I ran across this March 2014 Chalk Talk in an older folder by accident but worth a reread five years later since these questions still come up on here weekly. A good read.
Doug Matthews Chalk Talk
March 2014
While it is difficult to pinpoint the exact timing of when Tennessee's decline began with the football program it is apparent what led to that decline. As with most declines, it started slowly, somewhat under the radar and grew to where a once championship-level program was fighting to stay in the top half of the SEC. Four head coaches in a six-year period, three straight seasons without a bowl and two consecutive losses to Vanderbilt will get your attention.
Today Chalk Talk looks at the reasons behind the decline. This comes after eighteen months of talking to people involved both directly and indirectly at the university as well as some no longer with the university. We look at the off the field issues that were of tremendous importance not only in successful times but in unsuccessful times as well. Please notice the emphasis on off the field issues. I have rewritten this particular Chalk Talk at least a dozen times trying to strike the right tone in detailing how in less than a decade, over site requirements, fiduciary responsibilities and basic communication and trust between academics and athletics almost disappeared from the university. Hopefully, you will get a clear understanding of:
WHY WE ARE WHERE WE ARE
In 1999 Dr. Joe Johnson retired followed in 2002 by the retirement of Doug Dickey. A clear succession plan for either was not in place and the university would pay dearly for that lack of preparation. Dr. Johnson's retirement ended fifty years of leadership from presidents that grew up in the Tennessee system, the exception being Lamar Alexander. Dr. Andy Holt served six years as vice president and twenty as president, Dr. Ed Boling nine years as VP and eighteen as president. Alexander was president for three years followed by Dr. Johnson who spent twenty-five years as vice president and ten in the president's office. In the ensuing ten years, six different men would serve in that capacity. Excluding interims, Dr. Johnson and Eli Fly only one of the other four, the current president had any experience in the Tennessee system. For a decade following Dr. Johnson, experience at the university was no longer deemed important by the leadership of the board of trustees. "Too inbred" was a "problem". Presidents needed to come from somewhere other than The University of Tennessee system. Indeed having experience at the University of Tennessee on your resume seemed to be an automatic disqualifier.
Ironically the leadership of the board was themselves "inbred". Bob Woodruff and Doug Dickey were the athletic directors during the majority of this time. Both former head coaches steeped in Tennessee tradition, both men were highly respected by their peers and the academic part of the university. Each had the trust of the presidents they worked for. With both, everyone knew who the boss was and where the boss stood on the key issues.
From Neyland in 1926 through Dickey's leaving in 2002 every University of Tennessee athletic director had a strong coaching background and a strong University of Tennessee background. Indeed all were former head coaches in the Southeastern Conference Neyland, Barnhill, Wyatt, and Dickey for the Big Orange and Woodruff at Florida. The reporting authority for the athletic department for this period was the President of the UT System in the belief that the athletic program was a statewide program and not limited to the Knoxville campus.
Cooperation between the athletic department and the provost was built on trust and communication. Key admissions and curriculum issues were handled behind closed doors for the most part. When disagreements could not be solved the president was called in. This system worked well for half a decade.
The Thornton Center was built in the mid-'90s by the athletic department, a huge boost for all athletes in all sports. All operational costs are covered by the athletic department. Because of disagreement in supervision, a kind description of the situation at the time, the university assumed control around the turn of the century. What had been a top priority for the athletic department became just another academic help area for the university. The head of the Thornton center now reported to the provost and not the athletic director.
The Vols enjoyed thirty-two years of former players as head football coach starting in 1977, sixteen by John Majors and sixteen by Phillip Fulmer. Both won multiple conference championships and Fulmer a national championship. Being native Tennesseans as well as graduates of the university gave each the advantage of knowing the history of this great university. Additionally, each knew the key "players" within the university and built relationships that developed trust between the football program and the university. And the key "players" knew them as well. The Tennessee brand grew back to the top of college football under these Tennessee men. As late as 2001 the Volunteers were one game away from playing for another national championship. As either a player or coach for the Big Orange these two men were part of seven of the thirteen SEC championships won by the Volunteers.
THE DECLINE BEGINS (next post)
Doug Matthews Chalk Talk
March 2014
While it is difficult to pinpoint the exact timing of when Tennessee's decline began with the football program it is apparent what led to that decline. As with most declines, it started slowly, somewhat under the radar and grew to where a once championship-level program was fighting to stay in the top half of the SEC. Four head coaches in a six-year period, three straight seasons without a bowl and two consecutive losses to Vanderbilt will get your attention.
Today Chalk Talk looks at the reasons behind the decline. This comes after eighteen months of talking to people involved both directly and indirectly at the university as well as some no longer with the university. We look at the off the field issues that were of tremendous importance not only in successful times but in unsuccessful times as well. Please notice the emphasis on off the field issues. I have rewritten this particular Chalk Talk at least a dozen times trying to strike the right tone in detailing how in less than a decade, over site requirements, fiduciary responsibilities and basic communication and trust between academics and athletics almost disappeared from the university. Hopefully, you will get a clear understanding of:
WHY WE ARE WHERE WE ARE
In 1999 Dr. Joe Johnson retired followed in 2002 by the retirement of Doug Dickey. A clear succession plan for either was not in place and the university would pay dearly for that lack of preparation. Dr. Johnson's retirement ended fifty years of leadership from presidents that grew up in the Tennessee system, the exception being Lamar Alexander. Dr. Andy Holt served six years as vice president and twenty as president, Dr. Ed Boling nine years as VP and eighteen as president. Alexander was president for three years followed by Dr. Johnson who spent twenty-five years as vice president and ten in the president's office. In the ensuing ten years, six different men would serve in that capacity. Excluding interims, Dr. Johnson and Eli Fly only one of the other four, the current president had any experience in the Tennessee system. For a decade following Dr. Johnson, experience at the university was no longer deemed important by the leadership of the board of trustees. "Too inbred" was a "problem". Presidents needed to come from somewhere other than The University of Tennessee system. Indeed having experience at the University of Tennessee on your resume seemed to be an automatic disqualifier.
Ironically the leadership of the board was themselves "inbred". Bob Woodruff and Doug Dickey were the athletic directors during the majority of this time. Both former head coaches steeped in Tennessee tradition, both men were highly respected by their peers and the academic part of the university. Each had the trust of the presidents they worked for. With both, everyone knew who the boss was and where the boss stood on the key issues.
From Neyland in 1926 through Dickey's leaving in 2002 every University of Tennessee athletic director had a strong coaching background and a strong University of Tennessee background. Indeed all were former head coaches in the Southeastern Conference Neyland, Barnhill, Wyatt, and Dickey for the Big Orange and Woodruff at Florida. The reporting authority for the athletic department for this period was the President of the UT System in the belief that the athletic program was a statewide program and not limited to the Knoxville campus.
Cooperation between the athletic department and the provost was built on trust and communication. Key admissions and curriculum issues were handled behind closed doors for the most part. When disagreements could not be solved the president was called in. This system worked well for half a decade.
The Thornton Center was built in the mid-'90s by the athletic department, a huge boost for all athletes in all sports. All operational costs are covered by the athletic department. Because of disagreement in supervision, a kind description of the situation at the time, the university assumed control around the turn of the century. What had been a top priority for the athletic department became just another academic help area for the university. The head of the Thornton center now reported to the provost and not the athletic director.
The Vols enjoyed thirty-two years of former players as head football coach starting in 1977, sixteen by John Majors and sixteen by Phillip Fulmer. Both won multiple conference championships and Fulmer a national championship. Being native Tennesseans as well as graduates of the university gave each the advantage of knowing the history of this great university. Additionally, each knew the key "players" within the university and built relationships that developed trust between the football program and the university. And the key "players" knew them as well. The Tennessee brand grew back to the top of college football under these Tennessee men. As late as 2001 the Volunteers were one game away from playing for another national championship. As either a player or coach for the Big Orange these two men were part of seven of the thirteen SEC championships won by the Volunteers.
THE DECLINE BEGINS (next post)
