UTSports put together a nice introduction piece on Tennessee’s new offensive coordinator, Mike DeBord, which included quotes from several well-known football figures, including New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.
Tom Brady – New England Patriots Quarterback, three-time Super Bowl MVP
“The University of Tennessee has hired a great offensive coordinator in Mike DeBord. Mike was my offensive coordinator in college and helped me develop as a quarterback. He has great knowledge in offensive football and quarterback development, and he will do an outstanding job at Tennessee.”
Brian Griese – ESPN Commentator, Former NFL Quarterback, Super Bowl Champion
“Mike DeBord is an outstanding hire for Butch Jones at Tennessee. Mike brings experience on both the NFL and collegiate levels and a demonstrated play-calling ability at the championship level.”
Mike Holmgren – Former Head Coach Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers,Super Bowl Champion Coach
“While our time together was short, Mike DeBord was one of the finest coaches I ever had. Mike was a great team guy on the staff and his outstanding football knowledge helped me in so many ways! The University of Tennessee is very lucky to have Mike DeBord.”
Bill Lazor – Offensive Coordinator of the Miami Dolphins
“In hiring Mike DeBord, Tennessee is getting a great football coach. He has both a great understanding of the big picture and also the ability to see the details. I have seen first-hand what a fantastic teacher Mike is. He will do a great job developing quarterbacks, and he is a fierce competitor whose passion for the game is unmatched. The University of Tennessee’s offense is in the hands of a great leader.”
Steve Hutchinson – Seven-Time Pro Bowler, Five-Time First Team All-Pro, Former NFL Offensive Lineman for the Seattle Seahawks, Minnesota Vikings, and Tennessee Titans
“Coach DeBord recruited me to the University of Michigan and coached me for the majority of my time there. Under him, we had very successful years as an offensive unit. His ability to use the resources on the roster, make him valuable to fit within any system. I am excited to see the Vols offense in action this season!”
Adam Gase – Offensive Coordinator of the Chicago Bears, Former Offensive Coordinator with the Denver Broncos
“The University of Tennessee is fortunate to hire a coach with Mike DeBord’s resume. He is an outstanding and creative offensive coach who has great experience both at the college and NFL level. He coaches with a great deal of enthusiasm and passion and does an excellent job teaching quarterbacks.”
Matt Hasselbeck – Quarterback for Indianapolis Colts, 16-year NFL Veteran
“The University of Tennessee is lucky to have Mike DeBord. I’ve come to know Mike as a bright offensive mind who quickly gains the trust and respect of the coaches and players he works with.”
16 responses to “Tom Brady and others comment on the Mike DeBord hire”
I hope he works out. The excessive, over-the-top PR is not reassuring.
No reason not to trust Butch on this. Chances are he has more experience at this than anybody on this board. I was thinking someone a lot more well known but that is not a good reason. Seems like a good brick to add to the wall. If Butch likes him, I like him.
Hope you’re right.
Hmmm, people who have no ties to UT nor care a lick about its fans are being excessive in their comments and praise for a man whom they actually know…..much of a conspiracy theorist about life?
Wow, can’t handle anything other than a gushing genuflexion, can you? Have to have your head firmly implanted not to recognize this was orchestrated and solicited to counter the extreme underwhelmed reaction to the hire (when was the last time you ever saw anything like this for the hiring of an assistant coach? Never for me). You actually believe all these people jumped on their email and sent these glowing endorsements into the UT sports dept on their own? That’s gold, Jerry!
I’ll be as happy as any Vol fan if he turns out to be awesome and I said that’s what I hope for.
If fairness, it was a coordinator hire not just a position coach. Isn’t that the job of PR, to generate a positive spin?
Perhaps. Still think this instance is bordering on embarrassingly obvious.
Exactly what I thought , munsterlander. A guy with 25 years experience shouldn’t need pumping up. Glad someone else could read between the lines. I do hope he does well, and at LEAST doesn’t change the offense that seems to suit Dobbs to a T. The uproar obviously facilitated this display of adoration.
I am not as suspicious minded as others here and I will just say that my concerns are alleviated somewhat. I trust coach in selecting the best overall fit for the team and I expect to see a great offensive display this upcoming season.
All the naysayers don’t deserve the product that Tennessee is going to put on the field this year. Tennessee is going to be awesome this year and I hope they choke on their steady diet of crow. All of this negative criticism is totally uncalled for. If you’re a Tennessee fan then support your team, otherwise go find another team to demoralize; we don’t want you in our stands. Aside from your idiotic posts you’re just showing how immature you are. GBO!!!!!!
Since I’m the only person in this thread not saying yeehaw, guess you’re referring to me. Have to laugh at your post. Very ISIS or Talibam-like – if you don’t agree with me, you’re an idiot, aren’t a fan, don’t deserve anything good and should go elsewhere. Oh, and immature. Now THAT is idiocy.
Been around VN 5+ years, been exclusively a Vol fan 50+ years, and it doesn’t take 5 minutes to see I’m not a miserable negavol. I didn’t say CBJ is stupid or that I hope the hire fails and results in bad offensive performance. I simply dared to agree with many reasonable people that the hire doesn’t inspire confidence, and CBJ knows it, and the PR is clearly aimed at countering that.
I appreciate the reminders, though, that none of this matters and there are a lot of pea brains policing this board.
(NOT referring to mods – you guys are great!)
I would still argue that PR’s job is the same regardless of what the fans might think initialy. Maybe I’m wrong.
Those fans who don’t like the hire, probably won’t be persuaded by a couple of comments from former Michigan guys, so it would probably be wasted effort regardless.
I think you’re right on both points, Freak. I think CBJ or someone advising him is pretty masterful at using media and PR and, even if it’s not the hiistorical norm, I could see them making a big deal about it because they never miss an opportunity to talk up Tennessee – a good thing. But at least to me, the thing is that PR is easy when a guy’s track record speaks for itself – as in everywhere he goes there’s unqualified success – e.g., lead the conference or country in total offense, or top 5 or added 200 yds per game total offense from one year to the next, or _something_ like that. That has never been the case with CMB. Even in Michigan’s good stretch in late 90s, offense was average-ish, not a strong suit. So instead of a record that everyone can recognize as unquestionably solid and can get behind, the PR amounts to a bunch of people in essense saying “don’t be fooled by the 25-year record of nothing really great as an OC, he’s still a great coach.” OK, maybe he is, hope he is, definitely want him to be. And definitely won’t be a broken record b****ing about him for the next 3-4 years. Just underwhelmed.
Jmo, kind of ridiculous that a person can’t articulate a concern or healthy skepticism without the Salem witch trial crowd coming after you.
Which is not you, always enjoy our discussions.
I can understand those who are scratching their head a bit about this hire. There are certainly some question marks with DeBord. The Michigan fans I’ve read aren’t very high on him.
But I can also understand the other side. I think most people, myself included, have been wrong about enough assistant coaching hires over the years that we admit to having no idea how this will play out. Butch seems to have made good decisions thus far and we have to hope that’s the case here. I know he realizes the importance of this particular hire.
Regardless, DeBord is the offensive coordinator now, whether or not he was the best hire. I think we all all pulling for him to succeed at this point.
I’ll drink to that!