The CheckerBoard

While I really appreciate all the talk of support in this thread, and while I know these are message boards and this is what happens on message boards, I really dislike threads with conjecture about possible new coaches when we have a very good coach and staff who are trying to plan for next season and convince recruits that we are stable going forward.

There is absolutely no reason to believe that Dooley is going anywhere. He has won every game expected to win except Kentucky given his set of circumstances. Yes, the bar is higher this season, but why are we so convinced he won't reach it? He's a smart guy with a great staff who has had a good offseason.

Sure, every coach in the country in this day and age could have a bad year and be gone, but what the national media who talk to hear themselves don't realize is that Dooley has done what has been expected with the exception of Kentucky because of how bad things were when he arrived. Yes, those excuses are gone now, but is not the same as him having screwed up for two years and now he's got to get it right. This thread is proof that the fan base, in large part, understands that. Now that he's guided us through that hard moment in our football history, it is time to return our expectations to normal for Tennessee football. Dooley has to match those expectations. No news there. But it's not like he's done some terrible job before now.

If for some reason DD is out after this year because the wheels totally fall off and he wins less than 6-7 games, he has done a great service to Tennessee football by patiently rebuilding the systems needed to win that were so badly broken when he arrived. Anybody in management of any program knows that rebuilding systems are the behind scenes work that no one sees and that people complain the most about but that are ultimately the key to long term deeply rooted success.

This would be a great reason to believe Smart would NOT be a homerun hire IMO but I don't think they are in the same mold at all except that they each have a defensive background. I'm not trying to be a hater I just honestly expect Muschamp to fall on his face at Florida. I was happy to see UF hire him and I think that decision will help Tennessee turn the table in our rivalry.

I think Smart will be a better HC than ole Champ if given an opportunity at a place like Tennessee, Georgia, LSU, etc. but I really like Dooley and hope we win enough games to keep him around.

good point for sure 28 +1