April 1 shenanigans: Dooley resigns, Hamilton fired and replaced by Al Davis

by Joel Hollingsworth on Apr 1, 2010 7:29 AM EDT in Rocky Top Talking Points

Heh. It's the first of April, and Vols in the Fall has the scoop of the day. raynoch46 also emails that WIVK is saying that Tennessee will be installing orange turf this season.
Derek Dooley and several assistant coaches have signed memos of understanding. Wes Rucker has all of the pdfs and breaks down the particulars of Dooley's agreement: (1) six-year deal that escalates from $1.8M to $2.3M; (2) resignation buyouts starting at $4M before 2/15/12 and gradually diminishing to $500k during the final four years of the agreement; and (3) termination buyouts starting at $5M before 2/15/13 and gradually diminishing to $2.5M in the agreement's final year.
Jim Chaney has absolutely no problem with defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox's age (33), saying that with his credentials, Chaney wouldn't care if Wilcox was 12. Which would be fun.
Who's the current favorite to win the QB battle for UT? Brace for coachspeak:

"I think they're all doing a good job and they're all working hard which is what you want to see. Nick's a little older than the other guys but they're all doing a good job and they're showing me that they want to get better every day out here. That's the attitude that they need to have this time of year and that's what I'm seeing from them,"

That's from QB coach Darin Hinshaw. Hinshaw also says that Tyler Bray enrolling early and trading a high school spring for 15 college practices is invaluable ($?).

Yeah, both Eric Berry and Dennis Rogan have left the Tennessee secondary, but secondary coach Terry Joseph says the expectations for the unit are the same ($?). Nyshier Oliver and Eric Gordon are reportedly impressing.

Bruce to BC? A social media campaign to lure Bruce Pearl to Boston College.

Bruce is hoping to get Wayne Chism, J.P. Prince, and Bobby Maze all into the NBA. Weezy's been on mock draft boards for much of the season, Pajamas is on there now due to his performance in the NCAA Tournament, and Pearl's either working to get Bobby into a senior pre-draft camp next week or has already succeeded.

As noted in our first-ever high school basketball game thread here at RTT, Tennessee signee Tobias Harris re-aggravated a small break in one of his piggies. He'll need to rest for 7-10 days.

The Vol Historian has learned how to post pictures, so expect even more awesomeness from him in coming weeks, including this great black and white of ABC broadcasting the one televised game for the week from Neyland Stadium.

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Yay orange turf!!!

You can never have enough orange in Neyland. Not to mention, funky colored grass would make Justin Wilcox feel right at home…

by Vols767 on Apr 1, 2010 10:22 AM EDT reply actions

Oooh, get this...

Sports Animal is reporting that LSU is in NCAA trouble and Les Miles is getting fired.
April 1 is soooo confusing…

by lol vol on Apr 1, 2010 10:45 AM EDT reply actions

i was fully expecting

a bruce pearl leaving to coach @ BC joke for april fool’s day.

The Dual Threat, Official Enforcer/Stat Geek of MCM.

by hal41605 on Apr 1, 2010 12:21 PM EDT reply actions

That's just cruel.

NOT funny, especially considering what went on with Kiffin.

So Sayth King Zach I

by kingofzachland on Apr 1, 2010 7:50 PM EDT up reply actions

i wont feel at ease until BC gives a presser with their new coach

The Dual Threat, Official Enforcer/Stat Geek of MCM.

by hal41605 on Apr 1, 2010 7:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Trae Golden...

with the help of Tobias Harris, twittering a big April Fool’s joke. Links in a minute….

"It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone." A. Bartlett Giamatti

by sddbaker on Apr 1, 2010 12:55 PM EDT reply actions

Here...

http://twitter.com/Traegolden/status/11431863455

http://twitter.com/Traegolden/status/11431944554

http://twitter.com/tobias31/status/11431903474

http://twitter.com/Traegolden/status/11432089492

http://twitter.com/tobias31/status/11432794916

http://twitter.com/Traegolden/status/11432875266

http://twitter.com/Traegolden/status/11433647605

http://twitter.com/TJonesLive/status/11433925171

by sddbaker on Apr 1, 2010 1:02 PM EDT reply actions

I love Coach Jones' response

Suicides for days!

Official MCM Hater!

Fire Jeff Fisher.

by gramsey712 on Apr 1, 2010 1:05 PM EDT up reply actions

Yes!

Quite funny.

by Incipient_Senescence on Apr 1, 2010 1:47 PM EDT up reply actions

I can't see Tobias' tweets

Is a massive quote post possible?

by Incipient_Senescence on Apr 1, 2010 1:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Here ya go....

Vol nation, I gotta an announcement.. about 2 hours ago via UberTwitter

Traegolden

For the past couple weeks I’ve been asking Coach Pearl and Tennessee for a grant out of my Letter of Intent, and today.. I got it. about 2 hours ago via UberTwitter

Traegolden

@traegolden damn bra thought we had something good going it’s aight though still love you boy, good luck with ya new decision about 2 hours ago via Tweetie

tobias31

I really do love Vol nation, but its not the rite descion for me. Love u @tobias31.. U gone do great @ Tenn. about 2 hours ago via UberTwitter

Traegolden

VOL NATION @traegolden has made a personal move for himself he’s a great kid also so don’t give him so much heat … about 1 hour ago via Tweetie

tobias31

No, this is not April Fools. about 1 hour ago via UberTwitter

Traegolden

Ok ok Vol nation.. Don’t be mad! Coach pearl and coach jones calling me lololol… APRIL FOOLS!!!!!!!!! about 1 hour ago via UberTwitter Retweeted by 1 person

Traegolden

Vol Nation.. Suicides for days forTrae Golden and Tobias Harris who was in on the April Fools prank.. These are great kids who BLEED ORANGE. about 1 hour ago via web Retweeted by 1 person
TJonesLive

And, finally, this astute observation by Mr. Rucker:

April Fools falls at a tough time for Vol nation. Seriously, what wouldn’t y’all believe these days? about 1 hour ago via Echofon Retweeted by 1 person

wesrucker

by sddbaker on Apr 1, 2010 2:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Thanks

That’s funny stuff there. They may not be Wayne and JP, but I think that Trae and Tobias will keep up the tradition of Vols with fun personalities. I guess we just trade salutes for April Fool’s pranks.

by Incipient_Senescence on Apr 1, 2010 2:22 PM EDT up reply actions

And in more April Fool's Day news...

via Twitter, Swiperboy says he’s decided to get a tattoo, despite saying he was not ever going to, Steven Pearl tells him his mama will kick his “Fulmerized”, and Swipa posts a twit-pic to “prove” he did it: