The CheckerBoard

Not Wes obviously, but I can tell ya no one really knows anything right now. At least nothing concrete enough to even speculate with confidence. A case could be made by Hart either way if 8 wins is met. I honestly think a wait and see approach has been taken. Hart isn't talking and if he has, the people he has spoken with aren't talking.

I didn't say anything that wasn't true. I had a lot of content, probably could have went four hours. Definitely didn't intend on spending that much time on Dooley, but that's what the listeners/callers were wanting to discuss today.

Oh yeah, regardless of which direction the AD goes, the topic de'jour will be coaching for a very long time. Whether it be why is Dooley still here or if they fire him Who will the new guy be....

My gut is he is gone. I just don't see how you could spin this with the fans and big money people who want to make a change if you keep him. I can't think of a DC that would come for reasonable money/buyout if you let Sal go, I don't see people being excited going into next season w/ CDD still at the helm, and at the end of the season I just think the lack of dollars and cents will ultimately make the decision to let him go. If UT drops a game before then, I think the decision is that much easier, but if they win out it becomes a little more difficult, but I think public perception is so far gone on Dooley that you almost can't keep him regardless.

I'm going to go against the grain and say I would be excited if Dooley came back next year if only for the sole purpose of seeing this offense in action another year, BUT.....I would expect to see changes defensively. I know this whole public perception is out there, but the public has been wrong before. Dooley needs more time.

As far as the boosters are concerned, they remind of lobbyists. Always dangling the dollars to get what they want.

What about former players? I have heard Erik Ainge, Jason Swain, Fuad Revis and Bobby Scott all going off about Dooley and his way of running the program this weekend. I think the former players hold more merit.

In what way is he running the program that is not acceptable to former players? On or off the field? Or both?

And yes, former players hold merit but I'm not sure they hold more merit. Just because you're a former player doesn't mean you know what's best for the program or you know how to run it better. Case in point...Michael Jordan. One of the greatest basketball players ever.....terrible owner.

Sure it would. If a whole new staff is brought in including a new OC, what would be the incentive for the three of them to stay and learn a completely new system and potentially damage their draft position?

Why is this immoral? If they pay for buildings, renovate Neyland, put up $$$ for the new football complex, Thornton Center, Peyton's locker room donation, whoever pays for the new athletic dorms, etc., and donate huge sums yearly, they have every right to expect their voice carries a ton more weight than that of the average fan.

If average fan money was all this program had, we'd be a larger version of Tennessee Tech (Go, Da'Rick!!). We all get to enjoy a lot of the things surrounding the program that we do because of those donors.

Athletic donors aren't always dangling the dollars; they're instead always being chased for dollars; and quite rightly, they expect something in return.

I'm sure as heck no big money donor, BUT I can promise you that IF I was, and IF the athletic department was always chasing me with their hand out begging for my money, I'd demand a say in policy decisions, especially when it comes to something as important as coaching decisions.

I don't know it for certain, but people I trust have told me that Thunder has not donated nearly as much money since Fulmer was fired, b/c he's reportedly still P.O.'d about it. That's the way not just this business works, but all business works.