
Wreckem Texas Tech
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Former Player said: “A 55/45% pass/run offense will devastate our current scheme, identity and recruiting niche. . . . Oh, if all of you knew the morale of the team right now, you’d be very worried. “
I was told that one of the reasons Troy had a higher run percentage than Tech was that they tended to pitch the ball to the backs behind the line while Tech tossed the dinker passes to the backs behind the line. Same effect but one goes down as a pass, the other a run. If true, that makes Troy’s offense just a little bit more run oriented which may not be a bad thing. Do you have any insight on this? Coach Tuberville doesn’t have to understand the Air Raid at this point. That’s why he has an offensive coordinator who does.
An Auburn guy told me the problem with Tuberville’s spread at Auburn (besides the fact the only quarterback he had that could run it was injured) was that he did not have the buy in from his existing coaches, boosters and fans in general. He says he is going to run the Air Raid. He has said several times we’re going to air it out. He also said be careful about going to the concession stand during play as you will very likely miss something. Right now I take him at his word. What evidence do you have that he is not trustworthy and will not run the Air Raid as he has said he will? The fact that he ran the ball at Auburn means nothing. Those fans did not appreciate a switch to the spread anymore than we will appreciate a switch to a run oriented offense.
I’m not really worried about the morale of the team. Every team with a coaching change goes through this. If you really are a former player, you need to be expressing your concerns to Coach Tuberville and helping Tech with recruiting to the extent you are allowed. By your post, you’ve basically told offensive recruits to not come to Tech. I doubt that was your your intention.
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Blondgenius GOOD POST
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@ East Techsan – I agree that Tech will improve defensively because of the 3-4. It allows one to attack from several more angles than the 4-3, and it promotes more speed, assumimg you have the right players. What you and so many others fail to see is backward slide offensively, which will keep us from consistently competing with OU & UT. A&M and NU will also be a thorn in our side in the future.
A 55/45% pass/run offense will devastate our current scheme, identity and recruiting niche. It will change everything. The running game will no longer be a “quick hitter” concept and it will have a tremendous effect on opponents pass defense against us. A major key to the “air raid” success is LBs and DBs fatigue in the second half from constantly defending the pass. All you have to do is look at the number of games Tech poured on the offense in the 2nd half to see its validity. This is by design, not chance, and the 15% increase in run will practically eliminate it.
There are other details of the air raid that will go by the way side relegating Tech to a generic spread (Mizzou, KU, Arizona, etc.). I don’t have time to go into each of them. TT just doesn’t understand the air raid. When he hired Franklin at AU, he did so telling him to implement more run which ruined the scheme and proved unsuccessful.
Yes, we will get better defensively, but will suffer big time offensively over the next 2-3 years. Take it from someone who knows. Oh, if all of you knew the morale of the team right now, you’d be very worried.
Former Player,
How did you come to the conclusion that Tech will suffer offensively? Do you have some information that has not been published ? I have heard Tubbs say several times that he plans to keep the same offense intact with a few wrinkles. Im sure the current Tech players know what their getting in to and ive heard nothing but encouraging words from the likes of Sheffield and Potts among others. If Tech prooves themselves offensively this next season I believe there will be plenty of talent that will want to come and play for Tuberville. There sure are alot of armchair coaches around here.
Wreckem Texas Tech
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Looks like a good hire to me, and I think we are moving in the right direction….Can’t understand the negative comments that continue to post on here….I loved Leach….he’s gone…..move on….get over it or go support someone else !
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Amen! RaiderBacker. I will support TT until he proves different. I am excited about what we have in place and I wish all our former staff and players the best of luck. Success is about how you handle the problems that life deals to you. I would like to think our staff and players will only be stronger from all of this.
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Everything is falling into place. Coach Turberville is a great coach, great recruiter. Plus he wont be an embarrassment to Tech and Lubbock.
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I agree with Former Player on the fact that the “surprise” run play of the Leach Offense was very effective. However, it’s been
proven that a balanced attack of both run & pass is always the best option. Ultimately it boils down to having a dominant OL and a good RB. I can’t speak for OL, since 2 have already committed elsewhere, BUT, I am reading on both Rivals.com & Scout.com that 2 RB’s are on the radar – a 3-star from CA and a 3.5/4 from FL. Most of you are smart enough to know that although National Signing is an exciting time, you really don’t know what you have (in players) until year 2 or 3.
I live in Fort Worth and can tell you, Coach P has done very well at TCU with 2 & 3 star players. Give Coach T a chance. You win with DEFENSE…
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Tech needs better recruiters, players, not better X’s and O’s coaches. Want to think Tubs is hiring big-time recruiters who can cherry pick two or three future NFL players from around the nation. Mike Leach was a WEAK recruiter, even in his backyard.
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I was just as mad as anybody to see Coach Leach go, and I agree that the events that got him fired were a bunch of crap. I don’t, however, understand all the attacks on Tuberville. Seems to me that considering how this played out, Tech was lucky to get Tuberville and what appears to be an excellent staff. Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. There are going to be things that Leach did better than Tuberville does and vice versa. I’m also sure Former Player is correct about the morale of the team right now. Change always creates uncertainty and that makes players nervous because new roles have yet to be defined. Some players will benifit, others will not, and that naturally creates anxiety.
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Jason55 said: “Everything is falling into place. Coach Turberville is a great coach, great recruiter. Plus he wont be an embarrassment to Tech and Lubbock. ”
Agree with your support and assessment of Coach Tuberville. Do not agree with your insinuation is that Mike Leach is an embarrassment to Tech and Lubbock. Nothing could be further from the truth. Our positive national exposure was off the charts during Leach’s term as compared to the two decades before and as compared to many other programs.. He put fans in the seats, won football games, and graduated players. Yeah, what an embarrassment.
Some people just can’t stand the thought that a quirky genius pirate loving lawyer can coach as well as the good ol boys.
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I hope all of you spectators are right.
RaiderBacker-no, my intent was not to discourage recruits. I really want Tech to continue to be successful.
I could argue for hours on many deatail points, but will not. Just suffice it to say that offensively we are assuming some serious risk.
Pitching the ball behind the line and passing behind the line have huge differences, especially for opposing LBs. Just think about it a little. This is one example of the little things most people just don’t understand.
As for morale, of course a player will speak positively about change when he knows the coach will hear what he says. Duh! Besides, the low morale is not about ML firing. It’s about the non-hiring and a feeling of betrayal. It’s much deeper than most of you on this site will understand.
Good luck to my red raider compadres. I feel your disappointment, but always have your back and wish you the best.
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Good News. Looking forward to next season!. Those who aren’t………………. stay home. Tech does not need you.
If you are going to boo coach tubbs and chant fire myers next season, please stay home for all of us. Noone needs you there at the games.
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Its hard to look at this anyway but a good hire. However, we need some Texas born and bred coaches on this staff and that is not happening yet. Other than the O-line coach none of those being retained were heavily involved in recruiting.
Morris being hired by UofH is a missed opportunity but it appears that if anyone had even the slightest past experience with Leach they are persona non grata. This is a shame because it shows that Myers stigma is influencing the coaching search. It may be that no one with a past history at Tech wants to be involved as long as Myers is around.
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why are they using Ruff’s picture with this article?
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I live in Virginia and am familiar with the players that come from Hargrave and Fork Union Academy. They play competitively against the freshman teams from major colleges and do very well. They are similar to what Oak Hill is in the basketball world. Adding Coach Prunty is an excellent move. These schools take kids that are not ready academically, or not yet physically strong enough or heavy enough, or not yet mentally mature enough to go straight to a large university surrounded by extreme academic pressure. There are other kids who are a year ahead (age-wise) and need a year to catch up. There are also kids who did not get a real chance in high school. We all know that politics may determine who plays and who does not in high school. I know the son of an NFL player who is going to Hargrave next year and is his parents have high standards for academics and moral character. He did not get to play much high school ball because of a basketball injury but his senior year he was healthy and bulked up and was impressive. He was not on the radar because his coaches do not politic for their players to college coaches. He will probably end up being a very good college player and a great student. This is an example of some of the potentially excellent athletes that are out there and that TT and Prunty may bring in. How highly recruited were Welker, the elf Eric Morris, Cumby, even Amendola? Coach Prunty, welcome to Texas Tech!
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Not being ready or willing to go to a large college right out of high school is no crime. How many of us needed a year at a junior college? Coach Prunty will recruit well because he relates to young men well. This was an excellent move, Tommy.
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are you kidding me!!! Morris a missed opportunity? the kid has never coached a day in his life at D-1 level! there is a big difference in coaching and playing. most players can become a good coach, but it does not automatically make you an expert at coaching or the game itself. I think Morris will do well in the future with coaching because he has a great attitude but he is not a missed opportunity for a D-1 program on the rise…..
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@ Thrash – Your last sentence is spot on. You wouldn’t believe the anger and disappointment associated with this fiasco. It isn’t only the former players, but many, many current players. There just isn’t much excitement in the atmosphere anymore when recruits visit.
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Good hire on paper! Anxious to see how these good looking hires on paper relate to our student athletes!
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Former Player is on to something. It’s the same out here among the HS coaches. New faces, new names & no relationships. Hearing more negative than positive.
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doom and gloom…..i thought you guys where ex athletes??? show some fortitude and charisma and help your university back up! if i were in your position i know i would. I would NOT be spreading the boom and gloom.
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doom
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atx red raider,
Some believe that anybody that played for Tech or had any Tech ties should be on the coaching staff. You are right about being a good player does not always equate to a good coach. Also never playing football does not mean you would be a bad coach. If some had their way no player or coach would ever leave Lubbock which would result in a stagnant mess of inbreeding. I think TT is putting together a great staff of coaches and recruiters and see a great season this fall. It will be a breath of fresh air and a real shot at a national championship in the next few years.
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atx red raider
Yes a missed opportunity because those lower level hirings have not been filled yet and it wouyld be a great place to start building continuity in the program and aid the transition. Besides if the Air Raid was soooo gooood, why wouldn’y you want to bring in those experienced with it? Why wouldn’t you like to create the appearence that Tech is just marching on with the Air Raid, thats what Tommy said, by keeping the Raider Fam ily together. Don’t you think that it would help briing the Fan base back together? How many High School receivers know who he is and how successful he was in this system? I could go on further but you probably just would not see the obvious.
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the problem is (some) of the fan back doesn’t back the university. they back ML. plus the air raid was fun but it never won us a NC. I’m personally really excited where Tommy T is taking tech, so all this talk about no excitement is vexing me. plus on the lower hires….just because he played at tech doesn’t mean he will be a good coach….see my previous post. he may not have what it takes to be a good coach only the current coaching staff know if his philosophy will work or clash. he was a great player though.
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I don’t care how many passing yards and points we have if we don’t win. Seems like there are some people that feel like having a final score of 49-45 (with TTU on the losing end) is alright as long as we threw for 500 yards. Personally, I look forward to the games where we are winning by 4 points with 5 minutes left and we run out the clock instead of throw three incomplete passes, punt (or get stuffed on 4th because our O-line doesn’t know how to fire off the line), and lose because our defense is so tired from being on the field for a majority of the game that they can’t keep up with the opposing offense. This will drastically resuce my rolaid intake on game day.
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atx red raider
Let me pose this question to you? TT said that the only way that we can get to a NC is for all of us to be pulling together. Do you think that he nhas done anything to accomplish that? I do not. I am sure that he is focusing on hiring his staff as he should. But I think that it is a mistake to take the attitude of “just wait the anger will die down.” Wounds often fester with time not heal. Not to address this question is a mistake.
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Thrash,
Let me ask you a question? have you even given Tommy T time to bring the raider nation together? we haven’t even had one snap in the 2010 season yet. GIVE THEM TIME! of course in this American society we all want fast and now. just look at the food we eat…..fast food everywhere. so i can’t really answer your question until mid season.
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What a bunch of amatuers you folks are!
Big Cigar is right. Many HS coaches are questioning the sincerety of the current hire wrt air raid because of the hiring emphasis on defense and recruiting emphasis on out-of-state (southeast) players. Believe me, there is a buzz of uneasiness out here. Coaches love their kids and do not want to encourage them into a program that appears to be in transformation.
Former Player is right in that many players feel an unloyalty from the university admin and believe TT should have kept a few more staff around, if he was sincere about continuity.
TT has a real leadership issue festering. It will be interesting to see when and how he addresses it. I, for one, hope he gets on it quickly and turns attitudes around. Otherwise, it will manifest on the field next year.
Some of you refuse to acknowledge the obvious. It has nothing to do with supporting the current staff and team. It has evereything to do with reality.
Pray that TT and staff keeps his word, addresses the morale issue quickly and establishes relationships with HS coaches as soon as possible. We also ned the University to settle the ML lawsuit NOW. The longer it goes on, the more strife it will cause among fans and players. Let’s all be realist and deal with the challenges. If not, we’ll all be writing doom & gloom.
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atx red raider–we will know long before mid season.
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The real problem here is that, yes Tuberville may be a good coach and he is hiring good people but the real problem still exsists,and we are reminded by it everyday, the trust is gone and people dont trust the ad and the regents and this coach and probably wont until the Ml issue is settled and even then there not going to trust anyone, simply put we dont trust these people especially because they wer hired by the same people that fired Leach, we know hes not coming back but we dont trust them.
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joker you are such a joker…..i can only laugh at your idiot post. you are obviously butt hurt.
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ohhh and here is a good tip. “we focus on the things we can control.” guess who said that many times over. MIKE LEACH!
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atx red raider,
Who’s the joke? Look at the grammer, etc. in your previous comments. You are obviously not the sharpest knife in the drawer or is it that 6th grade education you have? Get a life, as you apparently don’t have one because you live on this site.
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Joker I didn’t know this was English class? Quit being butt hurt….
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You are right….. I’m butt hurt.
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Joker said: “. . .because of the hiring emphasis on defense and recruiting emphasis on out-of-state (southeast) players.
Former Player is right in that many players feel an unloyalty from the university admin and believe TT should have kept a few more staff around, if he was sincere about continuity.
Pray that TT and staff keeps his word, addresses the morale issue quickly and establishes relationships with HS coaches as soon as possible. We also ned the University to settle the ML lawsuit NOW. The longer it goes on, the more strife it will cause among fans and players.”
Although I think his offensive hires have been good too, I’m on board if there is really a hiring emphasis on defense. The first thing Tuberville did was acknowledge that our defense was not up to par. He is recruiting southeast players because that is what he knows and where his connections currently reside. Look for that to change by next recruiting season when he and the new coaching staff have more time. Remember, they were thrust into this with very little time to prepare. Personally I wouldn’t mind having some SEC type defensive players on the team.
I understand the feelings of the players. Its a tough situation for them and the fans alike. However, I don’t believe Tuberville ever said anything about continuity. He did say he was keeping the Air Raid offensive scheme but never said he would be keeping any of the existing coaches. Mike Leach (and I’m a big fan of his) did not keep one single coach from Spike’s staff (he did keep Tommy McVay who was in a non coaching role). A lot of folks were mad about that back then but it worked out fine. Coaches have the right to hire the guys they think will make the team successful. Those of you who are disappointed he did not hire Holgerson, Harrell, Emo, etc. need to understand that no former coach or player who publicly supported Coach Leach in this debacle was going to get a job at Tech at this time. Tuberville did not make that decision alone. Reckon there’s a lawyer or two involved?
I very much agree with you that Tech needs to settle with Mike Leach now. The sooner the better. Sowder wants the two sides to settle soon and in such a way that it is as win-win as possible. He does not want to have to rule on the sovereign immunity issue.
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Hargrave is a prep school where HS players who can’t make their grades are are “parked” by universities until they get their test scores up. This guy has one year with them and then they go to the universities that sent them there.
Basically, he’s a high school football coach with some really good players sent to him. What recruiting? He doesn’t even have a say in who gets sent there.
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John,
If players are “parked” at Hargrave why is there an application process and tryouts? Please, do a little research before you start spewing nonsense.
THE ‘PLAY FOR HARGRAVE’ CHECKLIST
1. Contact a Hargrave PG coach via voice or email.
2. Provide game film to the PG coach.
3. Provide the coach an updated high school academic transcript and principal-teacher/recommendations.
4. Attend a scheduled try-out or combine at Hargrave.
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Allow me to point you in the right direction.
http://www.hargrave.edu/athletics/sport_index.php?category_id=18
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Any pink fader with a bone to pick against Tuberville needs to just sit down and shut up before you wind up making yourself look stupid next January.
You sound like aggies with this crap!
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SomeGuy,
Maybe you want to do a little checking on your own before you play the fool…
Please check this out and look at the word COMMIT under the player’s names. That means that committed to a school out of high school but could not get in…so the school sent them to Hargrave…
http://recruiting.scout.com/2/670336.html
Almost every SEC and ACC school has players at Hargrave this year and two Miami commits have already been assigned.
That doesn’t mean that other kids can’t come to Hargrave but 99 per cent of their big time players are sent there…not recruited.
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Joker
I normally don’t care if someones grammar or spelling is a little off on a site like this, but if you’re going to proofread everyone else’s posts and act like you are the smart one, learn to spell amateur when you call someone that. Kind of makes you look like an …. ameteur.
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Some players are “parked” at hargrave. Others may have gotten caught under the radar or developed late. They had to go through a tryout process. Big-time programs refer some of their players to various prep schools. The three biggest would be Milford Academy, Fork Union, and Hargrave. Coach Prunty is a very good coach and will prove to be a great recruiter.
I hated to see Leach fired, but it is done and over. We need to move forward and support the new staff. Tommy Tuberville did not cause this. He applied for a job that was open and was hired. I will give him support as long as he is successful. With that said I don’t think this was handled well by the admin. There was a fire brewing for far too long and it should have been handled much earlier. But, you can’t tell your boss to f-off and expect to keep your job for very long. You certainly can’t do this to your boss’s boss.
As far as running the ball, many on this page were complaining we didn’t run the ball enough this year. I hope we are effective running the ball as it will make us that much tougher to defend. And, going to the 3-4 is a smart decision. It allows you to have more athletes on the field.
Supporting Tuberville does not mean you like Hance or Myers. Let’s stop with the BS, get behind Tuberville and the players, and kick the heck out of UT!
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I’m really impressed with the character hires! Prunty sounds like he will be a great team builder and keep the students on track with more than just their college football careers. I have great expectations for 2010 Tech football!
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I think this is great news! He reminds me of another great man.
http://www.panachereport.com/channels/old_school_update/images/story.berry2.jpg
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You know that Tommy T is using Tech as a stepping stone right. He will leave when a bigger opportunity comes along. Sorry!!!
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Tubs will have to win big to move up to another program. I’m okay with that if it means we win the big 12….
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Double T Nation reporting that J. R. Ferguson will go to Miami:
http://www.doubletnation.com/2010/2/2/1289819/j-r-ferguson-to-miami
J.R. Ferguson to Miami????
The cross-country recruiting journey for Hargrave (Va.) Military Academy’s J.R. “Ego” Ferguson will end in the bright lights and big stage of New York. Ferguson, a four star prospect and nation’s No. 6 rated strong side defensive end, will announce his college choice Wednesday at approximately 10:45 a.m. at the CBS studios and will do so along fellow national recruit Seantrel Henderson of Minnesota.
Connecting the dots… The two visited Miami together on 01/29/2010. Seantrel gave the trip a perfect 10
I am so sick of these recruits and their grandstanding about the schools they sign with. “Ego” is a perfect nickname for this kid.
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