You couldn't tell it by their records, but Tennessee and South Carolina have something in common. Both probably have a hard time appreciating what a joy it is to be a part of the SEC.
There's the prestige of a conference that has produced the last six college football champions. There's also the wealth from long-term television contracts that soon will be renegotiated to even wealthier proportions.
But the advantages of wealth and prestige can't always numb you to the frustrations and disappointments of an average Saturday in the SEC.
Just a couple of weeks ago, the Gamecocks looked like the best team in the East and a national championship contender as well while manhandling Georgia. All the promise the Saturday held was lost during the past two weekends. The Gamecocks lost an agonizingly close game to LSU before unraveling in a 44-11 loss to Florida on Saturday that all but ended any hopes of winning the division.
But their comedown from 6-0 is hardly surprising.
It's questionable whether even No. 1 Alabama could win three consecutive games against nationally ranked Georgia, LSU and Florida, including back-to-back road games at perhaps the conference's two most hostile venues, Tiger Stadium and The Swamp.
Tennessee can empathize.
It's well documented that third-year coach Derek Dooley took charge of UT football at its lowest ebb — after coach Phillip Fulmer's last team had gone 5-7 and after the Lane Train had sped through town westward bound.
As monumental as Dooley's rebuilding job was after succeeding one-year coach Lane Kiffin, it has been exacerbated by the most difficult series of schedules ever faced by a UT coach.
The road trip to South Carolina will mark UT's fourth consecutive game against a nationally ranked opponent. Moreover, the Vols played Florida, currently at No. 3, in September.
That's five games against nationally ranked opponents, which qualifies as routine for the Dooley era. The Vols (3-4) also played five nationally ranked opponents in each of his first two seasons.
As bad as UT looked in a 44-13 loss to Alabama on Saturday, you can't dismiss the schedule as a factor. In the past, the Vols usually have had easier lead-ins and follow-ups to the Tide.
For the 15 seasons before Dooley's arrival, Tennessee played what turned out to be a winning team only three times the week before Alabama. In nine of those seasons, it had two weeks to prepare for the Tide.
In Dooley's first UT season, he had an open date the week before Alabama. But last year, he had to deal with No. 1 LSU the week before Alabama, which was followed by No. 17 South Carolina.
This season has been just as difficult.
The week before No. 1 Alabama came unbeaten Mississippi State, now ranked 13th, or one spot below Georgia. South Carolina is 17th again, despite having lost its previous two games.
Any SEC program is assured of a rigorous schedule. But South Carolina's run of games the past three weeks has bordered on inhumane. And UT has had a steep climb for three seasons.
The climb could be just as steep next season.
The Vols will play No. 2 Oregon in the third game of next season and No. 3 Florida in the fourth. They also will face three other teams currently ranked 17th or higher.
Just another average Tennessee schedule.
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 » 44
thevoice writes:
That's also why the average SEC coach makes more than the average ___ conference. Paid to win.
FlaVol2 writes:
Dooley chose to take the job, and at the time it was fraught with danger. It is not over. I do not recall such turmoil in a program as TN has had. I still believe in Dooley. I feel that we cannot jump back into a situation were we are creating again another terrible uncertainy with new coaches and bailing recruits. I say stay the course. What say the rest of you?
bspurlingcac#225603 writes:
Yes the schedule is very tough. This is just one reason we should not make a coaching change at this point. We need to give Dooley time to rebuild this progam.
Should Dooley Stay! I say yes… and here is why!
1) He has structured the team to have success in the future. Building a stable core of player that are working hard and developing. I am impressed with the fact that most of them are staying positive and working hard to develop. That would not be the case if Dooley did not have leadership ability.
2) In looking back at his development of La Tech the fruits of his labor and attention to detail that helped his past team develop into the best program in their history. He set up the success they are having now. (He has set up the success we will have in the next 2-4 years.)
3) Values- He has them & his players are starting to show them as well…with a few exceptions….Bray (Who is lacking leadership as we all know)
4) The teams that we have lost to have a 27-1 record and we played them all with the exception of Bama deep into the 3rd or 4th quarters. This was progress compare to years 1-2 where we were lacking depth and were finished by half time against the good teams.
5) We are getting back on par with facilities which will help with recruiting. He needs the chance to finish out a 4 year recruiting pattern.
6) A change now will set us back due to the loss of more athletes. I would guess we would lose 5-10 players to transfers…again. That is a big part of this rebuilding process we are in now.
7) Contracts are not set up for a change now.
8) Luck… Dooley has not been able to catch a break. That is bound to turn for the better.
9) It takes time for new systems to be put into play.
10) The super stars that we thought would be going pro are not ready and some if not all should/may be returning.
Should Dooley Go! Here is what would cause me to think Dooley needs to go at the end of this year.
1) If we lost very big to SC and our players don’t battle the last 4 games. (He would have to completely lose the team for me to think a change would be for the best)
Dooley needs one or two more years!!!
Any of you who think a change now will be good for the program don’t understand the process that it takes to overcome the setting that Coach Dooley was challenged to fix. I would guess that if you had been asked when Dooley was hired… how many years it will take to compete for the East title you would have said 4-5 years. Now many of you are having knee jerk reactions to the process that most of us knew would take time. Go Vols…and keep your focus on getting better ever day! Some of us can wait for you to be great again. I know it will happen if we are patient. Vol Pride!
jschariter#367312 writes:
I don't see how turnover has any bearing if UT hires a proven coach. Position coaches have a big impact on where a recruit signs and we had 7 of them turnover last year. Dooley has recruited at 50 line past few classes in the SEC. Essentially 1/2 the conference has higher regarded players, the only hope being that player development and playing experience would make a difference. The loss to Miss State was significant is UT has had better recruiting classes, but MSU looked better prepared and better coached than UT thus the win. UT's record over last 2 years is 1 and 11 in conference. Something has to change...
voodoo101 writes:
Well, damn, Adams does understand that when you play #1 and 2 and three more ranked teams early in the season, that your record just might take a hit. He had the village idiots believing that it was just an inept coach stumbling over mediocre competition and that they should gather at the castle with pikes and pitchforks.
shipperman#280095 writes:
Dooley was 8-18 at freaking LA Tech! There is nothing in his resume that indicates he will ever be a successful coach. D Dooley will NEVER have us competing for championships. 2 and 3 stars will never compete with the big boys
exlineman writes:
Excellent post Sir, I am sure some of these panty waist uneducated hicks trolling on here will have alot to say about your post.
These trolls on here keep spewing the same garbage on here over and over, as if they think they will change real fans minds. They keep thinking Fulmer is coming back and totally disregard his last 5 yrs. and the shape he left this team in. I am sure that Jim Haslam gave a lot of thought and many meetings with the board before making the decision to let Fulmer go. He will do the same for Coach Dooley and evaluate him giving him the benefit that Coach Dooley took over a program with 3 weeks to hire coaches and continue recruiting. This is an almost impossible task for any coach. I feel Coach Dooley is making progress even if I don't like some of the calls etc. I am not a coach on the field and he is and deserves to call the shots about who starts even Bray etc. and the 3-4 defense. He is there and sees and knows their progress and as a fan my watching 4 quarters of play along with the trolls on here on Sat. does not qualify us to know everything about this team. This is why they pay the coaches and give us the privlege to buy a ticket and watch them play. I am sure that Jim Haslam could care less what I think as well as the haters on this site.
Fulmer and Chavis both have asked the fans to get behind this team and their coach, but that doesn't seem to register with these trolls on here.
Go big orange and let us give this team and Coach Dooley our support and buy our tickets and good things will eventually begin to happen to this team.
jschariter#367312 writes:
Sorry, none of the empirical evidence supports your arguments other than current players do seem to be staying out of trouble more than in the past. 1 and 11 SEC record, recruiting at 50 yard line versus the conference, 7 assistants leaving, and countless off sides, untimely turn overs, penalties including wrong number of players on field all points to poor coaching and preparation. Teams most often reflect their coach. Evidence is clear.
mjaichele#464960 writes:
The Legion of the Miserable won't make it past #1, but good try.
Pullingguard writes:
Lot of truth in what you say... Don't think anyone can bring quick fix to the Vol program.. End of season will be interesting.
vq4nfo writes:
UT has had for the last 3 years, like Adams states, one of the hardest schedules in college football. Given the short amount of time CDD had when he took over the team, I believe no matter what the record is this year, he will get one more to prove himself.
I say this because UT's financial health in athletics is not where it was when they hired Kiffin. Hart is going to look at projected revenue, talk to boosters, look at buyout costs and then decide that another year would be in the best interest for UT.
Look at it this way, if they hire a new coach, say Gruden, they will still have a monster of a schedule next year and will most likely lose to the same teams they lose to this year. It will take a new coach at least 2 years to get all the 4 and 5 star jocks that everyone complains about not having.
Winds are forcast to be 30-40mph during the game Saturday with showers likely.
UTVOL2001 writes:
Great post! I thought the same until the last couple of weeks. At a high profile job like UT, the unfortunate side is that you have to not only produce but you also have to posture the fan base. Dooley inherited a mess, no doubt but we have seen a pattern of us not catching ANY breaks in Dooley's time here. After reading and watching the last couple of weeks I am beginning to think he lacks something that is a factor in that. I am not sure that has the IT factor to win consistently here and that is why I believe if we can pull in a Jon Gruden, that would be the way to go. I am a true fan and not a ship jumper at all. I understand that a pattern of coaching turnovers is devastating in many regards, however most of those issues will not be an issue if we were to hire Gruden. I say, if not Gruden or the like, keep Dooley. Either way I am wearing my Orange and standing with my Vols!
voldog70 writes:
I do believe that the program is in alot better shape than it was when Dooley was hired. I believe the team is better (player wise) this year than this time last year.
That being said, I still question some of Dooleys decisions and coaching ability.
# Something has to be wrong with the Head Coach when you have to replace 7 coaches in one year. Is he hard to get along with or were they jumping ship?
# The hiring of Sunseri as DC and switching to the 3-4 has been a nightmare and I believe it will be the straw that broke the camels back. We just barely had enough defensive players to play the defense that we had recuited for.
# Having to use timeouts to get players in their correct position. Getting the correct number of players on the field.
# The team was not ready to play before the Mississippi State game and we had two weeks to prepare. Mississippi State was fired up and you could tell that they wanted the game more than UT. Not sure of Dooley's motivating ability.
# Dooleys comments after the Bray beer bottle chucking was just stupid. My opinion, Bray should have been suspended for at least one game.
I don't think we need to play catch-up with anyone in the SEC, "facilities wise", too help with recruiting.
As far as maybe losing 5-10 players to tranfers, might not either, may gain 5-10 4-star or 5-star recruits if the right coach is named.
I hope I am wrong, but I don't think we will contend the East title for 8-10 years with our current coaches.
bspurlingcac#225603 writes:
I agree with much of what you say. I don't think Dooley is perfect. His comment about Bray is just one example of that. I don't think you will find out about the 8-10 years to compete for the east title because he will need to improve greatly over the next 1-2 years to have any chance to keep his job. I do think he needs that time for us to find out.
mikclark47 writes:
Yes..stay the course. Next year DD has the best chance to win with this team. ANY other coach will do worse
mikclark47 writes:
Well said!
DooleyWagon22 writes:
This guy is talking with some sense!
Rumblefish writes:
Responses as to why you are just plain wrong....
1) Uhhh...stuctured the team to have success in the future? What exactly to you think is going to happen when our best players (who can't even compete against the SEC) decide to leave for the draft???? FAIL.
2) He didn't set up jack squat at LaTech. Only his senior class is still there...and the seniors that are there now were recruited by the coach before him. Try again....
3) Values??? You got to be kidding me. From the display of complacency for Da'Rick...to his putting up with Bray's antics...yeah....he's got "values" alright. Next...
4) Progress??? Well...we lost in the 2nd half to the same teams this year that we lost to the 2nd half last year. Where is the progress???? Oh wait...losing by 7, instead of losing by 17 is progress for you??? Nice job on the moral victory chearleading squad there!
5) Yep...we sure have some nice facilities.
6) Change happens in college football all the time. Change happens at major college football universities until it gets a winner in there. Dispute that....go do some research.
7) Yes they are. Especially with the boosters with $$$ to spare.
8) You make your own luck. And besides that...if you grew up where someone told you "life was fair"...I'd like you to tell me where that is, so that I can pick up and move there.
9) Time??? In this era...there is WAY TOO MUCH $$$ to be won and lost in the short term. Think I'm wrong on this point????---well why don't you read up on other major colleges firing their coaches after 3 less than mediocre seasons. It's a business.
10) Yeah...what superstars are going to return for another 6-6 (at best) season and risk injury, instead of cashing their NFL checks???
11) He's already lost the team. WAKE UP.
I appreciate your optimism...but it's just not reality.
gatorhator4eva writes:
as much as i hate to say it, we need to stay the course. if we win out we will be 8-4. that is not that bad for year 3. if dooley cant pull the win in columbia, i think hart will start to light a fire under his u know what or he may have done so. the ranked teams tennessee has played were a combined 20-1 in the first four weeks. tennessee is on there way it will just take a little mo time
bljvol writes:
You sir are an idiot!!! Go cheer for Vanderbilt it you want. That only proves you are NOT a True Volunteer at all Good riddance
voldog70 writes:
I would love to finish with a 8-4 record, but I wouldn't take that bet with 20-1 odds.
I thought our best shot to save the season was to beat Mississippi State, if we had won that game, then I believe 8-4 would have been possible. Still, I think Missouri and Vandy will be a toss-up.
SpecialTeams writes:
I say change course. From what I hear the team does not respect him. The team wants him gone. Most of the players that came with potential have not developed under his coaching and I could go on, Dooley is bad news for the Ten.
FanNotSheep writes:
Fulmer was a great offensive line coach and coordinator and recruited extremely well, but as a head coach he never had to face the murderer's row that the SEC schedule has become. You can't be sure it will stay like this but there is no need to add trouble like Oregon to the schedule for the near future. It's tough enough with 4 cream puffs as non-conference opponents.
GreeneVol writes:
Ample proving ground still lies in front of Dooley and his team. Let's hope, Vol fans.
Sir_Spanky writes:
Whew.
HopeisNotaCourseofAction writes:
This year was what most at the beginning of the year agreed was an easier schedule was supposed to be the turning point. So many predicted 10-2, 9-3, 8-4 and it will likely be 6-6 at best. If we pull 6 wins, other than ncst, none will likely be against 1 team with a winning record, and of course lose to all of the ranked teams (combined score of UT 108 others 174, so far) again this year as we have the past 2 years. And none are last minute coaching blunders like the lsu game, all are double digit losses. Factor in that a couple of our cupcake wins (akron, ga st) this year are against 1 WIN TEAMS! Progress my @$$.
So we'll struggle again with the commodes and uk, and who knows vs mo, and if we end up 6-6 and get an invite to the Saniflush Toilet Bowl, all is well - right. Need to give him 2 more years cuz we turned the corner, and all the college football mensas on here "who know anything about college football" say it takes 4 or 5 years so the rest of us "who don't understand the process" should be quiet.
And since next year's schedule is now accepted to be tougher than this year's, and we go 5-7 or worse again, and get blown out by the same SEC opponents plus an embarrassing 50+ point loss on national TV to oregon, guess the mantra will be "1 more year" cuz everyone who knows anything about... knows it takes at least 5 or 6 years based on what he had when he took the job.
tulelakevol writes:
Well said.
licknpromise777#651578 writes:
I think your right..It's 99% Dooley is gone and I think the coaching controversy has the team divided..I would also agree their are probably a lot of players that just don't like Dooley..Word is that team morale is similar to that of the end of last season at KY
kevininaugustageorgia writes:
No answers, just complaints. Typical I ain't got a clue how its done but I want my team to win right now or it's "fire the coach."
You can believe it or not but Dooley has improved this team. They may win big next year, or it may take 2 or 3 more years with Dooley. But he will eventually win well if he is here.
The only real question is can UT find the appropriate, qualified, quality person. One who is also WILLING to take the job from here and make them win sooner? If not, may as well hang with what they have until they can or till he wins.
That may not be a great plan or one many of the "fire the coach" crowd likes but it is at least A plan.
A minimum of 5 other coaches turned this job down (icluding Gruden and Muschamp) before Dooley took it last time. Because they could see it was a mess, included extra weight they didn't want and would take longer than normal to fix. Why ruin their good name if they had no guarantees they too wouldn't fall victim to the "fire the coach" crowd before the job was done?
A year before that, the then AD was listening to the "fire the coach" crowd before he hired a suitable replacement.
That's where the whole mess started. Because he fired a coach before he lined up an appropriate replacement.
Before UT fires the coach again I hope we have an AD who has a plan in place that actually works out. Otherwise, the past 3 years go to waste as well.
How about we fire some of the "fire the coach" crowd around here?
They are the root cause of the issues to begin with. Oh that's right, that would cut the numbers by about 50% on this site.
RealisticVol writes:
If it is true that "we just can't do any better" because of yatta, yatta, yatta, then maybe we just need to drop out and go to another, easier conference.
orangeman1 writes:
In 2006 UT played 6 teams that finished in the top 25 and Fulmer led the Vols to 9 wins and a top 25 finish while also beating bowl teams Bama and S Carolina. Granted the last two years schedule has been tough, but most expected to win at least 1 of those 5 games vs ranked opponents. I do give Dooley credit for beating Cinci last year that finished ranked, but things seemed to get worse as the year went on. This year, I've seen more regression than improvement from last year. Bray doesnt look as good. The running game is has improved, but is still average. The receivers have regressed. The offensive line has improved. I expected more from the Tight ends this too. Our offense isnt even in the top 35 in Scoring. Our Kicking game has regressed too. I'm not even going to mention how far the Defense has regressed with them being ranked 99th in Scoring Defense. Dooley really needs to beat SC, cause victories over KY,Vandy,Troy, and Missouri arent exactly something to get excited about. Four years after the firing of Fulmer and 5 years removed from winning the SEC East. Its time to start giving UT fans a reason to look forward with optimism or something's gonna have to change.
HopeisNotaCourseofAction writes:
Why would Gruden take any college gig? Muschump was promiised the 'little ut' job back then (coach in waiting) and once he realized the the HC was never leaving he bolted for uf. Those 2 are not good examples.
"They may win big next year..."? How can anyone remotely believe that is possible with these coaches who lost by double digits and several blow outs this year to ranked teams? Over half the SEC teams will pummel us again in recruiting so we are not gaining any ground there either.
Yes, let's give CDD 2, or 3 or 4 or 5 more years to fix it. So if we are still wallowing around at the bottom of the SEC in 2018 with a 5-7 or 6-6 record, and CDD is 0-50 vs ranked teams, may we all agree it is time to replace him then?
RealisticVol writes:
I don't think Gruden is a good idea. He has no recruiting connections and no core winning assistants to bring with him.
Vol_in_Mich writes:
Darn, it's the SEC. It is susposed to be tough! Can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.
D60 writes:
Why does UGA always have the easiest schedule? They're the VPI of the SEC
UTVolWarrior98 writes:
Exlineman, you are just one of the reasons this program has declined...YOU ACCEPT MEDIOCRITY AND PAMPER THESE PLAYERS AND COACHES!! You are soft, Im sorry. Im sure you were with the other soccer Moms spray painting joyous pictures of rainbows and smiley faces on the rock. Grow a pair dude..
murrayvol writes:
Perhaps.
murrayvol writes:
That's how it goes D60. Trade a couple of teams each year for a couple of different teams. The past 2 years have worked out for the Dawgs.
Remember their schedule when they were preaseason #1 a few years back?? Brutal!
firetst#220411 writes:
FlaVol2:
Recruiting will only be more difficult under Dooley. What top star would even consider UT right now. They know the coaching staff is not able to get the most out of players. Look at our QB and receivers. They were suppose to set the SEC on fire.
A new highly paid head coach would bring new recruits with him as Kiffin did when he left UT. A good proven coach will also be a magnet for recruiting.
exlineman writes:
Son, I can assure you that I have a pair, I just don't see the trolls opinions on here as making sense. No I don't paint no rocks, to old and painted rocks when I was your age. Sometimes before a man speaks, he needs to think about how silly he sounds to people reading his posts. Sometimes it is best to put things into proper perspective.
UTVolWarrior98 writes:
Exlineman, I meant no disrespect..really didnt. I just saw numerous posts from you continuing to coddle and make excuses for this team and coaching staff. We just dont see eye to eye..most of us on here don't!
steamboatticket#484773 writes:
This team is better than the last several teams of the Fulmer era.
kevininaugustageorgia writes:
Did you read my comment before you wrote this reply? Because if you did, I cannot communicate with you.
Read it, understand exactly what I am saying. Then, if you dissagree, I would expect you to write.
Examples: You said Gruden and Mushchamp should not count as coaches who were asked and turned the job down? Why not?
The reasons they turned it down are immaterial to the fact--They turned the job down at the time. That's a fact! Facts do count, regardless of why they exist.
kevininaugustageorgia writes:
Not at all what I said. Try reading it, understanding what it says, then commenting.
Your current comment doesn't make any sense if it is in response to my post. Read the post again and really try to get what it says. You may find that you and I agree way more than you think.
But your reply has nothing to do with what my post says as is.
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