Report: Derrick Dooley new coach at Tennessee

[moorecajun]

_ Weatherbie. LOL _

I am now voting this as my favorite post ever! LOL, LOL

That is a perfect hire!

[beaux66]

only the timing is bad hoss. he was leaving next year anyway and everybody at tech was prepared. vandeveld or whatever his name is will take over as AD. Tech right now is more about the branding and the facility improvements right now. If that continues then Tech is no worse off then before. Dooley was 4-7 this year. We didnt go to a bowl. The worse that happens is we lose a few recruits. Tech will find the money to hire a decent, not great, but decent head coach. Nobody knew what Dooley would do when we hired him either. It's not like we are going to hire someone like ULM did for god sake and we have a pretty good returning team next year. Someone will coach them just fine. Our progress came because our President bought into the system and made changes to the athletic system as a whole. Tech will find someone because now they will be viewed as a good school to get a coaches feet wet. Dooley only proved that.

and by the way. No coach with any kind of real success is ever going to stay at Tech. Kerry Rupp will be next. We have learned to accept that long ago. You watch how fast someone snaps up Rupp after this great year at Tech.

[moorecajun]

_ only the timing is bad hoss. he was leaving next year anyway and everybody at tech was prepared. vandeveld or whatever his name is will take over as AD. Tech right now is more about the branding and the facility improvements right now. If that continues then Tech is no worse off then before. Dooley was 4-7 this year. We didnt go to a bowl. The worse that happens is we lose a few recruits. Tech will find the money to hire a decent, not great, but decent head coach. Nobody knew what Dooley would do when we hired him either. It's not like we are going to hire someone like ULM did for god sake and we have a pretty good returning team next year. Someone will coach them just fine. Our progress came because our President bought into the system and made changes to the athletic system as a whole. Tech will find someone because now they will be viewed as a good school to get a coaches feet wet. Dooley only proved that. _

As an outsider not knowing the Tech situation, why do you say "he was leaving next year anyway ..." ? Tech's record was bad this year and never really great during his tenure. Is he perceived as a very good coach or do you really think he is?

[ManAboutTown]

_ only the timing is bad hoss. he was leaving next year anyway and everybody at tech was prepared. vandeveld or whatever his name is will take over as AD. Tech right now is more about the branding and the facility improvements right now. If that continues then Tech is no worse off then before. Dooley was 4-7 this year. We didnt go to a bowl. The worse that happens is we lose a few recruits. Tech will find the money to hire a decent, not great, but decent head coach. Nobody knew what Dooley would do when we hired him either. It's not like we are going to hire someone like ULM did for god sake and we have a pretty good returning team next year. Someone will coach them just fine. Our progress came because our President bought into the system and made changes to the athletic system as a whole. Tech will find someone because now they will be viewed as a good school to get a coaches feet wet. Dooley only proved that. _

This is definitely something I'm jealous of, as a cajun fan. Probably the single most underated aspect of successful college sports.

However, I disagree about Dooley proving anything. He rode a weak schedule to a bowl game, and to his credit gutted out a pretty decent win. Other than that, it was business as usual (on the field) for Tech. All DD really did was be a big mouth, try to seperate tech from the other state schools (which was initally good, and the intentions were there, but in the process ended up making more enemies and no progress on the home front for scheduling, reputation, continued rivalries, keeping money in state in the future, etc) by being a pompous jerk. I personally think the guy has potential, but my opinion of him as a human is poor to say the least. His false sense of entitlement made me wanna pour gasoline on myself, and light a match.

[moorecajun]

_ and by the way. No coach with any kind of real success is ever going to stay at Tech. Kerry Rupp will be next. We have learned to accept that long ago. You watch how fast someone snaps up Rupp after this great year at Tech. _

Same with us. Look at Central Michigan. They are turning out to be a training ground for Cincinnati. Maybe the key is in paying more for coordinators so they can be groomed to take over after the head coach is hired away. It makes for an easier transition, better for recruiting, etc.

[CajunFANS]

Wow.

[beaux66]

_ As an outsider not knowing the Tech situation, why do you say "he was leaving next year anyway ..." ? Tech's record was bad this year and never really great during his tenure. Is he perceived as a very good coach or do you really think he is? _

because the last two years he has been on everybodys list for replacements. if he had a good year next year he would be gone. we have 7 home games next year and grambling. he was probably bowl bound. He was probably gone. Tech fans have had a moment for this to digest but they aren't in meltdown. well maybe one or two. Dooley would have been a fool not to take this job. we are more worried about whether the endzone project will still continue.

[gorcajun]

Now, that's a reason to riot!!!!!

[UL_Cajuns]

Wow, why would they want him? I just don't see it. Especially after the year that they had this year. WOW. I guess his daddy's name got him the job.

[HoustonCajun]

_ This is definitely something I'm jealous of, as a cajun fan. Probably the single most underated aspect of successful college sports.

However, I disagree about Dooley proving anything. He rode a weak schedule to a bowl game, and to his credit gutted out a pretty decent win. Other than that, it was business as usual (on the field) for Tech. All DD really did was be a big mouth, try to seperate tech from the other state schools (which was initally good, and the intentions were there, but in the process ended up making more enemies and no progress on the home front for scheduling, reputation, continued rivalries, keeping money in state in the future, etc) by being a pompous jerk. I personally think the guy has potential, but my opinion of him as a human is poor to say the least. His false sense of entitlement made me wanna pour gasoline on myself, and light a match. _

Guess what? It worked. He was on the road to branding Tech, definitely got separation from UL and he was obnoxious but to Tech's benefit. Whatever he did, it worked for him. They said the same thing about Kiffin at Tennesse and look where that got him, back to USC. I like what Tech's President is doing and I wish ours was more demonstrative about where UL athletics is heading and what it can do for our university. Give Tech credit, they do things to maintain separation from us and to prepare themselves for inclusion when the next conference realignment comes about, which could be sooner than we all think. Who knows? I just wish UL had the b*lls to do some of the things Tech has done. People can belittle Tech all they want and say their facilities suck and their town sucks, etc., but at the end of the day, they are much better branded as LA Tech than we are as Louisiana Lafayette, they are in a better conference, they market themselves better, have been to bowl games, have beaten numerous BCS schools, and are generally perceived better athletically and academically than UL. Rightly or wrongly. Tech will come out of this OK.

[HoustonCajun]

_ Wow, why would they want him? I just don't see it. Especially after the year that they had this year. WOW. I guess his daddy's name got him the job. _

Why did Auburn pick the coach from Iowa State who similarly had a losing record? A lot of Auburn alums were p*ssed, but it worked OK for them. Sometimes, you just take your chances. Tennessee is backed into a corner needing to make a quick hire because of recruiting. Dooley is on a very seriously bigger stage now - from 20,000 a game to 110,000 a game, SEC competition and statewide rabid fans. We'll see how this works out.

[beaux66]

you are right. It is a different environment there now and that is greatly the Presidents doing. La Tech is not going to let all that progress backslide now. We will survive. I just liked Dooleys vision and I will miss that but it doesn't mean we can't find someone to keep it going. We were 4-7 last year so we can only go up. We hardly lose anyone of importance next year and we have 7 home games. This team will win with whoever we bring in. It's the recruiting class I hope we keep because it was shaping up to be one of our best.

Besides we will be looking for another basketball coach again soon too. Tech will always be a stepping stone school.