Barbara Dooley on son Derek: ‘That’s my baby and I’m pulling for Tennessee’
Barbara Dooley, pictured with her husband of 52 years, Vince Dooley, makes no bones about it. She will be wearing orange and pulling for the Tennessee Volunteers Saturday at Sanford Stadium. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
ATHENS – Make no mistake about it. There are no split allegiances or conflicted emotions for Barbara Dooley. The longtime First Lady of Georgia Athletics will be decked head-to-toe in orange on Saturday and rooting for the Tennessee Vols.
More specifically, she’ll be pulling for her youngest son, Derek Dooley, who at this moment happens to be Vols’ head football coach, and a beleaguered one at that.
“I’ve never been conflicted about it,” said Barbara, Vince Dooley’s wife of 52 years and Derek’s mom of 44. “That’s my baby and I’m pulling for Tennessee. If the Georgia people don’t understand that then I just don’t get it.”
At this point, most of them get it. This is, after all, now old hat for the Dooleys. Derek is in his third season as Tennessee’s coach. So they’ve done the road trip to Knoxville and, after Saturday, will have twice endured the awkwardness of seeing their son on the opposing sideline at Sanford Stadium. They’ve developed sort of a routine for dealing with it.
Vince, the Bulldogs’ head coach and athletic director for a total of 41 years, won’t come anywhere near Sanford Stadium on Saturday. He’ll watch the game on the television in their Milledge Circle home, where he can twist and kick and cringe in private. And Barbara will dress in resplendent orange and go to the game like always. She said she’ll sit in the same UGA press box suite she has for a half-century.
“It’ll be my routine Saturday of entertaining and getting to the game,” Barbara said. “We’ve got a house full of company. I plan on eating, making people happy, then going to the game and sitting in the middle of a bunch of Georgia people. like always.”
As for her husband, she said, “I can understand how Vincent really and truly can’t go into that stadium that he worked in for so many years. It’s such a part of his life. He can’t just go sit in there. Plus, he could never have any privacy and just watch the game.”
As for her son, these are difficult times for him. The heat has been turned up in Knoxville, where he’s 14-15 overall and 3-1 this season. At issue is Derek’s record against ranked opponents. He’s 0-11 coming into the Georgia game. The Bulldogs are, of course, ranked No. 5.
“I don’t have any illusions of grandeur,” Barbara said of Saturday’s matchup. “I just hope Tennessee plays the very, very best they can play. Then we’ll see what happens.”
It’s not likely to get better for Derek if the Vols don’t start winning big games such as this Saturday. He inherited a tough situation, following the failed one-year experiment that was Lane Kiffin. But patience is not generally equated with modern-day college football.
“I think Derek went to Tennessee and the cupboard was really bare. It was bare, bare,” Barbara said. “So I think he’s done a really good job of recruiting his own players in there. But it’s just going to take time. I hope the fans realize you can’t snap your finger and do it. They look at [Nick] Saban, who had tremendous success at LSU and tremendous success at Alabama, but the cupboards were full there. They just needed somebody to point them in the right direction. This is a whole different situation and I think the Tennessee people realize it.”
Barbara also thinks the Vols have been a bit unlucky. She referred to last year’s game in which quarterback Tyler Bray broke his thumb on the helmet of Georgia linebacker Christian Robinson. She became friends with Robinson as they both rehabbed injuries in the Georgia football training room.
“I’m telling Christian Robinson right now to keep his hands and his head to himself,” she cracked. “He killed our season.”
Barbara was asked if she was concerned about her son’s job security.
“Of course I’m worried,” she said. “I was worried when Vince was coaching. Are you kidding?”
She reeled off stories of Georgia fans hanging Vince in effigy, having an airplane drop “Dump Dooley” fliers all over Athens and coming home from vacation to find a for-sale sign in the front yard.
“Come on, I’ve been there,” she said with a laugh. “I got sick from it. Literally I was a nervous wreck. But we knew it was like that when we took the job. I remember Vince saying, ‘just keep a suitcase ready because we never know when they’re going to throw us out of here.’ So I didn’t clean the house for 25 years. I kept thinking we were going to move.”
Alas, they never did. She hopes Derek can stay put as well.
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224 comments Add your comment
MagicUnderpantsWillard
September 27th, 2012
7:07 pm
UT – 53 UGA – 47
DawgFan1
September 27th, 2012
7:20 pm
Dawgs better bring it!!!
MeanDog
September 27th, 2012
7:32 pm
Georgia runs the table this year, plays Bama in the SEC title game. Bama’s overrated, Ga pulls the upset. These dogs are the real deal!
Walt
September 27th, 2012
7:33 pm
To **** with bib mouth Barbara…the only reason anyone knows who she is she owes to UGA and she has forgotten that. There are several ways she could show support for both schools…I wish would have divorced her ugly *** a long time ago
GreggJones
September 27th, 2012
7:33 pm
Nothing surprising here…..same old story. Of course they are supporting their child!
Jack
September 27th, 2012
7:34 pm
Dooley’s last year at UT….mark it down.
LakeDawg
September 27th, 2012
7:38 pm
I love Barbara and Vince. Alas, their son decided to take the job at UT. I will always pull against UT no matter who they’re playing. Don’t care if Derek is the coach or not.
Cobb Dawg
September 27th, 2012
7:49 pm
I don’t blame Babs. If it were my son I’d do the same. Probably won’t be for much longer though and she’ll root for the Dawgs again.
Cobb Dawg
September 27th, 2012
7:56 pm
Case any of you Vowels get the big head about this for some reason, if Arkansas hires him next season she’ll be yelling “woo pig sooie”. And Babs can again wear red instead of the popsicle orange that she has been forced to endure.
GA Girl
September 27th, 2012
8:04 pm
Precious! Isn’t that what Mama Dawg calls Derek?
Wild Dog`
September 27th, 2012
8:32 pm
Mrs Dooley:. I can see how ‘you would support TN when your son plays another team other than UGA, UGA supported you and your family many years. But to expect UGA to appreciate your Burnt Orange in the UGA stadium. No way shame on you. Your son would understand.
FisHERMAN
September 27th, 2012
8:46 pm
I don’t blame Vince for staying home, especially with those Champion Windows!
FisHERMAN
September 27th, 2012
8:50 pm
Folks,
It’s a game! Have fun!
It’s more serious if it’s your job.
Mybulldawgs
September 27th, 2012
8:52 pm
Barbara Dooley and her loud mouth has always been an embarrasment to her husband and to the University. She needs to remember that it was the University of Georgia, not Tennessee that gave Vince his first head coaching job at a major University and at a very young age.
This same University kept him employed his entire career when many other coaches, especially those of today, would have been fired any number of times for many of the mediocre teams he coached. This same University eventually made him the A.D. of this major University and kept him employed for 41 years before a final encounter with Dr. Adams (who nobody likes anyway).
By this time Vince was well beyond the age where most men retired anyway. This same University paid them well, enabled them to buy a beautiful home, give parties and allowed ‘ol Big Mouth to be the toast of the Athens socialites. This same University provided the income to raise her family, educate them and live a happy, financially liquid and a socially productive life.
Now, she embarrases one more time by waiving the flag (the orange one), in the UGA suite. Time to lose this one, Vince. Yea, I’m a parent too and I love my child. But Barbara could support Derek without making the usual fool of herself. For the record, I like Derek too, and I hope he is successful. But not against UGA. I’ll be at the game, but not in her suite (thank goodness), but I will have on red and black.
LutzFLdawg
September 27th, 2012
8:58 pm
Barbara, you’re dead to me.
Huh?
September 27th, 2012
9:29 pm
The responses from UGA fans to this article better sum up the attitude of UGA fans better than I ever could.
To those Dog fans that want to give Barbara a hard time for supporting her son, I would just say that your love for the school you root for has reached a level of ridiculousness. Of course the Dooley’s are going to support their son, and all of you would do the same. Football is a game…I know it’s exciting, and can be a big part of all of our lives in the Fall. However, get over youselves. Family should always come first, and UGA is not the only game in town.
Jomps
September 27th, 2012
9:40 pm
I love Barbara and she is a good host and mom but she should wear her awful orange and watch it from home with Vince.
Maitland dawg
September 27th, 2012
9:45 pm
Barbara go to bed enough UGA checks cashed by the Dooleys
Huh?
September 27th, 2012
9:46 pm
….and there you have it.
Huh?
September 27th, 2012
9:48 pm
Stay classy UGA fans…stay classy.
Charles
September 27th, 2012
9:53 pm
Crazy as ever. I wonder how she feels about her boy paying Cord. Patterson. Worst kept secret from this past class.
Charles
September 27th, 2012
9:55 pm
Huh…what you fail to realize is that many of us UGA folk have long since considered Babs a laughing stock. She doesn’t have a lot of fans in and around Athens, and it has nothing to do with her pulling for UT.
Huh?
September 27th, 2012
10:01 pm
Charles…fine…but many people have posted on this blog about how she shouldn’t be pulling for her son in an “outwardly” way…like it’s a sin to wear any other color into the stadium. Whether she has fans or not has nothing to do with the fact that most people I think would understand that she is pulling for her son.
Huh?
September 27th, 2012
10:02 pm
Charles…waiting for your scoop…I’m not a TN fan, but if Dooley paid Patterson, and it’s the worst kept secret, what facts do you have?
Charles
September 27th, 2012
10:05 pm
I just gave you the scoop. Tennessee paid Cordarrelle Patterson after he committed to UGA…our coaches couldn’t reach him the last couple of days and he went radio silent. Lot of people know…it’s not exactly scoop. This stuff happens pretty frequently with programs like UT and Auburn.
KOOL
September 27th, 2012
10:09 pm
Dear Barbara,
Who you root for doesn’t change who I root for… so, clear thinking, intelligent UGA fans really don’t care.
Sincerely, KOOL
lamar
September 27th, 2012
10:13 pm
That’s Fine…Put her in Section 600 wth the rest of “em !!
Layinlow
September 27th, 2012
10:17 pm
Uga fans expect her to pull for her son but she doesn’t have to run to the press every year and make a big ordeal out of it. I respect Vince for staying home and not putting himself in that situation. Does this big supporter of her son and ut football attend all the home games in Knoxville? I seriously doubt it. Me thinks this lady is looking for attention. And read the last paragraph were she was quoted, does that sound like a lady who appreciates what this university did for her family? She sounds bitter to me.
Huh?
September 27th, 2012
10:19 pm
Charles…yeah I know what you announced….I’m asking for more than the fact that a recruit when radio silent after changing his mind…that happens all the time. I’m also looking for more than “lots of people know…” It’s too easy to claim something like that without facts…so where are they?
Huh?
September 27th, 2012
10:20 pm
layinlow…Barabara did go to the press…they came to her and asked her. I think it’s great that she isn’t running from it, and is proud of her kid.
Charles
September 27th, 2012
10:26 pm
Huh – you obvioulsy don’t understand the meaning of the word ‘fact’. The fact is that Patterson was paid. To your point, or complete lack thereof, how would I provide you ‘proof’ right here? You really think every kid paid by UT over the years has been uncovered by the media? What ‘facts’ would you like me to present you with? Believe me, there are even many UT fans who would admit what happened with Patterson, and they don’t care. It’s common knowledge.
And a point on your comment about her in the press…she heard some guys on 960 last year talking about the UGA/UT game and literally drove to the station and busted into the booth…she’s a joke and all of Athens knows it. And, by the way, there’s proof on that one…go listen for yourself.
Huh?
September 27th, 2012
10:31 pm
Charles…I know all about what Barbara did on 960. I also know what she did (or didn’t do) concerning the press this time around about the upcoming game with UGA and how she responded when the press ASKED HER about her son.
I know what the word fact means…I also know what proof means. Just because you claim it to be a fact doesn’t make it so. It’s the first I have heard of it. Give me a link to the story where it was reported. Point me to an ESPN/Fox Sports/etc. audio clip. Give me ANYTHING other than you speaking it. As a matter of fact, give me a link to where any UT player has been paid.
Charles
September 27th, 2012
10:33 pm
There is no story on it nor will there be. If you’re naive enough to think that means there’s no way it could have happened, well sweetheart, we’ll have mom come up and read you a bedtime story here shortly.
Charles
September 27th, 2012
10:34 pm
And, Huh, don’t you think most classy folks would just say ‘no comment’? The answer to that rhetorical question, by the way, is no.
Charles
September 27th, 2012
10:35 pm
lol, excuse me, that would be yes.
boots
September 27th, 2012
10:36 pm
Of course she should pull for her son. Here’s the deal, Barbara: we won’t fault you for it, but just please burn everything orange if Derek ever leaves. Frankly, you will class up the Tennessee fan-base more than a single person ever has. Go Dawgs!
Huh?
September 27th, 2012
10:38 pm
Charles…I don’t know of a single Southern mom with her weight would issue a “no comment” regarding supporting her son as a head coach at an SEC school.
So Charles, regarding the Patterson deal, it sound like you and some of your UGA brethren have sour grapes regarding Patterson, and it’s turned into a “UT paid him” story. It’s sad. Believe it or not, players might just actually choose to go to school somewhere other than might “Georgia.” Until you can come up with something other than “radio silence” and “others know it,” you might want to stop. It makes you sound childish.
Huh?
September 27th, 2012
10:39 pm
I’m also waiting on any story of UT playing a player….
Kyle
September 27th, 2012
10:39 pm
She is just like all the other people in this town who live here and pull for other teams. My hometown would be so much better if these people would live where their teams are located. I’m sure old Babs can afford a home in Knoxville and like the Amityville house said ……GET OUT!!!
Huh?
September 27th, 2012
10:40 pm
Hey Charles…have you heard the story about how UGA paid Gurley and Jarvis Jones? Yep…it’s a fact. Everybody knows it.
kingdaddy
September 27th, 2012
10:41 pm
@ Buddy Landel, 2:43 pm
Are you the same Buddy Landel that wrestled professionally? I met you while I was a “bouncer” at Taps in Johnson City Tn. in 99′. You were pretty tanked, but we were one of the last bars in JC, you hadn’t been barred from, lol. You were a hell of a nice guy, just misunderstood while you were drinking. That was a great place…
Charles
September 27th, 2012
10:44 pm
Huh – why a southern mom? It could be any mom…and how often do we read comments from coach’s mothers? Oh, that’s right…it’s basically never…because most folks don’t crave the spotlight. You don’t see Vince commenting…they’d kill to have his comments. He’s a southern daddy, right? Your comment is stupid and without logic.
And that story on Cord isn’t created. It’s true. Childish as it may sound…here in adult-world, a lot of cheating takes place in our league. UGA isn’t immune, just not to the level of some of our rivals. This was a particularly blatant case.
Charles
September 27th, 2012
10:47 pm
UGA is blessed to have Jarvis but he definitely didn’t get paid…Gurley didn’t either – great kid. We do have a few that got handshakes, thought. Cord Patterson got seriously paid, which is different. And his juco coach got a job. Some things are on a different level.
01HAWK
September 27th, 2012
10:51 pm
They look at [Nick] Saban, who had tremendous success at LSU and tremendous success at Alabama, but the cupboards were full there. They just needed somebody to point them in the right direction. This is a whole different situation and I think the Tennessee people realize it.”
Sorry Mrs. Dooley…………………………………..But the cupboards were bare at LSU and BAMA when Nick Saban arrived at each school.
WDE
September 27th, 2012
10:53 pm
Hey its one game a season and its her child..Mrs Dooley has lived in Athens and been a huge supporter of the Dogs since what 196? Lighten up ! For over 20 years she was as big of a plus for the UGA “brand” as anyone in the state not named Vince..and she deserved the Bull Dog Nations respect as does her husband.
Huh?
September 27th, 2012
10:57 pm
Charles…you are wrong…Gurley and Jones got paid. Dude, you don’t know that? Everybody does. I mean, I can’t prove it, nor do I have anything to go on other than what I am saying…but it’s a FACT.
On the Southern mom thing…it’s an expression Charles. Like “no self respecting Southerner…..” kind of thing. The point is, Barbara didn’t go to the press. About this time every year, they go to her because of the history. She has said the same thing every time. Which most moms (goegraphically agnostic of course) would. You guys expert her to say “no comment” for what? To save the feelings of some out of touch UGA fans? Good grief. Again, UGA isn’t the only school in the world. If a mom can’t be proud of her son and support him, then something is wrong with football…and the world.
Huh?
September 27th, 2012
10:57 pm
Whew…thanks WDE…you are correct.
Charles
September 27th, 2012
10:58 pm
So explain her busting into a radio booth in Athens and showing her tail? She’s a joke. She absolutely craves the attention.
LAX Dawg
September 27th, 2012
11:01 pm
Like Archie Manning said….whoever thinks I am wrong (when he rooted for the Colts over the Saints in the Super Bowl) must not have children.
Huh?
September 27th, 2012
11:02 pm
Charles…I’m not saying she didn’t do that…I’m not saying that she should have. What I am saying is that it doesn’t prove that she called a press conference to announce the support of her son. Good grief. It’s her kid dude…It doesn’t matter that Vince coached at UGA. I promise you that Archie Manning pulled for his son when TN played Ole Miss…and I remember him saying as much to the media. There is nothing wrong with being proud of your children…and supporting them. As WDE said, Barbara gave UGA a lot…for many years. So now she wants to pull for her son? Get over it already.