Vols coach tells players to clean up their act -- literally

By Alexis Stevens

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

When he took over as coach of the Tennessee Volunteers, Derek Dooley knew he'd have some cleaning up to do.

But personal hygiene probably wasn't part of his laundry list of improvements. The SEC team temporarily switched from the Southeastern Conference to "Soap Every Corner."

Recent staph infections among his players prompted a lesson in how to get clean, Dooley told reporters Wednesday. Forget the plays and strategies on the field. We're talking shower skills. A washcloth, soap and water.

"We had, I told them, the worst shower discipline of any team I've ever been around," Dooley said, according to the Knoxville News Sentinel. "So we talked a little bit about application of soap to the rag and making sure you hit all your body."

It seems the son of Georgia Bulldogs coaching legend Vince Dooley wanted to make extra sure his players got a refresher on the rub-a-dub-dub basics.

"You know, you can neglect it trying to cut corners, and it shows in how you practice and elsewhere," Dooley said. "I'm hoping we show some improvement in that."

Opponents may appreciate the efforts, too.