Suppose when Tennessee athletic director Dave Hart announced the firing of football coach Derek Dooley a few weeks ago, he had been more specific about what he was looking for in his next coach.
What if he had said: "I want somebody that can compete with anyone in the Mid-American Conference and come out ahead more times than not. And if he also has kicked some Big East butt along the way, so much the better."
Can you imagine the fans' response?
Fans had something bigger (Jon Gruden) in mind back then. In fact, fans had something bigger in mind Thursday evening when media reports first indicated Cincinnati's Butch Jones might be their next coach.
I have received scores of emails over the last three weeks recommending various coaches for the UT job. Some agreed with me (former Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino). Some were plausible (Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen). Some were laughable (former UT coach Phillip Fulmer).
But none of them mentioned Jones.
Maybe that's because the Big East isn't that big of a deal around here, although you couldn't tell it by the coaching search. Louisville's Charlie Strong was the flavor of the day Wednesday. After he turned down the Vols, maybe they wanted to check out the rest of their Big East candidates before venturing elsewhere.
As you might have noticed, Jones has been on a coaching search of his own. He checked out jobs at Purdue and Colorado before deciding Cincinnati was the best place for him — at least, until something better came along.
It's safe to say UT is something better. I base that on the size of the stadium, the passion of the fans, the quality of the facilities and on what happened when the Bearcats came to town in September of 2011.
One of Jones' best teams lost to one of UT's worst teams 45-23.
But that's one game — just like his Central Michigan team's 70-14 loss to Clemson was one game, its 52-7 loss to Kansas was one game, and its 56-17 loss to Georgia was one game.
Don't dwell on that, though. There's no shame in a MAC team giving up 50 or more points to BCS programs. Nor is it out of line with what has been going on with Tennessee's defense, which gave up 48 to a Sun Belt Conference team (Troy) and 41 or more points to five SEC teams this past season.
Besides, Jones is more of an offensive guy.
You want to feel better about Jones' UT candidacy? Check out his record. There are a lot more wins than losses.
That contrasts sharply with UT's recent hiring practices. Two hires back, it picked Lane Kiffin, who had a losing record as a head coach. Dooley also had a losing record at Louisiana Tech when the Vols hired him.
Moreover, Jones has more head-coaching experience than either Kiffin or Dooley. This is his third season at Cincinnati. He also was at Central Michigan for three seasons.
But that doesn't exactly make him a household name in East Tennessee, as evidenced by the Thursday night tweet from UT offensive tackle Antonio Richardson.
"Can somebody educate me on who Butch Jones is?" Richardson tweeted. "Thanks."
I think I can help.
He's not Jon Gruden. But he's the candidate most likely to say "yes."
He's also the guy who accomplished something Tennessee couldn't. He won his last game against Vanderbilt — in the 2011 Liberty Bowl.
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 » 173
dwolfcreek#397971 writes:
Well here comes all negative bullchit
jack4444 writes:
OK. Hart and Cheeks best they could do.
willphill#241787 writes:
This is a fantastic hire! Should have been the first pick for the vols after Gruden declined. Looks like Hart backed into a good decision
roobomb writes:
The next move after hiring Butch Jones would be to immediately fire Dave Hart.
mr_T_vols_tn writes:
Don't know much about Jones but if he is a coach that can come in and make a positive impression on the players, fans,and future prospects then lets go after him hard.
foosballer writes:
I was disappointed until Adams gave those scores against top teams. Now, I'm freakin devastated.
John_10065 writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
foosballer writes:
Please enlighten me. (no sarcasm intended)
Millisa writes:
Id rather have Gruden
General_Jack writes:
I'm going to just start watching some DVDs of the 90s on fall Saturdays and avoid engaging in college football conversation.
Too painful to go on with this.
eduardo writes:
FIRE DAVE HART AND JIMMY THE FREAKIN CHEEK NOW!!!!!!!!!!!! Hiring a guy who lost to the worst coach in UT History!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ACWLY writes:
I didn't know John Adams was on the Petrino wagon, definitely not an Adams fan but he might be correct on this one, MAYBE!
DarthVol writes:
Wikipedia has him listed as the current head coach of the University of Tennessee. Weird.
KDOG1973 writes:
You have got to be kidding me?? Butch Jones?? Seriously, Butch Jones? Hart, give the checkbook to Gruden and let's end this "CIRCUS". Butch Jones?......seriously Hart!?
LifetimeVolFan writes:
Almost. Need to add Jimmy Cheek to the list that goes out the door with Dave Hart. Unbelieveable!!
Vols_For_The_Win writes:
LOL! I had this same thought today.
VOLsince68 writes:
I would rather have Fulmer back and I thought I would never say that.
GBO VFL!!!
jt45 writes:
Adams were you beaten by a Vol fan when you were little ? No locker room access maybe ? There has to be some deep hatred of UT Sports for you to keep insulting the Vols in every single article you copy >
dvhill100 writes:
Which ever coach comes here, he gets my support until he proves he doesn't deserve it. I am not going to blast any coach who comes into a school that has struggled like we have, face a murderers row of coaches, and has minimal local talent to recruit. This is not a job for the faint of heart.
LifetimeVolFan writes:
Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!
TheRealDragonSlayer writes:
I have stopped believing media speculation because of the various iconsistencies over the past couple of weeks. But if it IS true that we are going after Butch Jones, I would have to say that it would be very disappointing. Not because Jones may not be a good hire, but because a GREAT hire like Butch Davis is still available, and from what I can tell, hasnt been approached yet. Maybe he has been approached and he turned us down, but that would have been news already.
With Davis out there for the taking, Jones would be the wrong Butch.
allvol9 writes:
Don't understand all of the negatives on here. Butch Jones is a good young coach...and a Brian Kelly clone. Worked under him for 6 years. Jones teams have won the Big East the last 2 years...and tonight he was named CBS's Big East Coach of the year over....yes...Charlie Strong. Hope this gets done.
ReVolver writes:
Yay..head coach with experience...moving in the right direction. One step at a time, guys.
luke255#536431 writes:
Right school wrong coach to hire Jones over Petrino is pathetic!!
jollofran writes:
I'll stand behind this guy as a UT fan, the same way I cheered for Dooley, because I want to see the Big Orange win... but COME ON! Have we fallen so far? This is our guy? Are we not even a top 20 job? And why did Hart not outsource. We are going to be the punchline of every joke from now till next Christmas. Guess Joe Theisman said it best though, "Nobody in football should be called a genius. A genius is a guy like Norman Einstein." Thanks Dave... and Merry Christmas to you too.
kazoo writes:
I agree: Fire Dave Hart! He screwed up this search--big-time. And Fire Cheek too! Butch Jones is barely more qualified than Dooley was! Hart's job was to find a GOOD coach for UT--not just to find a coach.
SummittsCourt writes:
If JA supports him then that sells it for me that Jones is not the answer for UT.
JA is not a Vol fan thats for sure. Why KNS continues to employee him is one of life's greatest mysteries.
jt45 writes:
If this happens we can probably say most of the offense is gone, so look forward to a really rough stretch rebuilding for years to come.
kazoo writes:
Dooley must have been amazed when the UT job fell to him three years ago--the guy had a losing record at La. Tech. Jones must feel about the same: Two years at Cincy and a big SEC job falls into his lap!
gobigorange5090 writes:
I'd like to see Phillip Fulmer as AD instead of Hart! Fulmer is Orange through and through!
screenthis writes:
If Jones is our coach, I'll hope for the best. But, it's still disappointing that this is the best our program can muster. Despite some who downgrade the program here, there's a ton of fan support, financial backing, and much more to lure a quality candidate.
luke255#536431 writes:
We have to have a PROVEN coach that can WIN in the SEC! Davis MIGHT do that but do we want to risk is? With Strong, Gruden etc. turning us down we have to say who can we bring in that will get us back to the promised land PETRINO!!
gobigorange5090 writes:
Since you dont like what Adams' writes, why do you read him??
MetroplexMojo writes:
How does a guy that coaches at a "BCS" school and gets blown out by a 1-7 Derek Dooley coached team land this gig?
Every other BCS-conference coach that lost to Dooley in regulation was fired.
BIVOLAR_BEARE writes:
Totally agree, and we are very fortunate he was keeping an eye on the UT job and not cashing a check from Colorado. Jones also in the last two seasons turned down jobs at UCLA, Illinois as well as Purdue, Kentucky and Colorado this year. We lucked out, unlike 2010 when Hamilton went door to door asking anyone if they would take the job. Jones is a solid coach and Wisconsin will probably be watching to see if we are stupid and don't jump on this hire.
FLORIDAGATORHATER writes:
Watch this video. Will get you pumped. He may be what we need.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vYWuo...
gobigorange5090 writes:
Perhaps you will get what you want at Christmas.
RaineyVol writes:
He's got a winning record.... With all the recruits he didn't recruit. Better coach than Dooley, but not by much. He is going to have to really win fans over. Sad thing is it won't take long to have fans wanting him gone.
FLORIDAGATORHATER writes:
Not much validity to your comment, although it sounds good. Everyone knows UT had a lot more talent than Cincinnati when Dooley beat them. You give Jones our current roster and he would have at least beaten Vandy and Georgia.
rb4346 writes:
If Butch Jones is the next coach I will support him and the vols but I would have liked to have seen Hart go after Davis, Fedora or Mora first!
VFLnKy writes:
Check this out. Gives you the insight on how incompetent Hart is.
http://outkickthecoverage.com/tenness...
luke255#536431 writes:
Just read article saying Butch Davis, Kirby Smart and Tommy Tubberville are the top 3 of the list.. you have got to be kidding me!
jollofran writes:
Fulmer would be a great AD.
FLORIDAGATORHATER writes:
Not true. You can tell this by his first year at each school. He went quickly from a losing record in his first year to winning a lot of games his second and third years. If he just inherited the talent, there would not have been a drop-off after the initial coaches left.
RoyaltyVol writes:
A lot of teams wanted this guy, a good hire. Not my first pick but still a good hire
VFLVFLVFL writes:
Omg!!! Wake me up in 3 years when we look for our next coach... remove upper deck at neyland... we wont need it
wolftever writes:
can he manage the clock?...
BIVOLAR_BEARE writes:
I thought I heard a player say: Yes Sir?? That's a sound UT coaches probably haven't heard since Major's was coaching at UT..I like the discipline and respect he commands..GBO!!
LifetimeVolFan writes:
John Adams is right on this one!
UT top 10 in all time wins.
UT top 10 in all time bowl wins.
UT top 10 in attendance.
UT top 10 in all time championships.
UT settles for an Alabama AD.
UT settles for an Florida Chancellor.
UA ranked number 2 in country.
UF ranked number 3 in country.
Couldn't sabotage a program any better myself--great job guys! Keep hiring those bottom-feeder coaches and all those stats above will be replaced with a school other than UT.
GoVols_16 writes:
Cincy did beat Va Tech this year & Michigan State last year. Jones' record/experience is MUCH BETTER than Dooley's or Kiffin's. He WANTS the job & has turned down other offers b/c some (GoVols 247) have said for about 2 weeks that Jones feels like he is in the running to get the UT job. He is at Cincinnati for crying out loud, but he still seems to get his players to play hard & they WIN. Dooley was 4-8 the year before he came to Knoxville. Cincy just finished 9-3 & do have some quality wins.
Lets face it folks--our program right now is a mess, but if Jones can get us back to our winning ways, that is a start.
GO VOLS
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