By Chris Price
InsideTennessee.com
August 24, 2010
After the disastrous year of Lane Kiffin there is no doubt Tennessee fans are ready for a head coach that embraces the traditions of Tennessee football. Go �Inside� to hear what the head coach had to say about all the traditions.
Lane Kiffin was an absolute nightmare for your average Tennessee football traditionalist.
For all you Tennessee fans the recite the maxims in your living room before the Vols hit the field Derek Dooley may be more your style.
�I have been doing my research on the traditions and they haven�t,� said Derek Dooley. �It�s going to be my job to educate them on the traditions and how we are going to use them.�
Dooley will fully restore the tradition of the Vol Walk in 2010, which was revamped under Lane Kiffin. The Vols will take the walk on the tradition route at the normal time. What will the Vols be wearing? That has yet to be revealed.
Under previous coaching regimes the Volunteers we all dressed to impress in their best three-piece suits. Kiffin lowered the standards as the Vols entered Neyland Stadium in black wind suits.
One thing is for certain Dooley won't do anything halfway. After all if you don�t do it all the way it�s not worth doing it at all.
�Traditions are only good if you truly embrace them,� said Dooley. �If you say we are doing this, but you don�t really invest in it and do it the right way then you shouldn�t even do it.
�The ones that we are going to hone in on we are going to do it right. I believe in that. Otherwise we wouldn�t do it.�
Dooley may have been testing his team all fall, but that won't be flipped Wednesday. It's the nature of being the teach.
�You guys will be evaluating me outside the locker room. Inside the locker room there won�t be anyone evaluating, which is how I like it with the team,� said Dooley with a smile.
The Volunteers will have their first go at the Tennessee traditions when they have their dress rehearsal Wednesday afternoon.
�We are going to do a walk-thru of everything to get ready for the first game,� said Dooley. �Starting with the VolWalk, our pregame in the locker room, the maxims, we are going to run out and pretend like there is a T. I might get the media in attendance to help us form a T.�
InsideTennessee�s James Bryant is among a select few that will be able to attend Wednesday�s mock game as a result of exemplary attendance throughout fall camp.
Notes: Tennessee Freshman Marteze Jackson has been cleared to play by Tennessee, he only has the NCAA clearinghouse as the last hurdle.
