Your football team went 5-7, your men's basketball team spent almost all of December under .500, and your baseball hire has yet to play a game. Oh, and your football DC left for Seattle. Happy New Year, Dave Hart!
Will captured the genesis of what this means for Dooley this year, but there's more to it than that. This was the fire alarm going off. The smoke was obvious, but regretfully that burrito the dumb guy on your floor freshman year who thought you microwave burritos for half an hour at 7 AM on a Saturday morning done went and set off the fire alarm. (In this case, the dumb guy on your floor is played by Kentucky and Justin Wilcox is a burrito. Metaphors have never been so tortured.)
Meanwhile, we're back talking coaching changes, coordinators, and hemorrhaging recruiting classes. Again. For what seems like the 15th year in a row. At least we're good at it by now, right? We should have all the names tucked away on a list somewhere (maybe we wrote the list fourteen months ago, back when Wilcox was flirting with Texas and Texas was attempting to become Boise State South). It's not about our list, though; it's about Dave Hart's list.
This isn't Hart's first hire; that would be Dave Serrano. (edit: Serrano was hired by Hamilton, so this would be Hart's first hire.) However, it might be the most critical hire of his tenure so far. (edit: obviously, it is now since it's his first hire.) Not to put too fine a point on it, but football's a bit more visible than baseball to most fans. Best as we can tell, Hart isn't not happy with the football program; for one, he said as much after the Kentucky game, and for another, it's not hard to read between the lines (emphasis added):
"I think this, we're not young anymore in football. We're not young anymore. While it is realistic and it is factual to say that we have fielded an inexperienced team the last year or two, we're not going to field inexperienced teams anymore. Those are the kinds of things you have to sit down, talk about and assess. I have thoroughly enjoyed Derek Dooley. I think Derek Dooley has the skill sets to be a highly successful coach."
I'm glad Hart thinks Dooley is entertaining, at least. That's a good sign. But the rest of it sounds like an ultimatum, doesn't it?
So how can the new DC hire go? I see two schools of thought:
0 recs | 97 comments
We're going to have trouble...
getting anyone to come here with Dooley basically being a lame duck.
Caban - January 2, 2012
That's an issue
Craig T - January 2, 2012
Nitpicking, but Serrano was hired by Hammy in June
VolBrian - January 2, 2012
He was?
Whoops. Fixing now.
Chris Pendley - January 2, 2012
Cronan actually but yea..
Getoffmyvols - January 2, 2012
Spokane?
Maybe I’m reading this wrong, but I hope you don’t think UW is in Spokane. It’s almost like saying Knoxville is somewhere in West Virginia.
Troy McClure - January 2, 2012
no
it’s like saying UT is in Memphis. Trust me
Incipient_Senescence - January 2, 2012
Yeah, I missed that too.
Corrected now, but thanks!
Chris Pendley - January 2, 2012
New leader in the best user name on SB Nation race
Will Shelton - January 2, 2012
Only if he prefaces his comments with link backs to other comments he's made on other blogs
Please tell me you do that, Troy.
Chris Pendley - January 2, 2012
You may remember me...
From various UW blogs/boards. =)
Pulling for TN to rebound. Always have liked them better than the other SEC schools.
Troy McClure - January 2, 2012
Chavis?
Any chance that our new AD could use a combination of apologizing for Hamilton’s idiocy/begging/a bit of sobbing to convince John Chavis to ride back to Knoxville on a white horse to save us all? He fits the “someone for the future” description (you’ve got to think he’s eventually going to be a head coach somewhere) and his previous ties to Tennessee might mean he’d take the job despite the obvious dysfunction here.
lyansaine - January 2, 2012
would be a great hire for coaching
but can he recruit at all? not having any defensive linemen on the roster is a large part of the problem
Incipient_Senescence - January 2, 2012
I'd be stunned if Chavis came back
but I’d take him in a heartbeat
Will Shelton - January 2, 2012
I don't see how Chavis would come back to Knoxville,
given he’s in a terrific situation at LSU and Dooley is quite possibly in a one-year/lame duck scenario barring a winning season with a couple of impressive wins. That would certainly put any kind of warm feelings for Tennessee to the utmost test.
Craig T - January 2, 2012
Not sure, but certainly the idea of him can recruit – LSU has been a top ranked defense for years (and Tennessee always was when we had Chavis as well)
lyansaine - January 2, 2012
If we manage to lure Chavis back.
I want you all to come meet me at the sunsphere an hour after the hire is announced. We’re throwing a party. Beer’s on me.
TennesseeTyrants - January 2, 2012
Don't kid
I will be there.
GhostDance - January 2, 2012 via Android app
Forget chavis
If he has any head coach aspirations he won’t come, and if he is happy as a DC LSU is one of the best jobs in the nation in terms of coaching an NFL farm team roster every year. Unless he has a serious hero complex, I’d assume that bridge is burned unless he comes back as Dooley’s replacement.
hal41605 - January 2, 2012 via Android app
A lame duck year now hurts us worse than pulling a quick trigger on firing Dooley.
Discuss
hal41605 - January 2, 2012 via Android app
Dooley's body of work isn't sufficient to fire him yet.
Done.
Chris Pendley - January 2, 2012
It really isn't sufficient for firing
at least, if you’re expecting any halfway decent coach to come to UT
falconnuke - January 2, 2012
on the field it's not
although it’s not at all encouraging.
But if he can’t keep his best assistants from making lateral or sub-lateral moves, and if half the rumors about grades are true, I’m on the “let’s make a change if we can find a guy worth changing to” bandwagon
Incipient_Senescence - January 2, 2012
Not what i'm saying
I’m talking long term good of the program not whether Dooley deserves it. I think todays events change the calculus radically.
hal41605 - January 2, 2012 via Android app
There's also the unpleasant prospect of having a quick trigger.
I’m not sure who’d want to walk into a situation where the head coach gets jettisoned after his DC leaves. Just unpleasantness all around.
Chris Pendley - January 2, 2012
this is a legit worry
Incipient_Senescence - January 2, 2012
think of Will's points on Suggs and Simms
there’s some parallel here
Incipient_Senescence - January 2, 2012
Hart would have to have someone he believed was simply better, like Clausen/Bray
which, I’m sure, would be Kirby Smart…but there’s just no way to know with any unproven head coach. Firing Dooley now for Kirby Smart reeks of desperation and a detachment from reality.
Will Shelton - January 2, 2012
I agree
but I might feel differently about Charlie Strong. or John Gruden (that one always has to be in there, right? :-p )
Incipient_Senescence - January 2, 2012
THIS GUY would make one heck of a coach in the
SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE FOOTBALL LEAGUE.
Chris Pendley - January 2, 2012
I can confirm he is in Tampa, Florida
not at McGhee Tyson or playing golf with the Haslams
Will Shelton - January 2, 2012
But but but we can check FlightAware!
There aren’t any planes that ever leave from Tampa, are there?
Chris Pendley - January 2, 2012
UT has blocked their plane on FlightAware...
CLEARLY THE AD IS HIDING THEIR OEN COACHING SERCH FROM DOOLEY. MY BESRT FREIDNS COUSIN’S GIRLFRIEND’S DAD SAYS WE’RE NEGOTIATING WITH JON GRUDEN.
BOOK IT! YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST!!!
Caban - January 2, 2012
HE OWNS LAND
IN
KNOXVILLEMARYVILLESEVIERVILLESODDY DAISYIncipient_Senescence - January 2, 2012
I KNOW MAN!!!
A REAL NFL COACH WOULD RESTRORE UT FOOTBALL TO THERE WRIGHTFUL PLCE AT TEH TOP OF THE HEAP!!! IF NICK SABTAN CAN WIN IN TJE SEC JUST IMAGINE WHAY GRUDEN COULD DO. THOSE SEC COACHES MUST BE A JOEK FOR LOSERS LIKE SABAM AND SPURMIER TO WIN.
Caban - January 2, 2012
Hiring Kirby...
smacks of our AD being more concerned with doing a friend a favor than actually winning. A program of our stature shouldn’t be taking those sorts of risks.
Dooley was different just because of WHEN Kiffin left us in the lurch. If Kiffy leaves in December of 2008, 99% we have a different coach.
Caban - January 2, 2012
depends on who we could get as a replacement in either case
a bad coach that we have to fire in 3-4 years hurts us worse than a lame duck year. In hindsight, I’m thinking we might should’ve kept Kippy Brown
Incipient_Senescence - January 2, 2012
My main assumption
Is that no credible guy is coming here with Dooley being on the hottest of hot seats. and would Dooley even his a guy who might compare favorably to himself as a head coach prospect
hal41605 - January 2, 2012 via Android app
okay
I don’t think that speaks to my point at all. maybe I wasn’t clear. I’m referring to who we could get as a HC right now compared to who we could get in December. if there are no good candidates out there right now, we don’t need to make a change just because we’re in trouble. if the last two searches taught us anything, it’s have a replacement in hand
Incipient_Senescence - January 2, 2012
Have a replacement in hand....
this I whole heartedly agree in. We have learned our lesson in this regards, and though I am growing more impaitent with Dooley, if there is no sure fire better option in hand I do not think we need to jump into the deep end so quickly.
This next year was not worrying me so much, but the conversation has been floating around about how many wins Dooley needs to keep his job….Do you guys think that number changes drastically with the new coaching problems???
Like I said I was never too woried about next year with who we are returning and the somewhat easy schedule. I was however and still am worried about the following one. If we lose Bray, Hunter, and Rogers as juniors, I think we are back to square one with Dooley as HC.
bullrider73 - January 2, 2012
Don't know if he's just throwing stuff out or whether he has sources
just Jayson Swain is saying there are wheels in motion with Randy Shannon. Would be one of the few names in the country who may be an improvement over Wilcox
Incipient_Senescence - January 2, 2012
That needs to happen
And soon.
If that is true and goes down, then this whole day can be erased like the Baggett for Graham switch but on a much larger scale.
Otherwise, we are still Bill Murray and “I Got You Babe” is still playing………
VolBrian - January 2, 2012
pretty much
Incipient_Senescence - January 2, 2012
In terms of realistic candidates, that would certainly feel like the best possible outcome right now
Will Shelton - January 2, 2012
Chuck Heater
What about Chuck Heater? Actually a guy that UW was thinking about and has SEC ties.
blykmyk44 - January 2, 2012
Immediately
I am not sure about his abilities as a Defensive Coordinator but he seemed to be a heckuva recruiter at Miami? Where was he a Defensive Coordinator?
docrok - January 2, 2012
Miami
his defense was in the top 10 in 5 of his 6 years there
Incipient_Senescence - January 2, 2012
Wikipedia
Wikipedia is listing Shannon as being introduced as the D-Coordinator at TN on Jan 3rd??
docrok - January 2, 2012
But...........
I like how his D seemed to rate while at UM…… Pretty highly ranked, granted that was in the ACC but still seemed very good.
docrok - January 2, 2012
You heard it here first
And this quote from Wilcox: “I’m grateful for this opportunity. Washington is a place where you can win big, and I’m excited to work with Coach Sarkisian in developing a championship-caliber football program. Our first order of business is hitting the recruiting trail, and I can’t wait to get started.”
Sounds like Tennessee wasn’t a place where you can win big
DawgPak - January 2, 2012
Seriously??
This seems like a bit of sarcasm from a GA fan? If so a few years of TN having trouble is hardly note that you can’t win big at TN hence the Championships, of which I am not sure that Washington really holds any?
docrok - January 2, 2012
No, he's a UW fan being a dick.
Thanks for making us look like a-holes, DawgPak.
And for the record, UW won a national championship in 1991.
pranaferox - January 2, 2012 via Android app
I highly doubt the guy is really a UW fan...
2 total posts in nearly a year on their site, and 4 here.
He’s just a troll wearing your hat.
Caban - January 2, 2012
I'm sure there are trolls out there wearing UT hats
just sayin’
falconnuke - January 2, 2012
Thanks for the info
I really was aware of the Nat Title and good job on that! However that still doesn’t dismiss that TN is a Championship caliber program and will return to prominence. I am not sure why Wilcox left but TN will be fine, and I have no ill will toward Washington, and wish you guys luck
docrok - January 2, 2012
WASN"T
docrok - January 2, 2012
The editor was asking for it
You don’t call it a sub-lateral move when it’s to another major BCS program with multiple national championships.
DawgPak - January 2, 2012
Considering the State of the Two Conferences
It is not out of the realm of speculation to call it a sub-lateral move! And to further address your post just remember that is coach speak every coach says that at every stop!
docrok - January 2, 2012
the SEC has won how many consecutive BCS titles?
And UT until the last 3 years was competitive in it.
I rest my case
falconnuke - January 2, 2012
considering the state of the programs over the last 15 years
it’s not hard to argue.
also, you’re straight trollin
Incipient_Senescence - January 2, 2012
We've been through this
lots of teams have won multiple national championships. You went 0-12 three years ago. End of conversation.
Will Shelton - January 2, 2012
I did what, exactly?
Please, show me. Go on. I’ll wait.
Chris Pendley - January 2, 2012
Clearly.
From the looks of that bowl game, you are definitely going in the right direction. ’err I mean…
bsmithinc - January 3, 2012
Re-read
Re-read it And it references Bozo the clown as LB’s coach so prolly not real credible….
docrok - January 2, 2012
So, I hate to be the kind of person that spreads rumors...
But I just had like 4 people tell me they “heard” that Dooley was resigning tomorrow.
I can’t find any mention of it anywhere reliable, and it’s probably not true, but how insane would that be?
TennesseeTyrants - January 2, 2012
VolsintheFall and Basilio are hinting at it
Hubbs is shooting it down
dominant rumor now seems to be Shannon to DC
Incipient_Senescence - January 2, 2012
I like Shannon at DC way more than another coaching change.
TennesseeTyrants - January 2, 2012
I tend to agree
unless we were to just get a homerun for HC
Incipient_Senescence - January 2, 2012
Yeah, I agree.
If we’re going to replace Dooley anyway, and Hart has his guy in mind, we might as well do it sooner rather than later.
But if we’re not giving up on Dooley yet, I like Shannon as a hire.
TennesseeTyrants - January 2, 2012
@mpalardy1 just welcomed randy shannon on twitter
is that account for real?
Incipient_Senescence - January 2, 2012
if not
it is a cruel joke
captainbojangles - January 2, 2012
it's a protected account
and Wes Rucker is retweeting it. FWIW
Incipient_Senescence - January 2, 2012
I can really get behind the Shannon to DC rumor...and that may just be an overall upgrade
bullrider73 - January 2, 2012
Do we get
Uncle Luke? Alls I want to know.
#BannedInTheUSA
GhostDance - January 2, 2012 via Android app
With his buyout...
he’d have to be stupid to resign
Caban - January 2, 2012
This is the correct answer ding ding ding
He’s not gonna walk away from 5 mil. Period.
VolBrian - January 2, 2012
replytoCabanfail
VolBrian - January 2, 2012
Unless he fells to guilty about stealing from the great University of Tennessee
bullrider73 - January 2, 2012
roll vawls
imma hang up an’ listen
Caban - January 2, 2012
Couple of thoughts
1. Whoever the new DC is, at the intro presser he’ll say that we’ll play more aggressively
2. At least we’re not PSU
Florivol - January 2, 2012
Justin King on twitter:
Rumor’s getting around
Incipient_Senescence - January 2, 2012
Randy Shannon...
Would definitely stop the bleeding in recruiting…
Can we offer Randy Garner a huge check to come be our #1 recruiter again? That guy was incredibly responsible for our talent in the 90s.
Caban - January 2, 2012
not sure I'd recommend an "era rehire".
Scenario has changed drastically.
chuckiepoo - January 2, 2012
For those doubting Shannon...
Here are his defensive rankings as a DC…
2006 = #7 total defense, #4 rush defense(67.8 YPG), #40 pass defense(187.7 YPG)
-#13 scoring defense(15.5 PPG), #60 INTs(12), FREC #79(9), #12 sacks(38)
2005 = #4 total defense, #23 rush defense(117.9 YPG), #1 pass defense(152.17 YPG)
-#4 scoring defense(14.3 PPG), #34 INTs(14), FREC #12(14), #17 sacks(35)
2004 = #28 total defense, #67 rush defense(155 YPG), #9 pass defense(173 YPG)
-#13 scoring defense(17 PPG), #43 INTs(13), FREC #10(14), #57 sacks(11)
2003 = #2 total defense, #21 rush defense(114 YPG), #1 pass defense(143.5 YPG)
-#4 scoring defense(15.1 PPG), #13 INTs(19), FREC #42(12), #11 sacks(37)
2002 = #7 total defense, #72 rush defense(165.3 YPG), #1 pass defense(119.7 YPG)
-#22 scoring defense(19.1 PPG), #68 INTs(12), FREC #53(12), #1 sacks(47)
2001 = #6 total defense, #40 rush defense(132.7 YPG), #2 pass defense(138.2 YPG)
-#1 scoring defense(9.4 PPG), #1 INTs(27), FREC #2(18), #1 sacks(42)
Caban - January 2, 2012
...
http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/2011/12/7/2618829/randy-shannon-arkansas-interview-defensive-coordinator
chuckiepoo - January 2, 2012
and those last two years were bad enough to get Coker fired
they lost 9 games in those two years. they allowed 17 or fewer points in six of those nine
Incipient_Senescence - January 2, 2012
unless he brings our recruiting
up to the par that UMiami was at over that time period, those numbers don’t mean a whole lot to me. also given that all that talent was supposedly getting paid in booze, boats rides, and hookers, im further skeptical of their relevance to Knoxvile ca. 2012. like michael irvin said, “the U makes the coach. coach don’t make the U.”
in other words, he had tons of success that for a variety of reasons may be difficult to replicate.
hal41605 - January 3, 2012
We have booze
A boat, too. http://www.tnriverboat.com/
How do you think we got Bryce Brown to come here?
birdjam - January 3, 2012
Oh man, The Star of Knoxville
I think the last time I was on there was a middle school dance
Will Shelton - January 3, 2012
I got married on that boat.
danmarcel - January 3, 2012
that's why I pointed out the success on the teams that got Coker fired
which is more compelling than success on the title teams assembled by Butch Davis
Incipient_Senescence - January 3, 2012
about that
a quick scan of their defensive starters in 2006 shows 6 NFL draftees, 2 NFL undrafted free agents, 1 MLB draftee, 1 non pro athlete, and 1 murder victim who would have been an NFL draftee.
have we ever started 9 guys at once who were NFL bound on one side of the ball?
hal41605 - January 3, 2012
97 & 98 offense...
were REALLY close to 11 NFL starters.
I’ll have to check the offensive line and TEs when I have time later.
Caban - January 3, 2012
and for that matter so was the 98 defense...
Only guy off the top of my head that didn’t make it at all was Steve Johnson… and even he was on a practice squad for at least one preseason
Caban - January 3, 2012
The 97 offense had 8 NFL players by my count
that’s including Marcus Nash, who was a first round draft pick but never really panned out with Denver. But the rest of them – Manning, Lewis, Bryson, Peerless, Clifton, Teague, Cosey – were/are all NFL starters. Eric Diogu, Spencer Riley, and Mercedes Hamilton didn’t play in the NFL to my knowledge.
98 Defense had 8 who played in the NFL, and five that played at a very high level (Ellis, Walker, Wilson, Goodrich, Grant). 2001 Defense had six that played/play extensively plus three more that played limited snaps.
Will Shelton - January 3, 2012
in a lot of ways
what wilcox did with our talent and our offense hanging them out to dry all the time is more impressive than what other guys, shannon in this case, might do with a NFL-loaded roster.
i’d certainly take shannon, cuz beggars v. choosers and all that, but i wouldn’t expect a panacea effect either.
hal41605 - January 3, 2012
I think Manning
counts as 22 guys, based on the play of the Colts this year
falconnuke - January 3, 2012
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