UT coach Derek Dooley talks to the press.HOOVER, Ala. – University of Tennessee football coach Derek Dooley was unhappy with his Volunteers after one recent offseason workout.
Now in his second year at UT, Dooley has continued to push his team toward understanding the requirements of being a UT football player.
“I remember one of the offseason workouts where I was really upset with them,” Dooley told a group of local media Thursday morning before making the rounds at Southeastern Conference media days. “I explained to them what the expectation is at Tennessee, and the fans expect us to go out there and compete for a championship and get one of those banners. We need to work like that.
“There’s a standard at Tennessee that’s always been there, and we lost that standard [last year]. We did. I thought it was very important we turned the page after last season to redefine the standard of excellence that Tennessee has had for so long.
“You’re never going to get there if you don’t at least start establishing it.”