A familiar face took an unfamiliar position on Saturday for the Volunteers’ first SEC win of the year.
Tennessee (5-7, 1-7 SEC) finished a forgettable 2012 season with interim head coach and offensive coordinator Jim Chaney calling the shots. The Vols under Chaney were able to down the Kentucky Wildcats (2-10, 0-8 SEC) 37-17 in the season finale.
Chaney said he could not have been happier with the result.
“I could not be more pleased that they came out today and the team gathered around one another and found a way to get a victory for Tennessee and for the senior class,” Chaney said.
In the wake of former head coach Derek Dooley’s release, Chaney said he had no personal expectations for Saturday’s game, but enjoyed the experience.
“(Athletic Director Dave Hart) asked me to do this and I was humbled by it and pleased to do it,” Chaney said.
With no previous experience in the head coaching position, Chaney said he had nothing but respect for the former coach. “There were things that popped up that you never think about. I admire the quality of the people that do it,” Chaney said. “I admire Derek Dooley more than I can ever tell you. He’s a good man.”
He said there were some aspects of head coaching that had never crossed his mind, including which way he wanted his team to kick at the half.
“There’s just little things when you get ready to play a ball game that you really don’t know until you live it,” Chaney said. “That’s what I’ve learned this week. You don’t know until you sit in that desk how difficult it is.”
For Chaney, just seeing players he had coached for the last few years win under his guidance was thrilling.
“It was a wonderful experience for me personally,” Chaney said. “I never have done this, you guys know my history, and it was fun.
“What you’re seeing today is the by-product of three long years of nurturing and learning,” he said. “We had a lot of bumps and bruises along the way offensively. Twelve months ago we were in Lexington and we couldn’t get a first down to save our lives.”
For senior wide receiver Zach Rogers, having a familiar face on the sideline was important to him during his last game at UT. He said it was just nice to score for the last time and have some fun with the offense.
“Coach Chaney is a great coach and a great individual,” Rogers said. “He’s been the OC since I’ve been here so he’s kinda been the coach that’s stuck around with me through these four years, (and) it was nice to get this one for him as well.”
Chaney said he’s not sure where the Vols will be next year.
“There’s some good young players here and we’ve had success with them,” he said. “If they continue to work and continue to develop and continue to be a year older next year, they’ll be a little bit better.”
More uncertain is Chaney’s own future with the Vols. He said he’s just there to support Hart as well as his former head coach, Dooley.
“I’ll continue to do whatever Mr. Hart would like me to do in this role,” Chaney said. “Continue to help these young men (with) whatever they need as far as going to class. That’s the key right now. Football is over and now we have to finish up strong in finals. Coach Dooley was big on that and we’ll continue to fight his wishes all the way to the end. These young men will finish strong academically if it’s the last thing we do. We want that. All our time is going to be spent on that. We’ll have a number of coaches out on the road being visible with our Tennessee orange to the recruits.”
