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Barack Obama is One of the Worst Presidents Ever So Far…For Tennessee Vols Athletics

By Caleb Calhoun

Jan 12, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; President Barack Obama after delivering the State of the Union address from the House chamber of the United States Capitol in Washington. Mandatory Credit: Andrew P. Scott-USA TODAY Network
Jan 12, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; President Barack Obama after delivering the State of the Union address from the House chamber of the United States Capitol in Washington. Mandatory Credit: Andrew P. Scott-USA TODAY Network /
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Aug 31, 2014; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers fans gather to welcome their team during Vol Walk prior to the game against the Utah State Aggies at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 31, 2014; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers fans gather to welcome their team during Vol Walk prior to the game against the Utah State Aggies at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports /

9. Dwight Eisenhower, 1953-1961

During Dwight Eisenhower’s presidency, the Tennessee Vols’ baseball team had only two winning seasons and a .500 seasons but five losing seasons. The basketball program accomplished nothing, and football began to see a decline.

However, while he certainly is not going to be too high on this list, there is enough for him to be in the Top 10 of presidents here. After all, let’s start with football alone. Eisenhower’s tenure was marked by the Vols having to replace the great Robert Neyland in 1953. They were .500 total in 1953 and 1954.

But then came 1955, and they went 6-3-1, and in 1956, they had a 10-0 regular season, won the SEC Title, should’ve had the Heisman winner in Johnny Majors, and should’ve been voted national champions by at least one poll. That is one of the greatest teams in Tennessee football team, and it was on Eisenhower’s watch. A football SEC Title counts for something, so it moves him up on this list.

An 8-3 record and Top 15 finish in 1957 also helped his cause. But a losing season in 1958, a 5-4-1 record in 1959, and a 6-2-2 record in 1960 with no bowl or Top 25 in any of those three years forced Eisenhower to drop.

Meanwhile, basketball may have accomplished nothing, but the Vols actually did have seven winning seasons in eight years while Eisenhower was president. That has to count for something, right?

So yes, Eisenhower’s presidency is a mixed back, but there were some significant accomplishments for the athletic program under him…and some failures.

Next: #8: Ronald Reagan

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