Butch Jones’ Keys to Success at Tennessee
Jul 17, 2013; Hoover, AL, USA; Tennessee Volunteers head coach Butch Jones talks with the media during the 2013 SEC football media days at the Hyatt Regency. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
Butch Jones has yet to coach a game for the Tennessee Volunteer football program, but he already has it’s fan base excited about things to come. Arriving in January, weeks before National Signing Day, Jones inherited a program that had become a shell of it’s former self.
By the end of the Phillip Fulmer era, the Vols were in steady decline. Recruiting had taken a downturn, the coaching staff had became a revolving door, and player development had dropped off.
The hire of Lane Kiffin was supposed to give the Vols an energy boost, but the young coach bolted after a single season in Knoxville for his “dream job” at USC. Kiffin’s unexpected departure left former Athletic Director Mike Hamilton the unenviable job of finding a head coach in a rush. Two weeks before National Signing Day in 2010, Derek Dooley was hired to take the reigns. After 3 disappointing season as Vols head coach, which included losses to Kentucky and Vanderbilt, Dooley was relieved of his duties.
After a coaching search that included rumors of Jon Gruden, Charlie Strong, and countless others, Athletic Director Dave Hart chose Butch Jones to lead Tennessee. Coming from Cincinnati, and Central Michigan before that, Jones is accustomed to winning. In four of the past six seasons, Coach Jones has either shared or won an outright conference championship. Though neither of those locations are anywhere near the level of the SEC, Jones has proven he can win and step up in competition to do so.
The ability to win will ultimately determine how his time in Knoxville is perceived. What will it take for the new Volunteer head coach to win? I’d like to tell you it is a simple fix, but the damage has been done to this proud and once dominant program and many bridges need to be repaired, if not completely rebuilt.
Recruiting
The University of Tennessee has always been known for it’s elite talent, but over the last several years the ability to recruit the right players and evaluate high school talent has been more of a miss than a hit. In order for the Vols to get back to where they are used to being as a program, Coach Jones will need to recruit well.
The state of Tennessee has been neglected for far too long by former coaches. While there might not be a wealth of talent in-state, there are several players who can play in the SEC. Butch Jones needs to rebuild relationships with high school coaches across the state, that previous coaching staffs destroyed. So far, him and his staff have done a tremendous job on the recruiting trail. Tennessee currently has the top class in the country for 2014 and his ability to keep in-state kids in state, along with snagging some top players from other states, has been impressive.
The “Foundation” concept has taken off with recruits as Jones and company continue to add bricks to the rebuilding of the Tennessee Football program. As good as Jones is at marketing his program, he will need to continue to use fresh and exciting ideas in order to be successful. Recruiting might be the most important area Coach Jones needs to succeed in, as all other areas will affect how he is able to recruit.
Excitement
Neyland Stadium is one of the largest stadiums in the country. It used to be one of the premier places in the country to watch a game with all the tradition and rich history.
The Pride of the Southland Band, the Vol Walk, the Vol Navy, seeing the players run through the T, the orange and white checkerboard endzone, Smokey, and legendary players, always made the University of Tennessee the place to be on Saturdays in the fall.
While UT still draws more than most programs in the country, the attendance over the past several years has dipped severely. Neyland Stadium used to get loud, but with recent results mixed with what some might call unenthusiastic patrons, it has become more of a place where old people gather to reminisce about old times.
Butch Jones needs to get the younger crowd excited about coming to the stadium and enjoying the festivities. By encouraging them to get loud, stand up, and cheer on their Vols, Jones could really freshen up the fanbase.
The reason places like LSU have such a distinct home field advantage is because of their rowdy and raucus crowds. So far, the Big Orange fans have jumped on board and shown Coach Jones they are hungry for a great football program. Evidenced by the large turnout for the Orange and White spring game, the excitement is growing. The more the fans show love to the program, the more excited potential recruits will be to play in front of them.
By creating more excitement, donors will feel more inclined to give money to the program. More money means the ability to add onto the already stellar athletic facilities. It is no secret the athletic department has struggled financially over the past several seasons. Partially because of poor decisions, but also because the money has stopped coming in the way it used to.
Traditions
Embracing Tennessee’s traditions is a huge deal to it’s fans, but creating new ones to go along with the old ones will help add to the fanbase. While UT is known for singing Rocky Top, the Power T, and the unique shade of orange, new traditions will help create excitement. Jones has already began to do this with the Fist Up defense, even though it is admittedly still a work in progress.
Though some people may not agree, altering and freshening up the uniform can help create a buzz. Keeping the standard uni’s with some minor changes is acceptable. UT is not Oregon or Texas Tech, so I would not suggest going crazy with the norm, but maybe one game during every season should include something off the wall and thus creating a new tradition for Vol fans and recruits to get excited about.
Former Players
Former players could potentially be a great asset to the football program. Having the support of past Vols shows a sense of family, which many recruits flock to. During the spring game, players like Eric Berry, Arian Foster, and many others came back to Neyland and really showed their support for Coach Jones. By letting the former players know they are welcomed back, it brings more excitement to the program.
The past regime didn’t seem to care if former players ever came around, and by most accounts, those players felt unwanted. The alienation of these players caused a rift among those who had been associated with the program. By having former players and Vols for Life around, the history of the program is embraced and those former players can help restore it’s legacy.