Barbara Dooley to sportswriters: ‘You’ve got Mama’s rile up now, buddy!’
Barbara Dooley
Don’t mess with Mama’s baby boy.
That was the basic message Barbara Dooley delivered to Knoxville sportswriters Andrew Gribble and Dave Hooker and radio listeners who were tuning into “Newsmakers with Tim Bryant” on Athens station WGAU-AM 1340 Thursday morning.
Gribble and Hooker both cover the Tennessee Volunteers, who are coached by the youngest son of Barbara and Vince Dooley, Derek Dooley.
“At some point, one or the other speculates on Derek Dooley and the temperature of the seat beneath him,” Bryant told the AJC afterward. “Turns out Barbara Dooley was listening, and she lives right around the corner.”
So Barbara, who has her own show at the station (owned by Cox Media Group), drove in to give the writers her two cents worth. “She just about kicked the door in,” Bryant said.
Following is the exchange:
Barbara: “I want to ask you guys something. Back when I was in coaching with my husband, the press was our best friends. Now all y’all want to do is beat the coaches to hell and back.”
Hooker: “That’s not me, that’s Andrew.”[laughter]
Barbara: “I want you to listen about my baby.”
Bryant: “You have to hurry because we’ve got a congressman standing by.”
Barbara: “Well, he can just wait. Football is important. [more laughter] Let me say this: Derek Dooley walked into kind of a mess. Florida, [coach Will Muschamp] walks into talent just oozing out of their ears. Jimbo Fisher walks into FSU with talent. And y’all are telling me that Derek Dooley is on the damn hot seat? Are you crazy?”
Bryant: “Did anybody say the word hot seat?”
Barbara: “Yeah, I heard them!”
Hooker: “I didn’t say that.”
Barbara: “Oh, come on, get out of here! You’ve got Mama’s rile up now, buddy. Did you know [Derek] played 17 freshman against Florida?”
Hooker: “Absolutely.”
Barbara: “I just want you to be nice and fair and know that you probably have the best coach in the country and he’s going to be there 25 years.”
Bryant: “And they’ll probably name the stadium after him. Guys, thanks for joining us. Andrew Gribble, Dave Hooker and Barbara Dooley. Like I said, we’ve got a congressman [Tom Graves] standing by and he’s had to listen to all this.”
UPDATE: Here’s an explanation from Andrew Gribble of the Knoxville News-Sentinel, who admits to saying “hot seat” but not in the context Barbara Dooley took it.
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260 comments Add your comment
Randall "Pink" Floyd
October 6th, 2011
12:05 pm
“Best coach in the country” Nice, unbiased opinion there, Babs.
Anti-Vol
October 6th, 2011
12:05 pm
St Simons – we’re on Island time:
October 6th, 2011
11:24 am
“If we don’t get him, and they keep him, Tenn will beat us like a drum for 20 years. fact, jack”
Anti-Vol: Would you care to tell me what on his resume indicates this?
BG
October 6th, 2011
12:06 pm
Can you say quack?? LMAO!
this is nothing new
October 6th, 2011
12:08 pm
If you’ve paid any attention to the stories over the years about Barbara Dooley, you’d know that she was/is more suited to be the wife and mother of high school football coaches than big time FBS universities. This woman is a walking PR nightmare.
Wasn’t it just recently that some story came out about how she wanted all of the kids at her granddaughter’s 8th birthday party to skinny dip? I’m telling you, she is a loon.
bugs
October 6th, 2011
12:09 pm
Even Tech fans gotta love Barbara Dooley.Every thing she said was true.
HENRY
October 6th, 2011
12:09 pm
GOOD FOR MOM……….GIVE ‘EM HELL
Mandrell Dawg
October 6th, 2011
12:10 pm
I feel sorry for Derek; it’s kind of hard to wipe the smile off my face, but I do feel for Derek and his situation with his mother. She means well, but she’s not helping her son. Its easy to see that all she is doing is defending her son, just like any mama dawg worth her growl would. The only thing she has done is to let the media know that she is an easy target. All you have to do is poke a stick at her pup. It wouldn’t surprise me if local radio/tv stations in the Athens and Knoxville areas are lining up with interview requests. For the sake of Derek’s sanity, I hope she declines and also stop listening to talk shows concerning her son.
That being said, I want CMR to bring another “hobnailed boot” to Knoxville and use it all 4 quarters, instead of just the 1st half. If I hear “Rock Top” more than once it will be too many.
P.S. I miss Larry Munson (JUST CAN’T SAY THAT ENOUGH”)
Anti-Orange
October 6th, 2011
12:11 pm
TrishaDishaWarEagle, why would a fan of a school that bought a *NC be chiming in on this conversation?
doug dawg
October 6th, 2011
12:13 pm
this is sooooo funny. barbara dooley doesn’t care who thinks what about her opinions. she speaks her mind; she supports her family, and i say ‘hurray’ you go, girl. she’s not making her son a ‘little boy,’ she’s building him up. and i’ll bet he loves it; he should. college football has become so jaded and so mad for wins and power at all costs; it is refreshing to know that somewhere there is a family — a mom and dad — involved. and i’ll bet vince loves it, too. barbara is a strong woman who speaks her mind, as she has a right to. she’s got a ‘huntin’ license’ and i hope she keeps using it. and i hope if there is a coach-in-waiting at uga, it is derek. ever wonder what saban’s mother was like, and just what values he’s carrying forward from his family? the dooley’s are one of georgia’s ‘first families’ even one of them is temporarily in tennessee. he’ll return.
DawginLex
October 6th, 2011
12:15 pm
If you only care about winning a title that is equal to a beauty contest, then you don’t really care about college football.
The coaches and the players think about the next game and the athletes they will be facing across the line.
That’s why it’s special.
david
October 6th, 2011
12:16 pm
Don’t you know Derek would give his right arm to put am permanent piece of duct tape on her gaping mouth. I know I would!
Rexdogma
October 6th, 2011
12:16 pm
Good Dooley!!! Beat those dawgs!!!
MY 2 cents
October 6th, 2011
12:16 pm
As long as Adams is in Athens, NOBODY named Dooley will coach in Athens. Its a shame.
Hang Down Your Head Vince Dooley
October 6th, 2011
12:16 pm
Back when i was in coaching, my players made the current crop at Tennessee, holdups at the Pilot and all, look like Rhodes Scholars. Remedial Reading for 4 years wins! Go Dog(s) Go! (It was their senior year reading project you know.)
is it still 1980?
October 6th, 2011
12:16 pm
You people making excuses for this loon are stuck in 1980. Keep thinking about the glory days you old farts.
UGA alum – class of 2000
Bruce
October 6th, 2011
12:18 pm
Babs, go back to burning your bacon. If your baby can’t take the heat then keep him outta the kitchen cupcake.
Dawgma
October 6th, 2011
12:19 pm
MY 2 cents,
That’s actually a big relief to me. Derek is at best a mediocre coach. I’m no Mike Adams fan but he made the right move in firing Vince (he was a weak AD when it came to football matters).
JAWJeRDAWG
October 6th, 2011
12:19 pm
Dewayne @ 11:49 am That comment is beneath dignity. I would ban someone who posts such garbage as this.
TrishaDishaWarEagle
October 6th, 2011
12:20 pm
@anti-orange..the NCAA hasn’t passed any sanction against AU , but feel free to HOLD YOUR BREATH until they do..I’ll send flowers..
Even if schools could buy NCs, UGA would screw it up..Unless there is another Herschel walker out there, and a QB who excels at toss sweep right..
TheAntiMe
October 6th, 2011
12:20 pm
“Back when I was in coaching with my husband” - Barbara Dooley
lol – So, it was really Barbara Dooley who was coaching all those years at Georgia? That Vince is just lucky that Coach Barbara allowed him to come along for the ride. Hilarious.
Red Clay Hound
October 6th, 2011
12:21 pm
If Momma ain’t happy…..
You Ain't-Know Gaily Whacker
October 6th, 2011
12:23 pm
Anyone who gets between a mother and her child is a fool. Most sports commentators are fools to start with. They think that their 100,000 listeners are important. It’s just a game.
great analysis
October 6th, 2011
12:26 pm
You Ain’t-Know Gaily Whacker,
Yeah, it’s just a game. Let these men work for charity ($3 million/yr) in peace, without any expectation of results.
myother
October 6th, 2011
12:27 pm
Sic’um Barbara!
markie mark
October 6th, 2011
12:27 pm
I think Vince kept Barbara on a short leash….and Vince aint coaching anymore…..
tiffany
October 6th, 2011
12:28 pm
Barb, Let him handle it–he’s a grown man for goodness sake!
Ted M
October 6th, 2011
12:28 pm
Is this Dooley’s 2nd season or 3rd?
tiffany
October 6th, 2011
12:28 pm
PS> Can’t wait to see Luckovich’s take on THIS!
UGA season ticket holder
October 6th, 2011
12:30 pm
Let’s just say I’m glad I don’t know Barbara Dooley in real life (or know anyone who knows her). I don’t need that kind of poison in my life in any way, shape, or form. If she perceives even the least little slight against someone she knows, she goes off like a jackhammer. Regardless of whether it is the correct perception or not.
Nick Saban
October 6th, 2011
12:32 pm
This explain why UGA is in such a mess. Why would anyone care about what Barbara Dooley thinks?
atlvol55
October 6th, 2011
12:32 pm
I don’t really know what the big deal is. I don’t know any Tennessee fans calling for Dooley’s head. Everyone that I talked too knows its going to take some time no matter who the coach is. Just about everyone I have talked to (myself included) really like Dooley and like where is has the program going.
Bottom line is TN was decimated by transfers, a lot of seniors for a couple of years, guys getting kicked off the team, etc…
Bray, Hunter, Rodgers…all true sophomore. We start three true sophomors, and a redshirt freshman on the offensive line. We have two true freshman lbs….over 70% of the Tn team is freshman and sophomores. Of course it will take some time, but Dooley has the Vols in the right direction. They will pick off one of the big teams this year and are getting better and better each week. By next year, TN is going to be a tough team to beat
Be advised....
October 6th, 2011
12:33 pm
That photo of Barbara Dooley that you posted is 20+ years old….
Eisendawg
October 6th, 2011
12:36 pm
Fans want their teams to win it all NOW! Players want to play NOW! Our government wants all our money NOW and FOREVER!
doug dawg
October 6th, 2011
12:36 pm
i’ll get bashed for saying this, but, deep down inside, i wish i had my mother, rest her soul, around to ‘defend’ — read provide a little solice to — me, even at age 68. nothing is wrong with motherhood and family caring. gooooood on barbara dooley. and if her sons appreciate that, more to their good. i’ll bet, though, that she was just as strongly outspoken to derek as she was to her other sons, and, yes, even to vince. the matriarch of the family makes it strong. and as far as the ‘we coaching’ bit; well, name a great president of the united states that has not had a strong ‘co-coach.’ roosevelt? carter? johnson? reagan? obama? even bush one. not to mention clinton. face it, good things come from a ‘team’, and that’s not always hired assistants. so back off of barbara dooley; she’s an exemplar.
Ted M
October 6th, 2011
12:36 pm
I hope they give Dooley ample chance to win. I’m sure Derek wishes his mom would be quiet.
Jack Lail
October 6th, 2011
12:37 pm
Dave Hooker works for ESPN, not the Knoxville News Sentinel. Hasn’t worked for us in a couple of years.
– Jack Lail, Knoxville News Sentinel
Coach "Coke Head" Dooley
October 6th, 2011
12:38 pm
“Back when I was in coaching with my husband” – Barbara Dooley
Thank for grabbing all of my credit.
By the way, that photo is 30 years old.
Eisendawg
October 6th, 2011
12:40 pm
Try going to Yellowstone and mess with Mama Bear with her cubs and see what happens!
Coach Vince "Coke Head" Dooley
October 6th, 2011
12:40 pm
Now you understand why I turned to drugs.
Nick Saban
October 6th, 2011
12:42 pm
Derek and his mom will both be history by the end of this season.
Little Kirby Smart
October 6th, 2011
12:44 pm
Don’t expect me to bail out Derek…even I can’t help him now.
Nick Saban
October 6th, 2011
12:45 pm
Kirby,
Get back to work and off of this blog!
Cyril
October 6th, 2011
12:48 pm
Agree with atlvol55. As a UT grad, I haven’t heard anyone calling for Dooley’s head. I know that I like him as a coach and appreciate the position he was put in. Now, I know that I like his mama too.
Bryan
October 6th, 2011
12:50 pm
I don’t like to be called Big Mike
Derek Dooley
October 6th, 2011
12:51 pm
I can only hope that I was adopted.
Uh Huh
October 6th, 2011
12:51 pm
Love the “mother bear defending her cub” attitude. Barbara was wrong on one thing. Derek won’t be at UT for 25 years… When Richt gets fired, and he will, Derek will return to UGA and keep the tradition going.
Pound Sand
October 6th, 2011
12:52 pm
First and foremost, nobody that matters in Tennesse is talking about Derick being on the hot seat. It is understood this is a major work in progress and it will take years for Dooley to fix it. Was firing Fulmer a mistake, in hindsite, yes. But much like the Dawg fans 8 plus wins a year every year with the talent pool you have gets old and you want more. We fans can be like that. Derick will be there a long time, and no we dont think a NC is coming anytime soon, but he’s an honest man and well respected by everyone and he’s our coach.
Momma you keep right on talking.
athdawg
October 6th, 2011
12:52 pm
Barbara is a big mouth. She loves to hear herself talk and loves the spotlight. Please quit writing and interviewing Barbara Dooley and get the opinions of intelligent, articulate people who know football. Jeesh!
DC
October 6th, 2011
12:55 pm
If you cant laugh and enjoy hearing Barbara talk then you don’t have a sense of humor. The lady is witty, intelligent, and honest..loved her on the finebaum show!
Michael Adams
October 6th, 2011
12:55 pm
Now you understand why I had to fire Vince …