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Tennessee football: Five best arguments for Vols to fire Jeremy Pruitt immediately

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee Head Coach Jeremy Pruitt walks down the sideline during a game between Tennessee and Missouri at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020.100320 Tenn Mo Jpg
Tennessee Head Coach Jeremy Pruitt walks down the sideline during a game between Tennessee and Missouri at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020.100320 Tenn Mo Jpg /
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KNOXVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 20: Head Coach Jeremy Pruitt of the Tennessee Volunteers and head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide shake hands after the second half of the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on October 20, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Alabama won 58-21. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN – OCTOBER 20: Head Coach Jeremy Pruitt of the Tennessee Volunteers and head coach Nick Saban of the Alabama Crimson Tide shake hands after the second half of the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on October 20, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Alabama won 58-21. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) /

2. Too many blowout losses on the resume

A big concern Jeremy Pruitt’s first year was the fact that six of Tennessee football’s seven losses were by 25 points or more. Sure, first-year head coaches have rough seasons, but they usually compete in games. Although Pruitt inherited a mess, games still should have been closer.

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Well, two years later, the issue still continues. In fact, all but one loss ever suffered by Pruitt that wouldn’t be classified as a bad loss was a blowout loss by more than 20 points. That includes every time UT has faced the Florida Gators, Georgia Bulldogs and Alabama Crimson Tide, a loss to the Vanderbilt Commodores and this year’s 34-7 loss to the Kentucky Wildcats.

Through three years, 12 of Pruitt’s 16 losses are by 22 or more points. For context, Phillip Fulmer only lost 10 games by that many in his entire coaching career. Dabo Swinney has lost six games by that many points in his career. Urban Meyer has lost eight games by that many. Nick Saban has only lost 12 games by that many dating back to 1997.

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These are embarrassing numbers, and they aren’t getting better either. As a result, the Vols have plenty of reason to be concerned. This team continues to show no fight against elite opponents, and when it falls behind, it consistently rolls over.

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