http://images.radcity.net/5885/5017645.mp3 Dooley's interview yesterday at the Big Orange Caravan in Murfreesboro. 3HL hosted the event. Enjoy.
Dooley starts by saying "I heard that Clay is such a big fan of mine". Clay then says that "if he beats NC State and Florida that he will contemplate getting back on the bandwagon." Clay says he is a UT fan, but he needs a reason to believe. Dooley then says its a "bold thing to do to be off the wagon when your losing and then jump back on when you start winning". Dooley then responds with his own questions; What kind of UT fan are you? Clay says my grandfather played for General Neyland, and I have liked it every since. Dooley responds with "I want you to win but im gonna put alot of energy into making sure that you don't". Clay then asks "Do yoy believe what I say has a negative effect on the team", and Dooley says No, Clay then responds with "why does it matter", then Brent jumps in and starts with the normal stuff, and Dooley responds the same way he has all spring. Towards the end, Clay asks if NC State is the biggest game of his coaching career, and Dooley responds with no, and then cites Mark Richt as an example last year, and says that a football team is defined on 12 games. He said if we beat NC State and then lose the next 5, nobody is even gonna care about NC State. Clay also asked Dooley if he thought this team could contend for the SEC East and Dooley says yes, but they could also have another bad season. It just depends on how everything plays out.
Pretty weak of Dooley to suggest someone is not a UT fan if he is does not believe in Dooley. The sheep will love that.
I think its pretty weak of Clay to not nail Dooley's nuts to the wall when finally given an opportunity. Clay should have ran circles around Dooley.
Agreed. At the same time, Travis is a little [itch bay] and Dooley was right to question Travis' bandwagoning nature. He was also correct about NC State's relative importance. I do wish he would have said something better about how the season will go, instead of stating the patently obvious. Something like, "as a team we are going to set a standard, and anything less than competing for the division title the entire season is unacceptable." It is open-ended as to what that means, but it shows the inkling of a winning attitude. That sort of "lack of edge" is becoming my second biggest gripe against Dooley. You know, right behind losing football games.
I don't have a problem with the way that Dooley responded to any of the questions. I do think Clay blew his chance to really nail Dooley though.
Dooley is right about the importance of NC State, but when you consider the mental status of this team, losing that one could really snowball into a shitstorm. They have quit on him in the past. The overwhelming majority of his career points toward him being a loser. Starting off with a loss may just reestablish some very negative ideas with some players that have gotten the competitive spirit recharged in the offseason.
Ya, I totally agree. I was comin' in ready to bash Dooley, but Travis stole the [itch bay] tiara right from him.
Yes, and Clay probably should have put that into his question, instead of just asking about it in the general sense. A loss to NC State is only one game, and Dooley is correct in saying that, but the negative impact will be extremely hard to overcome.
Completely agree. That's why he should have said something more along the lines of "setting standards/expectations and meeting them." Not "we could be good or we could be bad."
I watched the NC state spring game. They have some weapons and play with passion. They won't just lay down for us any more than UAB, and they're much more talented than them.
If this team is where they were passing the ball against Cincinnati, and if they have any semblance of a run game, we should win this game, and I think it could be similar to last year as well. If we come out and things don't go our way early, look out!