You very typically give very well thought out, well reasoned replies and responses. You've clearly demonstrated you know your stuff IMO .... my only difference of opinion with you really is your view of the job Dooley did. We all know that he took over a very difficult situation and I think he did a decent job year one... he couldve/should've won 7 games but didn't because of the mismanagement of thr LSU game and the fact that we got screwed vs UNC in the bowl game. But from there on he failed pretty bad IMO. Plenty of coaches have taken over traditionally powerful and proud programs in the past and have had much more success both in recruiting, building the program and wins than DD had. Of course, Saban comes to mind first but there are many others.
Bottom line, he produced 3 consecutive losing seasons at UT for the first time in 100 years, had 30 or so players leave the program during his tenure and left the cupboard fairly bare in terms of depth at most spots and just talent overall at others. The 2013 class was salvaged from being what looked to be a massive failure by Butch- Of the 21 players signed only 9 had Dooley's fingerprints on them. CBJ got the other 12 in 2 months work.
You have stated prior that Dooley failed at this on field coaching iirc. I believe, in hindsight, listening to many people close to the program, HS coaches, former players, current recruits who rave about the improvements in the feel and energy of the program as they compare their visits now to when Dooley was there.... to me it just all adds up to the idea that Dooley just generally did a poor job not only on the field, but pretty much in every aspect of his job.
While we do have some talent on the roster, we have a very small margin for error to have a winning team at the end of the day. This is probably the culmination of last 6-7 years in general, but a helluva lot can and should be laid at Dooley's feet.
