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The beatdown on the field was bad enough for Tennessee.
Derek Dooley wasn't going to pile on in the film room.
Rather than rehash all the mistakes in every phase of the game that plagued his team in a 49-7 thrashing at No. 6 Arkansas on Saturday night, the Vols coach began the process of bouncing back from it without making his players relive it. And while they obviously have the option of watching the tape from last weekend on their own as the Vols prepare for Vanderbilt at Neyland Stadium on Saturday (TV: ESPNU, 7 p.m.), there might be a few copies in the Dumpster, instead.
"You just have to forget about it, throw away the film and look to have a good week of practice this week because we have a tough Vandy team coming in that is looking to upset us," safety Prentiss Waggner said Monday. "We're not going to watch the film on the game.
"In my opinion, we were bad in all phases of the game and we can't really learn anything from it because it was just a bad day for the offense, defense and special teams."
That much was evident on the scoreboard as the Vols (4-6, 0-6 SEC) missed opportunities all over the field against a team that rarely failed to take advantage of their own, and Dooley apparently didn't need to remind anybody of his team of that as they turn the page to the Commodores (5-5, 2-5 SEC).
He indicated it wasn't the first time in his career that he decided not to air the film of a loss the next day, but it wasn't just the lopsided result that played into his call to scrap it Sunday.
"It didn't look like us in so many respects," Dooley said. "We've been coaching much of the same stuff for 10 weeks now, I just felt like it was better that we close the door on that game and sort of regroup, get our thoughts right going into this week.
"They watched it on their own if they wanted to, I'm sure they all did, they had their grade sheets, but there was no sense in going and beating on them another two hours because they got beat on pretty good."
The Razorbacks aren't the only ones to do that to UT this season, though even in blowouts against Alabama and LSU it had things to feel good about in losing efforts.
That doesn't mean Dooley will only be focusing solely on the positives with the Vols as they move on, and he was again quick to point out some of the flaws they've had lately during his weekly news conference.
He just didn't seem to need video evidence to deliver his message this time.
"I can understand where he's coming from, because we did go out there and play horrendous," defensive tackle Malik Jackson said. "Nobody did anything right, you can tell by the score, so it pretty much just would have been a session of cursing us out and stuff like that.
"Instead of doing that, we just said to forget about it. And that's what we did."
Moving On: The tradition of naming players of the week was skipped after the lopsided loss.
Dooley apparently wouldn't have honored anybody else affiliated with the organization after getting crushed by the Razorbacks either.
"We didn't have any (awards), we closed the book on it," he said. "No coaches of the week, no player of the week, no managers of the week.
"The whole organization got no positive feedback from that game."
Austin Ward covers Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274. Follow him at http://twitter.com/Vols_Beat and http://blogs.knoxnews.com/ward.
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Comments » 63
mdvol writes:
Wish I could "close the book" on my mother-in-law just as easy.
wallingdad writes:
"It didn't look like us in so many respects," Dooley said. "We've been coaching much of the same stuff for 10 weeks now, I just felt like it was better that we close the door on that game and sort of regroup, get our thoughts right going into this week.
i beg to differ coach. it looked just like you.
been coaching the same stuff for 10 weeks now? hows that been working out. reckon you should change something in the coaching? maybe
ACWLY writes:
Well said, nothing else to add.
florida-volfan writes:
I don't think I'd like to relive that **** either. To tell you the truth I have'nt even looked at the highlights of the game. Man that was a real nightmare of a night. I think I would rather have a freakin root canal
florida-volfan writes:
And with no anesthesia!
clvolfan writes:
Smart move not to watch the Hogs game,and that's all it was.nothing at all to be learned from it.Take the xtra time to get some defensive strategy straightened out,such as getting the db up closer,hit the receivers as they come out.Looks too much like a Larry Slade d-backfield.I know they ar eyoung,but surely they can come up with a batter package.
GloryDays writes:
Let's just forget the whole season! It's all been a nightmare!
oldster writes:
At least the coach tells it like it is. I thought that he might try and say that he was trying to lighten the mood of a bad year by auditioning for a Max Sennet revival (that would be Keystone Kops for those who are too young to remember).
oldster writes:
What season? There has been a season?
vollerdash writes:
Game film is the best tool you can have to learn from your mistakes. w.t.f............. we need a new coahing staff !!!
vollerdash writes:
coaching staff !!
arkyvol writes:
new approach to coaching. just pretend that the world consists only of the montana's, buffalo's, and m.t.s.u.'s. bama, l.s.u., and arkansas don't exist, so no mistakes were made, no coaching deficiencies exposed. now, if only dooley could find that midget psychologist from 'the natural.' "losing is a disease, as contagious as syphilis. imagine yourselves gently rocking, rocking, rocking..."
murrayvol writes:
Suck up. Think about the inheritance.
murrayvol writes:
They could've passed around a still shot of the highlight.
arkyvol writes:
my prediction: any vol athletic team which suffered his attention will never recover until the last remaining vestige of mike hamilton's incompetence and stupidity is blasted, scraped, or sanded away. (sorry, but that includes you dooley)
shoalcreekvol writes:
So we've gone from "won't know till we watch the tape" to "dear God don't let them watch the tape". Progress?
JimmyJoe writes:
Coach did you put a moratorium on watching sportscenter well? I saw that punt return so many times I thought I was in a scene from Groundhog Day.
JimmyJoe writes:
Oh and by the way....Boys....pride better kick in on Saturday... A Vandy win lasts but one year...but a Vandy loss lasts FOREVER! When you only beat somebody once every generation.... Then everyone remembers. Everyone who has anything to do with that game on Saturday night... Better think about that.
hallsvoter writes:
OMG....you are so right!!!!
Flyfisherman writes:
I agree with you JimmyJoe....keep the kids off ESPN. And just when you think you've forgotten it, here come the ESPYs....
jobrando#216494 writes:
that's been the vandy approch for years
jobrando#216494 writes:
I think we will find out this Saturday if the team has any respect for Dooley and this staff. If they roll they dont. There is no other reason not to beat the doors. VOLS 28 DOORS - LESS
RunningWithTheVols writes:
6-6 was always the realistic prediction for the season, however I didn't think we'd be mostly noncompetitive in the 6 losses. Very concerning.
I really don't see it with Chaney as OC. Granted the talent is mostly average, but he has done nothing with formations to get our possession receivers open or create space in the running game.
CrankE writes:
"It didn't look like us in so many respects..."
Denial.
If I had a nickel for every time in the last decade that I heard this similar sentiment expressed by Tennessee players regarding their bad performances...
Yes coach, it really is you. After 10 games, you are your record. It is what it is and you are your performance.
Are two more years of watering the bamboo necessary in order for us to know whether Derek Dooley can coach? If the answer is yes, then 2010-11 have been wasted. If the answer is no, then why waste 2012-13?
Classof72 writes:
"It didn't look like us in so many respects..."
Which respects would that be? The 'Hee-Haw' checkerboard undershirts? Believe me, if you coach the same old faces the same old way, you won't need to tape the Vandy game. It's already over, and you won't want to see it.
Does nobody else believe the absence of the Pride of the Southland Band (or pep band) at the Arkansas scrimmage was a crucial symptom of a deeply dysfunctional athletics department?
Cut the band, buy out the challenging non-conference games, shrink the program? Who are these guys?
JayTee writes:
Dooley: "We've been coaching much of the same stuff for 10 weeks now".
That statement right there just may be the problem. You may want to practice something different this week like how to tackle.
docwater#225789 writes:
I don't blame Dooley. I deleted the Arkansas game from the DVR without watching it. In fact, I have deleted most of the games this season without watching them. Once seems quite sufficient.
DeeBee writes:
Wow, ten weeks into the season and we're so bad we can't watch film of ourselves. Even though we are still going to 'maybe finish' 6-6, that's not the improvement the vol nation was looking for coach.
NottaVol writes:
O.K. guys instead of watching the game film we'll just take a field trip to the fire station and slide down the pole. We played so bad that we will just forget that game was ever played. Really coach? I bet Dave Hart hasn't forgotten the game, and bet he's paying attention to how his football coach is reacting to the pathetic performances and gross lack of effort displayed by his team. As an Alabama fan, I hope you keep Dooley for a long time, but I just don't see that happening. There are some good coaches out there. Mike Leach would be a great addition to the SEC, Gary Patterson will eventually leave TCU and Urbie will be back on the sidelines somewhere next year.
VolsFanJL91 writes:
Man, the Arkansas game hurt to watch. I think I would put it on a loop and let it play all week. Those guys need to see the turd they laid in Fayetteville. Also, let me start by saying that I know we can't realistically fire Dooley this year or next. Heck, I'm not even sure Dooley's coaching is the problem. It could possibly be gross incompetence at the assistant level (which rolls uphill to Dooley by default). I've been a Dooley supporter and preached to many to "keep the faith" and he would get things straightened out. However if we lose to Vandy, then I'm ready to admit we have SERIOUS coaching issues. After all, our athletes are bigger, stronger and faster than Vandy. We have better facilities and every advantage that a well-financed program can provide. The only variable that's left is scheme and coaching. I'm hoping someone can show me where my logic is flawed because right now I feel like we can't score and Rogers is going to run all day long...
MemphisHog writes:
Not sure where everybody is coming from on this one. I've watched the highlights over and over again and can tell you they have been very satisfying and entertaining.
Seriously though, I was at the game and I think I can make some observations that are pertinent and, since the game is now over, unbiased.
Tennessee, there is talent on your team. I sat by a Vols fan and we visited throughout the game. Going into the 4th quarter the total yardage was almost dead even and the Vols had more first downs and time of possession. You know what the difference in the two teams was? Experience. A talented, experienced team stayed away from the killer mistakes and did not panic when mistakes were made (bad interception thrown by Wilson, missed FG, etc.). On the other hand, a talented, inexperienced team let the mistakes snowball and the fragile psyche of the team shattered. Next year will be better and hopefully you won't be as snakebit with injuries. We have to go to Neyland next year and I can assure you it won't be the same game. I think it will be highly competitive because your talent will have more experience to go with it.
I wish Arkansas and Tennessee played every year because I think it could be a great rivalry. Doubt it will ever happen though.
arkyvol writes:
petrino is the one who needs to toss the game tape. he can learn zip from watching his boys abuse dooley's clueless crew. there was so much difference in the quality of the teams and coaching, he risks giving his team a sense of overconfidence.
Volunatic writes:
As for your first paragraph, my response is "grumble, grumble".
I hope you're right about the experience thing. I haven't seen improvement over the course of this season, though a lot of that problem could be depth. I expected to see a lot better, but then I also expected that Tyler Bray, Justin Hunter, Janzen Jackson, and Herman Lathers would be the anchors for this team.
I did like it when Tennessee vs Arkansas was an annual rivalry. There were some great games played between our schools.
Simply_Orange51 writes:
Time will pass, games will come and go with wins and, yes, losses. I never really expected this year to be a great season. It's not the coaching ..... you were expecting them to be competitive Saturday but they got their hat handed to them and shown the door. Plain and simple, the offensive line got whipped Saturday. When you can't run the ball in the SEC, you are doomed. The OL is not strong enough, deep enough or physical enough. The Defense fed off that failure - and I think they gave up after the interception late in the second quarter. When the line is able to block in the run game, a few players get healthy and more good recruits join the team, we'll see more wins. Many of you may not remember some of the lean years when John Majors came back to Tennessee - the cupboard was bare then also. Screaming for someone's head and being negative won't change the outcomes - it just puts more pressure on kids to win and their maturity level, physicality and experience isn't there. Help them win the games they can win - one day, they'll be back. This too shall pass.....
MemphisHog writes:
Depth obviously plays a big role. In so many of your games (including last Saturday) the Vols were in the game at halftime and wilted in the second half. You can argue all you want about coaching and halftime adjustments and the like, but if a kid has to butt heads for 60 minutes against 2 different kids that are playing 30 minutes apiece, the first guy is going to wear down noticeably toward the end. Arkansas does not have nearly as much depth as Bama or LSU, but we do have more than the Vols right now. UT would be nuts to change coaches again; Dooley has to be given at least 4 years or otherwise the depth issue will only get worse.
As I recall, when UA first joined the SEC in '92, each team had two permanent rivals from the other division and one rotating game. Our two permanents were Tennessee and Carolina. At some point - late '90s maybe? - they changed it to one permanent rival and two rotating games. Since Tennessee naturally wanted to continue playing Alabama every year, we were left with Carolina, which makes no sense at all from a rivalry standpoint. But as the "new kids on the block", we smiled and accepted it. Man, I do wish we played Tennessee every year. I could see it becoming a really big game for both programs.
wallingdad writes:
you mention that they gave up. and yet you seem to think that the same coach who allows them to give up is the one that will turn it around.
i find that perplexing.
orange_eVOLution writes:
Too funny.
orange_eVOLution writes:
Those undershirts were awesome. LOVED THEM.
Can't you knock something else?
orange_eVOLution writes:
Are you serious we did not even have a band there?
No wonder we got stomped.
allvol32 writes:
Thanks for the post MemphisHog - it is refreshing to see some maturity and common sense on these threads for a change. Good luck to you folks the rest of the year!
jschariter#367312 writes:
Wow. Now that's an intesting choice. The ostrich strategy. Just pretend it did not happen. Vandy must be quaking in their boots.
Halls3 writes:
Funny. I could see Saban playing it on the jumbotron for a whole week as motivation. Kinda odd a Saban disciple is not even half the coach.
brokendownoldvol writes:
Sounds like Dooley doesn't want to remind the players how bad the coaching is.
volfaninbuckeyeland writes:
Honestly, why watch any game film any time? If the coaching is going to remain the same, regardless of any benefit reviewing game film may derive, why waste the time?
MemphisHog writes:
Thanks. We will need all the luck we can get against LSU.
One more point I meant to make in the previous post. Don't get overheated or overhyped about your next year's recruiting class and whatever rank some service gives it. Sure, everybody wants to get the "5 star" guys, but nobody knows how a high school kid will react, or develop, once he gets to college (especially in the SEC). Case in point...Mitch Mustain, considered the equal to Matthew Stafford and Tim Tebow coming out of high school, was a bust at Arkansas and at Southern Cal. On the flip side, Bobby Petrino recruited Joe Adams, Jarius Wright and Dennis Johnson - remember them??? - as 3 star guys in a class that was "ranked" about 30th by scout and rivals. Talent is of course important but is not always easy to evaluate. But I would argue that character and heart (i.e, Adams, Wright & Johnson) are equally important, if not moreso.
Paint_Rock_Vol writes:
I don't like CDD's comments.
I remember Coach K's response to an assistant coach's wish to "forget the 30 point loss to UNLV in the Final Four." He went ballistic and declared they should "never forget what that felt like!"
Coach K is soon to be the winningest coach in Men's NCAA Basketball history.
Closer to home, one of my favorite Pat Summit sayings is, 'identify your weaknesses, and commit to making them strengths!"
You know where Coach Summit stands ...
Maybe trashing bad game film, and acting like it didn't happen, is why our football team never seems to improve?
CantStandCantStandSaban writes:
We played Arkansas last weekend?
ProwlinAndGrowlinSmokeyDog writes:
Sounds like a good idea to me because the players don't want to see that cr@p..I would just trash it,burn it,or something..Time to move forward to the Vandy game.
Smokey says no need to re-live the past..
MemphisHog writes:
"Are you not entertained? ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED????"
- Maximus -
TommyJack writes:
Tired of sound-bytes. Time to coach.
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