While Butch Jones won't call 9-4 a 'disappointment,' Nick Saban calls 14-1 a 'failure'
HOOVER, Ala. — Do you want to know the real difference between Alabama and, say, Tennessee? Besides all the success, of course.
The Crimson Tide admit their failures and talk about them openly, despite the fact that they don’t have very many of them. The Volunteers, conversely, not only run from their failures, they won’t acknowledge that they even happened.
The Vols were most everyone’s pick to win the East last year at Media Days, as they had a senior quarterback in Joshua Dobbs and returning starters at just about every position. But UT finished 4-4 in conference play — including hard-to-explain upsets at the hands of South Carolina and Vanderbilt — and didn’t make the league title game.
Nevertheless, coach Butch Jones felt the need to hand out participation trophies. He’s becoming a laughingstock on Rocky Top.
“I don’t view it as a disappointment,” Jones (below) said Monday. “The way I view it is we didn’t accomplish everything we set ourselves out to. And, again, our goal every year is to win a championship and compete to win a championship. So, was it a disappointment? No. Did we not accomplish some of the things we set out to do? Absolutely. We have to learn from the things that went wrong that we could have done better.”

Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
‘Bama, on the other hand, ripped right through the SEC with an 8-0 record, destroyed East champion Florida in the (dearly departed) Georgia Dome and then did the same to Washington in the semifinals of the College Football Playoff.
The Tide were one second away from securing Saban’s fifth national title in a decade, but the 99th play Clemson ran at Raymond James Stadium — no one had ever run more against Big Al in the history of the program — was a game-winning touchdown pass from Deshaun Watson to Hunter Renfrow.
Literally a tick of the clock from 15-0 and yet another ring, but nobody in Tuscaloosa is interested in collecting silver medals.
“We really try to do it the same way because whether you win or lose, we’re always trying to self-assess to see what we need to do to get better,” Saban said Wednesday. “I think when you lose, everybody’s much more — the mindset is much more, ‘I’m willing to change. I want to learn. I don’t want to waste a failure. What could we have done better?’ Because everybody’s hurt by the fact that they lost, especially the way we lost that particular game on the last play of the game, but it wasn’t the last play. It’s what led up to the last play, and I think our players realize that.”
You heard him right. According to Saban, last season was a “failure.” A third straight SEC title. A third consecutive invite to the Final Four. All-Americans and future first-round draft picks all over the depth chart.
This is the impossible standard Saban has set, though. It’s national championship or bust, plain and simple. Saban’s greatest talent — I don’t know how he does it in this day and age — is keeping his guys hungry for more no matter how much they accomplish. The thrill of victory is miniscule compared to the agony of defeat.
Seemingly all of Saban’s 85 scholarship players buy in hook, line and sinker. His representatives in Hoover were crystal clear on the mission at hand.
“There’s a lot of hard competitors on our team, and with Coach Saban, we focus on the process,” said center Bradley Bozeman. “We push every day, and we try to be 1-0 at the end of every week. We try to do things that other people don’t want to do or can’t do. We just push it, break down barriers and knock down walls.”
Keep in mind that Alabama won it all in 2015, so most of the players on last season’s roster had already tasted confetti. But if anything, they wanted it even more this past year. It’s an itch that can simply never be scratched to satisfation.
“When you lose a big game like that, you definitely come into the next season with a chip on your shoulder,” said receiver Calvin Ridley (below). “We’re very excited to get out there. All our guys that did play in that game are really hungry to get back out there and play and show the world that we are one of the top teams in the nation.”

Credit: Adam Hagy-USA TODAY Sports
Meanwhile, Jones spent time in Knoxville spoon-feeding answers to the three kids he chose to bring with him. They took turns celebrating back-to-back nine-win seasons and three bowl victories in a row. But Crimson Tide safety Minkah Fitzpatrick only talked about one contest at length, and it was the last one.
“You always learn from a loss, and if you don’t, then that’s on you,” Fitzpatrick said. “We’re definitely using the motivation, and we’re not letting small things slide. That’s the reason we lost last year because we let little things slide towards the end of the season and the championship game. We lost because of small details.”
While ‘Bama has somehow raised the bar for 2017, Tennessee would prefer to lower expectations for self-esteem purposes.
“It takes a tremendous amount of accountability to be able to execute and sustain the execution for 60 minutes in the game,” Saban said. “And we played against a really, really good team, which I think when you get in the playoffs, that should be what you expect. And we weren’t able to finish the game like we needed to. And I think there’s a lot of lessons to learn, and hopefully we won’t waste a failure.”
SEC commissioner Greg Sankey unveiled the “it just means more” slogan a year ago. The Tide accepted the challenge. The Volunteers didn’t get the memo.
I don’t think Saban called a 14-1 season a failure. It looks to me like he is talking about that single game against clemson…
Yeah, that seemed obvious to me as well. Saban would never deem an SEC Championship season as a failure. John is reaching here to bolster his point, which isn’t really necessary. We all know Butch can’t be compared favorably to Saban (who can?).
They are entirely different situations, so it’s totally unfair to compare the two. Do I think that 9-4 “wasn’t a disappointment” at Tennessee? Absolutely not. I, along with almost every other fan, was massively disappointed. But it’s still a far cry from where we were. Did Jones and the team underperform? Absolutely, but it’s still better to play that tough a schedule and leave with 9 wins than it is to be where Tennessee was at just 2 years ago.
As for Saban, I don’t think he actually called it a failure. But for a coach of his caliber, at a program that is solidified as a dynasty currently, to lose a game that close at the very end, I can imagine he did feel like it was a failure, sure.
But it’s so disingenuous to compare the two. Not only can Butch not compare to Saban, but the programs are light years apart. Tennessee, despite what the media wants to portray, is still rebuilding. Bama hasn’t been rebuilding for going on 8-9 years. So for the Vols to play that difficult a schedule, despite underperforming in some games, and to be that injured on both sides of the ball, and still come out with 9 wins, it still gives the coaching staff a lot to be proud of. Fans are still disappointed, but considering the circumstances, there are still positives to take away.
I have Butchisms as much as the next guy, but the media takes him out of context then just compares him to incomparable situations. It’s honestly unfair to Butch, and I’ve been an advocate that he needs to be replaced…
It’s Year 5 for Jones. Nobody should still be rebuilding in Year 5. That “brick by brick” stuff was fine two seasons ago, but it’s ringing so hollow these days.
Jones hasn’t said “brick by brick” in several years. Sure, a few days ago he highlighted the progress the TN program has made in his time there. I disagree with him about last year not being a disappointment, but what do you expect him to say? How about a Dooley quote about how no one is “going to have Tennessee to kick around anymore”? Want him to “guarantee” an SEC Title?
You’re just mad at the dude because he only delivered one ‘disappointing’ quote during his session and you can’t make more fun at him. And you’re butt hurt because he made you, and nearly everyone else, look foolish with your preseason predictions.
I agree with you in that 9-4 is not where Tennessee should be measuring themselves. You could probably say that about several prominent programs around the league (LSU, Auburn, Georgia) and the country (Notre Dame, Nebraska, Texas, Miami). Gonna ask those coaches how they view last year and then compare it with what Nick Saban said about his 14-1 “failure?”
You seem to forget that at this time last year, the question for Jones was if he could actually beat Florida, Georgia, and Alabama in the same season. It was foregone that if he won all three of those games, or perhaps just two of three, Tennessee would win the East. A better question for Jones is what’s the difference between this year’s team and last year’s team that makes him believe he’s built to sustain success (yes, success) for an entire season rather than 6 weeks. But I’m not a “credentialed” media member so…
John,
While I agree that the rebuilding slogans have run their course, you are being too dismissive of just how badly UT had fallen on hard times with the coaching hire errors of Kiffin and especially Dooley. Had ex-UTAD Hamilton made GOOD hiring decisions (and he flubbed in other hiring jobs as well) UT wouldn’t have fallen so low. Alabama has had advantages in recruiting over UT for a long time (due to UT’s necessity to recruit more nationally) so it’s kinda ‘apples and oranges’ to compare the two programs.
What is your personal beef with UT? Every article you write about Tennessee is littered with sarcasm and condescension. Are you really that upset you picked the East wrong…again or do you have some kind of bias against Tennessee? Just curious
Can’t believe it took so long for someone to play the bias card. I picked Tennessee to win the East last year and heard next to nothing from its fans — nothing. Now I’m down on the Vols and everyone comes out in full force. It’s pretty simple, really: My BS-o-meter is starting to spike a little more violently every time Jones talks, that’s all. I think he made a fool of himself at the podium Monday, and so did a lot of people in that room. A program like Tennessee shouldn’t be so proud of beating the likes of Iowa, Northwestern and Nebraska in mediocre bowl games. But if that’s the new standard Jones wants to set, then deal with the fallout accordingly.
You base part of your prediction off of how a coach speaks at media days? Good God, is there anything about you or this site that doesn’t scream amateur journalism?
While credible and reputable media personnel are basing their predictions off of things like returning talent and experience, SDS cares about what is said at a freakin press conference. Nobody is lauding beating Northwestern or Nebraska, and nobody is accepting mediocrity, but when every Tennessee article you write has sarcasm and derision then you are going to get some backlash. Saban and Jones could have gone to the podium and said anything, but you would have spun it in the exact same way, and that’s our point.
BTW, you have yet to mention that Jones saying the season wasn’t a failure, wasn’t the end of his statement. He also said, in the same breath, something along the lines of, “While I don’t view last year as a failure, this team (program) didn’t accomplish everything they wanted and still has a lot of work to do. But you were to busy writing another Bash Jones story to care about what was actually said.
Like I said on another article, you Tennessee fans sure are a sensitive lot. You contradict yourselves constantly. It makes for fun reading.
He said a number of times that wasn’t the standard or goal that we want more, does the media not listen as usual? Most any coach is going to defend their school and their record, that’s just normal coach BS stuff, not just coming from BJones. The only BS i seen today was that article you wrote, and that you believe the recruiting rankings don’t matter until Feb when early signing is Dec 20th. Just seems weird or like you don’t know what going on in college football, isn’t that your only job? sighs
I don’t remember ever saying that beating up on the Big Ten second tier was the “gold standard”. Typical that the media tries to force feed their own agenda and what they perceive as reality. Your bias, albeit might not be against Tennessee solely, is still there whether you want to admit to it or not. Any team you are down on you trash relentlessly and any team you’re up on you plant your lips directly on that coach’s backside. Also, I have never seen someone in a professional setting get so worked up over criticism. It is really unbecoming of you.
The only failure here is this article and the “professionals” that have picked the East wrong for the past 4 years. I know you guys like to write stuff like this, maybe it makes you feel like you know what you are talking about? But you say things like this “Nevertheless, coach Butch Jones felt the need to hand out participation trophies. He’s becoming a laughingstock on Rocky Top.” is what made me post a response. Butch Jones has done a lot here on Rocky Top to make Tennessee competitive again, nobody looks past UT anymore now do they? And you are totally WRONG when you think Nick is saying that the 2016 season for Alabama was a failure, he never said that. Butch was talking about the season as a whole, not just one game. The only person that’s a laughing stock right now is you and this article, Go Vols!!
I think the article makes a good point about the difference between the coaches in leadership and accountability. Jones is just bad at PR and has continuously set himself up for ridicule with his odd motivational pep talking style. He just comes off as bush league. Add to it his sllloooowwwww build at UT and it’s just a bad combo.
I am interested to find out which volunteers keep pissing in this kid’s Cheerios.
Child seems very upset Tennessee has the #1 recruiting class in the sec.
It’s July. Congratulations. National Signing Day, which is the only time those ranking truly matter, is in February.
You think it will be February? really? Did you forget about Dec 20? https://www.sbnation.com/college-football-recruiting/2017/5/8/15585942/ncaa-early-signing-period-date-2017
You think I don’t know there’s an early-signing period now? Recruiting classes won’t be full until the actual signing day, which is in February. This is my job, you know. I’m paid rather handsomely to know more than you do. I don’t know why that offends some people so much.
Yep I’ve already questioned this being your job up read above. We’ll just have to see what percentage don’t sign early and find out how “full” that day actually is. I believe that if the coaches are doing their jobs there will be a small percentage that won’t sign early in fear of actually being passed over and their spot taken, which happens all the time. And hey, you know the saying, John Crist I hate you, didn’t really know you until today but man is that true :)
“I’m paid rather handsomely to know more than you do.” -John Crist. Except, John, how much do you really “know”?
Last year, you, like nearly everyone else, thought Tennessee was going to win the East. (https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/sec-football/how-sds-staff-voted-sec-preseason-rankings/). Is that how you define your “job” and what you “know” and get paid “handsomely” for or is there more to it than just going with the flow to get click-bait on your website?
John Crist, Senior Writer, 2016 Predictions
East order of finish: 1. Tennessee, 2. Georgia, 3. Florida, 4. Kentucky, 5. Missouri, 6. Vanderbilt, 7. South Carolina.
West order of finish: 1. Alabama, 2. LSU, 3. Ole Miss, 4. Texas A&M, 5. Auburn, 6. Arkansas, 7. Mississippi State.
*The jewel of last year was John’s predictions on South Carolina (2-10 overall and 0-8 in the SEC). (https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/south-carolina-football/sds-crystal-ball-predicting-every-south-carolina-game-2016/). Nice work JC!
Sure, let’s judge people’s level of knowledge professionally by their ability to predict the future. Seems like a good idea. What could possibly go wrong?
Yep you’re pissed.
No, you’re just not in on the joke.
You are the joke.
The “senior” writer has been alerting this community for over a year that his readers know more about football in general and the SEC in particular than the author they are reading.
When alerted to this fact the “JOKE” says he isn’t expected to have “enclypedic” knowledge.
LOL AT you kid.
Last year was a failure to me. The failure is because of how we finished. Best sc or vandy for the east and s sugar bowl berth and then lay a big fat uninspired egg at sc and make candy look like bama. You guys can be happy with that. As I just told crist on another post, opinions vary, and you are entitled to yours. I would have fired butch last year and I will gladly come back next November and ding his praises and my idiocy if he wins more than 6-7 games this year. I sincerely hope he does. As far as that recruiting class it is wayyy too early for us to be overly excited. Lay another big egg this season and that class could change drastically. Nice to be there now though.
Man so many spellcheck errors. Too many to correct. U get my drift.
Preseason recruiting champs now? Congratulations
That’s right up there with the Jacksonville Jaguars winning the offseason, again.
We know how recruiting rankings work. The point that most Vol fans are trying to make when saying stuff like that is the state of the program, especially regarding Butch Jones isn’t as bleak as writers like Crist would have you think. Recruits are still buying what Jones is selling and obviously feel he is going to be around for some years. The specific problem I have with articles like this is that for one quotes at Media Days have absolutely no bearing on how a football team does during the season and the lead writer for a college football website can’t seem to understand that. But I guess I should have known he used some ridiculous criteria, based off of his predictions results. And second, he didn’t even use all of Jones’ quote, specifically the part where Jones said he wasn’t satisfied with last year’s results. But no, he will use a partial quote to write articles like this, and probably put this in a “I Hate You, John Crist,” piece to try and justify it.
I think he does a lot of good things, and he is surely bringing in some talent. He just needs to be honest on where the program is and where he is taking it. Spinning last year’s disappointment is almost comical.
Yup
Well stated LSUMC
The problem with Tennessee isn’t the recruiting, its the coaching mentality. you have all the talent to succeed. The Majority thought Tennessee would win the east last year. (Myself included) The majority being everyone but the coach, players, and fans. You undercut yourselves and your coach doesn’t present as Hungry enough your players do not present as Hungry enough. You lost to the 2 weakest opponents in the east in a year that you had a 100% Built brick by brick Butch Jones team and it was lack luster. As a Bama fan i would like to do away with the Rivalry game it hasn’t been fun to watch in ages and i see nothing in the future to change that with Butch Jones at the Helm.
As a follow up Your school rehired Phil Fulmer as an advisor i say put him back in as the Coach at least when he was doing the job you all were winning. since then you all have become Bad Decision U.
I’m glad they weren’t any Vol fans wanting to do away with the series when Tennessee had a seven game winning streak against Alabama in the 90’s with no end in sight!!!
Saban called it right. 1 – 0 every week. They failed on the 15th week. You can have a good season and fail to meet your goals. The elephant in the room is the satisfaction. Butch and Tennessee are satisfied and pleased with themselves last year. They celebrated with their Champions of life trophies. Bama failed on the 15th week and went home with a resolve to get better. Now you tell me, which team is going to be ready to kick butt when the season opens. They won’t be any Orange in Atlanta in DEC.
If you want to argue you will need to change the subject. Except saying the coaches, players and fans didn’t think they would win. That comment is dumb.