UT Recruiting : Square Peg in a Round Hole....

#1
g8terh8ter_eric

g8terh8ter_eric

No Disassemble!
Joined
Jan 13, 2005
Messages
26,985
Likes
686
#1
As we have all seen, Dooley's recruiting plan may not be geared towards the less patient fan at all, but in fact patience is something that we need to get our arms around because this isn't going to be an easy task to get UT back to the top of the SEC, where it belongs in this fan's eyes. I want to take a bit to examine some of Coach Dooley's quotes from a recent GVX article, which seem to be misinterpreted by some of our members at best.

Quote #1
"I think it's important to shape a recruiting class for the long term," Dooley said. "Every player has things they do well and things they don't do well. Every player has some risk associated with them. As you shape together 25 players, I think it's important to balance your investment, if you will. You're sort of hedging to create continuity and consistency over time."
Click to expand...
This quote probably doesn't sit well with the "I want it now" crowd, but Coach Dooley is exactly right where he is going with the recruiting process. We want to form classes that can be accountable with one another, and that will mesh in character and ability together. That doesn't mean that we take all marginal players or blue chippers, instead I think it means that you take players that can motivate one another to be better everyday.

Quote #2
"You'd like to take as few risks as you can. But inevitably there are some great players that might have some risks associated with them. Well, it's important that you don't take too many of those guys. Inevitably there are some marginal players that are high risk. I think it's important that you don't take any of those guys."
Click to expand...
Once again, Coach Dooley is right on the money with this quote. All he is saying here is you take some risks with the higher rated guys because of potential, but you don't take the same risks with the lower tier guys, because it's not worth the risk if they aren't going to help you in some aspect of the game.

Quote #3
"Building a core of players that form the heart and soul of your team, that bleed orange, maybe they're not a headline five-star (prospect)," Dooley said, "but they're going to come in and they're going to put their heart into the program."
Click to expand...
Here is one that can be quickly misinterpreted without thinking about it first. All he is saying here is that he wants players to bleed orange, highly rated or not. He wants leaders, not followers, and that's what a team sport is about.

Quote #4
"I think what the player sees is a real consistent behavior and a consistent message that the right kind of guys will gravitate to. Now, that's not going to win all types of players. Some players are going to be more wooed by the flash and the bling. Well, that's not my style. Does that mean we may lose a player or two? Maybe so.
"But I think over the long haul we'll have as many good players (as other teams) and they'll be better representatives of Tennessee."
Click to expand...
Yet again, Dooley is sending the message that he doesn't want kids who don't want to be a part of a program from the get go. He wants kids that will be here for the right reasons, not just to get to the league, which this staff has plenty of practice providing that service as well. He wants to recruit the RIGHT kids to UT, and that's going to be a balance of risk and character.

Quote #5
"You don't look for the daily public opinion poll," he said. "I couldn't care less about the daily public opinion poll. I just want to win the election and the election is on signing day."
Click to expand...
I love this in a coach. He doesn't care what people think, instead he wants to work and prove himself. Winning the opinion poll didn't work for this team last year, as they finished 7-6 and had more mishaps and violations than they did wins. Coach Dooley wants to work for approval, and has done this all his life by making his own way, which some of our fans don't agree because of his last coaching gig in the WAC. Coach Dooley will work for UT, not himself, as he understands that you must make the school the focal point of recruiting, and not the coaches.

So, in all reality, Coach Dooley is not looking for square peg in a round hole, but is instead looking for the best fit in players for this team and this school. I have seen plenty of highly rated kids never contribute here at UT in the past few years, and honestly I am tired of it. Yet, we will have a walk-on as our starting MLB, and one of our former coaches seemed to think that he had NFL ability. So, it's all going to be a balancing act, and finding those players that fit well together, highly rated and character guys alike. So, be patient, and even if Coach Dooley doesn't work out over time, at least some stability can somewhat be brought back to The Hill.

Have a great rest of the evening VN. :hi:
 
#2
#2
g8terh8er_eric:3604365 said:
Quote #2
Quote:
"You'd like to take as few risks as you can. But inevitably there are some great players that might have some risks associated with them. Well, it's important that you don't take too many of those guys. Inevitably there are some marginal players that are high risk. I think it's important that you don't take any of those guys."

Once again, Coach Dooley is right on the money with this quote. All he is saying here is you take some risks with the higher rated guys because of potential, but you don't take the same risks with the lower tier guys, because it's not worth the risk if they aren't going to help you in some aspect of the game.
Click to expand...

Really? That's some ground-breaking analysis. I would have never guessed that was where he was going with that quote.
 
#3
#3
I'm all for building character on a team. The traditions are fine to embrace. It's important to get quality guys. It's also damn near impossible to get 100 kids just like that though. So to make a long story short, i'd rather take my chances with guys everyone was after because they had talent. I don't know about you but when we get a guy were going head to head with duke or Kentucky over i don't get to terribly excited, whether the kid bleeds orange or not. Look , Urban, Saban they're doing it with the best players and pretty good coaching. They have bad eggs just like we end up with, only theirs runs a 4.3 forty and our guy doesn't. I'm not saying we got to get them all but you have to win some of those recruiting battles and stop getting the guys you beat duke out of (see one Phil Failmer). That doesn't cut it, not here, not in this league. I don't like Dooley's chances of beating either of those coaches in head to head recruiting battles and that's what he's going to have too do. For now though i'll give him the benefit of the doubt. Really because i have no other chose. Hamilton forced Dooley down our throats like Obama did health care. I really don't care whether Muschamp endorsed the guy or not. Truth is most of us said Dooley who when he was hired? All we can do is wait and see. Crucify Hamilton if it doesn't work out. The natives are restless and this isn't no 5 year plan. He'll have to make progress pretty quick or people will start doubting him very fast. I don;t envy the guy, he's got a tough job ahead of him.
 
#4
#4
I will admit I have been very anti Dooley since the spring game. But I must say that over the past couple of weeks I have been really impressed with our recruiting. We are leading for Worley Clear Kerb Anderson Randolph Luatua some people think we lead for Uzomah too we are in the top 5 for Hayes Arnett Richardson Walls Johnson and Martin. We are in good shape with alot of good players I think that we are doing a good job recruiting right now and I think that if we can get all of those players I just named. We could easily be on our way to another top 10 class maybe even a top 5.
 
#6
#6
Cartervol said:
I'm all for building character on a team. The traditions are fine to embrace. It's important to get quality guys. It's also damn near impossible to get 100 kids just like that though. So to make a long story short, i'd rather take my chances with guys everyone was after because they had talent. I don't know about you but when we get a guy were going head to head with duke or Kentucky over i don't get to terribly excited, whether the kid bleeds orange or not. Look , Urban, Saban they're doing it with the best players and pretty good coaching. They have bad eggs just like we end up with, only theirs runs a 4.3 forty and our guy doesn't. I'm not saying we got to get them all but you have to win some of those recruiting battles and stop getting the guys you beat duke out of (see one Phil Failmer). That doesn't cut it, not here, not in this league. I don't like Dooley's chances of beating either of those coaches in head to head recruiting battles and that's what he's going to have too do. For now though i'll give him the benefit of the doubt. Really because i have no other chose. Hamilton forced Dooley down our throats like Obama did health care. I really don't care whether Muschamp endorsed the guy or not. Truth is most of us said Dooley who when he was hired? All we can do is wait and see. Crucify Hamilton if it doesn't work out. The natives are restless and this isn't no 5 year plan. He'll have to make progress pretty quick or people will start doubting him very fast. I don;t envy the guy, he's got a tough job ahead of him.
Click to expand...

I don't disagree with you at all Carter, but getting those players right now with not much past success to back our coach up, is going to be hard to do.
 
#7
#7
Thank for interpreting the tea leaves, O great oracle of Volnation. JK--Very nice post, Eric. I think most of us here would agree that Kiffin would have no better a record in this upcoming meat-grinder of the 2010 season than Dooley. 2011 is supposedly the year which Tennessee will return to greatness if LK was still the HC. Due to the lack of coaching continuity with the third coaching staff in three years, I don't see 2011 as a target date for a return to greatness. I am willing to wait 3-4 years for CDD to field HIS team much like we were all willing to wait 3 years to then HC CLK to field his.
 
#8
#8
codyg10 said:
I will admit I have been very anti Dooley since the spring game. But I must say that over the past couple of weeks I have been really impressed with our recruiting. We are leading for Worley Clear Kerb Anderson Randolph Luatua some people think we lead for Uzomah too we are in the top 5 for Hayes Arnett Richardson Walls Johnson and Martin. We are in good shape with alot of good players I think that we are doing a good job recruiting right now and I think that if we can get all of those players I just named. We could easily be on our way to another top 10 class maybe even a top 5.
Click to expand...

Good to have you on the good side cody. :good!:
 
#9
#9
vtvol98 said:
Thank for interpreting the tea leaves, O great oracle of Volnation. JK--Very nice post, Eric. I think most of us here would agree that Kiffin would have no better a record in this upcoming meat-grinder of the 2010 season than Dooley. 2011 is supposedly the year which Tennessee will return to greatness if LK was still the HC. Due to the lack of coaching continuity with the third coaching staff in three years, I don't see 2011 as a target date for a return to greatness. I am willing to wait 3-4 years for CDD to field HIS team much like we were all willing to wait 3 years to then HC CLK to field his.
Click to expand...

:p

I agree with you on the time table before we get to the level we all want to be at as well.
 
#10
#10
I think by 2011 we become a top 15 team. We will have a solid line great skill players on both sides of the ball and a solid defense. IMHO with Florida and Bama being so dominant in the south east and subpar instate talent I think its going to be hard for us to win the SEC. I think at best we could be kind of like the Va Tech of the SEC (always finish in the top 10 but never winning the conference escept once out of every 3 or 4 years).
 
Last edited:
#11
#11
codyg10 said:
I think by 2011 we become a top 15 team. We will have a solid line great skill players on both sides of the ball and a solid defense.
Click to expand...

For some reason, I see our defense as a possible Top 20 defense this year, even without Berry. Something tells me that Wilcox will put whoever he needs to in the right places to make plays, regardless of experience.
 
#14
#14
g8terh8ter_eric said:
I don't disagree with you at all Carter, but getting those players right now with not much past success to back our coach up, is going to be hard to do.
Click to expand...

That's why to me it's a puzzling hire. I was all for keeping Kippy as interim until a better time was available for a coaching search. It didn't end up bad though and Dooley pulled some good kids. Overall it's still not where we want it. Maybe Urban has another bout of insanity or someone backs a dump truck full of money up to Saban's door. I've been kind of guilty of tuning out here lately. I'm sick of the way things are run up there and i'm not writing them a check for a long time. Not until hammy's gone at least.
 
#16
#16
Cartervol said:
That's why to me it's a puzzling hire. I was all for keeping Kippy as interim until a better time was available for a coaching search. It didn't end up bad though and Dooley pulled some good kids. Overall it's still not where we want it. Maybe Urban has another bout of insanity or someone backs a dump truck full of money up to Saban's door. I've been kind of guilty of tuning out here lately. I'm sick of the way things are run up there and i'm not writing them a check for a long time. Not until hammy's gone at least.
Click to expand...

The thing is, Hammy isn't responsible for this debacle. The lack for leadership above him is what is ultimately responsible for where we are currently at as a program, and the major money players backing Fulmer for so long. Hammy is nothing more than a puppet really, he does all the leg work, but the money makes the decisions.
 
#17
#17
This is a weird thread.

I don't know why we need an interpreter. People are still going to take what they want out of it. JMO.
 
#19
#19
Cartervol said:
That's why to me it's a puzzling hire. I was all for keeping Kippy as interim until a better time was available for a coaching search. It didn't end up bad though and Dooley pulled some good kids. Overall it's still not where we want it. Maybe Urban has another bout of insanity or someone backs a dump truck full of money up to Saban's door. I've been kind of guilty of tuning out here lately. I'm sick of the way things are run up there and i'm not writing them a check for a long time. Not until hammy's gone at least.
Click to expand...

I've never understood the Kippy as interim coach argument.

You tag him as "interim" and you pretty much kill the 2010 class. We'd been lucky to finish top 50.

My guess is also with the headway you kill 2011 as well. I cannot fathom a top notch player even considering going to a school with a coach there on an interim basis. By the time you got a full-time head coach in place in December you have basically set yourself up to be even more non-existent until 2015 at the absolute earliest. And good luck getting a top tier coach to step into that situation I don't care how much money you throw at him.

Never mind that I would throughly love to see the coaching staff assembled under an interim head coach.

There's no way an interim coach could have ever been a serious option.
 
#20
#20
g8terh8ter_eric said:
The thing is, Hammy isn't responsible for this debacle. The lack for leadership above him is what is ultimately responsible for where we are currently at as a program, and the major money players backing Fulmer for so long. Hammy is nothing more than a puppet really, he does all the leg work, but the money makes the decisions.
Click to expand...
Phil needed to go after 2001 in my opinion. It's been a slow decline ever since. Yeah they made a few championship games but rarely because we earned it. They backed their way into most of them. It baffles me that a university that makes the majority of its money off football could screw it up so bad. Someone got too busy counting dollars and forgot about the only thing that is important, winning.
 
#21
#21
Cartervol said:
Phil needed to go after 2001 in my opinion. It's been a slow decline ever since. Yeah they made a few championship games but rarely because we earned it. They backed their way into most of them. It baffles me that a university that makes the majority of its money off football could screw it up so bad. Someone got too busy counting dollars and forgot about the only thing that is important, winning.
Click to expand...

I agree 110%
 
#22
#22
tigervol9802 said:
I've never understood the Kippy as interim coach argument.

You tag him as "interim" and you pretty much kill the 2010 class. We'd been lucky to finish top 50.

My guess is also with the headway you kill 2011 as well. I cannot fathom a top notch player even considering going to a school with a coach there on an interim basis. By the time you got a full-time head coach in place in December you have basically set yourself up to be even more non-existent until 2015 at the absolute earliest. And good luck getting a top tier coach to step into that situation I don't care how much money you throw at him.

Never mind that I would throughly love to see the coaching staff assembled under an interim head coach.

There's no way an interim coach could have ever been a serious option.
Click to expand...
It took Nick Saban a year and a half to go undefeated and get to a championship game and he did with the same players that Shula had. He did it with a good Oline and a decent defense, not much else. It wouldn't take the right guy 4 years to build a team.
 
#23
#23
Cartervol said:
It took Nick Saban a year and a half to go undefeated and get to a championship game and he did with the same players that Shula had. He did it with a good Oline and a decent defense, not much else. It wouldn't take the right guy 4 years to build a team.
Click to expand...

True, but there is a big difference in the instate talent of AL versus that of TN. That's the one thing that Bama never really lost was it's instate talent pool while going through it's issues.
 
#24
#24
Cartervol said:
It took Nick Saban a year and a half to go undefeated and get to a championship game and he did with the same players that Shula had. He did it with a good Oline and a decent defense, not much else. It wouldn't take the right guy 4 years to build a team.
Click to expand...

If you take away two recruiting classes Saban would have been comparatively walking in to late 80s/early 90s Jimmy Johnson Miami talent at Bama compared to what a coach would walk into here in that scenario.
 
#25
#25
g8terh8ter_eric said:
True, but there is a big difference in the instate talent of AL versus that of TN. That's the one thing that Bama never really lost was it's instate talent pool while going through it's issues.
Click to expand...
Shula wasn't taking them anywhere, they did what they needed to do and look at them now. Same thing with Florida and Zook. We unfortunately turned to a flaky, fast talking idiot from out west to fix our problem and he screwed us. The Dooley hire just seems like a tire patch to me, but we'll see.
 
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top