He wanted to be a winner at Tennessee.
As a matter of fact, he tried so hard that he came up with statements like the “23-step program” and being “Champions of Life.”
In five years at Knoxville, Tenn., Butch Jones recruited well, thought he had a dynamic coaching staff and felt like he would be the one to restore a winning culture back into Neyland Stadium.
Unfortunately, Jones did not get a chance to see it happen.
For a school that has not won a national championship since 1998, the University of Tennessee remains a prideful institution.
The fans wanted a return of the success Philip Fulmer generated from the late 1990s to early 2000s. Jones was sent packaging after the 2017 season and for a while, the Michigan native became the butt of every joke.
About 318 miles southwest of the Volunteers lies a program that specializes in rejuvenating coaches and restoring their value.
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Nick Saban has never been afraid of going against the grain.
This is the same six-time national champion that entertained Lane Kiffin, Michael Locksley, Brian Daboll and Dan Enos. He is also one to find unconventional ways to reach and discipline his players without going over the edge. Upon him extending help to Jones, some Alabama fans instantly were angered.
Thoughts of ‘we have to stop being Coaching Rehab U’ was thrown around a lot, but the tables have turned in two years.
The man who was once in pumpkin orange now wears a Crimson Tide polo to work every day and for the first time, he was on the winning side of the “Third Saturday in October” rivalry as he smoked his first cigar in honor of victory.
Supporters of the Alabama football program have gone from being skeptical of Jones to embracing him and wondering what does his exact role on the staff. As an offensive analyst, Jones is responsible for watching game film, crafting notes from the film for the on-field coaching staff, learning the tendencies of opposing defenses and highlighting ways to attack opposition in staff meetings. He did a solid job of this last season as the Tide carried one of college football’s most high-powered offenses.
Another staff turnover bit Saban after the 2018 campaign, but the unlikeliest of members chose to remain – despite having a job few offers.
Alabama lost five offensive coaches – Locksley, Enos, Josh Gattis, Joe Pannunzio and Brent Key – to different schools, following a loss to Clemson in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game. Jones could have joined Locksley at Maryland and it was reported that he was going to join him, but he recognized the opportunity to potentially win a national title.
He’s the lone returner from last year’s offensive mind, which tells current players and future recruits that Jones is about continuity at Alabama.
As crazy as it sounds, Saban continues to work wonders for coaches that have been rejected or dismissed from various institutions.
On Wednesday, Saban went on the SEC Coaches Teleconference to explain more in-depth of Jones’ role and said he is a ‘great guy to have in the organization.’
“Most of the stuff is behind the scenes — film study, doing administrative type work,” Saban said of Jones.
“He always does: What do we need to do on offense for me and his opinion in terms of improving based on film study and things like that. His role has always sort of been that and he’s done a really, really good job of it.”
Now trained in the form of winning, Jones is going after his second cigar on Saturday as Tennessee comes to Bryant-Denny Stadium. Since Fulmer, Lane Kiffin is the lone head coach that was dismissed by the Volunteers (2009) and went on to win a national championship.
Jones looks to be next.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
