What UT should have done when Kiffin walked

[LA Vol]

Most people on this board convinced themselves that Dooley would end up being a good hire, just like most of it convince ourselves each year that we are good enough to win the SEC, and just how people are SO CERTAIN that if UT hires Gruden that we will restore our place among the top SEC schools and will be fighting for championships in no time.... At its most basic level, it's what being a fan does to you, myself included.

I'm not at all sure that Gruden is the right choice, that he would come if offered or that he would lead us to the Promised Land if he did come, but I'd like those chances better. Nothing personal against Dooley, but I think most of the time, you get what you pay for and I'd like to buy HC experience, performance and track record next time. JMO.

 

[give_him 6]

Every AD should always be prepared for the "what if my coach leaves/fails..." scenario. Hamilton did not have that list in his back pocket. I want to believe that since Hart arrived, he has had a list of coaches he would call and is more prepared to handle turnover then Hamilton was.

 

[JFBanicki]

Yah I remember saying"Who????" when Dooley was hired and then like most here being upset after I looked him up. I was actually more upset because they hired some noname, small school loser over giving Kippy a chance to coach for the next season. So I've never really been a fan of Dooleys, but since he was our coach I was hoping he would of at least kept us mediocre in the SEC until we could get a better coach.
But after he was hired and all the info about the coaching search came out I realized why so many of our main targets turned us down. I don't think it was because of the depleted roster, it was probably more because of the fact the Hammy refused to pay any buyouts and insisted that the new coach had to keep kiffins leftovers.
If hammy would've let the new coach bring in his own COMPLETE staff they would've felt better about being able to rebuild the roster with recruiting and GOOD coaching. But being stuck with coaches the previous staff didn't think enough of to take with them to their new job they knew recruiting would be tougher and they had no clue how well these guys could coach so it would've been a crap shoot on how well they would work together and coach up the team to success. Add in the problems with the NCAA at the time and all the top coaches would rather stay where they were than come into a situation where they couldn't even bring in the staff they wanted. Oh and he wanted the top choices to deal with all that while getting paid one of the worst salaries in the SEC.

 

[VolsSportsFan]

I'd argue we did get an interim coach, he's just lasted 3 years.

 

[Neylandsmaxims]

Hamilton could have taken a fall from his office window.