"Tell me A Story: Derek Dooley"

[PennVol]

Love how all these stories surface now after he is gone..

I also think its kinda sad many of you cannot move on..

Dude, lay off its been 2 weeks. People are still posting on that damn "Fulmer extravaganza debate" thread. Don't even start on people who want to hear the closet stories of a guy WAS JUST HEAR. Good freaking lord....

 

[PennVol]

Also, one story: Friend of mine works in the MTSU AD shared this, Dooley brougtht Antonio Goss up last summer to talk to staff about special teams stuff, especially kickoff coverage and return. After Goss shared his philosophy and scheme, Dooley basically went off on him and told him how that would never work in Div 1 football and that his approach wasn't well thought out. Goss was furious b/c Dooley brought him up to share with the Vols staff and got basically insulted and told to just go back home.

 

[sjt18]

Derek Dooley was fired.

It says a great deal about some of you here that you insist on continuing to kick the guy. What drives you? Do you think he intentionally lost games to torment you? Are you really that self-centered that you can't let it go now? Or are you so completely void of empathy that you can't take pity on someone who has been publicly criticized, embarrassed, and unceremoniously fired? SHOW SOME HEART!

Dooley saw a program without discipline and went about trying to establish discipline the best way he could. Believe it or not... someone who is "dressed incorrectly" could be the difference in what a HS coach, recruit, or other important person thinks of the program. The military's fixation on dress discipline is part and parcel to overall discipline. It makes both a conscious and subconcious impression on people when everything "looks right".

IOW's, put your big girl panties on because any coach worth his salt is going to demand discipline from top to bottom. There are different leadership styles to get it than the one Dooley tried... but the objective itself is worthy.

 

[UTvol1fn]

Not true.

Nick Saban
Steve Spurrier
Tom Osbourne

All of these guys have NCs and none of them were considered likable guys.

It helps if you win.

Spurrier is a likable guy

 

[VolsNSkinsFan]

Derek Dooley was fired.

It says a great deal about some of you here that you insist on continuing to kick the guy. What drives you? Do you think he intentionally lost games to torment you? Are you really that self-centered that you can't let it go now? Or are you so completely void of empathy that you can't take pity on someone who has been publicly criticized, embarrassed, and unceremoniously fired? SHOW SOME HEART!

Dooley saw a program without discipline and went about trying to establish discipline the best way he could. Believe it or not... someone who is "dressed incorrectly" could be the difference in what a HS coach, recruit, or other important person thinks of the program. The military's fixation on dress discipline is part and parcel to overall discipline. It makes both a conscious and subconcious impression on people when everything "looks right".

IOW's, put your big girl panties on because any coach worth his salt is going to demand discipline from top to bottom. There are different leadership styles to get it than the one Dooley tried... but the objective itself is worthy.

I hear what you are saying, but you cant be a jerk, lose a bunch of games, completely drop the ball in recruiting and get $12 million in the process without some people getting pissed

 

[volger]

:rock:I rode Coach DOOLEY hard for the last few weeks.

Pics or it didnt happen. On second thought...pass on the pics.

 

[DarthVisor]

Tri-state area teams ignored by Dooley staff | timesfreepress.com

This is a pretty good story. Someone should let the TFP know that Dooley wears orange pants and speaks in a southern accent. Clearly, they ignored those great features.

 

[VolunteerHillbilly]

I don't know how Dooley acted towards the public the past couple of years. I met him at an AD's meet & greet event in Nashvile shortly after he was announced and he was polite, gracious and engaging. I never spoke to him after that. I'm not sure what, if any, good it does for people to analyze the man's personality at this point in the game.

 

[PennVol]

I don't know how Dooley acted towards the public the past couple of years. I met him at an AD's meet & greet event in Nashvile shortly after he was announced and he was polite, gracious and engaging. I never spoke to him after that. I'm not sure what, if any, good it does for people to analyze the man's personality at this point in the game.

Helps explain some of the insanity of the past 3 years.

 

[sjt18]

I hear what you are saying, but you cant be a jerk, lose a bunch of games, completely drop the ball in recruiting and get $12 million in the process without some people getting pissed

If it is wrong to be a losing jerk then it is wrong to be a winning jerk. If being a "jerk" about someone not dressing in accordance with expectations is the right answer... then it is the right answer.

Dooley was fired for losing games. That is how it should be. Some "story" about him hurting someone's feelings at one point or another really has no relevance. Like any other coach, there are those who liked him and those who don't.

He's a guy who took on a difficult job and failed. If he wasnt' always "Mr Nice Guy".... there's probably a pretty good reason for it... like trying to rebuild UT's wrecked program in time to save his job.

I just find it completely classless to keep coming up with this "stuff" when the guy has already been fired. What do these people want? Should UT re-hire him then fire him just to satisfy this desire to see the guy beaten down more?

 

[sjt18]

Helps explain some of the insanity of the past 3 years.

No insanity. Dooley took over a train wreck. At the time I said there were two ways he could be successful but only one of them should result in him being UT's coach after 3 years.

He successfully rebuilt the foundation of UT's roster. They have size, depth, and athleticism on both lines. The OL and DL have the longest development time because few HS players are ready to step up as college linemen. With solid line play on both sides of the ball, the right coach can fill the rest in.

He re-established program discipline. We aren't talking about winning the Fulmer Cup anymore. We aren't seeing a mass of great players flunk grades or drug tests. Those who have were mostly holdovers from one of the previous two coaches. Character IS important both because it is the right thing... and because it keeps guys eligible. Fulmer's best recruits often never reached a point of contributing because of character issues. Kiffin seemed headed in the same direction.

He is good at "program building"... He did that at LT too but those things won't keep a HC employed. He failed on gameday. The only problem I have with his firing is that it should have taken place after USCe. (UT's new coach could have been determined if not announced by now.) At that point, he had already proven he could not win vs the upper half of the SEC. He started with a team talented enough to compete for the East. By USCe... he was 0-5 without a "big win" left on the schedule.

Dooley was a successful hire in that he rebuilt the program's foundation. That is really all that is important now besides making the right hire.

 

[bowlinggreenvol]

Folks need to stop acting like Dooley was a savior for taking a job "no one wanted". No one worth a damn, already making anything, wanted the job without compensation and protection, which Hamilton wouldn't do. Dooley took the job because it quindrupled his salary while dropping his duties as AD.

He was guaranteed a minimum of $7-8 mil even if it didn't work out after a year, with that ridiculous buyout. One year worth of work and he's set for life. Only a dumbass passes up that opportunity if they're in his shoes. Our incompetent AD hired an incompetent, asshat clown of a coach who took the program to its lowest level ever and we're supposed to thank him for coming? Why doesn't Dooley man up for once, pull the silver spoon out of his ass and take some responsibility for the shortcomings of his tenure. To the very end, including his statement, the man never took blame or responsibility. I for one have zero respect for the man.

 

[k-town_king]

Sjt18 please stop with these long posts of nothing but lies trying to make DD look good. You say he didn't lose good players for grades or drugs but he has done both. DaRick, Janzen, Izeau Lanier. No arrests? Cam Clear and others. Depth and talent ? Who on defense? Who on O if every one goes pro ? Please just stop. Dooley is horrible in all facets.

 

[strongtower]

Dooley was a successful hire in that he rebuilt the program's foundation. That is really all that is important now besides making the right hire.

Successful coaches rebuild & win. Stop slobbing all over Dool's

 

[Unimane]

No insanity. Dooley took over a train wreck. At the time I said there were two ways he could be successful but only one of them should result in him being UT's coach after 3 years.

He successfully rebuilt the foundation of UT's roster. They have size, depth, and athleticism on both lines. The OL and DL have the longest development time because few HS players are ready to step up as college linemen. With solid line play on both sides of the ball, the right coach can fill the rest in.

He re-established program discipline. We aren't talking about winning the Fulmer Cup anymore. We aren't seeing a mass of great players flunk grades or drug tests. Those who have were mostly holdovers from one of the previous two coaches. Character IS important both because it is the right thing... and because it keeps guys eligible. Fulmer's best recruits often never reached a point of contributing because of character issues. Kiffin seemed headed in the same direction.

He is good at "program building"... He did that at LT too but those things won't keep a HC employed. He failed on gameday. The only problem I have with his firing is that it should have taken place after USCe. (UT's new coach could have been determined if not announced by now.) At that point, he had already proven he could not win vs the upper half of the SEC. He started with a team talented enough to compete for the East. By USCe... he was 0-5 without a "big win" left on the schedule.

Dooley was a successful hire in that he rebuilt the program's foundation. That is really all that is important now besides making the right hire.

Hogwash, as noted in the above posts.

How many of the people who were the ones railing against "negavols" are now going to whine about "moving on" in order to deflect from their veneration of a fruad and vilification of those who could point out the obvious?

The guy got $11 million to act like a jerk and to drive the program into a ditch. Talking about it is the least we can do and the most sensible.

 

[fearlesspeerless]

i remember what he did to all those boys in the shower, at least i think that was dooley. i saw it on the news.

LOL at using Sandusky smack on Dools, thats priceless +10 bro lol:thumbsup:

 

[sjt18]

Sjt18 please stop with these long posts of nothing but lies trying to make DD look good. You say he didn't lose good players for grades or drugs but he has done both. DaRick, Janzen, Izeau Lanier. No arrests? Cam Clear and others. Depth and talent ? Who on defense? Who on O if every one goes pro ? Please just stop. Dooley is horrible in all facets.

Do you remember Fulmer's last few years? He had that much trouble in a month.

I'm not making Dooley out to be anything other than what he was. He managed the program reasonably well but could not coach on game day.

No. He is not "horrible in all facets". He just failed in the one that matters most.

The D has talent on the line and at DB. LB is a huge concern.

Everyone on O isn't going pro. CP likely will. Hunter may. I kind of hope Bray does. The right hire will replace and coach up the skill players.

 

[sjt18]

Successful coaches rebuild & win. Stop slobbing all over Dool's

"Slobbing" over him? I must say your mastery of the English language is impressive.:lolabove:

In all seriousness, Dooley didn't get it done and did not improve enough. I slobbed all over him I suppose when I said here that he should have been fired after USCe, right?

But fwiw, Spurrier took over a better situation at USCe with lower expectations.... and was 35-28 before finally winning the East a couple of years ago. He avg'd a 7-6 season before finally getting it going. It took him FIVE YEARS to build that program with far more in-state talent. In 8 years he STILL hasn't won the SEC and has only won the East once. Spurrier's history got him the time... and should. Dooley failed to do anything to support continued confidence.... and he was properly fired.

But even the Visor didn't "rebuild & win". He rebuilt... still lost... then finally won. The team Dooley leaves to the next guy is MUCH better than the one he inherited. That is the sum of what I am saying.... and it is undeniably true.

 

[sjt18]

Hogwash, as noted in the above posts.

How many of the people who were the ones railing against "negavols" are now going to whine about "moving on" in order to deflect from their veneration of a fruad and vilification of those who could point out the obvious?

How many of those like you are going to keep constructing straw men (aka lying)?

All I ever said was the guy took over a bad situation and should get a chance to prove himself. I said the minimum standard for this year would be to win the games they should win plus one over someone significant like UF, UGA, or Bama... and on the outside USCe. BEFORE the USCe game I said that DD should be unemployed on the following Monday if he lost because he could no longer meet what I believed should have been his standard.

It was and is my opinion that action at that time would have allowed the coaching search to have been concluded by now with the new coach able to build a great recruiting class.

The guy got $11 million to act like a jerk and to drive the program into a ditch.

No. He got paid his contract because he was the best available deal at the time. He didn't drive the program in the ditch. It was already there. He just couldn't get it out.

Haters make themselves feel better by stomping on the guy's grave with these anecdotes about him being a "jerk". Guess what.... most coaches are if you are thin skinned... and pretty much all of the good ones are.

The guy was fired. Have some class and let him go in peace.

Talking about it is the least we can do and the most sensible.

No it isn't. It is a stupid and classless thing to do. If you were fired, how long would you like for people to take personal shots at you?

 

[strongtower]

"Slobbing" over him? I must say your mastery of the English language is impressive.:lolabove:

In all seriousness, Dooley didn't get it done and did not improve enough. I slobbed all over him I suppose when I said here that he should have been fired after USCe, right?

But fwiw, Spurrier took over a better situation at USCe with lower expectations.... and was 35-28 before finally winning the East a couple of years ago. He avg'd a 7-6 season before finally getting it going. It took him FIVE YEARS to build that program with far more in-state talent. In 8 years he STILL hasn't won the SEC and has only won the East once. Spurrier's history got him the time... and should. Dooley failed to do anything to support continued confidence.... and he was properly fired.

But even the Visor didn't "rebuild & win". He rebuilt... still lost... then finally won. The team Dooley leaves to the next guy is MUCH better than the one he inherited. That is the sum of what I am saying.... and it is undeniably true.

I see your point but your comparing apples & oranges. We are UT & they are S Carolina. Massive difference. It took almost decade just to rid the stinch of losing off of the football program there & when Visor leaves they will go back to cock ball unless they hire a big time coach again. I remember when oklahoma would get beat like a drum & then Stoops came in & took them to the NC within 3-4 years just because of their tradition, it wasn't hard to rebuild.

 

[sjt18]

BTW, the harping negavols were STILL WRONG. If you never have the patience to let a guy make some mistakes then you will never keep a HC long enough to have success.

I might as well break it to you now... the next HC is going to make mistakes. He will probably screw up and lose winnable games. Some of you will be right back on your hobby horse... saying stupidly negative stuff rather than letting the guy create a "body of work" to evaluate in total.

 

[WoodsmanVol]

Love how all these stories surface now after he is gone..

I also think its kinda sad many of you cannot move on..

I think it's sad that we actually have fans who relish hunting for or making up dirt about someone so they can kick him while he's down. No doubt a good number even consider themselves Christians as well while in reality they're Characterless.

 

[DarthVisor]

"Slobbing" over him? I must say your mastery of the English language is impressive.:lolabove:

In all seriousness, Dooley didn't get it done and did not improve enough. I slobbed all over him I suppose when I said here that he should have been fired after USCe, right?

But fwiw, Spurrier took over a better situation at USCe with lower expectations.... and was 35-28 before finally winning the East a couple of years ago. He avg'd a 7-6 season before finally getting it going. It took him FIVE YEARS to build that program with far more in-state talent.

The difference is that Spurrier is trying (and finally is winning) to win at South Carolina, whereas Dools was trying to win at UT. Dooley had more resources at his disposal than Spurrier had. Anybody with a fully functional brain knew it may take Spurrier a while. Nobody with a functional brain was expecting a championship from Dooley by year three, but they weren't expecting to be without a winning record by year three.

In 8 years he STILL hasn't won the SEC and has only won the East once.

Again, he is trying to win at a program without the history, tradition, facilities, or resources of UT.

Spurrier's history got him the time... and should. Dooley failed to do anything to support continued confidence.... and he was properly fired.

But even the Visor didn't "rebuild & win". He rebuilt... still lost... then finally won. The team Dooley leaves to the next guy is MUCH better than the one he inherited. That is the sum of what I am saying.... and it is undeniably true.

He's added depth. Beyond that, he has done nothing to improve UT.

.

 

[angrypug]

Derek Dooley sold me soft bamboo and I'm ticked.

 

[sjt18]

I see your point but your comparing apples & oranges. We are UT & they are S Carolina. Massive difference.

The biggest difference was the shambles the UT program was when Dooley arrived. Even during the honeymoon I said his chances of success were south of 50%. I predicted that if he had not done something significant by the end of year 3 he would be gone.... and rightly so. UT cannot stand a coach on a hot seat due to the uniquely difficult recruiting situation.

Vol fans are going to have to demonstrate patience at some point. The next guy inherits a better situation so the expectations should be higher... but it may not be year one... or even two when we see real success.

It took almost decade just to rid the stinch of losing off of the football program there & when Visor leaves they will go back to cock ball unless they hire a big time coach again.

What kind of stench do you think there was on the UT program when Dooley arrived? Fulmer was completely outclassed by the upper tier of the SEC for 9 years before finally getting fired. Kiffin was an embarrassment that made UT look like a mid-major step job.

I remember when oklahoma would get beat like a drum & then Stoops came in & took them to the NC within 3-4 years just because of their tradition, it wasn't hard to rebuild.

Dooley has gotten players. He just couldn't coach well enough on gameday to turn talent into wins.

OU actually makes a pretty good case study for what we may be in for at UT. Wilkinson was 145-29-4. He won his conference 14 of 17 years and 3 NC's. They had 3 coaches in the next 8 seasons with limited success. Then they hired Switzer who went 157-29-4 winning 12 conference championships and 3 more NC's in 16 years..... then 8 more years of futility before finding Stoops.

Once you get on the coaching carousel, you never really know when you will get off. USCw took a long ride as did UGA and Bama. LSU had a very long ride before Saban.

You have to have the patience to give a guy a chance or you might miss the right guy by firing him too soon. But you also have to set some rock wall standards that you insist on being met.