Dooley calmly moving from one fire to next at Tennessee
Derek Dooley, son of the former Georgia coach, is still smiling despite facing a difficult job in turning around the Tennessee program.
HOOVER, Ala. – The first question was about his mother. The second question was about his father. The third question was about the bar fight.
At some point, Derek Dooley might become just a football coach but for now he’s a novelty.
His mother, Barbara, has all but started the first Athens-based Tennessee fan club (“She made no bones about it in Atlanta at a ‘Big Orange’ caravan event, walking in with an orange boa.”).
His father, Vince, the Georgia icon, views orange as the color of the walls in Hades.
The bar fight? It defines the mess Dooley has stepped into. He left a law practice to coach football, not the typical career transition. He left Louisiana Tech, where he went 4-8 last season, to take the head coaching job at Tennessee. Whether that’s a step up right now is a matter of debate. A once-proud program slid under Phil Fulmer, morphed into a cartoon under Lane Kiffin, and then became a target of scorn and a source of embarrassment two weeks ago with a late night bar fight that left an off-duty police officer on the ground after allegedly being kicked by Volunteer players.
When news of “Vol Brawl” broke July 9, Dooley was vacationing with family and friends at Lake Burton. He had seen his parents during the July 4 weekend, but Vince and Barbara then returned to Athens. When Derek began the drive home, he phoned his father.
“He called me when he was driving back to Knoxville,” Vince Dooley said by phone Friday. “I got angry, and I think he thought I was mad at him. I wasn’t, but he preferred talking to his mother. He thought I was chewing him out.”
It’s easy to project Derek Dooley as a great football coach one day. He is football smart, street smart, book smart. He has been a player, a coach and an administrator. He has a law degree, leading him to crack at SEC media days: “I’m able to read the NCAA manual and understand it the first time.”
A byproduct of the law background means he’s also equipped to interrogate players, which has become an unfortunate part of his profession.
But his coaching potential notwithstanding, even his father projects “it will take three or four years” to turn around the Volunteers. This being the SEC, there’s no guarantee he’ll be extended a long lifeline.
Tennessee doesn’t just have a football problem, it has an image problem. Imagine taking the top MBA from a Wharton graduating class, putting him in charge of Enron and saying: “Fix it.”
“I wish I could snap my fingers, but it just doesn’t work that way,” Dooley said. “It takes time.”
Referring to Tennessee’s image, he said, “It’s not where we want it to be now. Whether you have two incidents, four, five — you don’t want any in your program.”
It’s believed up to a dozen Tennessee players were at a Knoxville bar on the night in question. Details remain fuzzy because while the university police have issued their report, Knoxville police are still investigating. Darren Myles Jr., a safety from Atlanta, has been kicked off the team. Two other players were suspended indefinitely. The fate of freshman Da’Rick Rogers from Calhoun remains uncertain because Dooley isn’t certain of his role, even though he’s facing disorderly conduct and resisting arrest charges.
Sound like the big career break every coach wants?
When Dooley returned to Knoxville, he questioned every player involved and tried to sort out the details. He also reamed out the team. Everybody on the team.
“He told us what we’ve done, how we’ve embarrassed not just the university but our whole state, and I agree with him,” linebacker Nick Reveiz said.
Here’s the kicker: Reveiz wasn’t even there that night.
Dooley is trying to find the balance between good cop and bad cop.
“I’ve made plenty of bad decisions,” he said. “We’re human. There are bad things out there. It’s been that way since the Bible.”
He added, with remarkable candor: “We put so much emphasis on football and so much emphasis on academic support, which we should. But there’s a little area out there that sometimes we neglect. We talk about it, but what are we doing structurally to really emphasize what we’re saying? That’s your personal growth as a man.”
He has moved from trying to put out one fire to the next, presumably with little sleep in between. Recruiting, staffing, planning, coaching, counseling, selling. He impressed a roomful of cynical media members Friday, expressing his vision and sharing anecdotes about his parents.
Asked later off stage if this has been overwhelming, he said: “It is if you allow it to be. But if you go in knowing there’s going to be crisis, there’s going to be exposure and you’re going to get scrutinized, you can manage it pretty well.”
The games may seem like a welcome relief.
♦
Previous SEC/Georgia posts
♦ SEC media days: Tennessee and Dooley take center stage
♦ Spurrier’s lament: Team is better academically than on field
♦ Richt’s words, actions haven’t changed ugliness at Georgia
♦ SEC media days: Waiting on Richt as NCAA hovers at Georgia
♦ NCAA inquiry is the last thing Georgia and Mark Richt need
♦ It’s no coincidence Saban suddenly is concerned about agents
♦ SEC media days: Hey, who let the BCS in here?
♦ We’re LIVE at SEC media days (with no shortage of storylines)
♦ NCAA reportedly investigating Florida (but temper excitement)
♦ Can Dogs end Alabama-Florida monopoly in SEC title game?
♦ Listen up, Ole Miss: I’ve got Colonel Reb’s replacement
♦
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134 comments Add your comment
Buddy El
July 24th, 2010
11:13 am
Pi$$onaDawg’s sister(yep, that sister) told me that when he’s not squatting to pee that he has to pump it out by hand.
dap01
July 24th, 2010
12:12 pm
Jeff: Have you wondered who paid for Da Rick’s lawyer? Why was Da Rick not suspended? Dooley is a class act compared to Kiffin and Vince was very classy but no one can match CMR record.
Why not write about that?
Hillbilly Deluxe
July 24th, 2010
12:14 pm
All these players need to learn one simple thing, if you want to stay out of trouble, stay out of places where trouble occurs.
wxwax
July 24th, 2010
12:19 pm
Dooley’s problem isn’t the state of the Tennessee program.
His problem is that there’s no evidence that he’ll ever be a successful football coach in the SEC. He sounds like a fine man. But I think he’s out of his depth. I hope I’m wrong, but I’m pretty sure I’m not.
I think USC’s troubles and the hiring of Pat Haden might be the best thing to happen to Lane Kiffin in a while. I believe that Kiffin is talented. But I’m not sure he knew where the line was between promoting a program and excessive showmanship. He was already planning a more sober approach than at Tennessee. Now he’ll really have to buckle down and do it the old fashioned way. I think he can recruit and coach. If he can run a program efficiently I think he’ll be successful and silence the haters.
Songbird
July 24th, 2010
1:07 pm
Dooley may have inherited the same kind of thugs who play at UGA, but at least he doesn’t have…
RED PANTIES FALLING FROM THE SKY!!!
Pi$$onaDawg
July 24th, 2010
1:13 pm
HAHAHAHAH you butt sniffing ball lickers are so funny. Can any of you replying to me read your diplomas even the latin parts? If I remember all the UGAs squat to pee cause thay can’t lift their leg. Who gets to paint RUSS’ butt for the first game? MURRY want first sniff before the kickoff.
Gen Neyland
July 24th, 2010
1:27 pm
HC’s of todays college football game have more weight upon their shoulders and more eyes upon them than back in CVD’s day. Steps made to fix programs on the edge can take a tip from one Nick saban. The key to begin the process comes in the form of discipline first, wins second. All SEC programs from Gainesville to Lexington, Fayetteville to Columbia have struggled with the discipline thing and if one thinks their program is the exception, read police blotters sometime. Tennessee is also no exception. As any of us who thought we were bigger than our britches at some point in our lives found out, life can be altered, for better or worse, by one good kick in the arse. Here’s to hoping CDD and his players with a measure of ethics and loyalty to the University of Tennessee will provide the
‘encouragement’ necessary to those that need it. If they don’t get it, then get them the heck out of there (Myles to date under CDD). Simple choices…
Read it and weep
July 24th, 2010
1:59 pm
BravesFan79 What’s a shame is people walking around with a mentality like yours. You are an absolute disgrace!
Large Orange
July 24th, 2010
4:01 pm
Schultz…..last year I thought it was just Lame Kiffin you were jealous of and thats why you trashed UT at every turn. I thought journalists, and I use the term loosely with you, were supposed to be non-biased. However, you must just hate anything UT. Yes, UT has had more than its share of off field problems. But last time I checked, Mike Hamilton, had not been arrested for DUI with a skank in his car while wearing a pair of red panties on his head. Put a sock in it Schultz. Your hate for the Big Orange shines through your veil. UT will take down the puny Pups in Sanford & Son stadium come October and I cannot wait to read your excuse article then. Rocky Top Tennessee…..wooooooooooooo!
Matt the Brave
July 24th, 2010
4:12 pm
What’s the old saying? Stay out of dark places after dark? These kids need to realize that if they go to bars, stupid drunks are going to be like “Hey, you might be on the football team, but I’ll break your dang skull”. If you’re going to drink, do it in your apartment and keep fools away!
Bob from Cobb
July 24th, 2010
4:26 pm
OK…I am g o i n g t o t y p e v e r y s l o w l y so all you UGA fans can keep up. Regarding the bar fight in Knoxville involving UT players. The cop in question was not beaten unmercifully until he lost consciousness. He jumped into the fray and fell down striking his head on the pavement WHICH IS WHY HE WAS UNCONSCIOUS. Yes, supposedly someone kicked him while on the ground and fled. There were a lot more people at the bar besides UT players. It is also reported the cop did not identify himself and he had been at the bar drinking prior to the incident. Several people (not all UT players) have given statements that DaRick Rogers was trying to break up the fight. A cop grabbed him and he pulled away. Magically you have a “Resisting Arrest” charge against you. Don’t you know cops can make up any charge they want to and slap that on you? Of course, it you are driving drunk with a hoochie-mama in your car while holding her red panties, a cop really does not need to make up any charges. Derek Dooley will do the right thing. Worry about the dogpoop in Athens before you start slinging turds UT’s way. Get the facts before you run off at the mouth. But then again….thats what redneck UGA fans do best. Goooo Vols!!!
Calhoundawg
July 24th, 2010
7:52 pm
The morons at the AJC could write the same about Mark Richt if they had [1/2] a mind to …morons, oh, I already said that ….
oldfart
July 24th, 2010
8:37 pm
the kid has pedigree. he will do well at Tennessee. he knows what he’s doing … but if he falters … his mom is only a phone call away.
MD
July 24th, 2010
10:44 pm
I bet UT still beats UGA.
I hear there is already a hit out on Green.
Fail
July 25th, 2010
7:47 am
So the “cartoon” of last year demolished UGA last year. What does that make UGA? And seriously, thUGA has just as much of an image problem that Mark Richt has not changed and he has been there long enough!
Clay
July 25th, 2010
9:16 am
Let me get this right wxwax, you think Dooley is “out of his depth.” And you think “Kiffin is talented?”
Somebody call 911! This man has obviously overdosed!
Spike
July 25th, 2010
9:49 am
“Irony”.. UT fans calling anybody “rednecks”. Your new head coach was 4-8 at La. Tech.
Best of Atlanta
July 25th, 2010
12:20 pm
————————–
Nesbitt for Heisman
————————–
But can he recruit?
July 25th, 2010
1:02 pm
NO!
UT = university thug
July 25th, 2010
1:04 pm
Watch out they will rob you or beat you, but they can’t win games.
UT = university thug
July 25th, 2010
1:05 pm
How can anyone from hickstown knoxville call anyone a redneck? I guess it takes one to know one.
Better than best of Atlanta
July 25th, 2010
1:07 pm
The only way a GT will see the Heisman is if they make the drive to Athens or Wal-marts in Alabama.
Pi$$onaDawg
July 25th, 2010
1:38 pm
Better than Best: you do know the GIVE ME HEISMAN to Bama’s Ingram was the first ever Heisman winner they ever had. Never say Never. TECH had the ORIGINAL HEISMAN or are you too stupid to know that? UGA has 2 winners and Sinkwich was in 42 the WEAK WAR YEARS. Every hates the War Years because real men went to WAR. 1940 Minnesota, 41 Minnesota, 42 Ohio State, 43 Norte Dame, 44 Army, 45 Army. Sinkwich played in the South were more MEN went to war than played football and went to college.
Davis McCollum
July 25th, 2010
2:07 pm
Class act… Finally Tennessee has some class!
Ranking the SEC, from Bama to Vandy (and Georgia No. 4) | Jeff Schultz
July 25th, 2010
2:33 pm
[...] 9. TENNESSEE: Derek Dooley inherited a mess, on and off the field. Dooley has all the makings to be a great head coach but he might be overmatched at this [...]
SECFan
July 25th, 2010
2:48 pm
Nice article but a little exaggerated in my opinion. People seem to overreact to discipline problems when a team is struggling. It happens everywhere and it’s not good anywhere but the Vols have had some down years so the off the field problems are magnified. I think winning some games will take care of a lot. And The Vols may not be as bad on the field as some think. I seem to remember them playing Florida close last year and they should have beat Alabama. They also destroyed the Dawgs.
When Saban took over as coach of Alabama, they had problems too. There was the player committing armed robbery of a student on campus. Another was selling Crack Cocaine on the fieldhouse steps to students and selling Pit Bulls for dog fighting via the internet.
Florida had a player using a dead girls credit card. Some gun issues with their players. Lots of drug violations. And a player picking up a beer keg at a party and swinging it at a student’s head. But they got past their issues as well.
My point is that you can be hitting rock bottom one year and get to the top of the world quickly in this conference. I think the Vols are down this year but wouldn’t be surprised to see them in a bowl and back competing for championships in two years. Things can change fast, just ask Florida and Alabama!
Doug the Jacket
July 25th, 2010
3:01 pm
A good man who will become a great coach if they give him time to straighten things out.
bilbo
July 25th, 2010
3:28 pm
Everything I’ve read and heard about Derek suggests that he (1) was an average student; (2) an average lawyer; (3) a below average coach (4-8) at a small-time football program. I don’t have anything against him, but what makes people think he’ll be a “great coach” or that he’s taking UT in the right direction? He’s done nothing before or during his coaching career to suggest that…He seems AVERAGE.
Hunker Down
July 25th, 2010
6:23 pm
Hey Bob from Cobb,
How can the knoxville PD get in touch with you to get your eyewitness report? You obviously have so much insight you must of been there.
ONLY
July 25th, 2010
7:19 pm
Just how tall or short is Muarry?
ONLY
July 25th, 2010
7:39 pm
Enter your comments here
Hunker Down
July 25th, 2010
11:09 pm
Murray is 6′1″ about 200 lbs
With Oswalt trade looming, should Braves worry about Philly? | Jeff Schultz
July 26th, 2010
10:23 am
[...] ♦ Dooley calmly moving from one fire to next at Tennessee [...]
Doyne Allison
July 28th, 2010
5:18 pm
I know that character and academic excellence won’t win ball games. But if you find a young man with those attributes, PLUS athletic ability, he’ll win a lot more for you than the player with just super talent, no matter how much talent we’re talking about. Coaches who show no concern over non-athletic traits have no one to blame but themselves when they have to boot people off the team for misconduct.