If you’re going to question Derek Dooley’s job status, don’t do it when his mama is within ear shot. That’s the lesson learned by two writers and a radio host in the Peach State today.
Two media members — both based in Knoxville — were appearing on a talkshow on WGAU-AM in Atlanta this morning. At some point during the conversation, one of the writers brought up Dooley’s status as Tennessee’s second-year head coach. Barbara Dooley, who lives nearby and has her own show on the same station, heard the comment and drove over to the studios.
“She just about kicked the door in,” the show’s host said.
Chip Towers of The AJC provides a full transcript here, but below is an excerpt:
Barbara Dooley: “Let me say this: Derek Dooley walked into kind of a mess. Florida, (Will Muschamp) walks into talent just oozing out of their ears. Jimbo Fisher walks into FSU with talent. And y’all are telling me that Derek Dooley is on the damn hot seat? Are you crazy?
Host Tim Bryant: “Did anybody say the word ‘hot seat?’”
Barbara Dooley: “Yeah, I heard them!”
Knoxville-based ESPN Writer Dave Hooker: “I didn’t say that.”
Dooley: “Oh, come on, get out here! You’ve got Mama’s rile up now, buddy. Did you know (Derek) played 17 freshmen against Florida?”
Hooker: “Absolutely.”
Dooley: “I just want you to be nice and fair and know that you probably have the best coach in the country and he’s going to be there 25 years.”
Conspicuously absent from the transcript are any words from Andrew Gribble of The Knoxville News Sentinel, which — along with Hooker’s “I didn’t say that” — leads one to believe he was the guy wishing he’d never mentioned Dooley’s job status.
Look, everyone’s a huge fan of Mama Dooley’s wit, charm, story-telling abilities, and go-get-’em attitude. She’s entertaining and hard not to like. I get that. There’s a reason radio shows across the South fight to schedule her.
But am I the only one who thinks her son would probably prefer he not be the only coach in America whose mother so often speaks out on his behalf?
(UPDATE — I wanted to make sure that that transcript didn’t lead some to believe that she was angry or ugly. If you’re familiar with Dooley’s shoot-from-the-lip style, you likely knew that. If not, I can see where the transcript might sound harsher than it was. There are no inflections in print. That said, we still wonder son Derek thinks about mom Barbara so often chiming in on his business. It’s an unusual situation for a big-time college football coach to say the least.)
Dooley’s Mom Takes Up For Her Little Vol
October 6th, 2011 01:47 PM║ Posted By: John Pennington ║ Permalink
║ Schools: Tennessee
Tags: Barbara Dooley Yeah, Derek Dooley, Dooley Oh, Mama Dooley
15 comments
All I want to say is Way to go MAMA.......... I would have done the same thing. I totally love way people think momma's should keep their mouth shut. Not going to happen boys. A man wouldn't say anything when their mother speaks up a boy would jump right in there!
Turns out that Gribble DID use the words " hot seat" during the interview as admitted by Gribble according to his post on GoVolsxtra.com
The quote was in reference to Mark Richt, but mentioning that someone is not on the "hotseat " like Richt somewhat implies that it has or is being considered. I can see where B.Dooley made a connection while listening. That being said, B.Dooley needs to calm down. Derek Dooley understands how the media works and how there is not alot of accountability in some of what is written. I do not think that Gribble meant to imply that Dooley was on the hot seat, but the way it was worded made it possible for many to take that impression from the interview.
LOL!!!, No doubt about it, I'm sure CDD would love for his mom to zip it. He's been trying to get her buttoned up since he got to Knoxville. On the other hand, I think it's great. These um...writers go on the radio and say completely ridiculous things everyday, I guess to rile people up. Well, they got what they wished for lol!
100% of moms would be riled up but only one has a show at the same station, hilarious! If it makes Hooker or Gribble think before they blab nonsense, good for Mrs. Dooley.
Is this somekind of funky Karma for Dooley pulling his mom off Finebaum? Did he bring this nonsense on himself?
Just a note as someone who heard the exchange--you should really listen to the audio; it looks a lot "harsher" in print than it actually sounded. There was plenty of laughter. Not that BD wasn't serious, but it wasn't as stern as the transcript makes it out to be.
accfan...
Knowing her personality, I didn't think it was harsh, but I still wonder what her son thinks about it.
Thanks for the point. I might change the language to make sure others don't take it too seriously.
John
Dooley is safe. I hear no serious chatter about him being on a hot seat. UT fans know that the program is/was a mess. I have not heard of any actual pressure to build a campaign to replace him. Give it a rest. Why do some shows have to try and make up news.
HoustonVol...
I think you missed the point on this one. The gist is that one guy mentioned Dooley's job status and his mom drove to the station to put the guy in his place. That's the odd part.
As far as Dooley's actual job status, he was given a 6-year contract for a reason -- he inherited a long rebuilding job. Fans are patient, but the administration likely will be.
Thanks for reading,
John
John,
I understood the article. There is only one other coaching family that has a higher profile than the Dooleys, and that is the Bowdens. Even in the Bowdens' heyday - you never caught mama bowden going off. The most you ever saw of her was when they played and she would wear the two colored blazer to the game.
Barbara Dooley is a double edge sword. While I am sure that Derek would love for her to be quite at times. However I am sure that it does not hurt him to connect with parents of recruits - especially in Georgia. He can sit in front of a kid and say you think your mom is tough/embarrassing I am 43 years old and my mom goes on the radio and embarrasses me all the time. That is tough. Of course the moms like him because of his mother.
Derek Drooley had talent. Where I feel bad for him is that he had to clean up Kiffin's NCAA mess.
Moms will be moms. I have to say that I know for a fact my mom would do the very same thing. I'm not always right in her eyes, lord knows I've had childhood punishments to prove it, but if I'm being wronged, you better believe she has my back. Barbara Dooley is just being very natural. She is probably a great mom and she is just doing what moms do. And you are never too old, or too important. Your mom is going to see you as her child, period.
Chris...
I agree on all that, but I ask you to name another coach's mother who makes appearances in the press and is the focus of stories like this one.
I'm not criticizing her, I just bet Derek Dooley would prefer his parents not do to much talking on his behalf. Not that he doesn't appreciate the sentiment.
I just know it's odd.
Thanks for reading,
John
Yes, what you say is true. He probably wishes they'd hang back, but he also knows them well by now and understands that Barbara keeping quiet aint happening.
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