Vols Football: Report Details Troubles Around Football Program

A report from 247Sports details what has possibly went wrong within the football program at Tennessee.

If you haven’t read this article from 247Sports that details the failing of Vols football under Butch Jones, then you need to stop and read it now.

This is a fantastic inside look at what those close to the program are feeling right now.

Once source in the article told 247Sports that they don’t believe Jones is “comfortable in his own skin”. That would make a lot of sense when you consider how testy he is with the media.

When Jones bickers with the media over the perception of Tennessee football, you have to wonder who he’s trying to convince, the media or himself?

If the theory of one of 247Sports’ sources is correct, that Jones doesn’t feel like he belongs, then it explains the lack of identity of the Vols.

Every time the Volunteers take the field, even when they play well, I have the same question running through my mind — who is this team?

The Power T is on the helmet. The uniforms are orange and white, and the fans are still the best in college football. But oftentimes I feel like it’s a completely different team. It just doesn’t feel like Tennessee. In fact, it doesn’t feel like anything.

It seems like Jones is going through a lot of trial and error. The only times he’s seemed comfortable have came in games where his back is against the wall and he doesn’t have time to think about anything but winning the game.

There have already been so many examples of Jones letting big moments swallow him.

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Instead of putting Oklahoma and Florida away in 2015, he the moment weigh on him and he did all he could not to lose. There is no killer instinct.

It’s like he senses victory and instead of stepping on the other team’s throat, he’s trying to carefully guard a lead so he can recite his already memorized victory cliche to a sideline reporter.

The article from 247Sports also suggests that the strength and conditioning program was a major culprit in Tennessee’s disappointing season.

Some of the reports are troubling from a football standpoint. Stories of favoritism and freshman pretty much doing what they want are plentiful.

Here’s one example:

"“Certain guys had more of a voice than they deserve,” a source close to the team said. “Certain guys would become team captains even though they didn’t earn it. When that happens, it dissolves trust the rest of the team has in you.”"

Nothing will tear a team apart faster than resentment.

And nothing will breed resentment faster than players receiving special privileges, especially when they haven’t been earned.

This all goes back to Jones not feeling like he belongs.

If your head coach doesn’t have the confidence to own the position of head coach, then your team will suffer.

That’s why Tennessee lost to South Carolina and Vanderbilt.

Tennessee should’ve went into those games knowing they were better and desiring to prove it to those two teams.

But instead, they played down to the competition (no sleight to South Carolina and Vanderbilt).

Unless Jones figures out his place as a coach, a team he leads will always struggle with their identity.

Of course it wasn’t all bad in the article.

Former Vols defensive lineman Daniel Hood, who played for Jones, Derek Dooley and Lane Kiffin, had some pretty strong words in support of Jones.

"“If he wanted to go somewhere else, I don’t think anyone could blame him. I don’t think there’s enough appreciation for the job he’s done.”"

Hood also said that Jones was the only coach he played for that “got it” from the top down.

But here’s the thing — I know Jones gets it.

I know he wants to win at Tennessee as bad as anyone. I have no doubts that he’s putting in the work required.

A lot that work, however, is misguided.

Just because Jones gets it, doesn’t mean he’s well prepared to bring Tennessee back to greatness.

Jones might be a good guy. He might love Tennessee as much as the biggest Vol fan around. But that doesn’t mean he has the right tools and skills to take the Vols back to the promised land.

Unfortunately for Vol fans, the promised land might be another couple of years and a new coach away.

Perhaps Jones will get it right, but based solely on history, it’s hard to imagine that he will.

Next: Does Big Commitment Restore Faith In Butch Jones?

For the record, Jones has a $10 million buyout, making a coaching switch an expensive task.

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