Color me bad…but over the past few years the Vol Nation has certainly helped a few coaches pad their pockets, with little or no return on our investment. Kevin Steele is just the latest in a long line of coaches that have used UT as a bargaining chip. Maybe he is just holding out for the head coaching job at Clemson. Who knows?
Meanwhile, UT fans feel like they are in football purgatory. One look at the depth chart tells you all you need to know about the state of the program. Rumor has it that sealed the deal for Muschamp. The lack of depth combined with next year’s schedule doesn’t bring Vol fans much hope for optimism.
For that reason, I don’t give a rodent’s behind about what we have decided to pay Derek Dooley. As far as I’m concerned, the UT football program was left at the altar, and Coach Dooley Jr. (so as to not be confused with his diddy) stepped out of the congregation to take a chance on the bride. Take note, that the bride had buck teeth and a few warts.
Was Dooley my first choice of hopefuls? He wasn’t even on my list. Does it matter what my list looked like? Not hardly. As a program, we are where we are. UT is sitting somewhere in the middle of the pack looking up at the top dogs in the SEC. I didn’t expect that to change next season no matter who was on the sidelines.
A strange combination of events and three culprits have led us to this point. Phil Fulmer didn’t do UT any recruiting favors over the last few years. Now, he can’t find a job, and he can’t keep his nose out of UT business either. We’d be much better off if he was coaching somewhere else. Lane Kiffin took the UT job to further his career. Who knew that USC would come calling in 2010? These two head coaches have come and gone, yet Mike Hamilton remains in his position at UTK. From the outside looking in it looks like Phil, Lane and Jimmy Sexton have played Hamilton like Charlie Daniel’s fiddle. I am just beginning to wonder why we always seem to be on the “receiving end” every time he has “relations” with Jimmy Sexton. At a time when the football program needs leadership, it is hard to blame Vol fans for doubting Hamilton’s decision making.
Don’t get me wrong. There isn’t enough money in the world for me to take the job Hamilton had last week. I just hope that he got it right this time around. Though he brings a 17-20 record as a head coach, it is hard to find a cross word about Dooley from former players or peers. Much like the hire of Kiffin, it is a calculated risk. I just hope Sexton isn’t the only one calculating his profits once events run their course.
In reality, everybody took a great risk in this process. USC took a chance on Kiffin, “the powers that be” allowed Hamilton to make the newest decision, and Hamilton rolled the dice on Dooley. For what it is worth, Dooley has taken a chance on UT as well.
I know it won’t be popular with some UT fans, but given the current situation, Dooley’s leap of faith may be the largest of the four. Can he kiss the bride and turn her into a beauty? I’m willing to finish the show to see how it ends.
Welcome to Knoxville, Coach Dooley. Good luck and Go Vols!