If you had it to do over again?

[Henry Knox]

The criteria had nothing with ranking the greatest coaches in Tennessee history which would always be Neyland first,and Fulmer second. It was comparing the qualities of each as each embarked upon their journey which was Tennessee football.

VTVOL98 - you are correct. I don't want anyone to think that "my" top 5 criteria for a head coach was appropriate, but rather the reflection of the attributes that each coach brought with them when they came and left the program.

I've settled on the most positive criteria you could have for the coaches we have recently seen at UT. It is not a list of "best" coaches. They're the ones we have had. I think the poster has it right when grading the coaches based solely on the 5 criteria.....

It shows that Neyland is on top, Fulmer second, Majors third, and Dickey fourth. Kiffin, Battle, and Dooley should probably all be judged together with Dooley coming out on top of the other two based purely on the criteria alone.

 

[Henry Knox]

His short resume on recruiting as a head coach does not compare to what Fulmer did over his career. Like I said, he did have what appeared to be a great staff. I don't think they were together long enough to accurately grade. I've always liked Monty, but I was disappointed in the way our defense played in several games last year. Your right about the tradition part. I don't agree that he is media savvy. Like I stated before, he definitly had us in the news, but 90% of it was negative. I do not agree that negative news is good news. Some kids might like it, but I'm sure it turns off more that it impresses.
Dooley should not be on this list yet either. He has yet to coach his first game. I hope he becomes #1 in time, but he shouldn't be considered with our other great coaches yet. I think it is a slap in the face of our program to even consider Kiffin.
You stated that if Kiffin promoted Tennessee as a brand he would have springboarded to #1. That is completely crazy!

I was just comparing coaches to the arbitrary criteria that is discussed daily on the message boards. Dooley is considered because he is the head coach right now. Everyone has an opinion, mine is affected by the 5 criteria I listed in the original post.

 

[Henry Knox]

To be fair to Clawson, his offense underwent the same growing pains which Michigan is currently experiencing. He was trying to operate a spread-style offense with players better suited for pro style formations such as the I-form. Fulmer's mistake was kowtowing to public opinion in hiring Clawson to make his offense more exciting. In hindsight, if Phil had just "stayed the course" with another pro-style OC such as Frank Cignetti or Doug Marrone, he still might roaming the sidelines looking to beat Neyland's record.

100%:zeitung_lesen:

 

[Lexvol]

One refreshing thing about it all...UT has gone outside the "family" for coaches. The new rules of the college football world demand it. For me, experimenting with Dooley is more encouraging than bringing Cut back (and toward the end of the process it looked like it was between Cut and Dooley.)

We should have replaced Fulmer in 05. We would be further ahead as a program now if we had.

 

[justingroves]

I seriously doubt the stuff about CJ. CJ was the successor to Casey Clausen. We brought in James Banks, but he was switched to receiver before Casey left. But yeah, Rick Clausen was brought in as a backup guy.

Didn't CJ blow both knees out at Wake Forest?

 

[Lexvol]

I hope posting the stats didn't make you think I was down on Clawson. I think he's a good coach and at least he's creative. For whatever reason, it didn't work at UT. The OP was about righting the ship, and I don't think it was gonna work out for him here. So, let's say Phil throws him under the bus, and fires him after the first year. Who's he gonna get? And can that guy turn the worst offense in UT history around? Can he do it in a year with Crompton and Stephens at the helm? It would have been a tall order and as much as I dislike Kiffin, he or someone on his staff got Crompton to live up to his potential and I'm just not confident CF and a new OC could've done that.

or...Phil could have bought in to Clawson's system and required the same of the players.

 

[justingroves]

One refreshing thing about it all...UT has gone outside the "family" for coaches. The new rules of the college football world demand it. For me, experimenting with Dooley is more encouraging than bringing Cut back (and toward the end of the process it looked like it was between Cut and Dooley.)

We should have replaced Fulmer in 05. We would be further ahead as a program now if we had.

Correct. If Dooley is successful or fails, at least it's outside the "Tennessee Family".

It might not be such a bad bunch but it's not like Fulmer had any assistants that stood out other than Chavis and Cut. Neither of those could be a successful HC in the SEC.

 

[JOEY'S ALL VOL !!!]

Didn't CJ blow both knees out at Wake Forest?

The same knee twice I believe.

 

[Henry Knox]

How about this? I reserve judgment on CDD until the day after NSD 2011.
He needs to do one of two:
1. Win without players, or
2. Recruit without wins

If he can get a winning season and a bowl appearance, OR a top ten recruiting class, then the program is going in the right direction.

If he does neither, we're in big trouble.

Can't be summarized any better than this!

 

[OWB]

We should have replaced Fulmer in 05. We would be further ahead as a program now if we had.

Or we should have held on to him for a couple of more years and found a coach that was really a good fit for us. I'm afraid people are going to find that Dooley is very Fulmeresque.

 

[Lexvol]

Correct. If Dooley is successful or fails, at least it's outside the "Tennessee Family".

It might not be such a bad bunch but it's not like Fulmer had any assistants that stood out other than Chavis and Cut. Neither of those could be a successful HC in the SEC.

Of course part of it had to do with longevity in the business, but Major's coaching tree is much more impressive...and it isn't even close.

 

[BigOldOrange]

You have to remember that Fulmer brought in Clawson but he still ran the offense. He didn't let him pick the QB to run the system. He did the same with Sanders and fired him. He makes the decisions and the coaches have do what he says. I liked Fulmer but if he had hired his coaches and let them coach their way he would have been better off.

 

[Lexvol]

Or we should have held on to him for a couple of more years and found a coach that was really a good fit for us. I'm afraid people are going to find that Dooley is very Fulmeresque.

It is trending in that direction so far. Fortunately Dooley has something to prove, and when Fulmer was in that position he took advantage of the opportunity.

 

[justingroves]

Or we should have held on to him for a couple of more years and found a coach that was really a good fit for us. I'm afraid people are going to find that Dooley is very Fulmeresque.

I'm perfectly fine with that as long as we get 92 - 99 Fulmer out of Dooley.

 

[BamaFossil]

Based on the condition of the program now, IMO it will take a minimum of 3 yrs to be contenders regardless of who the coach is. If my math is correct, thats 5 yrs post Fulmer era. Due to my respect for Fulmer, im going to say that had we gave him 5 more years, he would have gotten the job done within those 5 yrs. I dont see how the ride could have been rougher than what weve been through. ...

From a rival's perspective, I wish Fulmer had remained at TN. I don't believe the 5-year scenario would have played out well for you. Fans would be restless and Fulmer's staying power would be questioned by recruits. Uncertainty and doubt were running rampant. The Clawson experiment just added more confusion to the situation. TN did the right thing by dumping Fulmer. Darn it.

The Kiffin experiment had disaster written all over it. However, the ink was invisible for most TN fans... and apparantly the TN AD. I'm sorry Kiffin left. I read where USC forked out over $4 million/year for him. LOTS still to play out on that story IMO.

I'm not celebrating the Dooley hire. I'm in the camp that thinks he could work out well for TN. IF he's given time.

One refreshing thing about it all...UT has gone outside the "family" for coaches. ....

For years this was an albatross around our necks as well; you did well to cut the cord.

 

[Lexvol]

From a rival's perspective, I wish Fulmer had remained at TN. I don't believe the 5-year scenario would have played out well for you. Fans would be restless and Fulmer's staying power would be questioned by recruits. Uncertainty and doubt were running rampant. The Clawson experiment just added more confusion to the situation. TN did the right thing by dumping Fulmer. Darn it.

The Kiffin experiment had disaster written all over it. However, the ink was invisible for most TN fans... and apparantly the TN AD. I'm sorry Kiffin left. I read where USC forked out over $4 million/year for him. LOTS still to play out on that story IMO.

I'm not celebrating the Dooley hire. I'm in the camp that thinks he could work out well for TN. IF he's given time.



For years this was an albatross around our necks as well; you did well to cut the cord.

I don't think Dooley is destined to succeed. The odds are not in his favor, but I do find it interesting that the SEC West fans who have been exposed to his coaching continually and sincerely vouch for the guy.

 

[OWB]

I'm perfectly fine with that as long as we get 92 - 99 Fulmer out of Dooley.

When you compare the talent, I think we can both agree that's probably not going to happen for a while. I'm pulling for Dooley, but I think it's going to be rough road for all involved.

 

[justingroves]

I don't think Dooley is destined to succeed. The odds are not in his favor, but I do find it interesting that the SEC West fans who have been exposed to his coaching continually and sincerely vouch for the guy.

I'm with you. Nothing is in Dooley's favor at all but every West guy sincerely thinks he's what Tennessee needs.

That's got to be a good sign right?

 

[justingroves]

When you compare the talent, I think we can both agree that's probably not going to happen for a while. I'm pulling for Dooley, but I think it's going to be rough road for all involved.

I believe he's a finger in the dam type. Hold the line until a big name is available.

I do wish him well.

 

[BamaFossil]

I believe he's a finger in the dam type. Hold the line until a big name is available.

I do wish him well.

I hope this becomes the general consensus amongst the TN fan base; it'll become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Dooley's recruiting job will be that much more difficult.

 

[justingroves]

I hope this becomes the general consensus amongst the TN fan base; it'll become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Dooley's recruiting job will be that much more difficult.

I don't necessarily agree (or want it to be true) with that type of thinking, just guessing on what he is going to turn out to be.

 

[kptvol]

Didn't CJ blow both knees out at Wake Forest?

Just one, I think. But when we brought him in, Casey was a freshman, so it's not like we needed him immediately.

 

[CardassianVol]

The only way Fulmer could have stayed is if he became nothing more than a figurehead and hired assistants to do everything for him. Basically, a coaching change with the appearance of stability. Neither our fans nor Phil would have accepted that outcome, though it may have worked out better than our recent hiring messes.

Hopefully Dooley can learn on the job and get lucky his first year by making it to a bowl game with unproven players at key positions. That would go a long way in helping reassure UT fans that we are not doomed.

 

[smokey90]

Majors was fired after winning 2 Conference Championships and attending 3 BCS Bowls in his last 3 3/4 years.

Fulmer was fired after winning 0 Conference Championships and attending 0 BCS Bowls in his last 10 years.

First, Majors did not go to BCS bowls. That was far before the BCS. We did go to the 91 Sugar Bowl (5-1-1 SEC record) against Virginia, who was unranked. Majors went to the 90 Cotton Bowl, and had a share of the SEC title that year. However, three teams shared the title that year, which means 30% of the (then) SEC won the title. Moreover, in 1985 won the SEC only because Florida was on probation (or Florida would have been credited with the title). Therefore, Majors did not have any SEC championships that were not shared except 1990, which was not a very good year (8-2-2 regular season). UT was on the road for a good year Major's last year, while he was absent for health reasons, but Majors insisted on returning and losing three straight. Prior to Majors return UT had the SEC east under control.

Majors was a good coach, but despite all the complaining on this board, Fulmer's tenure was the best (except for Neyland's, but that was so long ago).

Dooley has not coached a game at UT; so, we have no idea what to expect. He may do a fine job.

 

[jlovevols]

We'd be better off than we are now, but the future may be a different story. It was time for a change. Sometimes even when you're headed in the right direction, you have to go through a few bumps on the road.