Tennessee football coach Derek Dooley cuts a lonely figure walking through the end zone at Neyland Stadium, but he said Monday that athletic director Dave Hart told him no decision has been made on Dooley’s future with the Volunteers despite multiple reports that he would not return next year.KNOXVILLE — It’s virtually impossible for Tennessee’s players to escape.
For nearly a month, the Volunteers have had to answer questions about playing for embattled coach Derek Dooley’s job security from reporters, friends and family.
The coach himself noted Monday how well the team has handled all the distractions internally, and the players truly have been commendable for their public response to all of it.
And while they might not be playing for Dooley’s job in the season’s final two games against Vanderbilt and Kentucky, the Vols are playing for their coach, and some for more than just that.
“As a player, I don’t try to look at it as playing for Coach Dooley’s job or anything like that,” defensive lineman Daniel Hood said after Tuesday morning’s practice. “To me, I just look at it as getting better each day, and if we do that then we’d secure it.