NASHVILLE — The reputation for Tennessee football has been ugly since a bar brawl two weeks ago, and the Vols are on the road, trying to fix that perception.
Two weeks after several Vols were involved in the fight near the campus in Knoxville, coach Derek Dooley and several of his players talked to reporters before a University of Tennessee Alumni Association picnic. The Vols knew this was just a dress rehearsal for questions bound to come their way Friday as the Southeastern Conference wraps up media days in Hoover, Ala.
“It is something that we are going to have to address, we can’t run from it,” defensive end Chris Walker said. “We’ve embarrassed a bunch of people. If we win games people won’t talk about it as much, but we also have to do things off the field to show people we’re not these thugs that they see on TV.”
The incident involved at least six players and resulted in the dismissal of defensive back Darren Myles Jr. and suspension of linebacker Greg King and defensive tackle Marlon Walls.
“We were embarrassed by it,” Dooley said. “But I think an incident like that, you have to learn from it, move on, never forget it and let it always be a reminder of what we represent and the institution we represent and how much harm we can bring. That’s the best way we know how to approach it and that’s how we’ve done it with our team.”
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Tennessee defeats Georgia 3-2 in…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 30
UTByrd writes:
"Having your teammate's back" during a fight is one thing, an honorable one in the correct circustance. An even greater responsiblity is making sure a fellow teammate chooses not to make a bad decision. Peer pressure can get you into trouble or it can keep you out of it. The question each athlete should ask themselves is: What kind of peer do I want to be?
On the field, the worst punishment is to be kicked out of the game(s). Off the field, jail time for you and embarassment for all concerned.
I firmly believe CDD will get the UT ship righted by constantly being vigilant about all temptations presented to his team. Nonetheless, individual character faults and bad decisions are what cause the heartache for their family, their university, and theirselves.
CDD realizes that recruiting high character players is the best way to make his off the field job easier.
Go VOLS!!!!!
TommyJack writes:
Headline is a puzzlement.
txvolsfan writes:
and wordy
Lostvolinhighweeds writes:
"It's an ongoing investigation and I cannot comment past that". I know that much and I am a only a Marshall CO. MS. high school graduate.
RoadTrip writes:
This was not an article. No new or interesting perspectives - just space filler.
topgun writes:
Just got back from this gala event and CDD was in good form. Bob K's first question was about the Bar Knoxville incident. CDD was obviously upset at these guys and their little escapade, but CDD emphasized that character building may take a little time, CDD is "ready to get on the grass," etc., etc. Let's hope he means the practice field "grass"--since the booze thing did not work out too well!!
Neither coach Pearl nor coach Summitt was there. Summitt was in France and Pearl was, also, out on the recruiting trail. Hmmmmm, might be interesting to see what Pat's trip to France does for the Lady Vols????
Good alumni/sports event--CDD got a standing "O" from the 1200, or so, orange clad sports fans in the audience. The AD's reception was polite, but muted.
Pullingguard writes:
Beat Oregon and Florida and all will be forgiven, just way it works.. May not be right, but thats way it is...
Willis writes:
43 DAYS TILL FOOTBALL TIME IN TENNESSEE!!!!!!
Willis writes:
Preach on brother!
PepperGrinder (Inactive) writes:
Anybody know when Dooley is speaking tomorrow or has he already spoken?
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Hope the kicking game is not.
allntl1#565211 writes:
"The reputation for Tennessee football has been ugly since a bar brawl two weeks ago". I believe it's been ugly for a little longer than that. Dooley has some work to do that Kiffen started trying to clean up from the previous coach.
jimr07 writes:
so what's new?
jimr07 writes:
you can always count on KNS to keep bad publicity on the front burner.
CCLC writes:
No one knows how the season will play out ..did anyone think for even a moment that-
* Lane Kiffin would bolt Knoxville virtually on the eve of national signing day to take over the USC Trojans.
* In the wake of Coach Kiffin’s departure, the Volunteers would hire a WAC coach with a losing record. Vince and Barbara Dooley would become Tennessee fans as a result.
...not in a million years.
gnm53108 writes:
*And with less than 2 weeks on the job...this coach with a losing record would steal a 5star recruit from Georgia and a 4star from saban.
And to follow that up with gettin the #1 rated punter in the nation.
CCLC writes:
I believe the number 1 punter in the nation (the one that has actually kicked in the SEC) is at Georgia. I really can't comment on the 5star recruit. Glass houses. Hope he comes around for you. I always pull for the Georgia kids.
AHoffman writes:
Maybe the Alumni are going to have a brawl?
rbhobbs73#226545 writes:
I was there last night and Coach Dooley was impressive. I believe our football program is in good hands, but it will take some time folks.
As for the haters on here...if you are truly a Tennessee fan, then please drop the hate on UT, if you are not a UT fan....you can have your opinion, but do not be surprised if most of us don't care what it is.
Our own fan base is pretty much a jerry springer show with all of the in-fighting...pro-Fulmer, anti-Fulmer, pro-Dooley, anti-Dooley, anti-Hamilton crowds, etc....good God people, if you love the Vols then support Coach Dooley. I supported Majors, Fulmer, Kiffin and Dooley because they coach my beloved Vols! Try to do the same or find another team to root for.
FearTheVols1252 writes:
And I’ve never seen such a pessimist with so much man love for Fulmer before.
garycg writes:
Well said !!!
RunningWithTheVols writes:
I was watching The Waterboy, again, the other night and was that Orgerron coaching in overalls!?
Go Vols!
Ayres_Hall writes:
I got nothing to say... but at least I'm honest.
cpa writes:
Also went last night and the crowd was impressive. While in autograph line, I asked Coach to please take the barricades down that had been used last year for the Vol Walk. He said that was the first he had heard about the barricades. Would be thrilled to see that taken away this year.
jimr07 writes:
you are becoming a true bore in the class of naffy. tell us who you would have picked as head coach. all you have done is criticize dooley. i really apologize to everyone for having read this idiots post and even more embarassed that i responded to it.
go on, we are waiting for your expert choice.
Colliervol writes:
Not even worth my time to discuss this with you any longer. We all know what Phil's disciplinary record was and what it led to. ( AKA: I'll give you four chances to stop that.) His time came and went and he ain't coming back. Too early to tell if Dooley was a good choice or not. Real Vol fans will give him the chance to succeed or fail on his own merits and nothing you have to say means anything in the discussion. (Translation: We don't care what you think.) Move along now.
volfan8#549730 writes:
I will not judge Dooley until AFTER I see him coach. I know it will take time to rebuild. TRUE Volfans support the team! I have a feeling that Nick and Chris will go " Al Wilson" on the players trying to disrupt the team's integrity ( Not to mention Mr. Lott). I suggest if there is another incident, they get a little 1:1 time w/ Pat Summitt and "the look." GBO!
AtLeastMyTeamHasPerfectSeasons writes:
Didnt you take the poll on how Dooley performed before he spoke??
Colliervol writes:
rb, what you said is what true Vol fans do. The ones with the Phil man crush that can't let go really have no clue. Their boy (as good as he once was) got complacent and had to be pushed aside and they just can't deal with it. Dooley is the man and I support him till he proves he can't do the job.
By the way, who is this Kiffin that you speak of? I can't recall him. Must not have been too important.
TKO writes:
No need to kick a guy when he's down, no pun intended.
Share your thoughts
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.