SEC Media Days: Derek Dooley Live Blog

I’m seeing from the others seems like Dooley is Sincere in not knowing what the position on Bryce is.

Thats sad really, so much talent and so little decision making ability. I’m referring to Bryce, not Dooley FWIW

speaking highly of Chuck Smith

makes this look like an episode of West Wing

ESPNU commercials.

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Thanks for the coverage. Not used to that. Used to have to initiate interviews himself at Ruston.

Used to winning; used to stability.

Goal is to reestablish the great tradition.

Naturally going to have more attrition than you usually have.

A: Opening question about my mother. I’m amazed at what colors my parents are going to wear. She’s certainly a great personality. Everybody loves b/c she subscirbes to that theory of speak first, think second, exactly opposite of my dad.

A: It’s been great, great people. Gracious, welcoming. Best transition we’ve had. The fans have been great. Openness of accepting a third head coach in such a short time.

to ask him about his parents off the bat and not Kiffin, Bryce Brown, Bar Knoxville…or our team in general.

A: Didn’t really act to try to send a message. I did what I thought was the responsible thing to do. First thing was to get back to town and understand what happened. Talkd to everyone for several hours. Important to make swift decisions based on the info I had. When those things happen, improtant to be quick and consistent.

Now we’re waiting for legal proceedings to carry on.

A: Been good. Respect for Slive and other coaches. They’ve been gracious. Feels good to be welcomed, but that’s not going to win any games or help you to stay. Can have a good relationship w/ competitors; I’ll do that.

A: he’s not one to be in your day to day life; you go make your own mistakes and grow as a man. There was a change when I got this job. Sometimes I felt like 11 again. Think i’ts because he understands the nature of this job. Critical decisions; pressures; understands magnitude of it. He’ll be suppotive but not intrusive. I’d be a fool not to reach out to him, but at end of day, I’ll shape the program that fits my personality.

A: Got embarrassed against LSU; didn’t compete. Went back two years later and competed really well. I hope we don’t have that problem at UT. Intangible values of how we compete. Great effort, team discipline, toughness.

A: Great relationship w/ Nick pro and personally. Gave me a lot of opportunity to blossom, wear a lot of hats; big impact on my development; will always be appreciative. Great personal relationship as well. Spent some time at the lake this summer; reached out to him by phone, despite competitive element that will be there this fall. Like playing against your friends; no one wants to lose, but great respect.

A: Our image isn’t where we want it to be. Culture is hard to find. Whether you have 2 or 4 incidents; don’t want any. Try to minimize the risk of those incidents. Starts w/ expectations from the head coach. That’s a starting point. Educational component goes with it. Right wrong, how to act. Consequences of those actions; discipline for making poor decisions.

VFL. Vol for LIfe. Program is centered around components: character educationl life skills, spiritiaul growth, career development, etc. Over the course of 2, 3, 4 years, you’ll see tremendous change. Put so much emphasis on football and academic support, but we sometimes neglect personal growth as a man. It’s a critical time in a young man’s life. I know b/c I was raised by great people, but I had issues myself. I needed such a program. I have two young boys who will need it.

At the end of the day, I know the job will be job I do on Saturdays, but we’re going to work hard to impact these lives.

A: Every year you have to evaluate. Got to keep up. I’m a pro-style mode. Have to run; also have to be multiple. Have to be good at everything these days. Don’t have to be great at everything. Put in a system, but build system around players. Shape the offense around them.

A: I don’t know. I don’t ahve to bill time. Education is important. Anytime you stretch your mind, it helps you problem solve and think through multiple issues. Can’t put a handle on how it specifically helps. Although I can understand the NCAA manual the first time. It’s clearlyl written by lawyers, which creates confusion.

“I know that, Jimmy. You telling everybody else who you are?”

ohpleaseohplease

A: Don’t know how it was before “he” got there. All I can see is where we are and where we need to go. Not here to analyze what the prior coaches did. My job is to see what we need to do now.

A: “No.”

A: Depends on the issue. Dad would call and ask who someone is. No, “What do you mean you don’t know who he is. All conference in 1962.” “Dad, I don’t know who my DE is.”

Dad’s learning everything about Tennessee, including Civil War battles. He’s a great resource.

A: I don’t know. Generally it’s based on how you did last year and who’s coming back? We’ve got new faces we know nothing about. I don’t expect to be picked high. It’s great for fans, but it doesn’t matter much.

A: Mother was devasted for my wife. Couldn’t believe I would do it. Dad tried to act like he was surprised, but he understood. Wanted to make sure it wasn’t b/c I just wasn’t happy b/c every job was tough. Once I made the decision, Alison was stunned, support since then was icnredible.

A: Simms is very mature physically. Matured emotionally. Tyler Bray is younger and adjustment will take longer. Neither have performed as they’re capable b/c of the new-ness. It will be fun to watch their progress.

So Tennessee has the lawyer, and Vanderbilt has the turkey breeder?

A: It’s not an excuse, but players do adopt personalities of their coaches. Our players have had three different personalities. Sybil. But they’re resilient. We won’t know how they’re adjusting until they hit some adversity. Had some off the field, but we’ll have some on the field this fall, then we’ll find out.

A: Walker is no different than any guy I signed. Great seniors. Great people. Good players. Need them to play well. Need veterans to play well next year. Need them to affect others in a positve way to play better and act better. I blame Reveiz as much as the other guys. [did I hear that right?]

“I blame Nick Reveiz just as much as I blame the guys who were there.” (Bar Knoxville)

A: They’re not the only two coaches who’ve influenced me. [rattles off some others]

he’s flustered a third of the guys asking questions at least

A: Always concerned. Not any more concerned about that than I am every other temptation that gets a player to make a bad decision. It’s a behavioral issue. Starts with education.

at least for me

….hmmmm. He’s saying that because of conversations with the players and their (presumed) honesty, and says any doubt he had that night has been removed based on the investigation

Hyams asked about whether or not rebuilding at Tennessee was harder than what Saban did at LSU and Alabama, because of the lack of in-state talent.

“I do think there’s a tremendous, unique perspective in recruiting that we have that none of the other institutions have. We border eight states. I really consider…you take about 3-5 hours around Knoxville, there is a tremendous amount of talent, all the way around, in every state. So even though a lot of people say we don’t have a great recruiting base, I don’t really see that. We can drive three hours down the road, and there’s a multitude of players. Does it create challenges that it’s not your home state? Of course it does.

But there’s also a special uniqueness that TN has because of that. I’ve always, from the outside, admired the passion of the former players at Tennessee. It’s incredible how much they love the place, how much they come back, I don’t think there’s very many programs out there that have former players do that, and I think it’s because of our geographic location. We’re able to pull players from so many different places that when they come to Tennessee, they truly leave home, unpack their bags, they form new relationships and form special bonds that last forever. I consider it a real strength."

that Dooley and Bryce Brown will meet on Monday. Brown is expected to ask for a release.

Again, Joel, thanks for all these live-comment threads. Even if I can’t read them real time, I go back through and read them later on. They’re much easier to use than the transcriptions.

and he really echoed what Dooley said:

“We feel that we made a mistake – it’s not just those guys, it’s the whole team, because we didn’t let them know the discipline that is portrayed as Tennessee Volunteers.”

Uploading now. Also got in the mosh pit for a couple of questions with Reveiz.

Asked Walker whether Dooley’s told him that he holds the leadership responsible for the behavior of the entire team. Short answer: yes.

Thanks!

Changing threads.