What Does Tennessee’s Fans Adulation For Kiffin and Apathy For Dooley Say?
February 26, 2010
When Lane Kiffin was introduced at the University of Tennessee he was presented as a conquering hero coming home from a glorious victory.
The Tennessee newspapers and fan blogs were filled with praise and hope for Tennessee’s future, and fans boasted that the Volunteers would soon own the SEC again.
Everyone knows how that fairy tale ended: Kiffin left Tennessee fans with their egos bruised, and their feelings hurt.
The search for the next General Neyland had to start from scratch all over again.
One thing made clear when Kiffin dumped the Vols was that he was exactly who every college football fan thought he was—a self-centered, loudmouth who didn’t give a flip about Tennessee, and was only interested in promoting himself at the University of Tennessee’s expense.
Shortly after Kiffin’s middle of the night exit from Knoxville, Tennessee’s Athletic Director stood at the podium and introduced Derek Dooley as the university’s 22nd head coach.
The reception was cordial, but not exuberant or nearly as enthusiastic as Kiffin’s introduction.
In fact, the welcome he received would have been more fitting as the introduction of the softball coach, rather than the football coach of a football-fanatic school like Tennessee.
It was by far much cooler than Kiffin’s reception, and it carried over to the media and fan blogs as well. It was obvious that Vol fans were much more excited about Kiffin’s arrival than Dooley’s.
Gone, were the boastful predictions of a coming greatness and return to glory that followed Kiffin and Co.’s introduction.
What was it about Kiffin that stirred the Volunteer fans into a frenzy? What is it about Dooley that has caused them to be so apathetic?
Surely, it wasn’t Kiffin’s great win-loss record as a head coach that worked them into a frenzy because he arrived at Tennessee with a pathetic 5-15 record as the coach of the Oakland Raiders.
On the other hand, Dooley’s record is a respectable 17-20 considering he coached at a school that took on all comers, and was the traditional whipping boy for the big boys of the SEC and Big 12 for years.
That record included an 8-5 season in 2008 and a trip to the Independence Bowl. It was only Louisiana Tech’s fifth trip to a D-I bowl game in 30 years.
Dooley’s win-loss record was more impressive than Kiffin’s.
So again, why was Kiffin welcomed as the savior of Tennessee football, and Dooley met with such apathy?
Could it be that Kiffin’s cocky arrogant attitude were more appealing to a certain segment of Tennessee’s fan base?
Or could it be that like a spurned lover, Tennessee fans are reluctant to open up their hearts to another coach this soon for fear of having their feelings hurt again?
Two coaches with two distinct personalities. Kiffin was brash and arrogant, while Dooley is reserved and dignified.
As someone looking in from the outside, I believe the better man for the job is Dooley and he’ll earn the respect of Tennessee fans over the next few years.
There won’t be any more stupid mistakes like the ones made by Kiffin. There won’t be embarrassing sound bites shown over and over on ESPN. There won’t be letters from the SEC demanding apologies from the football program.
Tennessee should appreciate Derek Dooley and show him the same enthusiasm that they showed Kiffin because in this case, he seems like a coach they can actually be proud of.
The lack of excitement and fan support of their new coach reflects poorly on Tennessee, and some in the college football world are wondering why.
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