TENNESSEE
Paul Finebaum explains what frustrated him about Butch Jones at SEC Media Days
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Tennessee took center stage at SEC Media Days on Monday, meaning Butch Jones, a coach who most think enters the season on the hot seat, would face the media.
Jones is known for being a program seller and his cliches that drive fans and media somewhat nuts, but we’re all used to it by now. Still, Jones never really says what he should say at the right time.
One thing that frustrated me about Jones’ time with the media was him explaining how last year’s 9-4 team wasn’t a disappointment. Let’s face it, in a year when Tennessee beats both Florida and Georgia but loses to South Carolina and Vanderbilt, it’s a disappointment. But Coach Cliche tried explaining why it wasn’t.
“I don’t view it as a disappointment,” Jones 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.”
SEC Network analyst Paul Finebaum wasn’t amused with Jones’ time with the media Monday either. He hopped on the SDS Podcast to explain why. Finebaum thinks that Jones is trying to lower the expectation at Tennessee for fans ahead of this season; Finebaum also thinks that Jones will survive this season short of a disaster.
“[Fans have] very mixed reaction [to Butch Jones],” Finebaum said. “I know one thing, Butch Jones is very likely to survive this season, short of a disaster. But how does this season play out? He’s done a really good job lowering expectations, which I think is what he wants to do.
“What frustrated me on Monday is this: ‘We inherited a very difficult situation. We inherited a program that was 2-14 against Power 5.’ That’s ridiculous. In your fifth year, you shouldn’t be talking about your first year. You shouldn’t be going through a transition. Alabama isn’t the example everyone wants to hear, but Nick Saban, after five years, had won a national championship and was about to win another one.”
It’s clear that Finebaum isn’t sold on Jones as a head football coach and seems to wonder if the Vols have hit their ceiling under Jones. Regardless, Tennessee shouldn’t be happy with 8-4.
“When I hear a school like the University of Tennessee say we’re happy with 8-4 and we don’t want to play Alabama — not specifically the university saying it but the apparatus of fans and media. I just shake my head,” Finebaum said. “Tennessee football is a major entity. If you say ‘8-4 is okay. We couldn’t find anyone better,’ then you’re losing it.
“Tennessee shouldn’t be happy heading to a bowl game. Tennessee ought to be contending for the SEC East every year.”
Regardless of how you feel about Finebaum, he’s right.
You can listen to the full podcast featuring Finebaum here.
Who is Paul Finebaum?
He’s the guy walking around with Jon Cooper’s nose up his rear end.
I agree completely with finebaum except I don’t think many fans want to stop playing the team from LA. We should have fired jones at the end of last season. I definitely don’t want to stop playing the red ocean fungus and I clearly see last season as a major disappointment. Most of the players do too. We have talent this year but having a new QB starting almost always takes a couple years to really develop. I have a hard time seeing more than 5-6 wins. If that happens I hope Currie has the stones to make the call. I hope Sargent carter proves me wrong.
You know the University is not located in lower Alabama right?..
Y’all play UCLA? Southern Cal?
Anyways I don’t live in Alabama right now, so I didn’t get to hear the fans from around the area, but I got the voice of the fans from Reddit. They definitely said they never want to stop playing Bama. I have more respect for them over the barn fans for that. So I’m not sure where he thinks that most of the fans want to stop playing Bama. Only one I really know of is that dumbass reporter, and they all said he need to shut up.
You’re the same guy that tried to lectue another fan on respecting other teams yet you constantly call Bama some other name in every post….
I’m not sure he will survive this year. I think 7-5 is a real possibility in this rebuilding year. He will just get by on 8-4, but will Vol fans support his mediocre mantra after 7-5? If find it tough to believe.
*I find it tough to believe.
I’m afraid with even 6 wins he will be retained. UT has a history of being squeaky tight with money and the buyout will be a lot less in another year if I recall correctly. I think 5 wins and that may do it but don’t know Currie so just have to see. If he goes 8-4 he absolutely deserves another season. If he made these coaching changes a couple years ago the talk today would probably be much different.
What amazes me is that Finebaum I considered to have a relevant opinion. 20 years ago, he was a superb sports writer. Today, he is a caricature of Alabama infatuation and self-love. He should be ignored or at best, treated like the old, loony uncle at family reunions.
Have you ever listened to the guy? He is a UT grad and has NO love for Bama or Nick Saban. Look up last year Media days confrontation between Saban & Finebaum
It isn’t about who he likes or dislikes. He is going for views…