KNOXVILLE NEWS-SENTINEL Editor-in-Chief Jack McElroy reports that Tennessee football coach Derek Dooley recently decided to invite only his favorite reporters to watch a scrimmage that was otherwise closed to the media.
(Dooley blockading reporters a slippery slope or no biggie?)
McElroy reports that Dooley granted access to those reporters, “as a reward for their work thus far in the season.”
Most Tennessee followers, especially in light of Lane Kiffin’s awkward departure, want to give Derek Dooley the benefit of the doubt despite his only previous head coaching experience coming at Louisiana Tech. But as Dooley’s hire didn’t exactly excite most Volunteers fans, it was important for the coach to take a no-nonsense approach at the outset of his Knoxville tenure. (Up until now, Dooley had done that.)
So it’s surprising that Dooley has already taken up the unprecedented practice of evaluating the performance of reporters before coaching his first game. Even more surprising was Dooley’s decision to shut certain outlets out from covering a squad he’s yet to lead onto a live game field.
McElroy reports that last week Dooley said of the media embargo, “(University of Tennessee Associate Sports Information Director) John Painter has issued the first-annual Iron Vol of the Media. We’ve got a few people we wanted to recognize who will be attending our Wednesday night mock game for the entire session with the understanding that abuse brings control.”
Dooley blockading certain reporters from doing their job is extremely unfortunate for the fans who follow the team and viability of his own coaching career.
Through lack of experience, Dooley clearly has underestimated the power the media holds not only over a major college football program but a coach in his particular, tenuous position.
I don’t think it’s completely unreasonable to think that Dooley having a favorable relationship with the media might add a year or two to his coaching tenure if the Vols fail to reach the (unrealistically?) high expectations associated with the school’s football program.
Blocking certain media members from doing their job - while allowing their competitors unfettered access - is not only a dangerous precedent to set in a free society, but could also prove to hazardous to Dooley’s coaching career.
11:45 am on September 1st, 2010
Thank You Dooley! For taking the attention off of Lane. Them damn Vols fans are pathetic. They have no life and the keep acting like their sister left them for the Prom Queen. haha Vols are going to gets smacked in the SEC
11:58 am on September 1st, 2010
They have media in Tennessee ?
Just the ones with with pictures I assume
12:49 pm on September 1st, 2010
The expectations are for 6 or 7 wins this year. I wouldn’t call that unrealistic.
12:51 pm on September 1st, 2010
So members of the media are upset that members of the media are missing something. Shocking.
1:06 pm on September 1st, 2010
Evil One, learn to write before making illiteracy jokes.
2:25 pm on September 1st, 2010
evilone u and ur idiot bed buddy rick can both eat s**T n die.1st off usc sucks and what can usc say about anything.usc has a bunch of tiitty babies,with the latest trouble they have gotten into.usc will loose most every game.
2:35 pm on September 1st, 2010
hey rick(USCFAN)=DUMBASS the attentions still on lane r did u 4get usc’s latest trouble.lol wat an idiot
2:37 pm on September 1st, 2010
Rick, your sister was the Prom Queen (dirty little prom queen) when she left my house this morning
3:05 pm on September 1st, 2010
Most “journalists” and media already favor a politician or party. They promote a school or rip it. Coaches see this just like everyone else does. Look at all the slanted news and sports coverage by the New York slimes or major and local sports outlets. Journalism died years ago. Access has been granted or denied on both sides (media, targets) and it will continue.
3:06 pm on September 1st, 2010
Would hate to be one of the guys that had to sit through that practice. Bunch of leftovers running in to each other for 2 hours. Dooley should have just taken his media pals to a steak n shake if wanted to thank them
4:22 pm on September 1st, 2010
Maybe Dooley should have let them shake his steak for access to the field.
8:54 pm on September 1st, 2010
Dooley’s just borrowing from the basics of dog training…reward good behavior and you get more of it.
“Here you go boy. That’s a good boy.” There’s a reason why members of the media get referred to as lapdogs.
1:42 pm on September 2nd, 2010
well I’m a memphis tiger fan but I also love the vols/I believe the new coach will have a great career at ut I wish him well/as for lane he’ll be successful at usc(to bad for he is a #1 ass but he can coach)my question is will memphis be given a fair chance to win aganist a sec school/I have suffered since 1969 with the shalfing of my tigers/the sec and other power confs have all the power money media ererything in their favor and still have to cheat to win the ncaa and the power /espn should be ashamed.