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NASHVILLE - John Chavis took a deep breath, wiped his eyes and asked for a moment from the media to compose himself.
Overcome by emotions, Tennessee's defensive coordinator was his usual determined self.
"I'm going to answer this question," Chavis said.
Gritty as always, he did indeed talk following the Vols' 20-10 win over Vanderbilt on Saturday about a three-week long emotional roller-coaster.
"Twenty-six years," Chavis said, referring to his time at UT as a player and coach, "and I've never, ever regretted a minute of it.
"I've had opportunities to be other places. This is where I wanted to be working for the man that I wanted to work for.
"But everything comes to an end."
That end will very likely come next Saturday when UT plays host to Kentucky for the 2008 season finale. Tennessee's administration has decided to replace head coach Phillip Fulmer following the conclusion of the season.
"I don't want to think about next Saturday because, very likely, it could be the last time I walk in that stadium," Chavis said. "If that's the case, so be it. I'm prepared for that. My family is prepared for that and we'll move on."
Chavis said he still hopes to be a head coach, even at a lower level, and thinks he can coach eight to 10 more years. He said he's received several inquiries from other schools and NFL teams.
However, Chavis seemed resigned to the fact that being a Vol likely isn't in his future.
"I'm not going to close any doors but to be honest with you I don't see that happening," he said. "It would be hard. It would be hard either way."
Chavis was unsure what he would do after next Saturday. Joining another staff, volunteer coaching or just traveling with his wife were all possibilities.
"I may take a little time off," Chavis said. "I've done this for 30 years . . . The last six weeks have been a trying time for us all."
Chavis admitted he dealt with a lot of anger following the decision Nov. 2 to replace Fulmer.
"I did early, but it's gone," Chavis said of the anger. "Thank God, it's gone. You can't live like that. You really can't.
"It started out very, very, very angry to being very, very, very disappointed to being open right now to maybe a lot of new opportunities."
Chavis didn't seem as stung by the decision as he did by the timing of the announcement.
"I just wish we could have done this thing a week from now and walked away and been gone with it," Chavis said. "It would have made the last three weeks a lot different."
Instead, Chavis and the Vols have dealt with more emotions than they could have imagined. That, Chavis said, was harder than he ever dreamed it would be.
"I thought it wouldn't affect me at all but I was wrong," Chavis said. "I was definitely wrong."
Then Chavis seemed more contemplative than most are used to seeing.
"There's a lot more to life than Tennessee football even though Tennessee football has been the biggest part of my life for 26 years," he said.
That part of Chavis' life likely has only one week remaining.
"I'm just looking forward to the future," Chavis said. "To be honest with you, it's not getting here fast enough.
"I don't mean that with any bitterness. I just want to get this behind us and go on."
Gassed Vinson: Cornerback Brent Vinson's 69-yard interception return had a chance to be Tennessee's second defensive touchdown of the day. But the sophomore said he simply ran out of gas before reaching the end zone.
"I was trying to find something to dig deep. I was so tired that I found myself drifting out of bounds," he said. "I don't know what the heck I was doing."
Vinson's return, which began inside the Vandy 20-yard line, set up a key field goal just before halftime.
"My coach, he got on me," said Vinson. "He was fussing me out instead of giving me congratulations for the interception. That's how it is with coaches. They expect the best. They're never satisfied."
Injury Update: Tennessee survived Saturday's game without any serious injuries.
Vinson (right leg) was the only player listed on UT's postgame injury report.
Vinson said a Vanderbilt player's cleat dug into his right leg when he went to make a tackle in the second half.
"It's kind of swollen," Vinson said. "We're going to wait to see what's wrong with it until we get back."
Tailback Arian Foster (thigh bruise) was 85-90 percent healthy Saturday, Fulmer said.
Drew Edwards contributed to this report.
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Comments » 76
bd330794#206783 writes:
Your the man Chief, wish you all the best
rabidvol1998 writes:
Please stay Chief> If not, i wish you the best. You have surely given your all for Tennessee.
tnbigg writes:
He did a good job...
TommyJack writes:
Don't worry about Chavis. Undoubtedly the most employable guy on the staff.
ctexorange writes:
John, You Philand Cut have always shwon the class of a southern gentleman. Good Luck to you and This extended family if you can forgive.
txvolsfan writes:
Chief is a quality defensive guy!!! He has always given it up for our defense!!!
khelton657 writes:
Coach Chavis is a man who will be admired all his life and by all who have ever known him
pdhuff#552644 writes:
True, perhaps the only one.
Anyone notice Vols manning up the Vandy WR's at the line.
No 7 yard drops.
bluetick writes:
I really hope he is retained. Anybody who thinks Chavis isn't good at his job is an idiot. Replacing Fulmer and what he's done for UT will be hard enough. Replacing BOTH him and Chavis, won't happen for a long time. I think the timing of it was bad as well. I think they did that to appease the uneasy fans and administration and boosters. I think we will see the same thing that Alabama saw with coaching changes over the next few years until we find the one we will keep. It's going to be a rocky road.
blitzshoot writes:
Good job Chavis. No reason to hang your head.
utmdm writes:
So true!
LDDFC912 writes:
The chief should stay. Defensive Coordinator is not the issue. It should be considered by the next Head Coach. Hamilton make it happen.
chattownvol writes:
Leach / Davis / Kelly & Chavis = a nice match. As others have said, you always knew what you were going to get out of the defense on any given Saturday.
Alphafemale writes:
Coach Chavis has been the most consistent part of our staff! I so wish there was a way he could stay.
UTmama writes:
Coach Chavis,
You are an unbelievable coach and I hope that whoever comes in will consider keeping you. Thank you for all of the years that you have given to UT. You are 1st class.
vol1994 writes:
good coach overall but time to change the entire staff and get some new blood. three things I do not like about our defense lately:
1. soft coverage (today though they did not give a cushion so that was nice to see)
2. our d backs do not turn their heads to look at the ball but look at the receiver's eyes to see if and when ball is thrown
3. mustang defense
ncvol17 writes:
I'd love to see Chavis stay..but what's the next guy to do.. throw off his current DC when he moves to UT? You don't toss a colleague you know and trust for a new one you don't know...I see a chance only if the DC gets the HC at the school he leaves.
MillisaAnn writes:
I want Chavis to stay for sure, we need him.
dma38256#264746 writes:
I, for one, want Chavis to stay.....he will be missed if he goes....
volsbandit writes:
the defense has been the highlight of the season. great job coach.
GhostofRobertNeyland writes:
Been a crappy season, but it still feels great to win today. Go Vols! Let's beat the cats.
CoverOrange writes:
I hope Chavis moves on. Only because I really want to see him as a HC somewhere. I think he could do it, but he will never get a chance at UT.
Good luck coach.
xvolx writes:
It looks like hamilton is going go clean house. all new coaches.
lomas98 writes:
Unless a deal has already been made, the timing of this whole thing was bad. Chavis' comments proves that. I've heard from people if Leach comes here that hopefully he will keep Chavis. This is a 2 way street and maybe Chavis doesn't want to be here with anyone else. By the tone of his voice and his quotes, he is done at TN.
Pullingguard writes:
You are correct about no defense tonight, and you could have also included no offense either... Good defense will shut down that TT offense..And it would be shut down lot in SEC..
jcherrie#219531 writes:
Is anyone else sick of dvolfan - rc shepards - phooey?
He made over 22 posts today - in a 10 hour period - insulting Manning, Ainge, Fulmer, Clausen, Mims, and White praises Spurrier and claims to be Vol fan!
Dvolfan - if you are a Vol - are the biggest loser fan in UT History!
Mansonlamps writes:
Hey Chavis: I'm very, very, very, very, very sick of 3rd down when you're coaching defense. Good riddance.
eduardo writes:
No kidding dude. 3rd down and Chavis! Part of the problem why this staff wont be here anymore. Clean house and dont retain anyone. Time to start anew and fresh. Hire Brian Kelly!
surfmaster writes:
Again I will say it, Chip Kelly should be our new coach.
An offensive genius, and he doesn't think he is a pirate. A disciplinarian. A great recruiter. This is the guy!
The man puts points on the board. Does it consistently, and more importantly, does it with the passing and running game. No other system in college football is as balanced and explosive as Chip Kelly's system.
Check out the link to his bio below. He is worth at least an interview. He is a great coach and outstanding recruiter. It would work.
http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.db...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HybKUO...
Hamilton, get this guy on your interview list.
posivol writes:
very true...i wont be back until hammy is gone---classless little mole.
posivol writes:
thats funny,last year you said he sucked..take a look in the mirror pal.
posivol writes:
you got that right brother.
posivol writes:
amen brother,couldnt have said it better myself.
the most obnoxious no nothing posters in the history of the internet!
i prefer to call them POSERS!
posivol writes:
YEP,HAMMY BURNED THAT BRIDGE!
Greer_Vol_22 writes:
Chief, I'll give you one thing, you won a lot of games hanging on by a thread in the last three quarters of many a game. It sure was entertaining...ride mustang ride....
newtonrail writes:
And you go with him Paul.
TommyJack writes:
Sorry, you have the advantage. I don't recall you. Have you posted here before?
newtonrail writes:
A new coach will probably want his own staff, so you will get your wish. However your points seem like they are made by 2nd grader: Soft coverage mentioned by everyone whether always true or not; DB's are coached in pros to look at WR's eyes looking back for ball; everyone plays nickle and even dime packages at times. Ours got called a Mustang pkg years ago. What do you want us to do in obvious passing downs.
burntorangeVOLffle writes:
Funny. Seems to be more support for Chavis than ever before. Wasn't it just two months ago most were calling for his head just as loud as Fulmers? Have the usual whiners forgotten Cal, Fl, and Bama last year or the 4th qtr meltdown at UCLA? You guys had me convinced Cheif was a terrible coach that couldnt coach up talent. I thought you guys knew everything.
TommyJack writes:
Not everything. BTW, if you're the Chief, would you include tapes of those games you mentioned, along with your resume'? Hmmm?
BubbaHoTep writes:
They're trolls. Nothing more. Check out this URL:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/03/mag...
Thanks, Chief and Phil, for all the great memories you gave us and your years of service. True UT fans wish you and your family the very best, no matter where your paths lead you.
You will be missed.
BillVol writes:
Other opportunities? The Falcons? The Colts? Ha-ha!
BubbaHoTep writes:
Good question.
I'll tell you what they want: blitz and press coverage on the corners. EVERY PLAY. Some of them even think that pressing on the corners in and of itself will keep receivers from getting open.
Now, of course, when they get beat over the top, they'll be screaming and hollering then, too.
These "fans" who believe there's never any need for the Mustang package need to go back and watch the 1990 Auburn game and see what happens when DBs don't play zone coverage and go for the ball everytime it's tossed up in the air.
Alwaysthinknnextyear writes:
Thanks Coach Chavis. A lot of life lessons can be learned from you. You served greatly and quietly and never talked bad about your boss even though the offense hung your kids out to dry more times than can be counted. You have a true servant's attitude and would make any staff or team a great asset. Take care.
kabul_vol writes:
I hate to see Coach Chavis go!
vol98champ writes:
To all of you guys who are ragging Chavis's defense; The only thing wrong with it is the DB coach. Fulmer should have fired him years ago. We are awful on 3rd and long because we know a 10 to 20 yard pass is coming and our scheme has no idea how to stop it. I love Fulmer for all he has done at UT, but I wonder how long he could have stayed if it weren't for Chavis and Cut. What a team they were! Fulmer a great recruiter and hard worker and Chavis and Cut great coaches. Thanks for the memories guys. You will be hard to replace, especially with all the idiots who post here.
GREEKDAWG writes:
As a UGA fan ,I always respected YOUR defense and a knew a "battle" would take place on Saturday!
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Well said. Cut with his rag-tag bunch lost 14-3 to Va Tech with 7 of those coming on an int return.
He was the prop holding the porch up for a long time.
And never truer, Fulmer "WAS" a great recruiter against the Donnans and their ilk. Its a different track today we're on. And Haslam gets it.
dwolfcreek#397971 writes:
CHAVIS SHOULD GET A MEDAL FOR STAYING AS LONG AS HE DID , WEEK AFTER WEEK WATCHING A BUNCH OF FOOLS MESS UP WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN A BETTER OFFENSE .
invisiblekid writes:
Chavis has done a solid job given the limited resources on the defensive line this year IMO. I am not going to get too misty over Chavis leaving though.
The Gators and Tide are still averaging north of 30ppg the last two years. UCLA still made their season on our DB's playing 8 yards off the ball. The Vols have played 4 teams this year with total offensive rankings of 98th or worse. Manning never won against UF due to some of those Chavis-led defenses.
I sincerely appreciate the effort Chavis has put in over the past 26 years for the program. However, I am not going to wax nostalgic and make it out that Chief was the end- all, be-all of defensive coordinators and that he didn't make his mistakes as well. In the end, I hope for nothing but the best for Chavis and agree with others that he will be the most bankable coach on this staff.
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