Getting excited for Dooley

#52
#52
I won't believe it until I actually see Hamilton say it is true. But I am not ready to say this is a failure.

Dooley is young and obviously has a lot of passion and love for the game, which could work well for our program. What if he wins championships? What if he turns out to be the greatest UT coach of all time? Maybe he will be the right fit. Of course we don't know right now, but that's part of it. We don't know with any of these coaching prospects until we give them a shot.
 
#53
#53
As the only head football coach in the country who also serves as the university's athletics director, Derek Dooley enter his third season at Louisiana Tech leading both the football program and the athletic department into a new era of unprecedented change.

Since he stepped on campus Dec. 17, 2006 when he was named the 31st head coach in Bulldog football history, Dooley has rebranded not only the reputation but the perception of Louisiana Tech Athletics on a regional and national level.

His work ethic and incredible vision during his first year as the Bulldog head coach was so impressive that Louisiana Tech President Dr. Dan Reneau added a line to Dooley's business cards March 6, 2008 when he named him athletics director.

Dooley's hiring and immediate success at Louisiana Tech have drawn rave reviews from some of the university's top alumni.

"Derek is exactly what I hoped he would be," said NFL Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw. "As far as I am concerned, he has exceeded everyone's expectations, including the 65,000 alumni. He is making people stand up and take notice of Louisiana Tech.

"What we have is a man who has a vision for this program and this university; he wants to make it something special. He has a plan. It is an energetic, aggressive plan, and I could not be more proud to have him as our AD and our football coach."

As a football coach, the son of former Georgia coaching legend Vince Dooley comes by his talent honestly.

In just two short years as head football coach, Dooley has led the Bulldogs to their first bowl victory in more than 30 years as LA Tech defeated Northern Illinois in the 2008 Independence Bowl.

The bowl appearances was only their third since Louisiana Tech joined the FBS ranks 20 years ago.

After posting a 3-10 mark in 2006 the year before Dooley was hired, Tech recorded an 8-5 mark this season, which includes wins over SEC foe Mississippi State and bowl-bound Fresno State, and a second-place finish in the Western Athletic Conference standings -- a conference that boasts six bowl eligible teams out of the nine members.

Dooley's work the past two years didn't go unnoticed as he was named the Coach of the Year in the state of Louisiana by the Louisiana Sports Writer's Association, the first time a LA Tech coach earned the honor in a decade.

Dooley's influence has been seen in all phases of the Bulldog program, and the three year comparisons show the differences that Dooley has made during his first two years at the helm.


Category 2006 2007 2008
Record 3-10 5-7 8-5
WAC 1-7 4-4 5-3
Turnover Margin -8 +1 +9
Scoring Offense 18.6 20.7 24.6
Scoring Defense 41.7 30.7 2 3.7
Rushing Offense 130.1 155.2 187.1
Rushing Defense 225.4 137.1 103.8
Special Teams TDs 0 1 5
Blocked Kicks 1 5 5

Not only has Tech seen improvements over a three-year span, but some of the Bulldogs numbers are also the best since the program joined the FBS in 1989.
 
Last edited:
#54
#54
Great hire, it is great to be a Vol. Good riddance Kiffin. This guy is a worker. He is not a brat like Kiffin.
 
#55
#55
The guy is a lawyer too... so he can sweet talk those recruits and their parents into buying whatever he's selling. I like it.
 
#56
#56
i just dont know if I want him to drag over so much of his staff, kippy, garza, thompson and chaney are MUST keeps.
 
#57
#57
This is unfortunate. Hamilton has truly run out of options. Perhaps it's time to reassess this program. Because of this fiasco, Georgia and South Carolina, I feel, have officially surpassed our program. This recruiting class is decimated...he's simply not popular enough to salvage the class. I predict Hamilton stays another year, we struggle, and he is fired, perhaps before the season even concludes.

The silver lining?

We are Tennessee. And we will never lay down and die.
 
#58
#58
I'm going to reserve judgement until the product is on the field. The one positive I see is that he has special teams experience so hopefully that will be better. The negative is I had a conversation with a friend who is a UVA season ticket holder. He felt confident that we be happy with Dooley expressing that he wished UVA had hired him. All I wanted to say was that's nice but UT is not UVA. I'm afraid that Hamilton might have taken us down that path. I hope not but that is my fear.
 
#60
#60
Since everyone is making doomsday predictions about how bad a hire this is, please mark me down as predicting it is going to be a very good hire. Time will tell and then we will see who is correct.
 
#61
#61
I think we could get much worse. If he is hired, I don't think he will be that bad. We got to move forward.
 
#62
#62
Yeah, you should be pissed. You just got rid of a whiny no talented ass clown and hired a class act, no nonsense head coach who will revive UT's program. Oh, but his name isn't in the paper everyday. Nice to see UT fans are as dumb as the rest of us.
 
#63
#63
DEFENDTHISHOUSE said:
How in the world can the fanbase get excited about the La Tech coach that has UGA ties.... We are in serious trouble.
Click to expand...

The only ties he has are that his father was the coach at UGA and he was a grad asst. there for 1 year... He went to Virginia. I don't think he will be itching to go to UGA. I think a lot of you guys are overreacting.
 
#64
#64
I like the hire. We were looking for Stoops, Lovie Smith, Gruden, Harbaugh, but the fact is that all of these guys were once a Derek Dooley type hire before they were homerun hires. Let's give the guy a chance. Fire Hamilton and bring in Fulmer as AD to get our good name back.
 
#65
#65
If it truly is Dooley (and when will we be able to truly believe the "breaking news"), I will be very happy to sit back and see how it all pans out. I love the fact that the guy was also LaTech's AD and is an attorney. Maybe, just maybe we have our Urban.

& remember this..... Vince Dooley's program was always a class act.
 
#68
#68
No doubt. We are set back for a very long time. I'm beyond depressed and angry. Been a die hard vol fan since i was old enough to grab a football and this is sickening! Hope it works out for us all. This is a sad depressing day for us all. We could not get better than this makes me even sicker in my soul.
 
#69
#69
Ericvol2096 said:
The more I read on this guy the more I think he is a solid hire. (not a home run but solid).

If he can keep LT as D Coordinator, and Kippy/Chaney for O, and bring in Garner this could be great!

GO VOLS!
Click to expand...

+1 I agree with you. Dooley started HCing in 2006 and became AD/HC in 2008 and he's only 41! He must be doing something right. A much better choice than Kippy Brown. It is disgusting how many people think Kippy would be best choice. It doesn't make any sense and make me want to vomit! :banghead2:
 
#71
#71
We have a great staff waiting- if he can bring in a good DC or let LT help- retain Chaney and Kippy, we are going to cause some damage. Saban named him his RC at LSU....and Saban is a great recruiter and this was his pick to head his "process." You look at the possible total picture, and I am excited.
 
#72
#72
volnate said:
if it truly is dooley (and when will we be able to truly believe the "breaking news"), i will be very happy to sit back and see how it all pans out. I love the fact that the guy was also latech's ad and is an attorney. maybe, just maybe we have our urban.

& remember this..... Vince dooley's program was always a class act.
Click to expand...

lol!
 
#73
#73
So I"m confused, you all (grouping everyone) wanted muschamp but he had ties to UGA, and Auburn....But Dooley has ties to UGA and we don't want him? What is up with that people?
 
#74
#74
Give the guy time...he's gotta hell of alot better resume than Kiffin had coming in here. You guys acting like this is the end of the world, are over-reacting. If he runs a clean ship and surrounds himself with quality coaches, he will do fine!
 
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top