Tennessee AD Mike Hamilton has been a busy man lately. With his job most likely at stake, Hamilton ended a turbulent 72 hours in Knoxville by hiring La. Tech head coach Derek Dooley on Friday afternoon. Dooley was introduced to the media at a 9:00 p.m. Eastern press conference at the Volunteers' football facility.

As I type with the introductory presser still in progress, I can't help but get the sense that although Dooley was Plan D at best, this very well may work out just fine for Tennessee. One thing is for certain: UT has a better coach this minute than it had a week ago.

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For Tennessee fans and alums, it has been a maddening week and I can relate. As a Florida alum, I know what it was like from Jan. 4 of 2002 until the moment Ron Zook was introduced.

And I think Tennessee fans are going through this press conference with emotions much more positive than what Gator Nation endured in 2002. Dooley nailed the press conference and I would assume, calmed an enormous fan base going through a panic attack of epic proportions.

Lane Kiffin is a chump, while Dooley is a class act.

Monte is an enabler with a spineless worm for a son. Vince seems to have reared his youngster just right.

Dooley didn't ride Daddy's coattail to success. He walked on at Virginia, while his Pops was still running the show in Athens.

He cut his teeth with a dude named Nick Saban, whose name came out as much as Spurrier's at Zook's aforementioned presser which was a colossal disaster. Dooley was the recruiting coordinator at LSU for Saban when the Tigers hauled in a pair of No. 1 recruiting classes.

Now the 17-20 career record at La. Tech won't necessarily please the masses in Rocky Top, but that's not relevant right now. What's relevant is that you had to get quality vibes from Dooley's first impression.

When that loser took the podium 14 months ago, he tried to nail one-liners and came off like a passive-aggressive weasel. When Dooley took the podium, he was humble, appreciative and positive with a sincere vibe. That vibe was in contrast to the one filled with false bravado and unkept promises.

What's also relevant is the stench that engulfed Knoxville while that punk was on the job for 14 months.

The smell is gone. The panic attack is over. And for the first time in days, UT fans can get some rest.

For now, that is, signing day is less than three weeks away.

Brian Edwards can be reached at briane@vegasinsider.com.

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