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Reflecting on the Jones era

As Tennessee begins there search for a new head coach, fans will be clamoring for big names, big money to be spent and for anyone but Butch.

The truth of the matter is Butch Jones overstayed his welcome on Rocky Top. As confusing as that might read, five years anywhere is probably too long for the now former head coach of the Vols.

For many, Jones will long be the butt of their jokes. And some of them deservedly so. Champions of Life (ironically the Big 12 slogan) and five star hearts will long remain punch lines of the Jones era.

But the truth is that Butch Jones was good for Tennessee. He just wasn't good long term. When Jones arrived in Knoxville on that cold December morning in 2012, he walked into a mess. A mess far beyond the team's record. The roster needed an overall of epic proportions. The support from the University side had to improve. Tennessee was an APR disaster and wasn't close to winning or representing the University of Tennessee in a proud way.

And so Jones does what he does, he fixes disasters. He is the FEMA of college football. When disasters in this country occur, FEMA rolls in to take on the undertaking of re-establishing the basics of life. Shelter, food, electricity, but the federal agency leaves once the necessities get re-established. They never see the finish of the recovery.

In the world of college football, that's Butch Jones' role. He fixes. He establishes the standards, but he's not built to stay for the duration.

In three years at Central Michigan, Jones went 27-13. At Cincinnati in three years, he went 23-14. In his first three years at Tennessee, Jones was 21-17, but as he did at all three places, his record got better every year.

Butch Jones is a repair man. He fixes football programs and he's leaving Tennessee in much better shape than he received it. He's cliches and slogans grab attention early. He's care for players helps him improve programs off the field. His charisma helps him sell hopes, dreams and expectations in recruiting. He's just not a lifer.

Because of Jones' ability to stabilize a disaster, he will land another job at some point. He will land another rebuild and he will turn his new program in the right direction both on and off the field.

At the end of the day, the Butch Jones era will be remembered for a lot of things. There were highs and excitement. There were alot of disappointments and great frustration. But for Jones it should be remembered as an era of education. An era of learning your role in the game that he does love.

That role is one of fixing problems and not one of being the solution to the problem.

It's a role that Tennessee fans at some point should appreciate Jones for and one that Jones should embrace as he sets out on his next rebuild.

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