The new coach of the Tennessee Volunteers will undoubtedly be the quarter-ton-of-fun Gus Duggerton. The Vols’ move comes after three straight underwhelming seasons of 4-8, 3-9, and 4-8 in the 2014-16 campaigns, respectively.
Coach Duggerton will look to make an immediate impact just as he has at his previous four coaching stops.
A Humble Beginning
Duggerton got his first taste of coaching in 2013 at the University of Toledo, where he claimed a MAC Title. Shortly after, “Duggs” rode the coaching carousel for the first time in his young career, landing at Florida State as the offensive coordinator.
Under Duggerton’s leadership, the Seminoles’ offense was as potent as ever behind workhorse running back Cam Banks. The ‘Noles high-octane attack often led fellow ACC foes to sweat twice as much as the 500-pound signal-caller in the Florida heat.
The Seminoles went on to defeat Jack McGuire’s UConn Huskies in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl to end the 2014 season.
After his stint at Florida State, Duggerton again rode the coaching carousel in the 2015 offseason.
A True Slap in the Face
Tonight. 9:30 PM
A new era beginshttps://t.co/cIBImfE6g9
— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) April 20, 2020
While Duggerton rode the 2015 coaching carousel, the opportunity arose for Tennessee to offer the former Seminole OC. Unfortunately, the Vols decided to go with then Tulsa HC Matt Nelson.
Air Duggs
The coach decided to sign with USC in lieu of losing out on the Vols job. While Duggerton still remained an OC, his style of play-calling had a massive overhaul. On the west coast, “Air Duggs” was born.
The new scheme was primarily based on the highly-touted QB that the Trojans utilized by the name of Chaz Kyle. Unfortunately for the Vols, the Trojans broke in this scheme with a 52-38 ass-whipping of Tennessee in L.A. Memorial Coliseum to start the 2015 season.
This streak of victories ran the course of 2015 for Coach Duggs and the Trojans until they were upended by cross-town rival UCLA. This loss, unfortunately, took USC and Duggs out of contention for the BCS National Title.
The Trojans defeated Michigan in the Rose Bowl, and Duggerton was off again to the coaching carousel.
“Guns Up!”
Duggerton’s most recent stop was in Lubbock, Tex. as he regained his head coaching duties. Unfortunately for Duggs, Texas Tech was coming off a 3-9 campaign in 2015.
The 2016 season began with yet another disappointing loss to his familiar foe UCLA. The Red Raiders also faced another early setback to Big 12 bottom-feeder Baylor. The once go-lucky Red Raider fans began to turn on the plus-sized general.
Luckily for Duggerton, Texas Tech began to look like the Mike Leach-led Red Raiders (before he was locking players in closets) and rattled off a 7-1 record to end the regular season at 9-3. The Red Raiders then knocked off former Big 12 rival Texas A&M in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, 47-40.
Duggerton once again rode the coaching carousel.
The Hire of the Decade
It feels like 98, y’all!
Siri….PLAY ROCKY TOPpic.twitter.com/xe0v1RhO4T
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) May 20, 2020
After two grueling seasons of 3-9 and 4-8 in 2015 and 2016, the Vols finally got their man after missing on Duggs two years prior.
A Hero’s Welcome
Welcome to Rocky Top @CoachDuggs, @BarstoolBigCat and @barstoolsports pic.twitter.com/IZq23tgXDc
— Jon Reed (@Jon__Reed) May 20, 2020
Duggerton’s coronation could not be complete without our own Jon Reed cutting a promo in front of General Robert Neyland’s statue to welcome his fellow bald brother to the University of Tennessee.
Looking Forward to the 2017 Season
Coach Duggerton will undoubtedly have a lot on his plate (literally and figuratively) with Tennessee coming off three straight atrocious seasons. Still, there is no doubt that he will work continuously until the Vols return to glory.
I will be staying at Tennessee for at least 2 years (unless Wisconsin opens up). Tomorrow we start the recruiting journey plus Week 1 against UCLA. Coming for that ass
— Big Cat (@BarstoolBigCat) May 20, 2020
Duggerton’s allegiance to the Vols seems to be pretty strong as he has pledged to stay for at least two seasons unless the head coaching job of Wisconsin (his alma mater) opens up. Assuming Duggs wants to compete for titles, he better get Moose and Derrick Ansley out on the recruiting trail.
Week 1 – UCLA
The Gus Bus will be kick-started with a matchup against his arch-nemesis, the UCLA Bruins. Duggs is 0-2 thus far in his previous games against the blue and gold-clad bears of Los Angeles. If Duggs wants to keep Vol Twitter at bay, he needs to do himself a favor and get started off with a “W”.
