from USA Today
FAUX PAS OF THE WEEK
It is abundantly clear these days that despite improving Tennessee’s win total each of his four seasons, there is a large disconnect between head coach Butch Jones and the Volunteers’ fan base. Jones first made himself the butt of jokes on Monday from Tennessee fans and non-Tennessee fans when he said the Vols’ senior class had won the “biggest championship and that’s the championship of life” despite losing out on the SEC East to Florida.
Then, in an attempt to clarify on Wednesday, Jones pushed back, telling reporters he’s “still amazed that when I talk to people and I bring up the success of this program, it’s minimized. I don’t understand how it can be minimized, from the graduation to being 14-3. I don’t know. I don’t get it.”
Jones is the rare species of objectively successful and ridiculously wealthy college football coach who constantly needs validation and appreciation. And that’s not a great trait at a program like Tennessee, which is historically among the 10 or 15 most successful of all time and has a passionate fan base that craves a return to SEC and national championship contention. You need thick skin to survive at a program like that, and you get paid $4 million per year to take the criticism — whether it’s warranted or not.
Yes, Tennessee fans have high (and maybe unrealistic) expectations, but that doesn’t make them unique. And while it’s fair to recognize that Jones has made progress and brought Tennessee back into the discussion, it’s also not some over-the-top critique to also say the Vols under Jones have left some wins on the table and not quite maximized their potential.
FAUX PAS OF THE WEEK
It is abundantly clear these days that despite improving Tennessee’s win total each of his four seasons, there is a large disconnect between head coach Butch Jones and the Volunteers’ fan base. Jones first made himself the butt of jokes on Monday from Tennessee fans and non-Tennessee fans when he said the Vols’ senior class had won the “biggest championship and that’s the championship of life” despite losing out on the SEC East to Florida.
Then, in an attempt to clarify on Wednesday, Jones pushed back, telling reporters he’s “still amazed that when I talk to people and I bring up the success of this program, it’s minimized. I don’t understand how it can be minimized, from the graduation to being 14-3. I don’t know. I don’t get it.”
Jones is the rare species of objectively successful and ridiculously wealthy college football coach who constantly needs validation and appreciation. And that’s not a great trait at a program like Tennessee, which is historically among the 10 or 15 most successful of all time and has a passionate fan base that craves a return to SEC and national championship contention. You need thick skin to survive at a program like that, and you get paid $4 million per year to take the criticism — whether it’s warranted or not.
Yes, Tennessee fans have high (and maybe unrealistic) expectations, but that doesn’t make them unique. And while it’s fair to recognize that Jones has made progress and brought Tennessee back into the discussion, it’s also not some over-the-top critique to also say the Vols under Jones have left some wins on the table and not quite maximized their potential.
