While many Tennessee fans have been disappointed in Butch Jones' results, the coach seems to disagree with their assesment.
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During an appearance on 104.5-The Zone's 3HL radio show, Jones claimed that the past 2-3 years have been "some of the best years in the last 20 years of Tennessee football."
Seriously.
"We have a lot of great things going on right now," Jones said. "We're experiencing the last three years — the last two years have been some of the best years in the last 20 years of Tennessee football. This is my life, and this is our coaches' life. And again, we take everything very very serious here. But I addressed it; it's over with and have a lot of respect for the media and everything they bring to the table. But now it's all hands on deck and finishing the week off the right way for a great Georgia football team."
Here’s the audio clip of Butch Jones saying last 2 years have been some of the best in the last 20 years of Tennessee football pic.twitter.com/qeevxk2hd2
— zach ragan (@zachTNT) September 28, 2017
Of course, Jones infamously denounced last year's preseason expectations of winning an SEC East division title during a press conference in November by calling the Vols "champions of life," but it's hard to measure up to actual success.
Despite having been stuck in a rebuilding process, Tennessee's last 20 seasons include a national championship, two SEC conference titles and five SEC East division victories.
1997-2017 includes a national title, two SEC titles and five SEC East titles
None of those under Butch Jones. https://t.co/uKzcNgIvoG
— Barrett Sallee 🇺🇸 (@BarrettSallee) September 29, 2017
FanBuzz's Take:
THIS. IS. THE. PROBLEM.
Butch Jones is not only complacent with mediocrity, but believes it is comparable to success. Yes, Tennessee has been stuck in a rebuilding process during the better part of a decade, but that doesn't make ending a bowl draught and some fictitious "life championship" comparable to winning actual championships.
I've written previously about Jones' complete lack of self-awareness but this takes the cake. When you have the majority of your fan base wanting you out of your job, you cannot say things like this, my guy.
Seriously, you are just adding fuel to the fire.
