Vols Skipped Out On Weight Lifting At Times In 2010

Jul 17, 2013; Hoover, AL, USA; Tennessee Volunteers offensive lineman Ja

Derek Dooley’s tenure at Tennessee was tumultuous, we all know that.

Now, even a year after Dooley was dismissed as the Vols’ head coach, details about his failures as a head coach are still emerging.

That’s a pretty telling statement from senior offensive lineman Ja’Wuan James.

It’s the coach’s job to make sure his players are doing what they are suppose to be doing.

Even during the summer when he has to rely on his strength and conditioning coach, it’s still ultimately his responsibility.

Derek Dooley clearly didn’t take that responsibility very seriously.

Vol fans don’t have to worry about that with Butch Jones. His attention to detail (a Butchism in itself) is well known.

Jones eats, sleeps and breathes football. Earlier this week he said he hadn’t even had time to return his mother’s phone calls (I doubt Dooley ever missed a call from Barbara — even in the middle of practice), which tells you how much he pours himself into Tennessee football.

Dooley is gone and what happened in the past is in the past, but it is relevant to this year’s team because it shows you the uphill battle Jones has faced since coming to Knoxville.

Jones has done a good job of erasing the bad habits formed by the players under Dooley, but it’s not something that will happen overnight.

I guarantee one thing however — Butch Jones’ players absolutely do not sign off on lifting without actually lifting.

That’s just not how business is handled on Rocky Top anymore.