Tennessee receivers coach Trooper Taylor will interview with Baylor next week, a source within UT’s program told the News Sentinel.
Taylor, who is from Cuero, Texas, and attended Baylor, is being considered for the offensive coordinator position.
This latest development comes at a time of upheaval for the Vols. UT offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe will be introduced as head coach today at Duke.
Taylor likely will be a candidate to be UT’s next offensive coordinator. Offensive line coach Greg Adkins also could receive consideration. Or head coach Phillip Fulmer could elect to hire from outside the staff.
Taylor, who declined to comment, has long professed his desire to be a head coach.
However, Taylor has proved to be picky. He pulled his name from the Howard head coaching search last year. He also turned down a chance to return home as a position coach at Texas in 2004, saying he was dedicated to winning a championship with the Vols.
UT football coaches face a financial penalty if they take a job that is deemed a lateral move. That would not be the case if Taylor, who is a position coach, were to be hired as a coordinator at Baylor.
Taylor is widely considered to be one of UT’s very best recruiters.
On the field, he headed up two reclamation projects: UT’s receivers in 2006 and its running backs in 2004.
Taylor, who coached running backs in 2004 and 2005, accepted the assistant head coach for player development position in 2005 in which he manages off-field issues including academics and discipline.
Phillip Fulmer through the years
Barbara Dooley and Pat Summitt Go Red…
Tyler Summitt through the years
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 103
juicetke#226846 writes:
I was telling my wife last night that if we didn't offer Trooper the job if Cut leaves that we would lose Trooper. I don't know if he would be a good coordinator or not. No one does. We will lose him though if we don't offer him the job. That would be a huge recruiting loss.
superk#226173 writes:
At some point Trooper is going to leave anyway. Any coach that is any good will eventually leave.
juicetke#226846 writes:
I don't guess Tennessee could talk Peyton into retiring and becoming an Offensive Coordinator.
bshell12 writes:
If cut goes and troop becomes o.c. you can bet that it would be exciting with troopers enthusiasm it might be the spark tennessee needs.
CoverOrange writes:
TT needs to cut his teeth at a smaller program. We need a more all around experienced staffer for our next OC.
Don't know how well Cut gets along with Troop but wouldn't be surprised if he offered the OC at Duke (if Cut goes to Duke that is).
I believe our next OC will eventually be our next HC in x number of years.
mtnvol writes:
Just like in my business, I want to hire people that others want.
sandboxpup#222155 writes:
Wait...is this the same source that said Cutcliffe had already been offered the Duke job? I'm confused...
UTFutBalPhan writes:
I'll help Trooper pack. Chest bumps and handpounds don't win football games. He'll figure that out quickly at Baylor.
Volker writes:
This is turning out to be a truly sh-crappy sports day.
Volker writes:
Hooker's standing by his original report.
chrisw2967 writes:
"stay the course"
If we lose Trooper then we will know that Fulmer is not smart as he thinks he really is.
BaileyC writes:
I think I'll wait for a credible report before I believe this one. When should we expect Drew to clean up hooker's mess with this story?
GerryOP writes:
As Alice said as she stepped through the looking glass "... It just keeps getting curiouser and curiouser!"
mjohnsonvols writes:
Hey UTfut
Chest bumps may not win games but it gets the crowd in to the games at the walk and it also is what kids like now days a guy with a little fire in him. So lay off of Trooper. I'm sorry your to old to give chest bumps.
todd#529269 writes:
Hope he gets the job. hes a joke!
ayacavone#599056 writes:
ESPN is now reporting Cut is going to Duke. Expected to be announced today or tomorrow....
memphisvolman writes:
What about Chavis? I wonder why no one is looking at him for a head coach position?
memphisvolman writes:
Congrats to Cutcliff! Maybe Tropper can be the OC?
cdldoc#211897 writes:
Seems like the only folks who don't respect the skills of the Vol coaches are the Haters that post on this website.
eb502us#225637 writes:
Hope Trooper stays but no coach is bigger than the program and I for one, would rather see Fulmer bring in an experienced, innovative offensive coordinator if Cutcliffe leaves rather than allow Trooper to learn on the job. Another words, if he threatens to leave for not being promoted, then so be it as life goes on. Additionally, I'm not sure Fulmer has the luxury of allowing a coach a few seasons of growing pains. He's seen what the heats like and I'm sure he doesn't like it.
bigbluevol writes:
I hope we give Trooper a chance at OC. We need him as a recruiter and his enthusiasm is a huge plus. You think that all the people who criticize Phil would be saying that they enjoy Trooper's enthusiasm. However, in typical hater fashion, they think he's a "joke" and that his excitement doesn't do anything. Consistency in your position please. The kids like Trooper, he's proven he can coach, and he's been nothing but an asset to the staff and the program.
bigbluevol writes:
For all those people lauding Al Borges, I'd like to point out that his offense was ranked 101 out of 119. If you say it's Brandon Cox's fault, I'll remind you that two years ago and last year, everyone was talking about how great a QB he was. Borges' biggest success came when he had three 1st round draft picks in his backfield. Borges is not the answer.
losvolsganan writes:
Seems like there was a lot of hard blowing on here not long ago about how nobody respects or wants to interview any of our UT coaches.
Now UT seems to be getting plundered like an electronic store during a riot.
How's that crow tasting???
west_tn_volfan writes:
Trooper is a very good position coach. Every position he's been given has improved. That being said, I don't know if he would make a good O.C. or not. I am not opposed to him getting the position and I'm sure he wouldn't do any worse than R.S. did but it is a little risky hiring someone who has no coordinator experience at a program as big as U.T. Oh well, thats what Phil gets paid the big bucks for, so he better think it through since it could be a career decision. Hope he gets it right.
Go Vols beat the cheese eatin' socialists from Madison
DenmarkVol_aka_Mbumburu writes:
When Cut goes, Trooper will demand the OC job or he'll split. if he doesn't get this Baylor job, he'll keep looking if he's passed over for the UT OC job.
If he gets the UT OC job, we will lose Chavis, without question.
What a day...
DenmarkVol_aka_Mbumburu writes:
memphisvolman, I am convinced that John Chavis will leave -- of his own accord -- before spring practice. He's had enough.
If Fulmer makes Taylor OC, then Chavis will leave within a few weeks. That will not work.
bigbluevol writes:
These guys are adults. They spend a lot of time together. I'm sure if the resentment was that deep, something would have happened already. I think that if TT does get the OC job, it doesn't mean that Chavis will split. I didn't know there was a rift with TT and Adkins, but I had heard about the Chavis/Taylor dustup. Hopefully they have moved on, or can move on.
TommyJack writes:
Mbum: I'll bite. What's the deal between Chavis and TT?
agentorange writes:
does Taylor know how to OC? I guess I could live with it if we a good qb and wr coach.
Volunatic writes:
I've heard there was a rift between Taylor and Chavis, but I think that was just a rumor started by the tricitiessports.com guy that makes up stuff to sound like he's an insider.
TommyJack writes:
sjt: thnx for the info
GerryOP writes:
Has anyone stopped to think that, maybe, just maybe, the word is getting out that UT has some good coords and position coaches who really want coach, not simply be puppets in the PAF Marionette Show?
Next thing you know, PAF will announce a nationwide, nay worldwide, search for the right replacement. And then ... taa daa ... less than 24 hours later, announce the name of the new UT OC ... Randy Sanders!!!
agentorange writes:
no clausen's.
kjneel#238751 writes:
Let him go. He's not ready for OC yet. Baylor is good for him. Fulmer needs a big name or he is toast next year.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Relax, men. Fearless leader has it under control. Could I get some cinnanmon sticks with the apple fritters, please?
philfan writes:
Everyone is mentioning Trooper Taylor as the next offensive coordinator. There are 10 coaches at UT, not counting Cutcliffe. What about these possibilities?
Fulmer-calls the plays, like Spurrier at SC
Chavis-becomes offensive coordinator only and we find a new defensive coordinator
Greg Adkins
Dan Brooks
Steve Caldwell
Matt Luke
Kurt Roper
Larry Slade
Tennessee does have a tendency to promote from within. For example, Randy Sanders was promoted to OC after Cutcliffe went to Ole Miss. I think one of the coaches above will be the next OC and it may not necessarily be Trooper Taylor.
cnalumni writes:
Who IS NEXT?????????
THE_VOL writes:
Yeah this could turn out to be a GREAT season after all!!! You go Troop! Take it on home and see all that recruiting rep can survive BAYLOR!!! (LMAO!!!) My Lord, just think, if we can get Chavis to go too ole FOOLmer may just retire after all!
DenmarkVol_aka_Mbumburu writes:
TommyJack, et al -- I just have it on good authority they do not get along at all. I believe my source.
And I'm sure many on here would welcome a debate over who is more vaulable to the program right now, Chavis or Taylor. Like all of us, I have my opinion on that as well.
TommyJack writes:
grvol: right
agentorgange: right
apple fritters? indeed
TommyJack writes:
Thanks, Mbum: No shortage of opinions for sure.
DenmarkVol_aka_Mbumburu writes:
Philfan, Cut will take his own hires (Matt Luke and Kurt Roper) with him to Duke, no question about it. I'm certain that's part of his deal with Duke, after what happened at Ole Miss.
Oenoboy writes:
Help me out here. Chavis is a Defensive specialist. Why would he want the OC job? I've never heard of someone at this level switching over to the other side of the ball. Do you guys have any examples of this?
lnbadger320 writes:
chavis will not be o-coordinator. i'd like to see trooper stay, i think he'll do pretty good at o-coordinator. i'm sure any call he makes that fulmer doesn't agree with will be overridden anyways. it doesn't take much to call run plays, screens and pass plays to the flats.
lnbadger320 writes:
one thing is funny in the 80's and 90's, before the internet and 24hr vols update, we probably had hundreds of coaches like TT pass through our program and we didn't realize it. for some reason if TT leave. i think we'll be able to find another coach like him. at least i surely hope so.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Baylor could do a lot worse. WRAL.com - Cutcliff coming. Will Phil get up in the AM and be alone?
Enuf of excitement on the sidelines. Leaps over 2.7 inches should be outlawed anyway/ Go Vols.
GreerVol22 writes:
mtnvol has a really good point. Love him or hate him, Phil has a staff that other people want. Sure, lifes a beach that they are both are considering leaving in the same year, but generally, good things happen to good people for good reasons.
Don't worry about the recruiting end of it, (actually i was too), 'cause ever since the Pearl hire, I have confidence in Hamilton, his ability to recruit coaches and build off of the same point that mtnvol made about surrounding your self with promotable people. In business, there is no greater reward than having those that work for you succeed and grow...
newtonrail writes:
I believe there have been a few early office Christmas parties from reading some posts. Then again, maybe I need to lighten up.
ryangrif16#1340461 writes:
If they leave fine... We will do a nation wide search and promote 2 grad assistants.
texan writes:
mtnvol
Great point about surrounding yourself with promotable people. However if everyone promotable goes elsewhere what are you left with. A new staff, and in UT's case, a weak shell of a coaching staff at a very critical time.
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