Comments on: Times Are Tough For Dooley In Knoxville

By: Scargamecocks87

Scargamecocks87 — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 13:15:51 +0000

“Funny how sc fans, after finally having some success, and finally beating Clemson back to back are now the type of fans they hated when they were getting stomped.”
I guess I should rethink my definition of disrespect and bashing.

By: Brad Crawford

Brad Crawford — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 23:59:56 +0000

Well said and you make good points.

But, we’ll come back to this story in December. And see what UT’s record is.

By: swanndiggs

swanndiggs — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 23:25:52 +0000

Well predictions are like opinions, everybody has them.

First my response was never triggered as I thought the article was “an attack”, more like a lack of all the facts.
It’s true, back to back losing seasons is unacceptable, I don’t care who the coach is, be Saban, Spurrier, Miles, or even Neyland himself could have walked into the dumpster fire that was UT’s program when Dooley came on and had a drastic change immediately. Anyone realistic knew it was going to be a hard long road and take at least 3 to 4 years before there was going to be a significant change.

Fulmer underpreformed his last several years, and even though he had highly ranked recruiting classes, they were full of busts and bad apples. Then Kiffin came in with his highly rated recruiting class also filled with busts and bad apples. Dooley came into a program that had self-destructed, then had to rebuild everything from scratch. In those back to back losing seasons UT put out squads filled with Freshmen and Soph’s who had a lot of learning to do to compete in the SEC. So YES I am happy to have so many starters returning from a 5-7 season. Those young players have a lot of experience, and have had more time to learn, and the talent to compete. Not to mention brutal schedules and key injuries. Anyone else from the east play LSU, BAMA, and Arkansas last year?

The UK loss was tough, but it had to end sometime. It came close several times to much better teams. To beat them as many times as we did in a row is hard to believe.

I do think Dooley will be around come 2014. I also think it is very realistic that UT will finish higher than 5th as you stated. The East is not as solid as the West. Florida is down, Georgia and SC will be very good, Vandy will be better, Mizzou will be good as well. Still there is no dominate team in the East. I said UT COULD finish 2nd or 3rd, not that they WOULD.

As you stated the Offense will be explosive. Losing Hunter last year was major. It changed the whole complexity of the offense. You like up Hunter, Rogers, and Patterson, along with several talented TE’s. That will be hard to stop w/ Bray. Lane and Neal along with incoming Baroque, and the rushing game, will be much better. Coach Graham will teach them to be great, just as he did w/ Lattimore. Coach Sal will get the D in line as well, there is talent there and a 3-4 is a better front for the talent UT has than a 4-3. If any team hopes to be competitive, you have to have some depth. UT finally has some depth at key positions which is key.

Scargamecocks, my response never bashed SC or disrespected as you took it. SC will be tough this year. What I did state was in response to Crawford’s comment of off field issues. It has been quieter since Dooley has been at the helm, but also stated SC has had more issues as of late. UT has had more than it’s share of problems under Fulmer and Kiffin. As for being unbiased…. I guess there is a new meaning the term unbiased.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but include the whole story.

By: Brad Crawford

Brad Crawford — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 22:21:24 +0000

Preach it brother.

There’s no way Tennessee can finish second or third in the East. That’s laughable. Vols fans are denying the inevitable (Dooley lasting no more than 3 more seasons)

By: Scargamecocks87

Scargamecocks87 — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 19:23:44 +0000

Right because as South Carolina fans we hated reading unbiased articles about other teams. Let the guy write. Nothing he wrote in his article is anything other than facts. He wasnt trash talking Dooley he simply said , in less words, that he wasnt getting the job done, and at a school like Tennessee it is unexceptable because of what they used to be. To your “finally having success” statement its not that South Carolina fans are turning into the people we used to hate, its that people like you are finally realizing that we are gaining some hard earned respect and you feel threatened that we are now a team to be taken seriously. if you really are so quick to say something like that remember that you your self are part of a fan base that had a team that had double digit winning seasons 9 out of 15 years and you were that person we used to hate because your team had so much success off of our team and that if we are guilty of acting like this so are you. its just that now the sides are flipped and your are having a hard time dealing with it. which is fine and it will come in time but probably not too soon as i reallly feel that tennessee will be a much better football team this year and you wont have to cope with being where your team currently is. honestly i felt like the writer complemented tenessee pretty well in saying that mediocrity can and will not be tolerated at the University of Tennesse because of their tradition in winning they used to have. please sir do not feel like every bad thing written about your school is an attack on the program. learn to recognize an unbiased article when it is in front of you, learn to read everything think before you speak and have a nice day.

By: Brad Crawford

Brad Crawford — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 12:50:00 +0000

For the record swanndiggs, its three straight wins over Clemson. Hard to believe you live in Columbia and don’t know that. There’s absolutely no way Tennessee challenges for second or third in the East this season. I don’t see it and neither does the majority of other sports writers.

By: swanndiggs

swanndiggs — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 01:15:34 +0000

Funny how sc fans, after finally having some success, and finally beating Clemson back to back are now the type of fans they hated when they were getting stomped.

Dooley has done a good job with what he was left with. No coach would have done any better dealing with the attrition from Fulmer leaving and the Kiffin disaster. Fulmer did need to go when he did.

Dooley is recruiting well. Has some great assistants in place, and will produce a better team this year. SEC east champs, not even close yet. Will they knock off some better teams, yes. Could they finish 3rd or if they really come together 2nd, there is a chance. UT finally has some depth and a lot of talented guys with experience.

Oh yeah and off field issues, Dooley has done a much better job and since he has come in. SC has had more issues over the past few years than UT. Living in Columbia , I should know.

By: kwe

kwe — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 18:08:21 +0000

I know, I see your point, but you’ve got to clean the house first to make it a home. UT’s house was trashed beyond belief. It takes time.

By: Brad Crawford

Brad Crawford — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 11:55:59 +0000

There’s no way you can constitute consecutive losing seasons as outstanding. That’s unacceptable in Knoxville, hence why Fulmer got the boot.

By: Brad Crawford

Brad Crawford — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 11:55:03 +0000

- You return most of the starters on a team that finished 5-7 … you’re excited about that?
- About the gunslinger QB and talented wideout, did I not say Tennessee should be fine on offense?
- Do you really think Dooley will be in Knoxville in 2014?

Take off the Smokey blinders, please. The Vols will inevitably finish fifth in the East most likely ahead of Vandy and Kentucky. Missouri, Florida, South Carolina and Georgia are all better teams in their own division.

Not a good look for a program with a rich history.