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
Steve
October 6th, 2011
2:07 pm
Dave Hooker doesn’t work at the Knoxville News-Sentinel, he writes for ESPN just for the record.
Roach
October 6th, 2011
2:09 pm
I Love it! You go Mrs. Dooley. Don’t mess with her baby!!!!
Jsoeph
October 6th, 2011
2:09 pm
You go, grill!
tampaBIGdawg
October 6th, 2011
2:10 pm
Derek Dooley is a fine coach, and we have to admit, he hasn’t had alot to work with. I hate UT, always will, but you have to give credit where it is due. He as done an outstanding job there. I would love to see him in Athens one day, but I am still hoping Richt turns things around.
I am the youngest of 9 kids. I admit I am a mommas boy still at 38.
Roll Tide!
October 6th, 2011
2:11 pm
I hope Derek is in Knoxville longer than Tom Graves is in Washington.
???????
October 6th, 2011
2:11 pm
Can someone please help me understand why in the h311 is it wrong to be optimistic?It is funny how people accuse UGA each off season of being positive and wanting to win. So does this mean that all other teams head into next year saying man we are going to be horrible? fuggin dumba$$e$
TrishaDishaWarEagle
October 6th, 2011
2:11 pm
@ GeauTigers
Both times when I was a student that AU played in Baton Rouge, me and my friends found the fans really hospitable and utterly willing to share their alcohol without checking our IDs
You and Shreveport are the classier parts of the state..N O and Saints fans, not so much…
TrishaDishaWarEagle
October 6th, 2011
2:14 pm
@???????
Speaking for myself, knowing we face Alabama and LSU every single year and Florida 6 out of 10, to boot, I think we just see things a little more realistically..I love to win and I love that we won the NC..but it wasn’t even until the LSU game that I started thinking hey, we are really good this year..
Times iz different
October 6th, 2011
2:15 pm
” Back when I was in coaching with my husband, the press was our best friends.” The press is there to report, not kiss your hairy arse lady….
Vol Fan
October 6th, 2011
2:20 pm
Coach Dooley has more important priorities than defending himself to the media. if you take one second to go through some of his press conferences you’ll find that he handles himself just fine in the public eye.
It doesn’t help recruiting at all when she does this. When is she going to realize that’s she’s doing much more harm than good. Tough position to be in. You don’t want to scold your mother. We all have mothers and surely we all want to be good to them, but there comes a time when a harsh word is what needs to be said.
There’s no more pressure on Coach Dooley than any other HC in the SEC or other big time programs across the country. The fringe will be the fringe and act accordingly, but 99% of Vol Nation is satisfied with the early returns, and can easily see the promise of not only the distant future, but even this season. Better not take the Vols lightly, because that group of youngsters has the talent to beat any team, but they need to keep their composure under the lights.
GO VOLS
VolsRule
October 6th, 2011
2:25 pm
Funny stuff!
I am hoping for a great game by both teams Saturday night.
Both teams need 4 quarters of high level competition to help with the development of each team.
Our offense seems to be getting it together – but again, we really have not played anyone except Florida and Cinci. Our defense is very young and we need our offense to keep the ball away from UGA.
UGA is inconsistent on offense – just does not have it’s act together. Defense is another story – really impressed – but again, the last 4 games – of which UGA lost one of them – were against average to below average teams – as South Carolina has not really looked good all season – except when playing UGA as the Dogs were giving them breaks all day long.
Safe travel to all – get up there early to avoid the gridlock traffic.
James
October 6th, 2011
2:30 pm
As a former football player at Tennessee, this is as embarrassing as hell for our coach’s mother to get involved like this. No damn wonder Vince didn’t do any better than he did with all that talent in GA.
Derek: YOU need to tell your mother to zip that big mouth of hers!
Ray Tardinski
October 6th, 2011
2:33 pm
Derek is over his head. Dawgs will roll as much as hate to admit it.
TrishaDishaWarEagle
October 6th, 2011
2:34 pm
Most moms would do what Barbara Dooley did, anyway. When I got fired from my first job (the Gap) in HS, my mom told off my boss afterwards and it was not until she learned I got fired for telling a very rude customer to go F herself with a cactus, that she turned her wrath on me.
Rob
October 6th, 2011
2:35 pm
“You stop grilling mah bayBEE!!”
Um, OK. No.
IC Cake
October 6th, 2011
2:38 pm
Barbara’s pretty hot for an older woman. Can Vince take care of her needs?
football hooey
October 6th, 2011
2:43 pm
What a mamma’s boy. Sorry Ms. Dooley, the coaches and athletes can’t be overpaid and coddled and get a pass on top of that.
Red
October 6th, 2011
2:44 pm
Sound like Vols would be better off with Coach Derek Mama than with Coash Derek
just sayin'
October 6th, 2011
2:44 pm
So he has to has his filthy mouthed mom fight his battles for him? Who gives a rat’s posterior?
It’s busines.
Weekend Predictions: Dogs and Falcons are going down | Jeff Schultz
October 6th, 2011
2:45 pm
[...] As the wife of Vince and mother of Derek, she has made her choice. It’s clear: sonny boy. Babs phoned a Knoxville sportstalk show Thursday to defend Derek (the Tennessee coach) and attack those who believe he’s on the [...]
RiffRaff
October 6th, 2011
2:46 pm
VolsRule – you guys have two things going for you Saturday: Your at home and your QB is a really accurate passer. We’ve got the ‘D’ and IC. Should be a good game.
AJ Green
October 6th, 2011
2:46 pm
I say we break out the power ranger uniforms and kick some Vol butt.
G-Dawg
October 6th, 2011
2:53 pm
GATA Barbara!!! LOL Obviously a Dawg at heart!!
Ben Dover
October 6th, 2011
2:55 pm
Georgia has the WORST and most OBNOXIOUS FANS in the country. No class whatsoever!!!
raymond
October 6th, 2011
2:55 pm
Mama needs to stay where she belongs and thicken her skin. All coaches at all levels go through criticism.
wow
October 6th, 2011
3:00 pm
Well, we always knew she wasn’t the sharpest knife in the drawer, but it appears ole Babs has gone “full retard” with this latest stunt. sheesh.
AthensDawg
October 6th, 2011
3:01 pm
Oh The Media.
Ray Tardinski
October 6th, 2011
3:02 pm
You know UGA fans love the Dooley’s when they are pulling for their hillbilly rivals to the north when not playing them (heck I have even witnessed downright dedication from die-hard UGA fans to watching the Vols now). The world is outa balance I tell ya.
rally
October 6th, 2011
3:04 pm
I am reminded of the old Bear Bryant commercial for Bell Telephone. “I tell my boys to call their Moms. I wish I could call mine.” Many of us wish our Moms were still here to stand up for us like Ms. Dooley. We in Tennessee love Derrick Dooley as a coach and thank you all in Georgia for letting us be a part of this great family, the Dooleys.
ATLVolfan
October 6th, 2011
3:10 pm
Go re-read the article. Nobody in Knoxville is saying Dooley is on the hotseat. Hooker is just one reporter. I read Vol blogs, the Knox News Sentinel everyday. and everyone is happy with Coach Dooley. And not everyone wanted Fulmer gone! I didn’t, and I certainly did NOT want Kiffin. Now we have a new COMPETENT athletic director at UT, and recruiting is going well. It is just a matter of time before these amazing freshmen and sophomores are seasoned veterans, winning a majority of the games they play. Coach Dooley in less than two years, has stolen several prime recruits out of Jawja including Da’Rick Rogers and Raijon Neal, and he already has a couple of good ones verbally committed out of Ga so far this year. Worry about your own issues, Dawg fans, because you seem to have PLENTY!
Go Vols…continue to OWN the Dawgs in Neyland this Saturday!
GoodScout
October 6th, 2011
3:21 pm
Vol fans are giving Derek quite a chance. He deserves it. We know he’s a good ‘un and will do us proud. Those two sportswriters are idiots. And as for Tom Graves, everyone would rather hear two hours of mama Dooley kicking ass than listen to that moron for two seconds.
dmhudgins
October 6th, 2011
3:29 pm
I went to tenn for a football camp with my senior son, Derek Dooley yelled at me cause my foot was on the ‘Playing field before a training session’ (oh he also had a coach yell at me too) and the TE coach was a total A$$ too., ‘not a people person at all’. after I spent $900 for a 2 day camp that summer and food and hotel, the camp was very bad. After doing 10 camps last June 2010. Tenn was the worse. So Derek Dooley and the Tenn coach can kiss my butt. By the way, my son sign with a another college and his team is rated in the top 3. I hope UGA kicks the crap out of Tenn.
Weekend Predictions: Dogs and Falcons are going down – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) | Pet, pet, and pet cute!
October 6th, 2011
3:41 pm
[...] fun. As the wife of Vince and mother of Derek, she has made her choice. It’s clear: sonny boy. Babs phoned a Knoxville sportstalk show Thursday to defend Derek (the Tennessee coach) and attack those who believe he’s on the coaching [...]
G-Dawg
October 6th, 2011
3:44 pm
Ben Dover…..you obviously know what position to assume, prior to penetration!! Dawgstyle!! Enjoy the pleasure and the pain!!
secbama
October 6th, 2011
3:54 pm
Barbara you need to shut your piehole! The Vols will lose the next four games in order: UGA, LSU, Bama and South Carolina. We will see how much you are chirping in four weeks.
bad dawg
October 6th, 2011
3:58 pm
I love it! You go mom, I agree with you 100% Tenn was crap when he got there. Best of Luck Tenn against dawgs..hope u win!
Matt the Brave
October 6th, 2011
4:00 pm
I love Barbara Dooley. A classy lady and a good Momma! GATA Barbara!
bad dawg
October 6th, 2011
4:00 pm
secbama sounds like o-bama..u shut the piehole u know better than talk o moma like that.
secbama
October 6th, 2011
4:01 pm
Bama fan here hoping for a UGA route. Dooley has no signature wins. He sure ’sings it…but he can’t bring it’. UGA 34 Vols 23.
miss my mother
October 6th, 2011
4:02 pm
No greater love than a mother!
Ace
October 6th, 2011
4:02 pm
D Dooley had a great record at L Tech, 3-17?
Stinks at UT.
Always full of excuses.
He just can’t coach.
Sorry Barb.
Something nice about D Dooley? Uh, he’s a passionate loser.
Ace
October 6th, 2011
4:03 pm
He’s actually 17-20 at L Tech, and 9-8 at UT,.
harold
October 6th, 2011
4:06 pm
SHOCKING THAT VINCE WILL NOT BE THERE TO SUPPORT HIS OWN SON!
DOOLEY HAS TO DO WHAT VINCE HIRED MARK RICHT TO DO: WIN!
bitter tooth-less wounders
October 6th, 2011
4:17 pm
i will say that after last year butt wooping—-the vols would love too hit us early and often
———-if JAW-JA aint ready for a scrap——–southern style———–its going to be a long ride bacc
—————–murry gets nock out of the game and hudson mason becomes JAW-JA next
—————————————great hero——yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayayayayayaya—go dawgs
bitter tooth-less wounders
October 6th, 2011
4:19 pm
love BARBARA DOOLY—-GOOD CHOOSE VINCE==============GO DAWGS
HateUGA
October 6th, 2011
4:38 pm
Who cares what ol’ bag dooley said? Who? A mama’s boy, no wonder. UGA fans are alcohol-fuel nutjobs who ring the praises of whoever is the coach during the year. It’s a mediocre school, an average team at best, and truthfully, no one cares what the old bag has to say.
bigbob
October 6th, 2011
4:41 pm
Glad to see that at least one person connected to UGA has the right stuff, it’s just too bad she is 70′ish and can’t coach or play.
KC
October 6th, 2011
4:46 pm
Back in the early 80’s, Mrs. Dooley was one of the worst customers I have ever had the misfortunate to deal with . . . Looks like not much has changed. BTW, Coach Dooley was one of the nicest. Talk about a “good cop, bad cop” relationship!
bigcalidawg
October 6th, 2011
4:47 pm
Naw man, that’s just family. She did right by her son……clearly……..she was upset. Good on her.
I’m impressed that she’s that knowledgeable as to the game.
Shoot, till now, I only heard her slangin Southern Made Super Franks (with an accent that would make Paula Deen blush.)
We’re more alike than we are different. Football divides us, only because we like different teams. At the end of the day, we’re all the same, but with different football loyalties.
My mamma used to do that stuff for me.
It’s cool.
john boy
October 6th, 2011
4:48 pm
The liberals let them vote and look what you get. Running their mouth around grown men.