At last, a voice of reason. Thank you for pointing out what should be obvious to any thinking person. I agree totally that Coach Dooley needs to stay at UT.  Why some people cannot understand the obvious is beyond my comprehension. I am so over Tennessee's seemingly 'fair weather fans'.

It is almost impossible, not to mention improbable, to turn around a football program, as damaged as that at Tennessee by the Lane Kiffin debacle, in one, two, three, or even four years.  Mike Hamilton was bound and determined he was going to get rid of Fulmer due to the protestations of some UT fans, and his decision is still reverberating today. People want to scream about defense, but you don't overcome and develop a good defense in a single year...Kiffin got rid of Chavis to bring his dad on board and Monty's defense didn't exactly overwhelm everyone, but Chavis was and is very successful at LSU, just as he was at UT.  I've been going to UT games since I was a toddler and I bleed orange, but I am not in any hurry to replace Dooley.  To state an overused quote, "Rome wasn't built in a day," and a winning team will not be rebuilt in a couple or three years. Mike Hamilton and Lane Kiffin together contributed to the problems we are still seeing at UT.

And, while I'm at it, let's look at Nick Saban as an example...his first three years at Michigan State weren't exactly stellar and let's face it, the Big 10 was impressive in those days. It was not until his fifth season at Michigan State that the Spartans were finally 10-2. Then he went to LSU and had reasonably good seasons from the beginning and winning the National Championship in 2003. But, the LSU program was not in a mess nor was the depth chart decimated like UT's has been since Mike Hamilton fired Fulmer and brought in Kiffin.  

Then, Saban goes to 'Bama and his first regular season is a measly 6-6? Why didn't Alabama call for his head right then? Gracious me, a 6-6 season for 'Bama.  Alabama oversigns and gets recruits because of the legacy of Bear Bryant even now years later and because of Saban today, but that doesn't mean they can't or won't have a bad season at some point.  (Does no one remember the revolving door of coaches at 'Bama after Bryant?)

I would hope the AD, fans, supporters, big money contributors, et al, would put their brains in gear, think clearly and logically, and realize we are a work in progress and quit being so bloody down-in-the-mouth. 

What UT does not need is another egomaniac looking for pats on his shoulders; what UT does need is consistency and time to develop, which I firmly believe Coach Dooley can give us.

Thank you Randy Smith for an excellent article and reasoned thinking.

Adrian Palmer
Chattanooga