TN football downhill slide started when Doug Dickey retired

#1
TNTechVol

TNTechVol

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#1
That's when it all began. It shows the importance of a competent AD. Next HC hire will define Currie.
 
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#2
#2
TNTechVol said:
That's when it all began. It shows the importance of a competent AD. Next HC hire will define Currie.
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Well, now, it was the elevation of Hamilton to AD (a job well beyond his capabilities) rather than Dickey's retirement, per se.
 
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#5
#5
Yes, it would be so nice to have someone with Dickey’s knowledge and insight. Instead we have a person with little working know how of a major program. Not a big 12 wannabe. But then look who hired Currie. The UT administration has been Mickey Mouse for years.
 
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#6
#6
Orange Swagger said:
Yes, it would be so nice to have someone with Dickey’s knowledge and insight. Instead we have a person with little working know how of a major program. Not a big 12 wannabe. But then look who hired Currie. The UT administration has been Mickey Mouse for years.
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It's gone from Mickey Mouse to Goofy:
Goofy.png
 
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#7
#7
Dickey was the last athletic director to have the brass to stand up to the administration. He also understood that without a successful Athletics program they would not have money for their precious research and academics.
 
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#9
#9
TNTechVol said:
That's when it all began. It shows the importance of a competent AD. Next HC hire will define Currie.
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I have been saying this for years, and its true of the entire department NOT just football.
 
#11
#11
Dickey was the last decent one UT had but I wouldn't say he was the greatest thing since sliced bread. It goes well beyond the incompetence of the AD. It has to do with the president as well. It has been inept leadership at nearly every meaningful position and as far as I can tell nothing has changed. The handling of CBJ and his replacement will be a good indicator of any real meaningful changes.
 
#13
#13
If you want to go back to when UT football went from elite to average, Doug Dickey was a big part of that happening. With him at head coach, we had just beaten Alabama 4 years running (67, 68, 69, 70). Coach DD bolted for Florida. Enter Bill Battle, a former player under the Bear at Bama. Although, Battle defeated Bama in 70 in his first year as HC, he lost to them every time from then on until he was fired and Johnny came marching home. All in all Bama beat us 11 times in a row. It wasn't until Majors' 6th year that he defeated Bama. So, for as much good as Coach DD did at UT, he also has a huge downside.
 
#16
#16
Bloodrunsorange27 said:
Cutcliffe leaving had a big impact. Started Fulmer's downfall, followed by bad coaching hires, etc.
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as been stated publicly by those over there at the time, Hamilton worked to sabotage the program for several years prior. Clawson was not hired by Philip but by Hamilton as the coach in waiting. He was forced on the Hall of Famer. Catch up already.
 
#18
#18
MikeTheVol said:
If you want to go back to when UT football went from elite to average, Doug Dickey was a big part of that happening. With him at head coach, we had just beaten Alabama 4 years running (67, 68, 69, 70). Coach DD bolted for Florida. Enter Bill Battle, a former player under the Bear at Bama. Although, Battle defeated Bama in 70 in his first year as HC, he lost to them every time from then on until he was fired and Johnny came marching home. All in all Bama beat us 11 times in a row. It wasn't until Majors' 6th year that he defeated Bama. So, for as much good as Coach DD did at UT, he also has a huge downside.
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They were elite in the 50's and 60's? Other then that shame 51 title, not much there.


I-A Winning Percentage 1952-1967
 
#19
#19
VolFan..But said:
as been stated publicly by those over there at the time, Hamilton worked to sabotage the program for several years prior. Clawson was not hired by Philip but by Hamilton as the coach in waiting. He was forced on the Hall of Famer. Catch up already.
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I have not heard that specific allegation, but it doesn't necessarily surprise me. Erik Ainge has said on his radio show that Mike Hamilton was in his ear as early as 2005 trying to get him on board with a head coaching change, saying stuff like "you could be an All American with better coaching," etc.

How exactly did Hamilton get the AD job in the first place? He was known to have not been a fan of Fulmer before he even got the job. How does a guy who doesn't get along with the long time football coach get the AD job at a big football school?
 
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#20
#20
It all started downhill in 2001 when UT came home from Florida after a victory with roses in their hands a full week before the SECCG. We haven't been a national contender since then. Instead of placing blame with the HC who allowed the program to go downhill, we feel the need to blame those who weren't remotely responsible for allowing players to get off of a plane with roses in their hands.

The hire after the appropriate firing of Fulmer was bad. Pure and simple.
 
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#21
#21
VolFan..But said:
as been stated publicly by those over there at the time, Hamilton worked to sabotage the program for several years prior. Clawson was not hired by Philip but by Hamilton as the coach in waiting. He was forced on the Hall of Famer. Catch up already.
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So Fulmer was sabotaged. Someone else made poor coaching decisions in 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2007???.

Don't forget that Phillip became a HOF coach by coaching here and piling up victories to reach the threshold %. Don't forget NO ONE wanted him after being fired here. At least NO ONE of any significance with an opening.

BTW, Fulmer was all in on hiring Clawson. That's a matter of FACT
 
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#22
#22
05_never_again said:
I have not heard that specific allegation, but it doesn't necessarily surprise me. Erik Ainge has said on his radio show that Mike Hamilton was in his ear as early as 2005 trying to get him on board with a head coaching change, saying stuff like "you could be an All American with better coaching," etc.

How exactly did Hamilton get the AD job in the first place? He was known to have not been a fan of Fulmer before he even got the job. How does a guy who doesn't get along with the long time football coach get the AD job at a big football school?
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That's 100% false. Phillip and MIke were friends. It was Phillip who highly recommended MIke for the job.

Phillip has no one to blame but himself for letting the program slide.
 
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#23
#23
It all started when John Shumaker was President. He decided to make the AD search public and all the good candidates said no as they did not want their name out there. Left with no candidates, they turned to Hamilton. Philip and Pat said if that is all you have then we will endorse it. They did. Hamilton started the process of dismantling the athletic department. First firing Rod, the 4th winningest baseball coach in SEC history. Down goes baseball. Then Bill Webb said screw this and retired. There goes track. Hamilton was given rope to keep or fire Buzz. The powers thought he would do the right thing. He kept Buzz on Saturday. On Sunday Haslem said no and to have Ernie find a coach. That is what happened. Hamilton still feeling burned, got Bruce after the program's historic run by not doing his job and protecting him as Dickey would have. All the while, he started sabotaging football as many including Ainge have said publicly. Ainge said Hamilton tried to recruit him to get Phil. Hamilton held raises for assistants, facilities upgrades and several other things. Hamilton made them hire Clawson. It worked and he got rid of the Hall of Fame coach. Down goes football.

Yes, it was when Dickey retired, but they could have got a real AD if someone other then that idiot Shumaker was in charge. And we would still have things rolling as there would have been real succession plans for baseball, track and football. Actually, those 3 might still be there cranking out wins. And after 3 more years, Philip would have surpassed most of Neyland's records. And the Haslem's could not have that. Remember, he played for Neyland.
 
#24
#24
114VOL said:
That's 100% false. Phillip and MIke were friends. It was Phillip who highly recommended MIke for the job.
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That's not what I've heard.

I don't disagree that Fulmer is at fault for letting the program slide. His recruiting slipped and his offensive staffs sans Cutcliffe weren't really SEC level. But it has always been my understanding that he and Hamilton never got along.
 
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#25
#25
VolFan..But said:
It all started when John Shumaker was President. He decided to make the AD search public and all the good candidates said no as they did not want their name out there. Left with no candidates, they turned to Hamilton. Philip and Pat said if that is all you have then we will endorse it. They did. Hamilton started the process of dismantling the athletic department. First firing Rod, the 4th winningest baseball coach in SEC history. Down goes baseball. Then Bill Webb said screw this and retired. There goes track. Hamilton was given rope to keep or fire Buzz. The powers thought he would do the right thing. He kept Buzz on Saturday. On Sunday Haslem said no and to have Ernie find a coach. That is what happened. Hamilton still feeling burned, got Bruce after the program's historic run by not doing his job and protecting him as Dickey would have. All the while, he started sabotaging football as many including Ainge have said publicly. Ainge said Hamilton tried to recruit him to get Phil. Hamilton held raises for assistants, facilities upgrades and several other things. Hamilton made them hire Clawson. It worked and he got rid of the Hall of Fame coach. Down goes football.

Yes, it was when Dickey retired, but they could have got a real AD if someone other then that idiot Shumaker was in charge. And we would still have things rolling as there would have been real succession plans for baseball, track and football. Actually, those 3 might still be there cranking out wins. And after 3 more years, Philip would have surpassed most of Neyland's records. And the Haslem's could not have that. Remember, he played for Neyland.
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Whose fault was it in 2002 when with a team chock block full of NFL starters, we were beat at HOME by Florida 31-13, Alabama 34-13 and Miami 41-3 and then to Maryland 30-3, in the bowl game?

Whose made Phillip publicly claim "we're going to be special this year" in 2005 when we were No. 3 in the preseason polls yet finished 5-6? That couldn't have been Phillip's fault either?

And why didn't no one want to hire Phillip after he was fired here?
 
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