Defensive lineman Daniel Hood, a fourth-year junior, said the outside chatter is a "big" distraction and took up for Dooley, who helped him cope with finding his mother after her boyfriend shot in her in a murder-suicide in June.
"I can't [speak] to it about X's and O's because the only thing I know is defensive line and offensive line, but I know as a person he's one of the best people that I've had around in my life," Hood said. "Probably the second-most important I've had in my life. This summer, going through things with my mom and things like that, I wouldn't be where I am today without someone like Coach Dooley.
"As a player, it's hard to not take it personal when people are attacking your coach. It's hard to separate the X's and O's from the actual person."