Comments on: 3 SEC Signing Classes Ranked Among Rivals’ “Unlucky 13″

By: Jigsaw

Jigsaw — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 02:17:05 +0000

Problem is, Tennesse plays Bama and Florida, plus several more of those teams who have continuously ranked ahead of the Volunteers in recruiting. Yes, they are gaining ground; but not even close to enough ground to compete for a conference title yet, and that is what UT fans expect.

By: John at MrSEC

John at MrSEC — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 18:46:41 +0000

oreo…

No one here said Tennessee is improving on the field. In fact, we stated in the piece that Dooley hasn’t won enough to please most Vol fans.

If you choose to ignore the fact that Tennessee has a deeper roster — more scholarship players — and a better roster — more four-star guys — than when Dooley arrived, that’s your choice. But the facts are the facts… on paper.

John

By: oreo

oreo — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 18:36:39 +0000

UT has been middle of the pack on the field. and ut has been middle of packing recruiting. so I don’t see how someone can look at that and thank ut is improving.

By: John at MrSEC

John at MrSEC — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 18:08:49 +0000

oreo…

Middle of the pack in the SEC means Top 20 in the nation. Whether they can win with those players or not, Tennessee’s roster is deeper — on paper — than the one inherited by either Lane Kiffin or Dooley when he took over. The Volunteers signed 10 four-star players this past signing day. Only Alabama, Florida and Auburn had more combined four- and five-star signees.

But again, that’s on paper.

Thanks for reading,
John

By: oreo

oreo — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 17:58:13 +0000

Dooley has NOT “restocked UT’ cupboard. His 3 classes are middle of the pack in the SEC. This past year UT was 7th of 14 SEC teams. UT isn’t gaining on anyone. They are falling even further behind.

By: MiloMoon

MiloMoon — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 16:11:41 +0000

I have no issue with Dooley. I hope that having Hart as an AD and someone that knows and understands football will allow Dooley to really have a chance. I personally think the Kentucky loss will be the bottom that Dooley needed in order to get the buy-in from the players for his way. Remember Saban had is embarrassing loss at home to either UAB or LaTech or some CUSA team in his first season. I think the loss to UAB was when he was at LSU, and LaTech was when he was at Bama. Even if you look at Tennessee basketball this year. It took the embarrassing loss to Austin Peay to wake the players up. There is a pattern when trying to lay a new foundation and wake kids up to listen to you. Sometimes they have to fail as a team to allow them to start listening to the coaches. The players are there to win, maybe not a championship, but to win and be respected this season. Usually that embarrassing loss happens early in a new coaches’ tenure. Unfortunately it happened at the end of his second season. It will be interesting to see what shows up on the field this fall. I have a hunch we are going to be proud of this team.

By: Volguest

Volguest — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 15:54:26 +0000

Also the last recruiting class for Fulmer (2008) was not a top 25 class either. So really there was attrition 3-4 years in a row. That is what Dooley is dealing with. I have no problem with Derek Dooley recruiting It is his personality and the way he treats his players (dogging some of them in the media, letting others run the show i.e. Da’rick Rogers) that makes me wonder if he is the answer.