Derek Dooley has his first recruiting class and a full staff to coach it.
Now the new Tennessee football coach can start finalizing the rest of the details about his program.
After immediately jumping into the recruiting and hiring process thanks to a time crunch, Dooley hardly had time to catch his breath or worry about anything other than those first two priorities since he took over last month. He didn't even bother signing a Memorandum of Understanding before heading to work, and UT still hasn't released any specifics or contracts for Dooley and his staff.
But with a little less pressure leading up to the expected opening of spring practice March 18, Dooley can begin to put the rest of the pieces together, including getting to know the returning players, crafting a media policy, officially designating roles to his assistants and maybe even putting a signature on his contract with the Vols.
"It's sort of an understatement to say that the program was a little bit in a fragile state, but we had so much to do and a short time to get there," Dooley said last week. "We just had to really focus on one step at a time.
"The first priority was getting some coaches in to help us hit the road recruiting, and then of course putting all our energy on the eight mid-term signees, which was in a real fragile state as well."
The Vols were able to smooth out that situation and keep all eight players in the fold, a productive first step for Dooley that was followed up by a top-10 recruiting class. UT wrapped up its staff two days later by hiring Chuck Smith to coach the defensive line.
That process got rolling with a team meeting Monday in which Dooley told the team "he's not about rebuilding" according to a Twitter update from defensive end Willie Bohannon. And it should pick up throughout the week as Dooley settles in and gets UT organized the way he wants.
"(This) is really when the work begins," Dooley said. "How we coach them, how we mentor them, how we support them, how we develop them physically, mentally, spiritually, emotionally. There are so many factors that end up going in to how these guys perform for the university."
Dooley has the necessary pieces to do it now. The next step is finding the right way to put them all together.
© 2010, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Comments » 237
allntl1#565211 writes:
I'm bounded down just watch OL Bandit run.
I could not resist.
MoTownOrangeCrush writes:
Nothing that I did not expect from Dooley.
tnsportsman writes:
Dooley and Staff will hit the ground running with current players and early enrollees! The fact that the core base is there and he is not trying to change the scope of work at hand by moving players around should be very encouraging to the Players, Fan Base and Football Program!
Very smart move on Coach Dooly's part because these Players are a proven 7 win Team with a Huge Upside in experience and talent!
GBO!
Bluesvol writes:
It is hard not to think highly of this man. Seems to say and do all the right things. He is building a program Vols fans can respect. Sounds like he has long term goals.
FirstAndGoal writes:
Dooley will get it done. I am so relived to have him here with his new staff... and glad the temporary USC baggage is gone.
GO VOLS!!
VolGraduate writes:
So far so good. These seniors will be ready to graduate and start coaching after all the changes
slov writes:
can't wait already...
usnavyvolfaninva writes:
I was thinking the exact same thing... pretty scary.
usnavyvolfaninva writes:
Put Fulmer in a Sheriff's uniform, he could be Buford T. Justice!
usnavyvolfaninva writes:
disclaimer... this comment was not meant to be disrespectful of Fulmer or his contribution to the university...
vols2#227315 writes:
Hope Doodley gives the incomming freshmen a chance to start.
allntl1#565211 writes:
Monty to LIL Lane "there is no way you came from the fruit of my loins boy".
MissSt_Vol writes:
ha I see it
NoSirRee writes:
Whether he's about rebuilding or not, that's what he's going to have to do. Good luck
frank_rizzo writes:
I just hope that the fans can finally turn a corner and start cheering; it is past time for us to stand up and cheer during games.
allntl1#565211 writes:
I think I'll go have a Coors and pop Smokey and the Bandit in the Beta Max.
usnavyvolfaninva writes:
Ah, yes, Sally Field was hot back then...
OrangeinCarolina writes:
Mentoring the kids spiritually and emotionally. What a stark contrast to the weasel whose ego was the only thing that he had to offer to the kids. I'm an optimist-I think we can win every game next season. But I'll take a less than perfect season because I can still have pride in this program. I won't have to make excuses for stupid comments by our coach. I won't have to hang my head as I see players arrested. I won't have to endure a game such as the ChickFilA bowl in which I see a team woefully unprepared. Let the UT football program makes it's headlines on the field. Let the coach's actions do his talking for him. Rejoice VolNation! Work ethic, integrity, and loyalty is at hand. Best of luck to Coach Dooley and his staff and the great players that are the University of Tennessee! GO VOLS
usnavyvolfaninva writes:
And get the Soundtrack w/Jerry Reed on 8-track!!
joshvols writes:
has chuck smith had a press conference? get his name and resume' out there on national tv. maybe get him on espn first take or something similar.
usnavyvolfaninva writes:
Just don't go sneaking it across the state lines...
usnavyvolfaninva writes:
Of course, it's impossible to know for sure, but I have a feeling he's going to have an open depth chart, especially at QB.
Volfrombama writes:
I feel like we can really build something around this guy (DD), his staff, and this team. We have some talent and he does say all the right things. i hope the team buys into it quickly. We were a few depth players away from turning the corner last season.
usnavyvolfaninva writes:
Very, very good post...
TennesseeGorilla writes:
Can't wait...
Pullingguard writes:
Previous coach continued to talk about rebuilding, needed top notch players, not giving
any credit to the inhouse young men...Dooley
took large step in telling them he was not into rebuilding.. we have success sitting in this room.. getting the players believing in themselves and buying into the coach for his confidence...Could mean extra win this coming fall..
d
allntl1#565211 writes:
Ah the good old days driving around Soddy Daisy in my 76 Trans Am.
FirstAndGoal writes:
Offensive and defensive line depth are the biggest issues. We've got quarterbacks. And we have a phenomenal kicker coming in. Plenty of talent at running back and wide receiver. I say it will be a fun season. Dooley's first Vol team will pull off an upset that the former staff wishes they had gotten.
GO VOLS!!
orangeman1 writes:
Great post. You summed it up for me. I am really excited to see what Dooley can do with our program. He is so much smarter and classier than the last coach. I think he will have UT back competing for the SEC sooner than most people thought.
Fryinpansvols writes:
A lot to look forward to in the coming seasons. Volball is finally back. GBO!
VolFaninDC writes:
I agree with most everything, but I'm not sure we won't have ANY player problems; no one can guarantee what this many college kids will do. But, hopefully if it does happen, it will be very rare, swiftly resolved, and never tolerated.
usnavyvolfaninva writes:
true statement.. BTW, you guys had enough snow yet?
go_vols_go writes:
I just want to beat Florida and Bama.
usnavyvolfaninva writes:
hear, hear.
tn_rockytop writes:
i got a feeling of 9-3 or 10-2 really good feeling just remember me when it happens in 2010 we have a good team i think one of the qb,s can be better than crompton and are ol will fill in and be good are defense will be good with dl stepping up and lb really blowing thangs up and with jazken jackson and lofton and the other returners and a bad azz kicker i like are coaching staff better a good mix of nfl and college football experience and chainey having free rain. also the sec east will be open next year we could just be the supprisor or spoiller gooooooooooooooo vols
justsayn writes:
I like the not rebuilding statement. You have to have players and we have had top ten recruiting classes in 3 of the last 4 yrs. There are some good players here. If our coaches can make us one of the best teams in the country in turnovers, penalties and special teams play we will win 8 or 9 games in the regular season. Tough disciplined football will make up for most inequities in talent if it's close at all. Thirty eight days till spring practice. ROCKY TOP!
VolinCalif writes:
I love the statement of not being into Rebuilding. I don't think DD was playing games to hip up the existing players. I think he meant it. From what he had at La Tech the Vols are loaded. We have some Red Shirts and a good group of Sr's that were considered talented when they were recruited. I for one don't think they lost that talent, they weren't coached up enough to allow it to show. DD sees that and I expect to see it show this Fall. Last years group of recurits were a good group and we'll see many of them playing this fall. I am also sure we'll see some of this years group on the field as well. So I guess I'm saying DD feels he has enough talent to make a game of it every week. We'll win 8 and our Bowl game. Don't forget we have a couple of really good coaches on staff that know the current players, CJC and CLT, and they wanted to stay with this team. They know there is talent on the team and they can win with it.
Go Vols can't wait for the O/W
VolinCalif writes:
I like that. But I want to beat Bama twice, once in Knoxville and once in Atlanta.
usnavyvolfaninva writes:
hear, hear, hear!
usnavyvolfaninva writes:
Ladies grind one out in Nashville, 69-60
FWBVol writes:
With all the talk from the former coach about getting players ready for pro ball it seemed as if he sees college football as some sort of minor league system for the NFL.
I believe that Dooley knows that dealing with the student-athlete is dealing with the whole person.
He'll get the team ready and he'll get the players that won't play in the NFL ready for life.
vol4tnfan writes:
you're right on!
GBO
VolinCalif writes:
Good night friends. Time for an old fart to hang it up for tonight. Got to put the two grand kids to bed. One 8 one 10, I read to them and tell them stories every night. They earn this time by doing their school work early and doing it well and they have their task around the house also. It's not milking the cow and slopping the hogs but for this time and age I try to teach them what it takes to have a life. Raising kids in second childhood keeps one going. Take care and we'll only have a couple of weeks to hold our breath. Maybe KNS will do some stories on these kids at UT.
usnavyvolfaninva writes:
'nite.
fireadamsbynotbuyingkns writes:
After CDD brings the NC back to UT in 2012, he will leave Coach X in the same category with Bill Battle--the only two UT head coaches in the last 45 years without a NC to his record.
tennezz writes:
And Lane K. would be the son!
OrangeinCarolina writes:
I know you're referring to the very similar characteristics of the son and the weasel. But Coach PF did bleed orange and did win a NC. Let's not even pretend the two are related. GO VOLS
tennezz writes:
It will be hard to find a QB better than Cromp. was the 2nd half on the season and I think we will be to young and inexperienced in some very important positions to win 9 or 10 games...I hope I am very, very wrong!!!
DukeDeLuca writes:
Let's hope he turns out better than Hamilton's first blunder of a football coaching hire. It was Hamilton who led us into the "fragile state" that Dooley's trying to fix.
tennezz writes:
Just comparing 2 idiots...x and the son!
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