Derek Dooley: "A Sabanite"

Allow me to start off by saying that regardless of who coaches at Tennessee i will never cease to be a fan. However, I am saddened and extremely skeptical of the hiring of Derek Dooley. Dooley is 40 years or so of age and a graduate of Virginia where he played wide reciever. He earned a law degree from Georgia where he began his coaching career as a graduate assistant in 1996. His father is legendary Georgia coach Vince Dooley, which makes Derek Dooley a prime canidate to replace Mark Richt, who is on the hot seat. There is no question that he would leave Tennessee even after 1 year to take his dream job...sound familiar? We are getting a coach with a losing record in his career...sound familiar? This coaches child is named Peyton? Remember who else had a child named after his "love" for Tennessee? It's ok though....because Derek Dooley is a "sabanite" apparently he is on the Saban track for success. Well, before Saban made it to Alabama he coached at Michigan State and then bolted for LSU, where he then promptly left for the NFL before ending up at Alabama. So it appears as if Tennessee is Dooleys "Michigan State" seriously? Tennessee and Michigan State are not equal...but because Mike Hamilton does not respect Tennessee tradition and pride we are setting ourselves up to be abandoned once again. Besides, Nick Saban is a power hungry, money loving jerk who holds himself in higher regard than he holds a university. I thought Tennessee was better than trying copy it's rivals. I thought Tennessee was better than settling on being a Michigan State. WELL I THINK TENNESSEE IS BETTER THAN THAT....it's Mike Hamilton who doesn't think so. See my last blog and you'll understand why Fulmer, Cutcliffe, Kippy Brown, Lovie Smith, or nearly anyone would be a better fit than Derek Dooley.

I'm sure by the end of his press confrence I will be less skeptical and more excited than i already am for the 2010 season but what Kiffin did has left me to scarred to trust a "sabanite", especially when i know his dream job is about to open up a few miles to the south.