By most metrics, former Tennessee head coach Derek Dooley was a failure. Depending on who you ask, State House candidate Gloria Johnson is as well.
I get a lot of political mailers because of the former tenant at my address. This one made me laugh. #SECfootbawl pic.twitter.com/eESF4M7n2m
— Brianna Paciorka (@bpaciorka) October 31, 2016
The message isn’t terribly convoluted. Dooley went 15-21 as head coach of the Vols and besides sweet pants, didn’t do much to be remembered in a positive light. In the conference where it #justmeansmore, conflating a failed football coach with a politician you’re trying to smear is apparently fair game.
It’s not a unique thing to do to Johnson. In the 2014 election, she was compared to Lane Kiffin.
How much does #Tennessee dislike Lane Kiffin? Enough that he is used in a political hit piece. [photo] #Election2014 pic.twitter.com/36h2fumDLY
— Jarryd Gonzales (@jarrydgonzales) October 20, 2014
It was current then because Kiffin had only nine months before dipped out as coach of the Vols in a bizarre turn of events.
Perhaps a more current approach would be to point out how Butch Jones has struggled under the weight of expectations as Tennessee heads to another sub-standard season. The ship looks like it’s truly falling apart after a loss to Will Muschamp’s South Carolina Gamecocks.
As long as the Vols struggle on the field there will be ammo to fire at those running for office in the Volunteer state.