Dooley Once, Shame on You. Dooley Twice...

Derek Dooley is a very nice guy. He's charming, southern and has a diverse football background. He's a lawyer, who like many of the great preachers of the south, didn't choose his now profession, but was called to it. Best of all, he isn't Lane Kiffin. Great coach on paper, right?

Dooley took the reigns of a Vols program that was in the worst place it has ever been in it's history. The guy could have stuck it out at LA-Tech, and it probably would have been easier for him. But he took the chance to coach in the big time.

It has been nothing short of a failure. Derek Dooley is the son of legendary Georgia Bulldawgs head football coach Vince Dooley. Walking in big shoes no doubt, but let's compare these coaches in a "fair and balanced" way.

Derek Dooley's record (at Tennessee) 15-19, 1 bowl appearance,0 bowl wins

Vince Dooley's record (first 3 season at Georgia) 23-8, 2 bowl appearances, 2 bowl wins.

We already talked about the program that Derek took over, so let's talk about the one the one Vince took over.

Vince Dooley was an assistant coach at Auburn before being hired by the Bulldawgs in 1964. In the previous season the Dawgs went 4-5-1 (2-4 SEC) under Johnny Griffith with no ranking. Under Coach Griffith (a three year HC) Georgia had a combined record of 10-16.

No doubt, a program in trouble when Vince came a-callin'.

THE FIRST SEASONS:

Derek Dooley walked into the Kiffin mess and had one promising showing against #12 LSU. It was still a loss and Dooley didn't beat a single ranked opponent. Tennessee finished the season with a 6-6  record and made it to the Music City bowl... where they were beaten in 2OT 30-27. Against North Carolina. I say again. North Carolina. A team known more for basketball than football.

Vince Dooley walked into the Griffith mess but managed a win against #9 Florida and finished the season 6-3-1. His team made it the Sun Bowl against Texas Tech with a 7-0 win.

THE SECOND SEASONS: 

Derek Dooley now had some sort of grip on what football is like on Rocky Top and one of the toughest schedules in all of college football. He would play Alabama, LSU and Arkansas who at one time were ranked 1-2-3. He would go on to lose the longest rivalry game win streak in college football history to a Kentucky team that finished 5-7, the same record as the Vols. No bowl.

Vince Dooley was now aquainted with life between the hedges and had a chance to show off his second year squad. The season seemed to begin with a Bulldawg bang, beating #5 Alabama and #7 Michigan in the first three weeks. But losses against unranked Florida State, Kentucky, Florida and Auburn (the only home loss of the season), took the chance for a bowl game away from the Dawgs. He finished '65 with a 6-4 record.

THE THIRD SEASONS: 

Derek Dooley had elevated expectations with one of the most explosive offenses ever established on Rocky Top. With the Vol's first ranking since the Fulmer-era going into the Florida game, most fans thought the Vols were back. But a disappointing showing against Florida took away the ranking and Dooley remained winless against ranked opponents.  CURRENT RECORD 4-5. Still a chance with a bowl appearance with wins against Mizzou, Vandy and Kentucky.

Vince Dooley now had the team he desired come '66. And the Dawgs rolled over every opponent with great defensive showings. Even in his sole loss against the Miami Hurricanes, the Dawgs held the Canes to 7 points. Dooley would claim his first SEC championship that season and a win in the Cotton Bowl 24-9 against SMU.

Two coaches, same blood. Two completely different journeys in the SEC. In just three seasons, Vince Dooley turned Georgia into a powerhouse and would go on to win 2 National Championships, all four major bowls and six SEC Championships.

He did it on the back of great running and great defense. Derek Dooley has relied on the passing game and what I can only assume is a holographic rendering of a defense.

For all the folks who say that Dooley needs more times, please go back to talking about your college team. Only fans of other SEC teams would ever want us to keep Derek Dooley. Vince did it in three. Derek won't ever do it. Sorry Vols fans. But it's the truth.

It's time we stop obsessing over Jon Gruden and start talking about the proud program the University of Tennessee use to know. It's time to pack Derek Dooley's bags and send him out of Knoxville on the first Greyhound. I don't care where it ends up.

Remember the old saying, "Dooley once, shame on you, Dooley twice, shame on me."