Honestly, I am recovering from Hamiltonitis... First, he extended Fulmer's contract after Dangerous Dave Cutcliffe returns as OC and the Vols bounce back from a 5-6 2005 season to go 9-4 in 2006 and 10-4 in 2007, including SECe rep in the CCG and an Outback Bowl victory over Wisconsin. Dave takes the job at Duke, and the Vols drop to 5-7 in 2008. Hamilton negotiates and announces Fulmer's impending exit before the season ends, hoping to get a jump on the competition for a good coach. This doesn't happen. Nobody wants to work for an inept AD like Hamilton. Everyone worth salt demurs. Hamilton winds up hiring jobless jerk, Lame Kitten, who disrespects Tennessee tradition, shamelessly violates NCAA rules, recruits immoral deviants, and "improves" upon Fulmer's prior year record by ONE victory. "El Kay" then bolts for his dream job at USCw, holding a press conference on UT's campus no less, while his loyal lieutenants attempt to flip Tennessee recruits to USCw. After this fiasco, absolutely nobody wants the Tennessee HC job. But wait! A frosh HC with an initial successful year at Houston might be interested... Hamilton chooses to hire Derek Dooley, the son of long-time UGA coach, Vince Dooley, a former minion of Nick Saban, and a "junior" HC with a 17-20 record at Sunbelt so-so, LA Tech. [facepalm] Dooley's only accomplishment is input into the design of the new football facility. He sucks at leading a program, he sucks at recruiting, he sucks at coaching, he turns over at least six positions on his staff each year, including OC and DC each year, AND, he compiles a 15-21 record, leaving his successor ~50-something scholarship athletes on the roster.
Luckily, Hamilton is eased out, and the only AD willing to take the job, Hart gives Dools his walking papers as he's able to afford it (Yes, Hamilton wrecked the men's athletics finances.). So, with the cupboard bare in every sense imaginable Hart goes shopping for a new HC. Luckily for all impacted, there's a coach who wants the job, sees it as an ultimate destination opportunity, and is willing to take it on even in post-firebombed Dresden condition. Butch Jones.
So, I am patient. I'm pleased with the progress - recruiting, field results, academic results, VFL & fan buy-in reinvigorated. From 5-7 to 7-6 to 9-4 to 5-2 mid-season year 4 of the resurrection of Tennessee Volunteers football. In my point of view, Butch has earned to date an open-ended engagement as HC. Until such time as he commits an unpardonable sin or demonstrates without any doubt that the Vols have hit a short ceiling under his tutelage, let him keep stacking the bricks.
I know... I have gray hairs at the temples. Having witnessed so many decades of Tennessee football, I see through the glass, darkly. Life has given me perspective that whippersnappers have yet to form, much less grasp.
Plainly, Butch can take the Vols higher. He can rebuild the foundation of the program even stronger. Prudence dictates letting him do so. GBO.