Da’Rick Rogers suspended, Dooley still cleaning up from Kiffin (UPDATED II)
Da'Rick Rogers was top SEC receiver in 2011. (Raleigh News-Observer)
(Second update with Derek Dooley saying he doesn’t expect Da’Rick Roger to play this season.)
Two years ago, when new Tennessee coach Derek Dooley made his debut at SEC media days, I made note of the first three subjects he was asked about: 1) His mother; 2) His father; 3) A bar fight that included several of his players. Suffice to say, he would welcome more questions about his mother and father again.
Dooley inherited a mess at Tennessee after the sudden departure of Lane Kiffin. That’s no secret. The fact that the guy’s job might be on the line this season is unfortunate because the image of the team and the character problems of too many players that he inherited takes a while to overcome.
The latest example: Da’Rick Rogers. The talented but often troubled wide receiver from Calhoun, who nearly signed with Georgia in 2010, was suspended indefinitely Thursday by Dooley. No reason was given, other than the standard, “violation of team rules.”
UPDATE: Dooley told the Knoxville News that “our expectation is” that Rogers won’t return to the program. Translation: Expect him to transfer.
But given that there has been no report of an arrest — or another bar fight — use your imagination.
The suspension appears open ended for now, but Rogers is not listed on Tennessee’s depth chart.
Tennessee probably wasn’t going to challenge for the SEC East title this season, anyway. But it has (or had) the potential to be decent and upset some teams. From a talent standpoint, Rogers’ loss would be significant. He led the SEC last season with 67 receptions, and was second with 1,040 receiving yards and nine touchdown catches.
But don’t blame Dooley for what’s going on in Knoxville. If we still don’t know how great of a coach he is, we can at least be certain Kiffin left him a rather large and malodorous bag.
(Many point out that Da’Rick Rogers was a Derek Dooley recruit in 2010. That is technically accurate. However, Rogers initially backed off his Georgia commitment to hear the recruiting pitches from then-Tennessee coaches Lane Kiffin and Ed Orgeron. It was Kiffin who offered Rogers and high school teammate Nash Nance the opportunity to go to Tennessee as a package deal, an offer that Dooley confirmed after he got the job. So, yes, Dooley shares some responsibility. I also wanted to added that rumors circulated that Rogers was interested in transferring to Georgia State in the spring, but that obviously never happened.)
In May, Dooley dismissed sophomore tight end Cameron Clear (yes, a Dooley recruit) following an arrest for felony theft charges. Last year he kicked off safety Janzen Jackson (a Kiffin recruit). Dooley said only that Jackson’s “personal issues” led to the suspension, but added, “I will always be there to help him as a person, but there comes a time when a player’s actions preclude him from the privilege of playing for [Tennessee].”
There have been multiple other suspensions. Sophomore safety Darren Myles Jr. was dismissed from the team and others were suspended for the aforementioned bar brawl, which took place not long after his hiring.
Rogers also was involved in that incident. He was arrested for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. But the charges ultimately were dropped and Dooley chose not to suspend him. That was one time when giving a kid a break backfired. Rogers was banned for two weeks this past spring for offseason activities for unspecified reasons.
Referencing Tennessee’s problems in 2010, Dooley said, “I wish I could snap my fingers, but it just doesn’t work that way. It takes time.”
Problem being that SEC coaches don’t get a lot of that, regardless of whose fault it is.
By Jeff Schultz
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349 comments Add your comment
Kansas Jayhawk
August 23rd, 2012
8:19 pm
Tyler Bray to DaRick Rodgers, boy that is one combination. One spoiled brat throwing to one pampered prick. Look for Bray to get benched in favor of the freshman from J’ville Bartram Trail before the end of season.
DawgNole
August 23rd, 2012
8:47 pm
Beast from the East
August 23rd, 2012
8:14 pm
Jeff Schultz
August 23rd, 2012
12:44 pm
Dick Whiskey — one more reference to race and you’re banned. Zero tolerance.
____________________
This is fine, but where’s your consistency? You permit Matt “CHOKE” Ryan to reference “the race card” in your previous blog???! Obviously I’m missing something.
DawgNole,
It’s only racist if you’re saying it from the one side of the fence. Didn’t you know?
______________________
Now I see. Guess I shoulda known. Silly me.
Ft Benning Dawg
August 23rd, 2012
8:49 pm
They also redshirted something like 19 players from that loaded 2011 class. Out smarting the NCAA, fans across the country, and media who still get the sanctions wrong. IMO Mr. Kiffin is sitting back laughing at everyone.
Dr. Phil
August 23rd, 2012
8:56 pm
If the SEC or NCAA would mandate that athletes meet regular admission standards, criminal behavior would surely decline, and we would not see much difference on the playing field. Of course, that’s not going to happen. The “Honeybadger” must have been using something stronger and more adictive than spiked brownies. He had a “Mickey Mantle like” energy for the game, and I hope he gets his life in order and returns to LSU, in spite of the fact that I don’t particularly like LSU. Da’rick was in another world. I wonder if Alabama State has contacted him.
Johnny Vaught
August 23rd, 2012
9:02 pm
As usual, you totally missed the boat. UT’s problems were grounded in Fhat Fhil Fulmer’s regime for years before Lane got there. Problems continue under Kiffin and even under Dooley – it’s the culture of the UT program that has been breed there for years under Fulmer. If Lane is so screwed up, explain how his team is the preseason #1 with 10 fewer scholarships than permitted under NCAA rules. Per usual, waste of time reading your junk.
Promethius
August 23rd, 2012
9:03 pm
Dawg in a Vol’s clothing.
Mike Price
August 23rd, 2012
9:18 pm
Jeff: Besides than the other stupid comments about Dooley. How do you inherit something that you lobbied for, interviewed for, and are getting paid a couple of million dollars to do?. Sounds like he signed up to me… Its sad to see the newspaper that produced Jesse Outlar/Furman Bisher’s journalism drop to this level. Fodder for web hits aint (yes aint) journalism…thats why its free
DaRon
August 23rd, 2012
9:30 pm
dooley’s got 2012 to show big improvement or he’s out the door. UT fans are tired of his mediocrity. He better win 8-9 games and beat one good team.
DawgNole
August 23rd, 2012
10:04 pm
BravesFan79
August 23rd, 2012
4:44 pm
If only these colleges allowed ONLY kids who have high enough IQ’s to qualify for these top colleges to get in, we wouldnt have this problem!
__________________
Wishful thinking. Don’t hold your breath. It will not happen until speed is no longer considered an asset in college football.
Brainiac(Dawg For Life) / (CMR fan for life)
August 23rd, 2012
10:15 pm
@ Mike S. (12:26 pm post)
Excellent post my friend!!!!!!!!!!!!
The majority of those raving against CMR appear to on drugs, etc. and don’t know Jack Schi _ _ about what it involves to handle a HC job in college football !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Brainiac(Dawg For Life) / (CMR fan for life)
August 23rd, 2012
10:24 pm
@ Mike Price:
The article was aimed at sympathizing with CDD because of the thuggish qualities of a bunch of Kiffen’s boys !!!!!!!!
DaRick is 99% Dooley’s and should not be listed as Kiffen’s although there was some communictions between Kiffen and Da Prick early on!!!!!!!!!!!!
I you and I know that then any AJC “Ace Reporter” should also know that !!!!!!!!!!
Brainiac(Dawg For Life) / (CMR fan for life)
August 23rd, 2012
10:32 pm
@ Johnny Vaught:
You could name a team of Chimpanzees No. 1 but that won’t make them No. 1!!!!!! Wait and see where USCw finishes the season although the ONLY serious team they play is Oregon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Who do you think recruited MOST of USCw players, especially the juniors and seniors???????????
If you guessed Kiffen you are incorrect
I'm confused...
August 23rd, 2012
11:30 pm
DaRick can’t be a troublemaker, same with HoneyBadger (great nickname). I’ve read on these blogs that UGA has all of the troublemaking thugs on its team, so there must be a mistake.
Seriously, I believe Derek is a good man, probably got the UT job too early in his head coaching career. It’d take a Saban (whom Derek coached for on two occasions) to clean up the mess that Fulmer left. Kiffin was a dirtbag, but he didn’t screw it up that badly in one year. Fulmer, who stabbed Johnny Majors in the back to get the job, left the cupboard bare as Schultz’ plate after Lox and Bagel night at I-Hop.
Sinbad the Sailor
August 24th, 2012
12:54 am
Richt has already contacted Da’Rick. He wants him so bad he can taste it.
Boll Weevil
August 24th, 2012
1:27 am
The reason Urbie Meyers won so much at Floorduh is because if he had a player like Rogers and the kid got into trouble, Urbs would cover it up or just let him play regardless. The convicts took over the prison in Gainesville but Floorduh got away with it because they had Jeebus Teblow playing QB. He couldn’t convert all those hoods, but he sure took the heat off.
Question and Answer
August 24th, 2012
2:34 am
Is the QB that signed with Rogers still at TN/
Ft Benning Dawg
August 24th, 2012
3:26 am
Brainiac: the best players on USC’s roster are all Kiffin recruits. Both all american WRs. The all conference CB Robey. (Carroll didn’t even offer him a scholarship) all 3 starting LBs. 3 of the 4 starting DL. Even Matt Barkley was recruited by Kiffin as a freshman in HS.
chazzo
August 24th, 2012
5:55 am
I have to respect Dooley. He inherited an environment, and he is taking control of the situation, even if it means sitting or expelling good players. Sad thing is, the coon hounds up there will probably fire his butt, and the new coach coming in will inherit a better disciplined team and win with them.
Stop pointing fingers at coaches and programs. This is the system that we have all created, in which we are all complicit, and that we all enjoy. One of the things I appreciate about Schultz is his reluctance to get involved in the pimping of teenagers we call recruiting.
Beyond that, D1 football consists of thousands of 18-24 year olds. There are going to be issues. D1 football consist of 120 coaching staffs whose jobs, livelihoods, and careers depend on winning percentages and sometimes beating a single team every year (not grad rates, gpa, or outstanding citizen awards). There are going to be issues. WE GET WHAT WE PAY FOR!
legionaire
August 24th, 2012
5:59 am
UT fans are gettinf exactly what they deserve. UT fans love to pick on opposing fans getting off charter buses, calling them names, throwing beer on them, and picking fights. Dooley engineered the Rogers recruitment and it has backfired big time. Dooley was chosen at UT only because of hiw name.
NC_Dawg
August 24th, 2012
6:19 am
Glad to see we are not the only program in the country with disciplinary problems. Where are all the Richt haters now?
maxman
August 24th, 2012
6:41 am
the only thang these young brotha’s likes more’s than the weed is the white girls
Newnandawg
August 24th, 2012
8:01 am
What’s up with the “Dooley is an excellent coach” comments? Derek Dooley is 28-34 in 6 years as a head coach. He’s proven nothing. He just has a recognizable last name. I hope UT keeps him.
See Rock City
August 24th, 2012
8:13 am
Nice article, Derek did inherit a mess from Lane, but do not underestimate Dooley’s ability to judge the situation. He is a master of organization and risk analysis.
Rogers was a hand full if I remember when he flipped from UGA to Tennessee because of why, possibly the newly created circus of recruitment and the wanting of dual packages I don’t blame Rogers for that, but the attitude it creates is not conducive to the college environment and usually leads to immanent disaster if not corrected as it did here.
Rogers, Crowells, are nothing more than products created by the mold where they were formed, These recruiting websites and underarmor/USArmy games create these little spoiled brats and institutions flock over themselves to placate the next gladiator.
To often they fall and the circus goes on.
Al
August 24th, 2012
8:14 am
Dooley DID NOT inherit Rogers. He was a Dooley recruit.
See Rock City
August 24th, 2012
8:18 am
Jeff Schultz
August 23rd, 2012
12:36 pm
I inserted this above, for those saying that Rogers’ recruitment should be blamed on Derek Dooley, not Lane Kiffin: “(Many point out that Da’Rick Rogers was a Derek Dooley recruit in 2010. That is technically accurate. However, Rogers initially backed off his Georgia commitment to hear the recruiting pitches from then-Tennessee coaches Lane Kiffin and Ed Orgeron. It was Kiffin who offered Rogers and high school teammate Nash Nance the opportunity to go to Tennessee as a package deal, an offer that coach Dooley confirmed after he got the job. So, yes, Dooley shares some responsibility. I also wanted to added that rumors circulated that Rogers was interested in transferring to Georgia State in the spring, but that obviously never happened.)
ole dawg
August 24th, 2012
8:29 am
@ maxman… lay off of it. You are an embarassment to every educated race.
Paddy
August 24th, 2012
8:36 am
Nance Nash transfered to Div.III Hampden-Sydney in Farmville, Va. He is expected to see much playing time.
Let's Go
August 24th, 2012
9:01 am
It’s been 3 years, quit blaming Kiffen for all of Tenn problems. This program fired it’s best coach ever in Phil Fulmer thinking they could do better with someone else and guess what they were wrong. The problem is the Vols can’t recruit anymore and programs like Alabama, LSU, Georgia, and SC are getting the cream of the crop when it comes to players in the southeast and Tennessee at this point is behind Flordia, Auburn & Arkansas for what’s left.
J.Lentz
August 24th, 2012
9:27 am
Losing Da’Rick will sting a bit, as he’s a very talented playmaker. But we do have some really good depth at the position, Michael Rivera to throw to, and Dooley said that after last year they decided to have contingency plans. I’m not naive enough to think we’ll be better off on the field without the guy, but i think we’ll be just fine at WR.
As far as all the “reap what you sow” and “UT gets what they deserved” comments.. Fullmer had to go. The program was stale. He couldn’t recruit in-state. Was 8-7 in bowl games. Only 2 Sec Championships in 16 years, and the last one came in 1998. Only 4 Sec East titles since 1998. Fullmer won the games we were supposed to win, and had a couple of really good seasons. But, ol’ Phil had the “couldn’t win the big game” stigma… especially towards the end of his tenure. I’ll always love Phillip, and appreciate what he brought to UT but it was time for a change. All the Dooley nayesayers need to remember he has only had 2 full seasons. Cut the guy some slack. There was a little turmoil after Majors was replaced with Fullmer and it took Fullmer like 5 seasons before he starting winning..
This is UT, one of the most storied programs in the country. We expect to win, we expect to contend for championships, and we expect our kids to be of good morale character. UT has the facilities, a great stadium, a great college town, and a great coach in my opinion. Dooley will get things turned around..
Jack Dennis TN
August 24th, 2012
9:37 am
I don’t know how the dawgs missed out on this one. Would have been a natural.
dick whiskey
August 24th, 2012
9:44 am
DawgNole, damn good point!
Cobb Dawg
August 24th, 2012
9:57 am
UT’s biggest problems, other than Kiffin’s “underhanded” recruiting practices in the past, is their fan’s expectations. The are the most unrealistic and over zealous fan base in the country. I’ve heard several say that they’ll easily win the East this season and trounce Bama. Then when their expectations aren’t met they fire up the “fire Dooley” machine. All UT has is a big stadium. HS football is sub par there and they have to recruit elsewhere. Their fans should be happy to be competitive and not have the “we’re gonna win it all” attitude before every season.
Rodster
August 24th, 2012
10:16 am
I guess he should change his name to Da’Ropped.
chazzo
August 24th, 2012
10:28 am
As an addition to the UT storyline, this is cited from an article on an SEC site. Does anyone really doubt that this is not a frequent problem that is consistently covered up? Richt’s discipline issues are no different than anywhere else: we just get the actual story.
“If you recall, Matt Hayes’ column on how Urban “broke” the Florida football program made some big waves in the college football world. A key component of the story was the favoritism that Urban allegedly showed towards the “elite” athletes on the team:
Ironically, Florida’s downfall began at the height of Meyer’s success—the 2008 national championship season. Three seasons of enabling and pandering to elite players—what Meyer’s players called his “Circle of Trust”—began to tear away at what he’d put together.
“I’ve never heard of Circle of Trust before in my life,” Meyer said.
Former players, though, contend it was the foundation of Florida’s culture under Meyer. In the season opener against Hawaii, Meyer said a few elite players (including wideout Percy Harvin, linebacker Brandon Spikes and tight end Aaron Hernandez) would miss the game with injuries. According to multiple sources, the three players—all critical factors in Florida’s rise under Meyer—failed drug tests for marijuana and were sitting out as part of standard university punishment.
By publicly stating the three were injured and not being disciplined, former players say, Meyer was creating a divide between the haves and have-nots on the team.
Urban’s reign at Florida had its fair share of criticism whether it was the arrests that took place while he was in Gainesville or Matt Hayes’ column written over a year after his departure. Why isn’t the media more zeroed in on him now over the Klein story?”
Dogs Swallow
August 24th, 2012
10:35 am
Earl , Fulmer won a National Championship in the BCS. What has UGa done?
Brantley
August 24th, 2012
10:36 am
Just look at the facts. When Dooley left La Tech the team was 4-8 and never won the MAC under him. Lady season they won 9 games and the conference.
Yes, he inherited a mess here, but his first year here (while playing with the vast majority of Kiffin’s players) he won 6 games and finished third in the East. A year later his wins are down and the Vols are 6th in the east.
Yes, Kiffin leaving was a tough thing and people say that Dooley is at a disadvantage, but Lane also inherited a mess left behind by Pete Carroll. He took scholarship reductions and a 2 year bowl ban. Now he is coaching the #1 out 2 ranked team in the nation (depending which poll you look at).
All in all, Derek is being paid 1.8 million a year and I feel like he spends most of his time trying to figure out how to blame Kiffin for the next issue.
harold
August 24th, 2012
10:42 am
Dooley has to win this year. He has yet to beat a team with a winning record. He has little support among Tennessee fans.
DrG
August 24th, 2012
10:53 am
Derek Dooley is a loser. he looks for excuses to defend his losing record. This was likely a move to TRY and EXCUSE his losses in 2012, let’s blame it on DRogers.
Dooley also put in the 3-4, so he can use the excuse “Well, it was the 1st year installing a brand new defense with brand new coaches”.
he is a loser, who sits around coming up with excuses for losing so many games.
Wilson Pickett
August 24th, 2012
11:10 am
Dooley has to win at least 8 games this year otherwise the pressure on the new AD Hart(former Alabama assistant AD) will be so strong that he has no choice but to fire Dooley. Depends as well on the games they lose and how they lost…blowouts or close. Sal Sunseri will be a great addition at UT but again it is new (3-4) to the guys. UT has always depended on talent from outside the state and even though they’re recruiting better they’re still not drawing the top players needed to overcome the talent from their home state.
The deal in Memphis is growing due to a street agent out of Alabama that coached both players that the NCAA is hot on their case. Auburn and Miss State in trouble no doubt. 7 on 7 teams are getting to be almost like AAU BB and that is corrupt as hellllll. One thing you need to know is the group in Memphis that set the trap for this reported to the NCAA 1st and not the SEC. That is a statement in itself against folks within the SEC office. The Cam deal lives in and by that folks trying to remove cheating don’t trust the SEC folks to fix the problems. This just might be the truth.
Bugguy
August 24th, 2012
12:11 pm
Say what you will about the Nances. But you an bet your arse that Nash would not throw beer bottles at cars and bust out a windshield in retaliation.
Sweetheart
August 26th, 2012
9:10 am
NCAA Nasty Nine: Stars who Play No More. Great Article for you football fans..
http://www.footballnation.com/content/2012-ncaa-nasty-nine-stars-play-no-more/16295/
College football, Week 1: Somehow it keeps getting better | Education Help
August 26th, 2012
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Brainiac(Dawg For Life) / (CMR fan for life)
August 26th, 2012
8:00 pm
@ Wilson Pickett:(11:09 am post):
Damn good post!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Brainiac(Dawg For Life) / (CMR fan for life)
August 26th, 2012
8:02 pm
@ Harold:
You look much better without the “ALL CAPS”!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Brainiac(Dawg For Life) / (CMR fan for life)
August 26th, 2012
8:08 pm
@ Dawgs swaller er:
For one thing CMR has the 6th best won/lost record among active coaches in THE NATION and hasn’t lost to Dooley’s Dummies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Brainiac(Dawg For Life) / (CMR fan for life)
August 26th, 2012
8:29 pm
One needs only to see how CDD handles his “problem children” to confirm that DD is desparately trying to save his job but it is a little hard to overlook the off-field incidents(and these are just the ones we know about).
Somebody(s) has spent several dollars to buy off potential lawsuits to save a number of Vol player’s a$$es, How can you NOT file a major lawsuit against UT, their players and anybody else that witnessed the “Stomping” of an off-duty officer??? Yet DD takes his thuggish QB to “SEC Show & Tell” as an example representing UT.
Even Visorman didn’t take Steven Garcia to “show & Tell”.
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August 26th, 2012
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[...] a Georgia Dome will be like a 72-hour tailgate: There’s a Georgia State diversion on Thursday, Tennessee against North Carolina State on Friday and Clemson opposite Auburn on [...]
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