The CheckerBoard

When Tennessee fired Derek Dooley, I was equally hopeful and worried. I think the last 7 years of Tennessee football has created a sense of "what could possibly go wrong next" in the fan base, and I certainly know that has extended to me. I, for one, cannot believe how far this program has fallen. You can't even find a UT hat in a LIDS store or a Foot Locker anywhere west of the Mississippi or north of the Ohio. Any orange-colored apparel I see is now Clemson...disgusting.

I was so excited when it seemed like Charlie Strong was going to be our next coach, and it was such an immediate let down that he said no. Given all the other negative and terrible crap I have going on in my life right now, it was like a sucker punch from the college football gods. Then when I heard it was Butch Jones, my first instinctual reaction was, "Are you friggin' kidding me?" But over the next 24 hours, I calmed and decided to wait and see a bit.

I think Butch may regret the comment in the PC about building the "best staff in the nation" because, as subjective as that is, I don't think anyone in their right mind believes this staff...even with Tee Martin...would qualify for top-3 in the SEC right now, let alone the whole nation. But I realize it's subjective. The recruiting to finish off this class will mean a lot. And then we'll get a glimpse in spring practice and the O/W game. I am still not overly optimistic that Jones' offense will be as successful in the SEC as the Big East, but then I never thought Kevin Sumlin's would be either (granted he had a Heisman winner working miracles weekly). I am willing to give Jones the time he needs. And while I, like everyone else on this board wants to see the Orange rise again, I am fully aware it will take time and that 2013 will be a rough campaign.

Look, I know I am not a huge fan favorite on this board for a variety of reasons. Some of those reasons I think are misguided and some of them I just don't care about. I am not the most optimistic individual, and these last few months have done nothing to abate that fact. But I love Tennessee. And I love Tennessee football. It is one of the last things truly connecting me to my childhood and my proper Southern roots.

I want to root for a damned winning program again. I want to be able to buy a damned UT hat in Denver, Colorado without going on Amazon. I want to wear my UT apparel without a damned comment about Kiffin.

I hope, more than anything in this world at this very second, that Butch Jones is the man Tennessee needs right now. Because I think it is very clear...the rest of us need it too.