KNOXVILLE — Another one of Derek Dooley’s “welcome to Tennessee” moments came Thursday courtesy of longtime Volunteers prodder Steve Spurrier.
Spurrier joked on his local radio show Thursday night about Tennessee’s recent decision to delay or buy out a home-and-home series with North Carolina. The Vols asked the Tar Heels to push back their 2011 and 2012 meetings, but they refused, which will probably force UT men’s athletic director Mike Hamilton to buy out of the series for $750,000.
South Carolina let North Carolina delay the teams’ season opener this season so the Tar Heels could play LSU in Atlanta. North Carolina and South Carolina now will play in 2013.
“Golly, times have changed when Tennessee doesn’t want to play North Carolina in football because they’re too good for them,” Spurrier said. “That’s kind of amazing right there.
“We’re not going to bail out from playing North Carolina the way Tennessee did.”
Dooley didn’t comment on the matter — or anything else — Thursday night. He told sports information officials that he was too far behind schedule to meet with the media.
Split bookends?
Dooley hinted at the possibility of senior Gerald Williams and junior Malik Jackson being co-starters opposite preseason All-SEC senior Chris Walker at defensive end.
“They’re a little different,” Dooley said. “I think a lot of our defense is going to be predicated on who we play and what they do, their style of offense. Malik, what he brings is a lot more size and bulk to line up over a tight end when they’re hammering that two-back running game. And then Gerald, he brings a little more stuff when it gets looser in down and distance.
“They’re going to complement each other well.”
Dooley was particularly pleased with Williams’ performance in last weekend’s scrimmage.
“He’s gotten better,” the coach said. “That was his first scrimmage of real high production. You see improvement. His attitude has been phenomenal. He is a classic senior who has put aside all that’s happened to him in the past and has focused on going forward, and that showed in the scrimmage.”
Plus-minus
Dooley said he and his staff use a plus-minus chart to determine the defensive players’ efficiency. Those charts are common in other sports, especially hockey and basketball.
“We keep a production chart that has everything to do with playing defense, positive and negative,” Dooley said. “Missed assignments, missed tackles — all that is negative points, and all the positive things are positive points. That’s how you keep up with your best players.”
Other contacts for Wes Rucker are www.twitter.com/wesrucker and www.facebook.com/tfpvolsbeat.
Twitter - @wesrucker Facebook - /tfpvolsbeat
Sounds like Spurrier is still "butt hurt" from that kicking he took from Tennessee last year.
You can't spell "gutless" or "quit" without a U and a T. This decision makes the Vols look like a third-tier football program. Just as well I suppose since chances are that the Tar Heels would have eaten Tennessee chicken for dinner next fall.
Bwraaak!
Sad... As a life long fan of the Tennessee Program, these are VERY sad days indeed! Fire Mike Hamilton now! ORANGE and White, Mike...These colors don't run!
Tennesseans got their nickname for one reason and that was for volunteering for a fight. Throughout the history of the United States, Tennessee has set the standard for going to battle and we have won more than we have lost.
I have been a VOL fan for over 40 years and win/lose/or draw I have ALWAYS been proud of them but now (because our "talent" level is low) the administration chooses to bail out on a "fight" which we are probably going to lose.
Granted the games should have never been scheduled but once they were, they should be honored.
I am a DD fan and believe he will turn the program around as Johnny Majors did after Bill Battle but this is not the right way to do it.
Winning a battle comes from the heart and not from superior resources. Superior resources make an average situation better but greatness comes from the heart (desire).
Looks like Mike Hamilton's next step is Washington.
What a moron! Has he forgotten over the course of his career he has never played a tough OOC schedule? Really?! Like an idiot calling someone else an idiot. Idiot!
Can't see why TN folks would get upset over a barb made by a totally irrelevant coach.
hEY holland4. THIS MESSAGE IS FOR YOU. YOUR A DOUCHE BAG. HAMILTON WILL POCKET ABOUT A MILLION FOR UT WITH THIS DECISION.
SOOOO UT does not want to play NC for what reason ?? Hamilton picked Dooley...... so he should be able to handle the FREAKIN' job !!! quit trying to defend hamilton boneheads.
@Stanman08 Congratulations. UT might be able to net some change by backing out (by playing a high school team from New York.) Meanwhile, the Vols demonstrate just how chicken $&@# they are. Academically, UNC is the 5th best public university in the nation. UT is 47th. Keep that inferiority complex of yours. It's well earned.
Or login with:
New Account