The CheckerBoard

They were split on Fulmer. I don't think there is that kind of passion to keep Dooley, just people, like me, saying that he needs his 4th year.

I think the majority of our fan base likes Dooley and would like to see how we finish this year and then take a look at where we stand. I think (jmo) that as long as we're still progressing, he deserves at least his fourth year. I would like to see a win in the next two games, but if we finish 7-5 I still see improvement. I believe any coach should at least be judged on having a roster stocked with fouryears of his own players. Depending on who comes out early in the draft, this team could be pretty special next year (brutal schedule not withstanding). Most of us realize the condition the program was in when he took over. We also believe that another coaching change will set the program back even further. There is what I believe to be a vocal minority on message boards and radio that just want him gone. They believe that two and a half seasons is a fair time frame to judge Dooley. I believe that minority grew some over this past weekend(i have to admit, I was and am still frustrated by that game especially) but all in all I think the majority sees an improved team this year that still has a ways to go to get to where we need to be. I also don't think the message boards and call in radio shows are a good judge of our overall fan base. Message board frequent posters are usually the most angry. There are a lot more members of this site that don't post often than there are that post frequently on a daily basis. I tend to think they/we are the majority. Not gonna name names, but you know the guys that just bombard the boards (not so much 247, but the crappy sites that many of us fled to come over here). Same thing on the radio. If you listen to either station during the day, you can hear the same guy calling in to three different shows. Then you flip to the other station and the same guy is calling into three different shows on that station. And they do it every single day. JMO, but as much as I love these boards (and TSR), I don't think they're an accurate description of our fan base.

We got a glimpse of what the fast, dirty way to a good team was with Kiffin. I would prefer it take a few seasons like Dooley has, and have a clean program than Kiffin's way. I think the last couple of years, the Tennessee fanbase (myself included) has overrated our quality of roster and each year has been disappointing. At this point, Dooley has to prove he can inspire and empower these young men so that they can perform at or above their potential. If he doesn't prove that, maybe he would be better suited as an administrator than a head football coach. If this UT team can COMPETE with Alabama this week, I think he does prove that he belongs as the head coach.