Tennessee Stat Book
LEXINGTON, Ky. — I know what you're wondering: "Is this the worst Tennessee team in school history?"
No way.
The 1906 and 1909 teams were worse. They both went 1-6-2 and didn't score in 15 games combined.
This is UT's third-worst team.
Don't try to change my mind by singing the woes of the 2008 team that also finished 5-7. I'm not budging.
Neither should anyone else who saw the world as we know it come to an end Saturday afternoon at Commonwealth Stadium.
Kentucky 10, Tennessee 7. That's a final.
That's also my closing argument for why this is the third-worst UT football team in school history.
It didn't just become the first UT team to lose to the Wildcats in 27 games. It lost to a Kentucky team that didn't have what is generally regarded as a football necessity: a quarterback.
Quarterback Maxwell Smith was too hurt to play. So was his backup, Morgan Newton.
Rather than burn the redshirt of a freshman, Kentucky coach Joker Phillips moved wide receiver Matt Roark to quarterback and left him there.
You couldn't blame him. Kentucky couldn't beat the Vols with Tim Couch or Andre Woodson at quarterback. How could you expect it to beat them with a freshman at quarterback?
"No quarterback" also made for a great excuse. And a coach under fire, which Phillips was until Saturday, could use an excuse.
He didn't need it. The excuse became a star — with the help of a Kentucky defense that treated UT as rudely as LSU and Alabama. Roark completed four passes in six attempts for 15 yards, but he rushed for 124 yards on 24 carries.
For the first few Kentucky series, I wondered if this was a gimmick. I checked the Kentucky sideline between possessions to see if a real quarterback was warming up.
Even conspiracy theorists had figured out by the second quarter that Roark probably couldn't throw the ball 20 yards and had no intent of pushing his luck. They also had figured out there was nothing temporary about the arrangement.
Onward the Wildcats plodded against the Vols, who seemed either incapable or disinterested in capitalizing on a huge advantage against a team that was considered incompetent even when it had an experienced quarterback.
UT's performance seemingly became more dreadful with every postgame explanation by Kentucky's coach.
"He was all we had," Phillips said of Roark. "The rest of the (quarterbacks) could not protect themselves today."
Next, Phillips held up a standard-size sheet of paper to put his team's offensive game plan into perspective. His playbook was one sheet.
"If (a play) is not on here, we don't have it," he said.
UT didn't suffer from a scarcity of plays. It just didn't have enough plays it could execute.
Quarterback Tyler Bray threw so poorly you wondered if he had reinjured the right thumb he fractured seven weeks ago. Turns out, he was ill last week, according to UT coach Derek Dooley. Combine Bray's errant throwing (15-for-38 with two interceptions) with a running game (24 carries, 61 yards) that ranks among the worst in the country and you can understand why the Vols couldn't keep up with a team with a wide receiver at quarterback.
At least, the Vols proved their consistency over the course of the season. They couldn't mount an effective running game against Montana in the opener and they couldn't run on Kentucky 11 games later.
I could fill up two columns with all the things this team can't do. The Vols didn't become the third-worst team in school history by virtue of one bad afternoon.
They lost six consecutive SEC games and won only one of eight in conference play. They lost by 31 to both LSU and Alabama.
They went five consecutive games without scoring in the second half. They couldn't score in the second half against Middle Tennessee State and couldn't make a first down in the second half against Alabama.
Just when you thought you had seen them at their worst, they lost 49-7 to Arkansas. Then, they lost to a team with a wide receiver disguised as a quarterback.
Losing to Kentucky is bad enough for UT fans. Becoming Kentucky is even worse.
The Vols aren't going to a bowl just like Kentucky. They're 5-7 just like Kentucky. They have won 33 games in the last five years just like Kentucky.
But unlike Kentucky, they started only four seniors Saturday. So they will have the large majority of their starters returning from the third-worst team in school history.
John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com. Follow him at http://twitter.com/johnadamskns.
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Comments » 108
jack_2222#231746 writes:
Laugh or cry? Do 2 years and 25 games constitute a "body of work"?
Does 1-7?
globadoc writes:
Sadly, this rings true. Since I cannot remember the 1906 or 1909 teams, this team is the WORST in my memory and obviously the worst in the modern era.
D60 writes:
Face it Dooley die hards he's out of his league in the SEC,you can't hire La Tech coach and expect to win in the SEC
georgiavol91#379211 writes:
Another Hamilton failure. Cya, DD. Time to go.
utclassof67 writes:
For all those so-called Vols fans who let this sports editor fan their flames of discontent against Fulmer for month after month, you get just what you deserve. I'd rather still have Phil and Chavis myself.
CarthageVol writes:
I don't know where to point the finger. I guess you could point in any direction and be correct. A new OL coach and a real RB coach wouldn't be the worst place to start. Tried supporting Dooley, but he's making it very hard. I don't know if another year will help our youth. Being a Vol is not for the weak of heart. At least I figured out where some of my money is being wasted. Depressing. Go Vols, I guess.
florida-volfan writes:
120 yards rushing with 6 pass attempts from a wide reciever turned QB. Are you freakin kidding me! WTH
writer#358485 writes:
Sure, just what we need, a third coaching change in four years--you people are nuts. I'm as sad as anyone, but changing coaches again would just doom us to several more years of being Kentucky. Dooley is smart and recruiting well. Give him time and we'll be back. Go Vols...in basketball now, I guess.
thevoice writes:
Still waiting for a Tommyjack explanation of today's fiasco. Once exposed, I'm sure it will shower many Vol fans current feelings with optimism for the future.
spacehistorian writes:
This was the most lackluster performance I have ever seen out of a Tennessee team. Even in those previous seasons with less than stellar records you could count on Tennessee showing up and playing their hearts out. Poole said after the game that the team didn't have heart or desire this week & it showed on the field today when Kentucky couldn't give the game away to Tennessee. I don't know who is to blame here... do you go with HC Dooley... the assistant coaches and staff... or with the players... or a combination of everyone involved? Dooley will be back next season barring the surprise hiring of some big name coach. I hope Dooley gets his staff motivated to coach up these players with the team he will have next year. If the Vols stumble through another pathetic anemic season like this one then Dooley will be gone and we will be looking for yet another head coach. This is just a depressing time to be a Tennessee fan.
seofeed writes:
This article is dead on. Nice job John
thevoice writes:
Looking at what Dooley's done, he sure looks like the guy that will direct us into the future. Problem is, it's a future of dark oblivion. I like Dooley and am searching feverishly for clues. Please enlighten us.
bigredman writes:
pitiful performance today...pitiful!!!
knoxchatter writes:
As recently as Thursday, Dooley was saying that Bray was still 'very rusty...not even close to 100%"...it was obvious very early in the game today that this was true. Would it not have been a smart coaching move to put in Simms or Worley, with his blown redshirt, at least while the game may have still been attainable early just to see if it would have made any difference? After the game, Dooley described Bray as 'lethargic' the whole game? What was the rationale of continuing to play him? Of course, the outcome was not solely on Bray's shoulders...but...but, it was another example of poor coaching decisions and management, which has been prevalent all season!
wallingdad writes:
with Dooley we are doomed to the same.
what evidence do you have to support your claim that he is smart? because he is a lawyer? does that make him smart in football?
JimmyJoe writes:
Good news is we get a bunch of guys back next year...bad news is they all are slow, wimps that when given a chance to quit the season early... did so in spectacular fashion. Well I can't wait till next year!! It's sort of like the ole army saying.... "What's for dinner... Well it taste like phooey...but there is plenty of it!"
born2ride writes:
This is what happens when you hire bargain bin coaches like Dooley and Martin. You end up at the bottom of the SEC.
We can thank Mike Hamilton for destroying UT football and basketball.
Hart needs to make the move and bring in experienced big name coaches who can make the Vols relevant again.
Morriaa writes:
My biggest concern is that the kids we are recruiting now do not remember when we were good, so they have little sense of our tradition. If we don't win and get significantly better next year (and I think we can by the way), we are in serious trouble. At that point, with our reputation fully shot, only a superstar coaching hire (i.e. Bama/Sabin) would save us.
jobrando#216494 writes:
Back in the 1900's it was just a bunch of white boys playing backyard football...Kind of like comparing apples and oranges dont you think.
JimmyJoe writes:
Hey guys I understand the whole coaching change deal... I really do...anybody around here...who has seen what has happened over the past few years understands that.... But we are going to have to fire him next year anyway.... All we are doing is putting off the envitable. He doesn't coach... He doesn't inspire...he doesn't seem to know his butt from a whole in the ground. I mean guys look at how terrible we are on special teams...every high school in the knoxville area is better at special teams than us.... And this has been going on for two seasons...and it was bad when he got here. He goes and gets devrin to try and fix the return game...devrin is slower than Christmas.... Can't field the ball half the time.... I mean how hard is it to find someone who can get under a punt! There are so many things wrong with this team...we don't need a lawyer to figure it out we need an accountant.
vols37 writes:
We can continue to do what we always seem to do and think that somehow we give Dooley more and more time he will prove to be an excellent coach in the SEC. Even you folks that support Dooley out there, ask yourself that question. Given more time, do I really deep down feel like Dooley will win SEC Championships at Tennessee? I'd like to be optimistic and say yes, but I seriously doubt it. That's just being honest. I don't really believe this guy and this staff can compete with the Saban's, Miles, and the rest of a tough league. Hope I'm wrong.
skyhawk836 writes:
Dang!
jomo11 writes:
Good news is a lot of players return. . . . . .bad news is. . . These players aren't very good
JimmyJoe writes:
Hey here is the other deal.... Why can't WE come out of the dang locker room and hit somebody in the mouth...instead of always taking about two series to get going..why can't we be the aggressor for a change. Dooley you either need to inspire them or put the FEAR OF GOD IN THEM! Your hero from WWII (Gen. Patton) said... "My troops lost their fear of the Germans but they never lost their fear of me." Of course Patton did have a backbone.
bigdisbig writes:
All you guys can blame Hamilton and even Fulmer but they are sitting in their recliner tonight counting their millions they are still drawing and laughing at you clowns.
tnsportsman writes:
Fire Dooley Now Hart! Sorry, I have supported Dooley until now but this loss to KY takes the cake! Adams right on, in my 36 years at UT I have not seen a worst team in present day football (1933)!
I don't want to hear young, inexperience, no seniors, its all BS!
AD Hart you can make your mark now as the New AD, you can fire Dooley now or wait until next year when OUR VOLS are in the same spot, save a year!
Alabbuba took 10 years and 4 coaches to get back to where they are now.
Tennessee has to relief itself of the Hamilton Stink, NOW! Hamilton was the worst hire ever at Tennessee and we are living it now.
Don't tell me that the Top Head Coaches wouldn't take a SEC Job at Tennessee with all the facilities, fan base, etc! PAY THE BUCKS AD Hart, 4 to 5 million will buy the BEST!
GO VOLS, VFL ALWAYS!
VOLunTEAR writes:
I don't want to get a flag for piling on (last thing we need is more penalities), but Adams is dead-on with this assessment. This team won't play (think "that dog won't hunt")and even a new "big name" coach is going to have THIS team. Send them off to class and recruit a whole new team.
kd45music writes:
Dooley should get one more shot. I'll admit, it doesn't look very promising that he will pull it off. He has cleaned up the program which is the way it should be. The problem is he has to play against a majority of teams that could care less about running a clean program. But something is radically wrong when you can't establish a running game, have no second half adjustments, can't tackle or defend the pass, can't punt or kick field goals, or show much enthusiasm. Still, I'm pulling for Dooley, but his window of opportunioty is closing fasr.
gobigorange5001 writes:
I was at every home game that year and I would say both teams are equal.
CityVol1 writes:
Chris Low is correct: UT is completely irrelevant in the SEC and this is rock bottom. Something will come to a head soon because either Dooley gets sacked, the fans stop showing up because the program is completely lost or Dooley turns it around.
knoxchatter writes:
I'm a bit concerned with postgame comments from some of the seniors regarding the attitude of younger players this past week in practice saying that many had a 'why bother attitude' with the only bowls the team could go to would be mediocre at best. Also they eluded to the fact that some were merely concerned with their own stats and not with the well-being of the whole team. If true, this is not good!!! It does appear there is some truth in these comments because it appeared throughout much of the season that there was anything BUT a concerted effort among ALL players. Every player should want to excel for himself..but, he can't lose sight that this is a TEAM sport.
gobigorange5001 writes:
Why the "white boys" comment??
ClemCash writes:
Good work Adams. Sad. Please help us get rid of this guy next year.
TommyJack writes:
OK.1 word. Pathetic. Rock and a hard place. Grin and bear it for awhile.
KFDLaw writes:
I am fairly sure Dooley will get at least one and maybe two more years. That amount of time should be a gracious plenty for a coach who should have never been hired in the first place. The UT players Dooley criticizes for being unable to play were recruited by Dooley. Hamilton ran Fulmer off and hired Kiffin, an NFL coach with a losing record who had been involved in a controversy with his boss in the NFL. He paid Kiffin a ton of money to come to Knoxville based upon his work at USC as an assistant, and then paid Kiffin's dad a ton of money to coach the defense. When Kiffin bailed, Hamilton did not want to get burned again financially, so he hired a young coach from a minor conference with a losing record, because Hamilton did not want to pony up the bucks it took to get a top drawer coach. Alabama made a few similar coaching changes back in the 1990s and early 2000s and suffered losing season after losing season before coming to their senses and paying Nick Saban whatever it took to get him to Tuscaloosa. Hopefully, our new AD will not wait half a decade to make a coaching change. In my opinion, I don't think Dooley is particularly smart, and I am far from being impressed by his recruiting. He is a nice and likable young man and comes from a good family.
underthehill writes:
1906 or 1909 not relevant..I have never seen a situation where the coach appears to think the ONLY problem is the players..I thought coaches were paid to SOLVE problems ..NOT only identify them..
the_dooley_eVOLution writes:
Concur. Let's see how recruiting goes.
Also, wouldn't want to be a Gator tonight.
eduardo writes:
Adams said it good news everybody is back, and the bad news everybody is back. What in the heck does Doolander say to our team at halftime? Man this is bad...so very bad!!! Almost looks like the Jack Crowe Law should be in effect. You know former Ark. Coach who loses on Sat to Citadel and wakes up Sun and get fired! I just dont think this guy is gonna make it! Sorry just dont!
underthehill writes:
KFD do you really think Hamilton had the kind of authority to do the things YOU say he did? SO he did not have to get approval from higher level ADM. for these actions before they happened? I can't imagine the big donors (whoever they are)not having a say in these things before they happen? TN football is big business..you and I have a very different perspective and to how big business operates.
rtrchatt writes:
Hey loser the name is ALABAMA. 33 wins in 5 yrs LOVE IT Go little orange. 6 in a row coming in oct 2012 and Saban will probably be around long enough to break Coach Bryants 11 in a row win streak against the cramsicle and white boys from LOSERVILLE.
Hrockytop writes:
Well said....very well said
CrankE writes:
Because Bambooley isn't the aggressor. He doesn't strike the fear of bad analogies into anybody. Much less the fear of God. You can't give someone else what you don't have. And where fear and aggression are concerned, UT's players obviously don't have it and aren't getting it. Perhaps if they had, then we wouldn't hear Tauren Poole telling us that the team really didn't want to be out there and Bray telling us he would take a break from football. There's no commitment. No fire. No energy. No enthusiasm. And today, no pride. Oh, and no influence from the head coach to change the situation either.
Why was UT in the wildcat with second and goal? Most likely because Chaney called it. And Bambooley didn't veto it. Meaning that Dooley may also lack influence over his assistant coaches. Great.
To keep Dooley because UT can't come up with a better option is to literally delay the inevitable. And what it says to the rest of college football is that UT isn't as concerned with winning as they are remaining profitable. Now THERE'S a silver bullet that will draw in the 5 star recruits!! Dooley has done nothing to inspire any confidence that he can or will change any of it.
Nothing.
He couldn't even lead a team to victory over a terrible Kentucky team who didn't even have a quarterback healthy enough to go. Couldn't even overcome a 3 point halftime deficit. Couldn't check out of the wildcat. Couldn't bring on Derrick Broadus and bench Palardy.
Adams is wrong. This is the worst UT team ever.
VOLKING writes:
Here is how I see it. Dooley gets one more year. He goes 7-5 next year. Does he keep his job? He still loses to Bama and Florida. I say no. I hope I am wrong, but I have seen nothing that sells me on his being an SEC-caliber coach. He's a good man, just not a very good coach. So, who do we hire? Who would come here? It's not a good recruiting area. Our program has been royally screwed by coaching changes and NCAA violations. The only appealing things are our tradition and our fan base and our facilities. Can we keep up with the Bama's and LSU's and Florida's anymore....or have we seen the best days of Tennessee football?
bigdisbig writes:
Actually the 1977 team was worse than this one perhaps. It was Johnny Major's first year after Bill Battle went 6-5 in 1976. This team went 4-7 and was pretty bad. However it WAS Major's first season. Dooley had a better year last year and got much worse this season.
silicon28 writes:
Yes they were but how quickly folks forget. Especially all those who forgot how long it took Majors to start winning. Dooley gets this year as a pass; next year? That'll be a different story.
tennisvol writes:
I don't think many fans will be watching the Dooley Show tomorrow. I think we've seen enough of the poor coaching and playing. As John has suggested, third worst team in the history of TN football.
Tau_of_Tennessee writes:
Will all those bashing DD please disclose who you would have picked over him? Who did we pass up, that you liked, over Dooley?
We had some tough breaks this year. Take it like a grown-up.
I recall the hubris of a Gamecock friend who said the very year before Spurrier's break thru that it was time for them to make a move. Many Vols fans have the same kind of hubris. Lick your wounds Vols and work harder than ever before. Some of us are still behind you.
JudgeandJury writes:
C'mon Adam's, give Kentucky credit. They physically dominated the vols. They won the game. Quit cryin like the whole Tennessee fan base. Tennessee can't cheat in recruiting like the 90's, when Roy Kramer could deflect the NCAA from cracking down on them. Tennessee is a mid level football school. Accept them for what they are a 7-5, 8-4 program.
pcorange writes:
This was a well written article, and it was dead on. Most of the losses in the 2008 season (best I remember) were pretty close. This team is fundamentally pathetic and getting worse instead of better. I think that is the concerning indicator here. Not just that we stunk, but that there is no hope for being any better next year or the year after. This isn't a talent or experience problem so much as it is a lack of fundamental football. There are a dozen or more high school teams in Tennessee this year that are better than the Vols. Like CDD or not, Hart should cut the losses and make a change now. No use delaying the inevitable.
Pipe_Down_Otis writes:
I just cannot believe we got beat by a team using a wide receiver at QB, unbelievable....Oh, for all those people wanting to spend 4 or 5 million for some big name coach...Vandy didn't. It's not about the money, it's about picking the RIGHT coach.
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