Everything’s coming up roses

Tennessee head coach Derek Dooley hosted a session for the media on Tuesday morning in Knoxville. It was quite the feel-good festival on nearly the 40th day since his last public commentary following the disaster in Lexington. He obviously had a lot of ground to cover, and not just because of the amount of time that has elapsed since his last appearance. A lot has happened since he walked out of Commonwealth Stadium.

He’s Seen the Future, and It Ain’t Pretty

Did you see Derek Dooley’s media comments on Monday September 13? His comments were interesting, insightful, and honest as always.

Dooley is Shown the Money

It’s official: Tennessee’s new head football coach is not on a fixed income, the University has protected itself in case Coach Dooley bolts for pastures perceived as greener, and UT will have to pay Derek handsomely if they choose to fire him. Lane Kiffin got off cheap in his exodus from Knoxville to Los Angeles.  Here are the details.

There’s A New Sherriff in Town

UT head coach Derek Dooley during his press conference on Wed 17 Mar 2010. Photo by Michael Patrick

On the eve of the first day of spring practice, Coach Dooley had a lot to say during his press conference (prepared remarks; Q&A Part I; Q&A Part II; Q&A Part III). For example, Savion Frazier, Nick Reveiz, and Art Evans are out for spring drills due to injury. Also, Dooley said he does not believe he will have made a decision on the QB position by the time spring practices are finished. And, Dooley informed the press corps that Aaron Douglas may not participate in spring practice because he is going through some personal issues right now.

But this news is nothing compared to the buzz that has been going around concerning former players showing up at UT facilities.

The subject here that apparently has concerned some former players and others is regarding former player access to football practice sessions. Dooley’s main policy is that former players are required to call Condredge Holloway of the athletic department before they attend practice.

We’re Doin’ Fine, Thanks

National Signing Day was a huge media event nationwide. Schools like Florida and USC stole the headlines. Derrick Dooley quietly went about his business, not making a spectacle of himself or of our football program. So what picture did the San Francisco Chronicle publish in their story about NSD with all the big national stories? This one! Imagine that. Photo by Saul Young.

Armageddon didn’t come to the Tennessee Volunteer football program as some predicted when Lane Kiffin skipped town in his oversized jeans and jacket. Instead, a relatively unknown son-of-a-legend came to town and (1) calmed the restless natives by delivering a spot-on speech and Q&A session; and then (2) stopped talking, hit the road, and got down to the everyday business of hard work—hiring a staff of coaches and recruiting kids in advance of the biggest day in Tennessee before the O&W game: National Signing Day.

A Steady Stream of Coaches Come to Knoxville

On Saturday 16 January 2010—day one of Dooleyworld—Kippy Brown saw the writing on the wall and skipped town for (literally) greener pastures in the Great Northwest. David Reaves and James Cregg found themselves no longer members of UT’s coaching staff. On Sunday, Coach Dooley (sounds good, doesn’t it?) hired Terry Joseph from LaTech and Eric Russell from Texas Tech.

Underneath the 17-20

When Dooley’s name hit the wires early afternoon on Friday, the collective Vol eyebrows started to raise in the shape of a giant orange question mark. And the very first thing that folks start to comment about was his record as a head coach at Louisiana Tech: 17 Wins and 20 Losses. Comments about “the record” still abound even into this week, especially from outsiders.

Why Derek Dooley Is A Good Hire for Tennessee

He certainly has credentials. He’s been a positions coach—wide receivers, running backs, tight ends. He’s been a special teams coordinator. He’s been a recruiting coordinator. He’s done most of this under Nick Saban, both in the SEC and in the NFL. He’s been a head coach. And, he’s been an athletic director. And, he has the lineage, being the son of a coaching legend.

But even if you didn’t know this about Derek Dooley before Friday night’s press conference, you likely came away “dooley” impressed. I certainly was.

What impressed me the most was his reference to his personal history of getting out of his “comfort zone.” That is the trait of a successful person, one who continually stretches themselves beyond limits and boundaries.