Sarkisian comment pertinent to UT football

[Boca Vol]

Nope...neither of the last two teams would have come close to being Georgia or South Carolina. Ridiculous schedule plus losing 3 qbs to injury are to blame for us not being in a bowl game.

Did you not watch last year's UGA and SC games? Both of those teams were better than this year's version and UT played both on the road AND had the ball driving at the end of the game to with a chance to tie or win those games.

Nice try, though.

 

[Thrasher865]

This year was brutal at times, but we were a couple plays, a drive or two away from 7-5. The above may serve as a gentle reminder from a man who knows more about football than I guarantee 100% of fine Tennesseans on this board, including myself, as to the realities of W-L record vs. team improvement and competitiveness.

You're not building a case for Jones. Inability to win close games should never be pointed out as a good thing...

We were just as close to 4-8, if you want to try that rationale.

 

[Remy]

Why would Mora Jr. leave UCLA? Great location similar calibur school as Washington and same conference.

Exactly Mora is not leaving UCLA any time soon. The location is the "glitzy" part of LA on the West side, it's a public university. SC has a lot of perks but the location is nowhere near that of UCLA and its private school. Sarkisian is a decent coach, even Dooley would be successful as coach at SC, talent recruits itself there, however at SC, success is not enough, it's about titles. If you can't bring home NCs, SC is not the place for you ... I don't see that in Sarkisian but time will tell. My son is a UT grad so I follow SEC & Vol football religiously, but as long as the Trojans & Vols are not playing each other, I follow them both. It's like I told some friends in Georgia recently, in modernity SC has given back as many national championships as Georgia has won.

 

[huskyvol]

So losing Tyler Bray, Cordarrelle Patterson, Justin Hunter, and Mychal Rivera to the NFL...pretty much every ounce of our offensive production from last year....with minimal to no experienced Freshman and Sophomore WRs/TEs and a Junior QB with no game experience with those players....which in turn gets injured and is replaced by a true Freshman QB....topped off with a new offensive system and you don't understand how this team wasn't better?

Exactly! Switch NC State for Oregon on the schedule and UT is more than likely going bowling this year. The Vols beat a ranked opponent and won an SEC game on the road. That in itself is an improvement, but that's just my opinion.

 

[FTCvol]

Maybe to the the folks that don't understand football and only watch to eat chicken wings and drink beer. Coaching is more than "Ws and Ls".

Haven't you watched Friday Night Lights?

Butch, please...

Where did I say coaching wasn't "more" than "Ws and Ls?"

I said it's what coaches are judged by. There's a difference.

Try to keep up, playa.

 

[Hamptonvolfan]

And it is as it should be.

As for the comparison to UT's situation... it went from bad to worse on the field. You can blame on talent, you can blame on coaching, you can acknowledge it was some of both... but historic lows were set this year. This team was not better than last year in many ways and was worse than the two previous years in most ways.

You obviously haven't been paying attention to the things that will count in the long run such as discipline, attention to fundamentals and team attitude. There are big improvements over last year and the feel at the game is totally different.

 

[TGVol]

You obviously haven't been paying attention to the things that will count in the long run such as discipline, attention to fundamentals and team attitude.

I have watched those things closely this year and NONE of them have improved from last year. Discipline seemed to improve early on with less penalties but that was against easier opponents - once we got into teeth of the schedule things unraveled horribly - just like they did under Dooley (except this year it was both defense and offense that regressed as the year went on).

 

[alltimevol2331]

We did not need a new offensive system. Changing system and coordinators that were doing just fine is all on Butch (it was his decision so he bears full responsibility for results and gets all the criticism that comes with that decision).

UT fans are so funny. You guys didn't want Fulmer, Kiffin ran out of town over night, then you don't want Dooley now after one Butch is not good enough. There has never been or will there be a successful college football program that plays the coaching carousel. UT is at a point now that they have to give this guy 5 years minimal.

 

[alltimevol2331]

I have watched those things closely this year and NONE of them have improved from last year. Discipline seemed to improve early on with less penalties but that was against easier opponents - once we got into teeth of the schedule things unraveled horribly - just like they did under Dooley (except this year it was both defense and offense that regressed as the year went on).

They also played one of the toughest schedule in college football history. At least 6 teams (that's half) on the schedule was in the top 5 at one point of the season. UT did not have the depth to play with all these top 5 teams.

 

[alltimevol2331]

Just imagine if UT played in the Big 10.

 

[TGVol]

UT fans are so funny. You guys didn't want Fulmer, Kiffin ran out of town over night, then you don't want Dooley now after one Butch is not good enough. There has never been or will there be a successful college football program that plays the coaching carousel. UT is at a point now that they have to give this guy 5 years minimal.

Wrong at least in my case.
I love Fulmer (would take him and Chief back any time over any staff we had since they were fired).
I liked Kiffin - wish he would have stayed.
I liked Dooley and his staff (except for Sal). I wish he would have won more and stayed here for many years.
I like CBJ for his energy and recruiting but hate his assistants - I'm convinced they will bring him down if he sticks with them.

 

[alltimevol2331]

Wrong at least in my case.
I love Fulmer (would take him and Chief back any time over any staff we had since they were fired).
I liked Kiffin - wish he would have stayed.
I liked Dooley and his staff (except for Sal). I wish he would have won more and stayed here for many years.
I like CBJ for his energy and recruiting but hate his assistants - I'm convinced they will bring him down if he sticks with them.

I don't know a lot about his assistants but outside of special team coach I didn't see a problem with the others. I thought overall the d played better especially secondary. Our front 7 for the most part was horribly slow, but that comes down to competition if UGA started the season in the top 5 then UT played 7 teams in the top 5. UT depth, talent and lack of skill that Dooley brought in can not compete against the schedule that UT played this season. Until Jones gets some top recruiting classes and depth at all positions it is going to be long seasons for us Vols fans. This class he had some help from former players and their kids, the next couple after this one will tell his recruiting abilities.

On a side note I liked Dooley but he just got in way over his head at UT in the SEC. It is hard to come from ULM to the SEC for any coach.

 

[Oskie Volum]

OP...These comments can be applied to Dooley's yrs but didn't stop him from getting fired.

Pelini's comments this past wknd about all the "fire him" talk by the Neb fans and media hurts the team can also be applied to Dooley's tenure and in a few yrs to CBJs. I was saying that all last year with all the Gruden talk. A coach in the "know" now says it, so are all the Dooley haters going to stop giving him slack about the 5-7 record and loss to Vandy???...NO they r not!!
Posted via VolNation Mobile

 

[RollerVol]

"We're a better team today that we were a year ago, and a year ago we were a better team than a year before that," Sarkisian said. "Sometimes games go the way they go and you don't get the call or you don't get the catch or you make the one bad call as a coach. But that doesn't mean you're not a good football team or you aren't a better team than you were a year before."

This year was brutal at times, but we were a couple plays, a drive or two away from 7-5. The above may serve as a gentle reminder from a man who knows more about football than I guarantee 100% of fine Tennesseans on this board, including myself, as to the realities of W-L record vs. team improvement and competitiveness.

Washington gave him 5yrs, 4 of which were winning. All coming while he tried to build the program at a time that coincided with programmatic improvements across the Pac10 (ie, a harder schedule as the time of his tenure went on). So, considering the schedule Butch was up against this year combined with our depth...man, let's just start to fill the well a bit, and go get some elite recruits!

Butch has got this covered.
GO VOLS!

 

[Wolfeman_Vol]

He does have one year in SEC, doesn't he :crazy:? And the record is 5-7. Dooley did better than that his first year and actually made a bowl game (under more difficult conditions given we were under investigation). The difference was that Dooley brought in better staff.

Don't think you read my whole post about getting his players in. I understand that you want to give Dooley credit for something, but I'm not sure why. His recruiting was and would never be anywhere near the level that we've recruited at this season.

 

[UTBuff37]

Wrong at least in my case.
I love Fulmer (would take him and Chief back any time over any staff we had since they were fired).
I liked Kiffin - wish he would have stayed.
I liked Dooley and his staff (except for Sal). I wish he would have won more and stayed here for many years.
I like CBJ for his energy and recruiting but hate his assistants - I'm convinced they will bring him down if he sticks with them.

I don't agree fully on this but I do tend to agree with some. I don't think the entire staff is bad, our skill positions including the lines were great, got a bright future with them, but I did not like what I saw from our OC and ST's. Our OC is not very good at all IMO. Idk if we're spoiled by Chaney but we did not look good at all. No outstanding plays called (questioned quite a few of the plays called), predictable and did not utilize Dobbs strengths at all. Granted we were very young on that side of the ball so I'm sure it was vanilla, however, young but talented. Our ST's were terrible with the exception of Palardy coming on but he needs to, he's a senior. I think Janeck will do just fine with more talent and depth like we're bringing in.

 

[TGVol]

I understand that you want to give Dooley credit for something, but I'm not sure why.

Because he did some very good things here:

1. Cleaned up program in terms of getting out of NCAA mess after Kiffin (and keeping it clean).

2. Had amazing recruiting success initally when he only had about a month after he was hired - brought in Hunter and D Rogers (did much better than Butch with his first class with less time than Butch).

3. Build one of the best offenses in the country in 3 years, and one of the best in school history (recruited great receivers, and o-line, and had excellent offensive staff).

4. Seemed to be down to earth and honest - I never had impression with him that he was trying to sell anyone on anything - was almost to honest for his own good.

5. Seems to be the unluckiest guy alive (so I feel some sympathy for him for that reason) - if he brought in just about anyone other than Sunseri with the offense we had last year we would have been 10-2 (and let's not even talk about unreal endings to LSU and NC games in prior years - if he would have won those 2 his first year he would have gained a lot of recruiting success because of momentum - those 2 loses and the UK loss the year later eventually cost him his job because the recruiting stalled after that.

Butch is a much slicker salesman (which is needed for recruiting and larger fan base) - but some of the stuff he says can be over the top for my taste (ie. bringing best staff in America is equivalent to Obama saying you can keep your insurance and doctor while knowing all along this was not the case)

 

[volfan411]

Because he did some very good things here:

1. Cleaned up program in terms of getting out of NCAA mess after Kiffin (and keeping it clean).

2. Had amazing recruiting success initally when he only had about a month after he was hired - brought in Hunter and D Rogers (did much better than Butch with his first class with less time than Butch).

3. Build one of the best offenses in the country in 3 years, and one of the best in school history (recruited great receivers, and o-line, and had excellent offensive staff).

4. Seemed to be down to earth and honest - I never had impression with him that he was trying to sell anyone on anything - was almost to honest for his own good.

5. Seems to be the unluckiest guy alive (so I feel some sympathy for him for that reason) - if he brought in just about anyone other than Sunseri with the offense we had last year we would have been 10-2 (and let's not even talk about unreal endings to LSU and NC games in prior years - if he would have won those 2 his first year he would have gained a lot of recruiting success because of momentum - those 2 loses and the UK loss the year later eventually cost him his job because the recruiting stalled after that.

Butch is a much slicker salesman (which is needed for recruiting and larger fan base) - but some of the stuff he says can be over the top for my taste (ie. bringing best staff in America is equivalent to Obama saying you can keep your insurance and doctor while knowing all along this was not the case)

The "Best staff in America" I think is taken out of context to what he meant it to mean. I believe he was saying I am bringing in the best staff to turn the program around and our greatest need when he arrived was recruits. So it could be said he brought in the best recruiting staff to turn this program around and will evaluate performance on the field after we are on equal footing talent wise.

 

[Rockytoptalker]

The "Best staff in America" I think is taken out of context to what he meant it to mean. I believe he was saying I am bringing in the best staff to turn the program around and our greatest need when he arrived was recruits. So it could be said he brought in the best recruiting staff to turn this program around and will evaluate performance on the field after we are on equal footing talent wise.

You had the 117th comment. Congrats and good luck to you in your future endeavors.

 

[oregonvol]

UT fans are so funny. You guys didn't want Fulmer, Kiffin ran out of town over night, then you don't want Dooley now after one Butch is not good enough. There has never been or will there be a successful college football program that plays the coaching carousel. UT is at a point now that they have to give this guy 5 years minimal.

Yeah, Fulmer couldn't hack it anymore. That's why he hasn't gotten a job since. Kiffin and Dooley were both bad hires. Both failed elsewhere, too. That's on the AD and the trustees for hiring them.

We'll see what happens with Jones. When he was hired I was happy we finally got a guy who was a proven winner. But, posting a losing season in your first year, getting beat by Vanderbilt, those aren't good signs. He's never had to rebuild a program and has never competed at the highest level, and so far I think honest, logical fans would have to say its not going well.

 

[oregonvol]

The "Best staff in America" I think is taken out of context to what he meant it to mean. I believe he was saying I am bringing in the best staff to turn the program around and our greatest need when he arrived was recruits. So it could be said he brought in the best recruiting staff to turn this program around and will evaluate performance on the field after we are on equal footing talent wise.

Well, if that's what he meant to say, then that's utterly stupid. We had enough talent to beat Vanderbilt. If he intentionally brought in a staff that couldn't coach that talent well enough to beat Vanderbilt, then why would it matter what they can accomplish via recruiting? Also, if you think Butch Jones' master plan is to not evaluate the staff's coaching ability until after "we are on equal footing talent wise" then I hate to break it to you, but we're never going to be on that footing if we keep posting losing seasons.

 

[volfan411]

Well, if that's what he meant to say, then that's utterly stupid. We had enough talent to beat Vanderbilt. If he intentionally brought in a staff that couldn't coach that talent well enough to beat Vanderbilt, then why would it matter what they can accomplish via recruiting? Also, if you think Butch Jones' master plan is to not evaluate the staff's coaching ability until after "we are on equal footing talent wise" then I hate to break it to you, but we're never going to be on that footing if we keep posting losing seasons.

I did not mean to sound like they could not coach but many on here including myself would love to have Chavis back as our DC but he would probably not be the best coach to bring in to rebuild as it was well documented that he did not like to recruit. So I think Jones brought in a group of high energy coaches who could recruit and sell the program to the recruits. Only a couple had SEC experience and no one knows still if they can get the job done but we are seeing they can on the recruiting trail and that is priority number one when a coach is rebuilding a program.

As it was said with Dooley if he proves he cannot coach at least he will stock the program with talent. It is known now he could do neither and was not a good hire for the time he was hired. A staff like Jones put together is what we needed the last few years.

 

[volfan411]

Well, if that's what he meant to say, then that's utterly stupid. We had enough talent to beat Vanderbilt. If he intentionally brought in a staff that couldn't coach that talent well enough to beat Vanderbilt, then why would it matter what they can accomplish via recruiting? Also, if you think Butch Jones' master plan is to not evaluate the staff's coaching ability until after "we are on equal footing talent wise" then I hate to break it to you, but we're never going to be on that footing if we keep posting losing seasons.

As for Vandy our record against them the last few years says otherwise and if not for a bad call by the refs I believe we would have lost the last 3.

 

[alltimevol2331]

Well, if that's what he meant to say, then that's utterly stupid. We had enough talent to beat Vanderbilt. If he intentionally brought in a staff that couldn't coach that talent well enough to beat Vanderbilt, then why would it matter what they can accomplish via recruiting? Also, if you think Butch Jones' master plan is to not evaluate the staff's coaching ability until after "we are on equal footing talent wise" then I hate to break it to you, but we're never going to be on that footing if we keep posting losing seasons.

Getting beat by Vandy seems to bother some of you guys. Wake up people Vandy is a much better team than the Vols right now. Franklin has been there now four seasons, almost the entire team is his recruits, he put the coaching staff in place and Vandy has more talent and depth than UT at this point. Vandy also beat the Gators at the swamp, Georgia in Nashville. The only teams that blew them out were AM in College Station and Missouri at home. Losing to Vandy is not like it was in the 90's, they have some very talented players. Give the Vols credit playing them tough and having a lead late in the game.

 

[UTBuff37]

Getting beat by Vandy seems to bother some of you guys. Wake up people Vandy is a much better team than the Vols right now. Franklin has been there now four seasons, almost the entire team is his recruits, he put the coaching staff in place and Vandy has more talent and depth than UT at this point. Vandy also beat the Gators at the swamp, Georgia in Nashville. The only teams that blew them out were AM in College Station and Missouri at home. Losing to Vandy is not like it was in the 90's, they have some very talented players. Give the Vols credit playing them tough and having a lead late in the game.

Man, I hate saying it, but it's true....