Missouri kicker Andrew Baggett booted a 35-yard field goal.
Tennessee coach Derek Dooley slung his headphones to the ground.
And just like that, another era of UT football was unofficially over.
There's no debating the ramifications of Missouri's 51-48, four-overtime victory over Tennessee at Neyland Stadium on Saturday afternoon. A coach can't be 0-6 in the SEC in his third season at UT and expect a fourth.
Tennessee should call a media conference today or Monday. Or maybe it will make an announcement on its own website that Dooley won't return and that it will begin the search for a new coach immediately.
What's the point of waiting any longer?
UT can't finish the regular season with a winning record. It can't finish any better than 2-6 in the SEC.
Never mind the enormous rebuilding job facing Dooley when he assumed command of UT football. Another six-loss season just isn't good enough at Tennessee — not after the 6-7 and 5-7 seasons that preceded it.
The nature of the loss only made it harder. The season already had been marked by close losses. This one was even closer.
In none of those other losses did UT look as superior as it did in the first half against Missouri, which entered the game with only one conference victory.
The Vols took a 21-7 halftime lead. Tyler Bray completed 21 of 26 passes for 257 yards. Missouri's only score was on a kickoff return.
Former UT All-American linebacker Al Wilson was on the sideline. UT legendary defensive lineman Reggie White was featured on the Jumbotron. And UT's SEC-worst defense suddenly was playing as though it had been trained by General Neyland.
The whole show almost seemed scripted.
Two quarters and four overtime periods later, it seemed more like an aberration.
Missouri's Kendial Lawrence scored on a 77-yard run on the first play from scrimmage of the second half. The Tigers gained 215 yards and UT's defense regained its identity in the third quarter.
But even after the Tigers finally cranked up their offense, the Vols had so many opportunities to win this game. What's new, huh?
On Missouri's last four possessions in regulation, it successfully converted four times on fourth down. On its game-tying drive, it gained 17 yards on a fourth-and-9 from the UT 40; then later scored on a 25-yard pass from quarterback James Franklin to Dorial Green-Beckham on fourth-and-12.
You've seen it all before: the opponent makes plays, the Vols don't.
The last play they didn't make was on fourth-and-3 from the Missouri 18 in the fourth overtime. Quarterback Tyler Bray completed 37 passes on the afternoon but couldn't complete his last one.
When the ball hit the ground, the game was in Missouri's court. Despite all that has gone wrong for the Tigers in their first SEC season, they were up to the task, carefully running on three successive downs to set up Baggett's field goal.
Dooley might have called a field goal on the Vols' last try. But why would he? Better to take your chances with the Tennessee offense than its kicker and defense.
He made the right decision. He got the wrong results.
It's questionable if the right results could have changed the outcome of this season. Even if the Vols could have won their last four games and ended the regular season at 7-5, they hardly would have assured Dooley and his staff of another season.
UT athletic director Dave Hart has to look at more than the scoreboard. He has to look at a huge stadium that UT hasn't come close to filling the last two games.
He has to look at the program's 0-15 record against Top 25 teams the last three seasons; what players it will have returning; and next season's schedule, which includes an ominous September with back-to-back games at Oregon and Florida.
He has to think about selling tickets for the next season, not the last home game against Kentucky in two weeks.
Tennessee football is a tough sell right now. Hart's job will be to find a coach who can change that.
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 » 135
florida-volfan writes:
Mike Hamilton and others including Jimmy Cheek gave this guy a contract like he was a top notch proven coach who has won games. Yet he never had a winning record and was a head coach at La Tech. Even Wil Muschamp at Florida does not have that kind of buyout, Florida will hardly owe him anything if they were to let him go now. In my opinion anybody associated with this hire should be fired and let go with the rest of the coaching staff, it was a horrible business decision. The question is...does UT have enough money to buy out this overpaid coaching staff, and bring in another high paid coaching staff next year, because you know Dave Hart has to hit a homerun with this next hire or it could be him on the chopping block
vut5686#1405392 writes:
With 500 and counting already chiming in and offering their comments on the basic game write up, Adams is a little late and offers no news. I have always resented his pontificating from on high as to what steps our university should take...as if he has a seat on the board. This time, his points are valid.
Game management: Dooley traded a chance to win for a chance to lose, at the end of the game. What must the (probably) best passer/receiver combo in college football think of being denied a chance to win?
Performance: Game management is one thing; coaching must enter into the question, also. We just have not improved...and where does the buck stop?
UT cannot afford all the buyouts; neither can they afford to weather fan apathy. Adams' standard "the coach must go" offers no suggested direction or critical thinking as to the entire picture. He describes the problem with clarity.
volfanwestcoast writes:
The silence from Hart and Cheek is deafening. Their leadership is just as bad as Dooley's.
Dooley sealed his own fate today by not believing in his team. The clock is ticking hard folks. Time to end this nightmare.
thetomfo writes:
Whenever or whoever is the next headcoach a UT no matter the salary be sure to get the man a stopwatch. Cause we need speed, speeder, speedest.
JWC52 writes:
Simply put Dooley has to go. The sooner the better.The last two games are pointless especially considering Vanderbilt will beat us too. We are tired of hearing Dooleys excuses and dribble about how we have to go out and try to win the next game. Enough is enough.
killervol69 writes:
I couldn't agree with you more, Friend...
volvann writes:
As some of you have seen my posts, I have been a Dooley supporter during his tenure. But the last 2 games have truly showed me he cannot coach.
1. During the Troy game when leading 28-10, he chose to throw 3 times rather than run the ball and take a 3 score lead into halftime.
2. In the Missouri game, with 5:30 to go in the gme and he had the ball, all he had to do was run some clock, he passed 3 times only ran 12 seconds off clock. If he ran all 3 plays regardless of amount of yards, Missouri would have received the ball without enough time.
Missouri scored with 40 seconds to go.
3. In the 4th overtime, UT had 2nd and 3, they chose to throw 3 passes. 3 running plays would have probably resulted in a first down. UT did not score and lost to a field goal.
4. In the 3rd overtime, running for a 2 point conversion would have won the game, potentially, we will never know.
My assessment is this, I am not a major college football coach, never have been, never will be, but if play calling is obvious to me, then the head coach should go.
Section A, Row 43, Seats 28-29 (may not be paying for them next year), the hottie next to me agrees.
AlWilsonFan writes:
I am completely baffled by the end of half and end of regulation decisions. I just don't understand how those choices can be made. "Dooley traded a chance to win for a chance to lose" -- perfect description of it.
This is the first I heard that Al was on the sideline for the game. I can't even begin to imagine what he must have been feeling.
It makes me sick to my stomach - how can we be this close to being good and still be terrible?
Go Vols.
killervol69 writes:
As someone posted on a previous article today, if AD Hart & Cheek both sit on their hands and do nothing , Gov. Haslam does have the authority to send Chancellor Cheek packing, as well as his buddy AD Hart if they don't make a move. The Haslam family are probably the biggest donors to our beloved university.
trl_x writes:
I was really hoping it wouldn't come to this. Another coaching change and the program gets set back even further.
What big name would want to come? I think the Gruden stuff is delusional. Most realistic names I've heard would be a lateral move at best for the coach and UT.
A bad situation.
movol53 writes:
Ok; here's my take. Dooley already knows he is on the way out. And he just provided Hart with the perfect reason (poor game management) to fire him. Hart can now sight a very specific example of Dooley's lack of coaching / management. Dooley did that so Hart and Dooley can reach a gentleman's settlement. I believe the coaching search has already started however, we will not want any coach who is not going to have huge bowl game to coach. I stated couple of years ago that we should have gotten the Houston coach who is now at A&M. With CDD leaving we will have several problems: 1. another buy out (but I feel it will be adjusted downward because of Dooley's "breach of contract" 2) which players are going to leave early? Truly done of the big three are really ready for the NFL. Look at Hunter and Bray any time they go against a goo team they have a difficult time of it. And CP is just now learning how to actually play the game and not just depend on his natural God given abilities. Sumlin has only been at A&M one year so he would have a buy out there if he were to leave and why would he leave to move to another school in the same conference. Stoops at Okla is not leaving, Tuberville has a winning record against Saban ans he may be near the end of his contract at TTU. However Tubberville always seemed to me to just have streaks; his teams were either really good or just so - so. So who would come to clean up this mess?
volspaws writes:
Bingo...SEC football runs in cycles.....our cycle of poor and smarmy head coaches is over.....Thank you for your service, Coach Dooley, poor though it was....NEXT!...."Coach" (?), to quote you..."that's just the way it is"
cdamna1 writes:
I tried to support Dooley. I never said a bad word about him, hoping he would work his way out of a bad situation. But today he traded "TWO CHANCES TO WIN FOR THE CHANCE TO LOSE." You can't say it any better. I'm sorry, but that is not the sign of a leader....that is the sign of a loser. And I no longer find fault in Tyler Bray's attitude and frustration....the guy plays his heart out and doesn't have a thing to show for it.
Chris
UT Alum '95
AlWilsonFan writes:
Here's an idea: offer Dooley to restructure his contract with an incentive-based salary with a lower base but a higher ceiling if he wins and to remove the buyout.
budd#207344 writes:
Disagree. The right experienced head coaching hire (winning, can recruit)mixed with OC & DC plus assistants (winning, who can coach)and this team will compete for the East in two years. Just look at the difference in the O line with two qualified (winning, can coach)coaches in Graham and Pittman. The talent is here. And will come . Just need coaches who can coach. Not babble to media about bamboo, coach
snafu14u#241639 writes:
Very unsettling this situation. This was not Bama/USC/Games/UGA or the other Bulldogs from Mississippi. I've just become numb to this situation but even then I have come to the conclusion that time for change is here, but we can't afford it. Another point to be made is how poorly we're doing in recruiting. Sure we offer the right guys but have a better chance of being hit by a meteorite than of them signing, plus the lost revenue of empty seats/vendor revenue and merchandise. No win situation it seems to me. In fact the whole Athletic Department seems out of step. Not sure I can bear to watch the Vandy game....but time (a week) heals wounds. BonzaiVol
BigOrangeRock writes:
There goes the second season!
The Rock has spoken.
VOLunTEAR writes:
Here's the solution (and the only one): Time for the Haslams to make a call to The Hill.
rb4346 writes:
I now live in Kansas but have been a vol supporter since I was a child (Doug Atkins period). I have supported them through good times and bad and today was one of the worst days I have ever had, I supported Coach Dooley but today was one of the worst days of Vol football, it showed that Dooley is not the coach for Tennessee, he proved it today! Coach Dooly please leave.
tomkats3242 writes:
NOW is the time to FIRE both dooley and adams. Neither do anything good for UT. There are good high school coachs that could do a better job than dooley has. I will never attend another UT game until dooley is gone. Maybe we need to get rid of dooley, hart, cheek and the UT president along with adams.
BustaRhymes writes:
Good guy. Bad coach - at least as a head coach. I suspect he's probably a good position coach... perhaps even a good AD for a smaller school.
We've given Dooley a fair shot - three full seasons. The result is that the program is in worse shape, not better shape, than when Dooley took over. In 2008 (Dooley's first season) we went 3-5 in the SEC and came within a whisper of winning at LSU. This season, we will (at best) go 2-6 - and most likely 1-7.
I have been totally unimpressed by David Hart. That the hell does this guy do? Honestly, can someone point to a single accomplishment? The lack of leadership at UT has become an embarrassment. While I am still proud to be Vol... I've never been less so...
I do not give (currently) to the UT Athletic Department - but I do give to Academics. I've suspended all giving until UT fixes this embarrassment. I don't even care what the fix is - other than we come up with a credible plan to restore the program to at least a competitive state. Bring Fulmer back? OK (but please fire Hart and make him AD as well). Hire Chucky? Sure, I'll even give some to make that happen. Hire another coach (this time with a winning W-L record please)? Sure.
That said - it's time for UT to fix this - UT is doing serious damage to the school's brand - and the "love affair" that exists between UT's fans and our beloved team.
Busta
Class of '91
PS - You probably don't remember this John - but you and I spoke at Hound Dogs days before Dooley was hired. I'm from Texas - we talked about the old SWC - and I pushed for Mike Leach. You said that UT would make a "safe hire." I said that would be a mistake... three years later... you seem to agree ;) Leach is off to a bad start at WSU - but watch him - he'll have them in a BCS bowl before the we get back there...
BustaRhymes writes:
Agree 1000%
jandjhome#228397 writes:
You can bet that Franklin is playing that video he has of Dooley talking about Vandy in the locker room after we beat them last year. The Cats will be our last chance to win one. After today I am beginning to doubt that.
volfaninutah writes:
I usually despise the dribble that Adams writes, but for the first time in about three years, I agree with him. That was a pitiful display of coaching this afternoon. I was watching the game on Altitude TV in Utah, Andre Ware was going nuts by the decision not to go for it in the last minute of regulation. Dooley DID quit on his team today.
volpreacher writes:
I disagree. We have enough athletes to be really good. A really good hire will see a drastic improvement next year. Whoever comes in isn't getting a depleted team like Dooley did. Dooley has built us some depth, he just can't coach. Go Vols.
PS what about John Chavis?
tvol71 writes:
I supported Dooley if he won out, but clearly this is bad, no more. It is entirely possible that Hart is contacting coaches in the background. Many coaches do not want the distraction of public knowledge that they are talking to another school before the season is over. I have no problem if he is working things in the background. They will make the announcement when the time is right. I am not a big Cheek fan, however, as he stuck with Hamilton when it was clear hew should be fired. He should probably go.
tturley#297658 writes:
Hart should fire Derek before the Dooley show in the morning, and go over to Blount county with contract in hand and wait on George Quarles to come home from church, and say "you're hired".
florida-volfan writes:
Im beginning to doubt we can beat the cats with that defense....you know Vandy is just chomping at the bit to get us, it doesnt matter what their record is, its a bowl game to them. If UT hangs their heads and doesnt focus I can see it getting out of hand in nashville
10seVol85_Part_Deux writes:
I think Bray should have called a timeout himself as soon as the previous play ended. Dooley wouldn't be able to let on that it wasn't his idea. He would have been forced to try to get into field goal range. I would be seriously pissed off if I were Bray, or pretty much anybody else on the field at the time.
tvol71 writes:
Disagree with firing all the coaches. Jay Graham and Pittman have done an excellent job in their first year, and I hope a new HC would try to retain them. Not that upset with the other O coaches, but the D coaches must go.
tvol71 writes:
Any lawyers out there? Can we sue Hamilton for the idiot buyout he gave to Dooley?
kidder75 writes:
Adams,
Your calling for Phil Fulmer's head is what started this train wreck. You are about as qualified to make a coaching decision for UT as my 3 year old son. Does anyone here think Fulmer would be doing worse at this point? You have no credibility as a columnist and haven't for years. You just throw out red meat for the majority to sell papers, and you do not care what it means for the university.
That said, Dooley lost many fans today. His coaching incompetence is matched only be Adam's editorial incompetence. Both must go!
fearthehound writes:
I hate you. You're right.
fearthehound writes:
Wonder if I could buy those orange pants off of Dooley cheap?
frblalack writes:
Thanks for not posting my comments. Everytime I disagree with John Adams my post is removed.
Firing should start with John Adams!
kidder75 writes:
Is this real?
arkyvol writes:
hate to say 'i told you so', but there are those of us who, from day one, said dooley's hire stunk of desperation and the incompetence of mike hamilton. other than his name, he had zip for credentials. anytime we pointed this out, we got called every name in the book. well, we've been waiting for three years for this sow's ear to turn into a silk purse ("because his heart is pure and he's one of us, and anybody who says different is a hater"). it ain't happenin'. another excuse has been how far a coaching change will set back the program. maybe, but i'd say that seems like a minor inconvenience compared with what dooley's ineptness is doing to it.
utbaby#215635 writes:
So does more speed automatically make a DB want to turn around and try to defend a pass. How many times does Coleman just stand there like he's lost with no attempt at a play. Does speed allow two DB's to know someone take the deep ball instead of both taking the short route. Speed won't solve all the issues with the DB's, but one good DB coach can be a start.
ALL_VOL75 writes:
Who do you think hired everyone of those guys???? Haslam!!! He needs to give his money and shut up! Guy has NO CLUE!
mid10ECvol writes:
As a UT grad who works at Vanderbilt, I can assure everyone that a defeat is not only at hand in Nashville next week...but possibly by double digits
To paraphrase an old ad slogan: "this ain't your grandddy's Vandy"
Members of the Board of Trust...each of you has a fiduciary duty to the University.
At this point I believe the B of T is as responsible for the mess as anyone. If UT were a corporation, all B of T members would be susceptible to lawsuits for "errors and ommissions".
Judging from the current situation, it appears the Board of Trust has exhibited the same degree of oversight that the Penn State Board of Trust did in the Paterno matter. Is there any need to point out how that matter ended?
takespix writes:
Pony up and get Strong at Louisville, or the coach at Vandy, or the coach at Boise State.
willtowin writes:
John Adams was very high on Tennessee early on, I remember. It's hard to be positive about the state of the program right now.
willtowin writes:
I believe Hart needs to make a move as soon as possible. We have a fractured fan base and I do believe we have a fractured locker room also. Give these guys some hope of winning and let Dooley go.
RoyaltyVol writes:
I knew it was time for Dooley to go when I caught myself secretly hoping Missouri would win so we could get a new coach. I'm so ashamed!
asleep#212036 writes:
Defensive coaches will have to go but O guys are OK. Still not totally sold on Chaney's willingness to run the ball for the entire game. In the SEC, you just can't win consistently if you aren't willing (and able) to run from the first play to the last. He has always been a "pass to set up the run" guy. It works well against mediocre defenses but Florida and Bama had no trouble with it. Pittman and Graham are special and I hope they will be retained. Go Vols!!!
asleep#212036 writes:
Hamilton's mistake was not in replacing Fulmer but in (1), the way he did it, and (2), his subsequent hires (Kiffin, Dooley) and their ridiculous contracts. But it's clear DD just isn't going to get it done. Nice guy and runs a clean program but it comes down to wins and if Kentucky fired their coach for too few SEC wins, and he had as many as Dooley, well..... Go Vols!!!
asleep#212036 writes:
Petersen (Boise) turned us down before Dooley was hired, Strong still hasn't proven anything and Franklin at Vandy is also unproven, having yet to beat an SEC team with a winning record. Beyond that, none of these guys is splashy enough.... Think Bama and think big. We need an OMG hire to one, save and even improve our recruiting class and two, turn this thing around in less than the customary 3-4 years most coaches claim they need. We'll have to get off our wallets but another "hope" hire will set us back so far we'll be permanently mired in low-tier bowl purgatory.... Go Vols!!!
orangefacenthacrowd writes:
I grew up loving the Vols and still do but never dreamed a day would come when Vandy would be a sure loss and Ky. was a toss up in getting a single SEC win. I was one of the fans calling for Fulmers job and a "change".... well I got mine! Had no idea it would be Barack Obama change. My deepest apologies to Phillip Fulmer!
geo7vol writes:
Tennessee defense is too slow; it's that simple...
DwayneElizondoMountainDewHerbertCamacho writes:
1) There's no breach of contract because Dooley's contract does not create benchmarks (wins, coaching style, competency, etc.) for Dooley's conduct as a coach. Breach of contract means that one of the parties to a contract either engaged in an activity prohibited by the contract or failed to execute an obligation. And where there is no breach, why would Dooley take less than the contractual buy-out?
2) CP is definitely NFL ready. So if he's smart, he declares for the draft and takes the guaranteed money. Hunter may not be ready, but I still think that he is a 3rd or 4th rounder and he declares unless someone close to him tells him to stay. Ironically, I think that Bray has shown that he could easily step into the number 2 spot on an NFL team and mature in the right environment into a possible starter. I think he would go in the draft simply with his size and the power of his arm.
We agree on Sumlin, he won't leave A&M. Stoops won't leave Oklahoma. Tubberville is a non-starter for me and think his best days are behind him...plus he likes to slap the hell out of his support staff on national television.
Who would come to clean up the mess that Dooley and Sunseri have made?
Bobby Petrino, Charlie Strong, Chris Peterson (maybe), Matt Campbell (in his first year, but looks to have a great future), Gary Patterson, Dave Doeren (may not have enough HC experience, but doing pretty impressive things at N. Illinois), Dana Holgerson, and the list goes on.
Picking a head coach is important and we probably won't get it right on the choice after Dooley, but that doesn't mean that we shouldn't try.
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