NO SIR EEE
The Sultan Of Swat
- Joined
- Nov 29, 2011
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A quick introduction, I am a long time Vol fan and had heard great words about Vol Nation and decided to join, long time visitor, 21st post here. I do not blame, and I certainly don't make excuses. I would like to supply everyone with a little insight from a Big Orange die hard, twice a month, if, of course that is okay with everyone here and all the moderators.
Back in early August, different Vol fans had different expectations. Some thought this was the season, Dooley's second year and the Vols would soar high and perhaps encounter very few losses. Some thought that this would be a .500 season with ups and downs and everyone would just have to deal. Fans are sometimes right and sometimes wrong. Animosity built among the fan base as the season prolonged and animosity built internally inside the program, Tennessee had become turmoil city. Blames were being tossed left and right and for once, fans were at each other's throats and calling for the head of Dooley and harassing player's ability to complete plays.
Was youth an excuse for this 5-7 season? Was youth an excuse for Dooley compiling a 11-14 overall record after two seasons? A lot of fans will give you a smug look if you use youth as an excuse. I will not use youth as an excuse. Look at young teams in college football of the past, they didn't struggle too much, heck some of them have even won National Titles. I will not bore any of with the list of stats to back that comment up, but if your a fan of college football, you know it has happened.
You do not necessarily have to have experience to win big games or even make a run at being number 1 in the country. I truly believe the current problem lies internally in the program. I believe the problem has to do with Dooley's leadership. No, I am not calling for Dooley's head on a stick, nor am I suggesting that he is a pathetic excuse for a head coach.
During this off season, as the recruits get ready to announce where they are headed and the players prepare to start working again towards the 2012 season, I believe Dooley has to gather the coaching staff and deliver a message. They are the authority, they are the ones the players will look at to be guided properly during their tenure at Tennessee. Dooley grabbed the reigns of this program during one of the most demoralizing times in Tennessee football history. He has to sit back and realize that he has to get his coaching staff along with himself to deliver the message of Tennessee football.
The message of Tennessee football is simple, a program tied with great tradition and a great history of a winning program. Dooley cannot once lay down and throw blame or play daddy to his players. He has to let them know that they have to play a full 60 minutes, win or lose, they have to leave it all out on the field. They have to work harder than any other team in the weight room, and on the practice field. When other teams are taking days off, they have to be out there working. I am not suggesting working 7 days a week to the point of being sick of football, but the ethic has to be there. He has to let the defense know that no matter what happens, always hit hard, always let the opposing offense remember who exactly they played that day. He has to let the offense know that no matter what, they have to be patient and be sound and you will be able to move the ball down the field. Overall and most importantly, he has to establish a team chemistry that can never be broken, a band of brothers that believe in one another and every game is a team effort. You win as a team and you lose as a team, none of this oh well if he would have caught that pass or if he would have made that one tackle. He has to establish that this is a brotherhood and never forget who you played with in the best years of your life.
If Dooley can establish and drive home all these points and establish a full blown team, the prominence will return at Tennessee. If Dooley can not show his authority and make the players recognize that he is the boss and not their daddy, then he will be on his way out. Tennessee football is special, it's just not another football program, and it has to return to the best state we all know.
So long for the evening and I hope everyone can enjoy this and hopefully see the points clearly I have stated.
4th And Inches Volume I
Back in early August, different Vol fans had different expectations. Some thought this was the season, Dooley's second year and the Vols would soar high and perhaps encounter very few losses. Some thought that this would be a .500 season with ups and downs and everyone would just have to deal. Fans are sometimes right and sometimes wrong. Animosity built among the fan base as the season prolonged and animosity built internally inside the program, Tennessee had become turmoil city. Blames were being tossed left and right and for once, fans were at each other's throats and calling for the head of Dooley and harassing player's ability to complete plays.
Was youth an excuse for this 5-7 season? Was youth an excuse for Dooley compiling a 11-14 overall record after two seasons? A lot of fans will give you a smug look if you use youth as an excuse. I will not use youth as an excuse. Look at young teams in college football of the past, they didn't struggle too much, heck some of them have even won National Titles. I will not bore any of with the list of stats to back that comment up, but if your a fan of college football, you know it has happened.
You do not necessarily have to have experience to win big games or even make a run at being number 1 in the country. I truly believe the current problem lies internally in the program. I believe the problem has to do with Dooley's leadership. No, I am not calling for Dooley's head on a stick, nor am I suggesting that he is a pathetic excuse for a head coach.
During this off season, as the recruits get ready to announce where they are headed and the players prepare to start working again towards the 2012 season, I believe Dooley has to gather the coaching staff and deliver a message. They are the authority, they are the ones the players will look at to be guided properly during their tenure at Tennessee. Dooley grabbed the reigns of this program during one of the most demoralizing times in Tennessee football history. He has to sit back and realize that he has to get his coaching staff along with himself to deliver the message of Tennessee football.
The message of Tennessee football is simple, a program tied with great tradition and a great history of a winning program. Dooley cannot once lay down and throw blame or play daddy to his players. He has to let them know that they have to play a full 60 minutes, win or lose, they have to leave it all out on the field. They have to work harder than any other team in the weight room, and on the practice field. When other teams are taking days off, they have to be out there working. I am not suggesting working 7 days a week to the point of being sick of football, but the ethic has to be there. He has to let the defense know that no matter what happens, always hit hard, always let the opposing offense remember who exactly they played that day. He has to let the offense know that no matter what, they have to be patient and be sound and you will be able to move the ball down the field. Overall and most importantly, he has to establish a team chemistry that can never be broken, a band of brothers that believe in one another and every game is a team effort. You win as a team and you lose as a team, none of this oh well if he would have caught that pass or if he would have made that one tackle. He has to establish that this is a brotherhood and never forget who you played with in the best years of your life.
If Dooley can establish and drive home all these points and establish a full blown team, the prominence will return at Tennessee. If Dooley can not show his authority and make the players recognize that he is the boss and not their daddy, then he will be on his way out. Tennessee football is special, it's just not another football program, and it has to return to the best state we all know.
So long for the evening and I hope everyone can enjoy this and hopefully see the points clearly I have stated.
