The words are easy to embrace. Phrases such as “a change in culture” and sound bites like “discipline and education” are rallying cries for new coaches.
Programs can be defined by such mantras, but the foundation of building — or rebuilding in the case of the University of Tennessee football team — comes from doing. Actions rather than words form the blocks on which success must start.
First-year UT coach Derek Dooley did a little of each Friday in the hours following the brawl that occurred at the Bar Knoxville and included no fewer that eight of his Volunteers.
Dooley said he was embarrassed and disappointed, echoing the sentiments of a fan base that has been forced to ride an emotional roller coaster in the program’s recent attempts to return to its not-so-distant days of glory.
The Vols Nation severed ties two years ago with Phillip Fulmer, a son of the program who worked like heck but seemed to run out of answers. The Vols Nation eagerly sold its soul for Lane Kiffin, a fly-by-night temptress who peddled snake oil and big talk before heading West and leaving Knoxville in chaos. The Vols Nation is cautiously hopeful for Dooley, who is the son of SEC royalty and learned the profession working for current SEC king Nick Saban.