SEC News and Notes: Kiffin’s bitter ex denies prized recruit transfer!

Dr. Saturday’s recent post on Dooley’s (for those not in the know, Dooley is UT’s new football coach and thus charged with picking up the pieces of the Kiffin debacle) refusal to release Bryce Brown from his scholarship with Tennessee is illuminating, to say the least. 

Before we begin to dissect Dooley’s strained reason for keeping this kid under scholarship despite the fact that Brown has been by all accounts a diva, let’s be candid.  Refusing to let a 19-year old kid, even one with a track record as malcontent and prima donna, out of an obligation the kid made to the former coaching regime seems decidedly low-brow.   

For those on the outside, this scenario is simple and was best explained by the Notorious B.I.G. when he coined this philosophical gem:  “I don’t chase em’ I replace ‘em.”  And, for the generals of the nation’s elite programs in Gainesville, Austin, Norman, Columbus, and Tuscaloosa, this is undoubtedly the mindset.   

UT, however, seems to be saddled with esteem issues about now because its baby-daddy, Kiffin, left it for a better-looking girl.  For those in need of additional context, here’s a portal into Dooley’s implausible rationale: 

…Vols coach Derek Dooley said Friday that he will not release Brown from his scholarship.

“I have a lot of respect for Bryce as a person and a player,” Dooley said. “This is a professional decision, not a personal one.”

Dooley said he makes decisions on who to release based on three criteria: what was the player’s personal investment into the program; what harm the player’s departure would cause the program; and how the player handled the situation as a person.

“I have an obligation to protect the program,” said Dooley, who has released some players and declined to release others since taking over the Vols. “Bryce can still go to Kansas State but I’m not releasing him.”

Protect the program?  Really?  We all get it.  Your former hottie has moved on and undermined further the street-cred you had when you were relevant, and were on the cusp of gaining back as a result of Kiffin’s yapper.  Let’s assume for a second that this really is about teaching a 19-year old star athlete one life’s lessons.  How does it look to the rest of us?  Pathetic.  Even if Dooley were capable of articulating a well-reasoned basis to support these vague canons of integrity he’s espoused as his basis for denying this kid the opportunity to play in the Big 12 (which he can’t), this thing has the look of run of the mill Mel-Gibson’ish jealousy and pettiness on the part of UT.  Put another way, if the kid is as awful as you say he is then why not cut your losses and move on?  Better yet, why not key his car?  Or tell all your girlfriends he’s lousy in the sack?

The good Doctor sets forth some additional evidence which suggests that Dooley may have been less than honest with the media.  Quite candidly, the Doc’s piece not so tacitly suggests that Dooley may in fact be a jerk.  Make no mistake, we’re Gators at this site but a strong UT is good for all, so we’re not inclined to offer any opinions on this issue.  

The moral of the story, however, is that the appearance of pettiness and jealousy is just as damaging as the real thing.  So whatever your reasoning may be, Dooley, you look silly and the attention your bringing to a once proud program now under siege by the forces of mediocrity isn’t going to play well with 4 and 5-star studs on the recruiting trail, especially coming off a 6-6 season.  

Hate the playa’, Dooley, not the game.