UT’s Oku Transferring Out

Tennessee officials announced today that tailback David Oku will transfer after the spring semester. A key signee in Lane Kiffin's one and only Vol recruiting class, Oku spent 2010 in and out of coach Derek Dooley's doghouse.




"David has handled this situation in a professional way, and we mutually agreed that his departure is best for him and for our program," Dooley said via press release.




The Oklahoma-native was ranked as the #1 all-purpose running back in the 2009 signing class by Rivals.com.




Next stop: Southern Cal?

Final SEC Coaching Grades – Post-Bowl Edition

January 12th, 2011 09:02 AM
 Posted By: John Pennington

The season is over and the bowls have run their course. With that in mind we take one final look back at the men who led the SEC’s football programs in 2010. Below are our final grades for each man’s work this season. And we’ve changed a couple since the end of the regular season. Like the Birmingham school district, we reserve the right to make adjustments when necessary.

So How did Derek Dooley Stack up?

Fulmer Interested In UConn Job?

 January 5th, 2011 11:05 AM ║ Posted By: John Pennington



Phillip Fulmer



Connecticut athletic director Jeff Hathaway says his school’s search for a new head football coach — to replace Randy Edsall — will be “quick” but the school will “be diligent.” Already a surprising name has popped up in connection with the Huskies job.

According to The Hartford Courant, “A source confirmed that former Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer is interested in the UConn job.”

Jim Wogan of WATE-TV in Knoxville reports today that “a source close to Phillip Fulmer” says the coach “may indeed have an interest” in UConn’s job and “may look into” it.

U of Texas Looking At UT’s Strength Coach?

January 5th, 2011 01:47 PM ║ Posted By: John Pennington

Bennie Wylie

By now everyone is well aware of the turmoil and turnover in Tennessee’s football program since 2008. Three head coaches in three years. Player attrition with each coaching change. New assistants. New recruiting connections to be made.


But no single area of the Vols’ program has gone through as much change as the strength and conditioning program. Get this:

1. S&C coach Johnny Long loses his job in 2008 when Phillip Fulmer’s staff is cleaned out.

2. Lane Kiffin hires Mark Smith away from South Carolina to replace Long. But in May of 2009 — just six months into their relationship — Smith and Kiffin part ways.

3. A month later, Kiffin hires a former Tennessee track All-American to serve as the Vols’ new strength coach. Aaron Ausmus is on UT’s campus until January 2010 when Kiffin and much of his staff head to Southern Cal.

4. A few weeks later, Derek Dooley takes the reins in Knoxville and he hires former Texas Tech S&C coach Bennie Wylie.

Now Wylie is being mentioned as a potential target of Texas’ Mack Brown.

Wylie is a Texas native. He played at Sam Houston State. His coaching stops prior to Tennessee were at his alma mater, the Dallas Cowboys, the Dallas Desperadoes (AFL), and Texas Tech.

The folks at Orangebloods.com caught up with him yesterday while he was visiting family (also in Texas).

“I have not been contacted,” Wylie said. “It would be an honor because Texas is one of the premier universities but I have not heard from Texas.”

Dooley should hope that it stays that way or else his team might have to get used to its fifth new strength coach since November of 2008.