Tennessee quarterback Joshua Dobbs, center, can claim a 22-9 record for his final three college seasons with a win against No. 24 Nebraska today in the Music City Bowl.NASHVILLE – Mike DeBord often has been a lightning rod for criticism during his two seasons as Tennessee’s offensive coordinator.
He looks back with pride at his work with the Volunteers.
DeBord was out of coaching when his former offensive coordinator at Central Michigan, Butch Jones, tabbed him to run Tennessee’s offense after Mike Bajakian left for the NFL after the 2014 season. Despite questionable moments, it’s hard to argue with the Vols’ production on offense heading into today’s Music City Bowl against No. 24 Nebraska.
“I was excited, obviously,” DeBord recalled Thursday. “I was in a position, really, where I was going to be very particular in where I went and who I worked for and everything. Everybody knows it – Butch and I had a relationship before that and we had worked together, and I’ve always had a great respect for him. We’ve got a great friendship. I wanted to come help him if I could help him. That’s the way I kind of told him. ‘I don’t want to be your coordinator if you don’t feel like I can help you move this offense along.’ As I look back at these last two years, I’m proud of what our coaches and our players have done offensively.
“Going back to two years ago, we were the second rushing team in the conference, and then this past year, what we did as far as being second in the offense in scoring and one of the best in the red zone – things like that, I’m really proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish. There’s been things we haven’t done, and you always go back and look at that and say, ‘How do we get better at that?’ That’s for another day, but I’ve really enjoyed this past season with these guys, just continuing to work and get better this season. It’s been a good year.”