UT'S DEFENSE IN 2016 WAS A BUST: Any regular reader of this humble offering is well aware of our skepticism about DC Bob Shoop. We were on the bandwagon when Jones hired Shoop because of the first rate work he did with Vanderbilt's defense. We were also still smarting from the experience of seeing John Jancek's 2015 Vol defense blow leads late against Oklahoma and Florida. But, as last year unfolded, we became increasingly concerned about the "fit" with Shoop at Tennessee, and speaking of Vandy, Shoop's defense crashed and burned at Nashville last Thanksgiving weekend.
SHOOP'S EXCUSES TO JONES were, of course, injuries and bad assistants. Insiders deep inside the UTAD have told us Jones had the green light from the lame duck administration to dump Shoop after his Sunserian first season. Instead, Jones was persuaded by Shoop's excuses and chose to face the fifth and most important season of his UT stay with Shoop, despite mountains of evidence to the contrary. So, Shoop retooled his coaching staff. Charlton Warren replaced Willie Martinez and Brady Hoke replaced Steve Stripling as he moved to an administrative job inside the program. Jones did not agree to replace LB coach Tommy Thigpen, fearing that departure might adversely affect recruiting.
SO, BACK TO THE QUESTION OF: is Bob Shoop a "fit" at Tennessee? His background would suggest our skepticism is well justified.
Yale graduate
Has spent 7 of his 27 years coaching at Ivy League schools (Yale and Columbia).
Has spent 18 of his 27 years coaching at prestigious private schools (the aforementioned Ivy schools plus Northeastern, Villanova, Boston College and Vandy).
His public school experience is at highly-rated academic institutions like Virginia and William & Mary.
IS SHOOP A "WARRIOR?" We have made Nigel Warrior the poster child for the Shoop "fit" discussion. Insiders marvel at how Shoop gravitates toward players like Micah Abernathy, who comes from a prominent family and is a "heady" player. Warrior, the marvelously gifted son of Vol legend Dale Carter, was not developed very well last year as a freshman and there is a growing feeling among insiders that Shoop is going to favor Abernathy over Warrior when the bullets are flying in Atlanta three weeks from Monday night.
DO YOU THINK SHOOP MET ANYBODY LIKE DALE CARTER among the blue bloods at Yale as a player or as a coach?
SHOOP'S EXCUSES TO JONES were, of course, injuries and bad assistants. Insiders deep inside the UTAD have told us Jones had the green light from the lame duck administration to dump Shoop after his Sunserian first season. Instead, Jones was persuaded by Shoop's excuses and chose to face the fifth and most important season of his UT stay with Shoop, despite mountains of evidence to the contrary. So, Shoop retooled his coaching staff. Charlton Warren replaced Willie Martinez and Brady Hoke replaced Steve Stripling as he moved to an administrative job inside the program. Jones did not agree to replace LB coach Tommy Thigpen, fearing that departure might adversely affect recruiting.
SO, BACK TO THE QUESTION OF: is Bob Shoop a "fit" at Tennessee? His background would suggest our skepticism is well justified.
Yale graduate
Has spent 7 of his 27 years coaching at Ivy League schools (Yale and Columbia).
Has spent 18 of his 27 years coaching at prestigious private schools (the aforementioned Ivy schools plus Northeastern, Villanova, Boston College and Vandy).
His public school experience is at highly-rated academic institutions like Virginia and William & Mary.
IS SHOOP A "WARRIOR?" We have made Nigel Warrior the poster child for the Shoop "fit" discussion. Insiders marvel at how Shoop gravitates toward players like Micah Abernathy, who comes from a prominent family and is a "heady" player. Warrior, the marvelously gifted son of Vol legend Dale Carter, was not developed very well last year as a freshman and there is a growing feeling among insiders that Shoop is going to favor Abernathy over Warrior when the bullets are flying in Atlanta three weeks from Monday night.
DO YOU THINK SHOOP MET ANYBODY LIKE DALE CARTER among the blue bloods at Yale as a player or as a coach?
