Now that I’m familiar with Coach Dickeys story .

#52
#52
volfan2024 said:
I use to despise Kiffin because he left the Vols but reading about Dickey who I happen to admire and respect left the Vols went to Florida came back athletic director for the Vols. So pretty similar stories I suppose so I gotta back off Kiffin hate now.
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Ftg. If skulking out in the middle of the night is your style, then I'll just keep hating.
 
#53
#53
Bob Woodruff was also a former Florida head football coach and he hired Dickey as the coach at Tennessee and let him go under circumstances that were not beneficial to the university.

When Dickey became the athletic director, his hires were not much better than Fulmer's foray into being an athletic director, particularly on the basketball side, hired Blob Kessling, indicating that if you were too cheap to buy a ticket, that was all that you deserved and viewed basketball as indoor football. Dickey was a walking PR nightmare for the university, his wife sold Shaklee vitamins to the athletic department, his "Cherokee Country Club was not an option for Coach Wade Houston" remark cost him his own membership and his daughter's wedding reception there.

Dickey did run a clean athletics department from an NCAA compliance perspective and always kept the athletic department on solid financial ground, but he had the power to pull revenue from the season ticket holders before it got to the investment bank levels we see today and he was a pretty shrewd negotiator with the various bowl committees, winning lots of tickets and concessions to bring the football team to their bowl.

Dickey's gaffes weren't much different than what have happened with the guys that sat as the athletic directed after he did, but for the most part I don't see any reason to elevate him above any other coaches during those time frames, particularly Ray Mears, as most of the sporting traditions at the university, i.e. running through the T, Rocky Top as a fight song, etc. all originated with him in the basketball program anyway.
 
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#54
#54
number1volfanfrom76 said:
I was a soph when this happened. Rumors actually started wks b4. Now bring in the famous "Archie Who" game where Ole Miss, with Archie Manning kicked our butt. Rumors of our HC going to FL had started and we played like crap. Archie had a great game against demoralized UT players. I think we were undefeated then. Not sure about that. It was a pitiful finish to what was a great beginning to the '69 season.
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We were undefeated and ranked no. 3 when we went to Jackson, dubbed the "Jackson Massacre" afterwards.
 
#55
#55
MAD said:
After only having 2 coaches for 31 years it was a shock when Kiffin quit after 1. It felt very insulting and disrespectful.
This just doesn’t happen at the University of Tennessee, you stay forever as a coach.

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Kiffin doing what he did really messed this fanbase up mentally and emotionally
 
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#58
#58
knox73 said:
oldtimers from that era hated Dickey for leaving UT for Florida a few days after losing to them in a bowl game. Doug totally rebuilt Tennessee following the single wing offense era and did an amazing job. I forgave Doug after his son Daryl led the 1985 Vols to the Sugar Bowl championship over Miami.

Anyway old Bob Woodruff passed over John Majors and hired Billy Boy Scout Battle to succeed Dickey which was incredibly stupid. Yes stupid beyond comprehension then and now. Dickey became a decent AD after failing miserably at Florida. Dickey left a loaded program at Tennessee and he may have been one of the great 20th century coaches if he had stayed at UT. Bill Battle had absolutely no business being hired or even interviewed to succeed Dickey. It would be like the Vol current tight ends coach - Abeln? - being hired to succeed Heupel.

By the way Lane Kiffin sucks.
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Probably the second dumbest HC hire in college football history behind only Notre Dame hiring a High School coach, Gerry Faust a few years later. We had a Top 5 -10 program and outside of Bear and a few others could have hired any established coach coach in the country.

Then the fat bastard did the same thing 9 years later when Mears had to retire. Just like football with the exception of a few coaches could have hired any coach in the country but instead hires a coach who just went 11-17 at Wyoming and had a rep as a mediocre recruiter. One example was Hugh Durham who had a Final Four at FSU of all places. After Woodruff passed him over he was hired at UGA and took the worst program in the SEC to a FF.

As much as I despise everything Alabama I have to say Bill Battle had as much character and integrity as any coach we ever had in any sport. Who knows , he may have been a great coach if not getting our job when he was not ready for it. But can't blame him for taking the job when offered. In his first 3 years he was 31-5, 1-5 against Alabama and Auburn and 30-0 against everybody else.
 
#59
#59
TartanTurff said:
Bob Woodruff was also a former Florida head football coach and is hired Dickey as the coach at Tennessee and let him go under circumstances that were not beneficial to the university.

When Dickey became the athletic director, his hires were not much better than Fulmer's foray into being an athletic director, particularly on the basketball side, hired Blob Kessling, indicating that if you were too cheap to buy a ticket, that was all that you deserved. Dickey was a walking PR nightmare for the university, his wife sold Shaklee vitamins to the athletic department, his "Cherokee Country Club was not an option for Coach Wade Houston" cost him his own membership and his daughter's wedding reception.

Dickey did run a clean athletics department from an NCAA compliance perspective and always kept the athletic department on solid financial ground, but he had the power to pull revenue from the season ticket holders before it got to the investment bank levels we see today and he was a pretty shrewd negotiator with the various bowl committees, winning lots of tickets and concessions to bring the football team to their bowl.

Dickey's gaffes weren't much different than what have happened with the guys that sat as the athletic directed after he did, but for the most part I don't see any reason to elevate him above any other coaches during those time frames, particularly Ray Mears, as most of the sporting traditions at the university, i.e. running through the T, Rocky Top as a fight song, etc. all originated with him in the basketball program anyway.
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Just throwing this out there but I have always believed that TN stole Rocky Top from UTC. Grew up and still lived in Chatt in the 70's and went to their BB games. Ron Shumate was their coach, a very innovative coach for that time, fast break full court press, and he started the pep band at games playing Rocky Top before and after games.

I don't know when UT starting using it but if it was around 1975 or after then I believe UTC has claim to its origins. You UT historians can confirm or correct me on this.
 
#61
#61
VolCalls said:
I just watched the Kiffin documentary on ESPN and it gave me a newfound respect for the guy with how he’s transformed his life over the last decade. We all make mistakes and he made a lot as a young coach, but Lane Kiffin at 50 is not the Lane Kiffin we saw from age 30-40. I encourage you to watch it for yourself if you haven’t already.

There are many who will read this and not like it, and if so, that’s your problem, but I’m rooting for him.
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Good for you but he’s still a narcissist that’s in “I want your sympathy” stage. What other coach feels the need to ridicule his opponent after the game with silly immature tweets? I’m no fan of Kelly but a mature person, that he claims to be, moves on.

I tend to view people more by what they do, not what they say…. But hey, that’s me.
 
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#62
#62
OrangeBeachVol said:
Just throwing this out there but I have always believed that TN stole Rocky Top from UTC. Grew up and still lived in Chatt in the 70's and went to their BB games. Ron Shumate was their coach, a very innovative coach for that time, fast break full court press, and he started the pep band at games playing Rocky Top before and after games.

I don't know when UT starting using it but if it was around 1975 or after then I believe UTC has claim to its origins. You UT historians can confirm or correct me on this.
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Band Director Dr. WJ Julian introduced it as part of the band’s halftime show during the 1972 Alabama football game. The lively music soon became the “hallmark” of UT athletics events. The pep band played a jazzed-up version of the song at the 1974 Conference Coaches Association tournament in St. Louis—and played it many times.
 
#64
#64
dobre_shunka said:
Band Director Dr. WJ Julian introduced it as part of the band’s halftime show during the 1972 Alabama football game. The lively music soon became the “hallmark” of UT athletics events. The pep band played a jazzed-up version of the song at the 1974 Conference Coaches Association tournament in St. Louis—and played it many times.
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Thanks as a number of us at the time thought UT got it from UTC. I never knew what was the truth. Long time mystery solved, ha.
 
#65
#65
OrangeBeachVol said:
Thanks as a number of us at the time thought UT got it from UTC. I never knew what was the truth. Long time mystery solved, ha.
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Rocky Top" is a favorite of UT fans, alumni, and others who sing it while the Tennessee Volunteers play at Neyland Stadium and Thompson–Boling Arena. The House of Bryant in Gatlinburg, their publishing company, has granted the University of Tennessee a perpetual license to play the song as much and as often as success on the field dictates.

Should read UTK. I think you are correct that UTC played it first but the Bryants recognized there are a lot more UTK fans than UTC.:)
 
#66
#66
Savannahbayvol said:
Rocky Top" is a favorite of UT fans, alumni, and others who sing it while the Tennessee Volunteers play at Neyland Stadium and Thompson–Boling Arena. The House of Bryant in Gatlinburg, their publishing company, has granted the University of Tennessee a perpetual license to play the song as much and as often as success on the field dictates.

Should read UTK. I think you are correct that UTC played it first but the Bryants recognized there are a lot more UTK fans than UTC.:)
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Thanks for adding to the truth. I know the UTK thing is probably the politically correct reference but I see that as disrespectful to the real UT. Note: graduated from UTC and was surprised my degree says University of Tennessee. No mention of UTC.
 
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