Vols' Slump Could Put Dooley's Future In Question - NewsChannel5.com | Nashville News, Weather & Sports

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Tennessee coach Derek Dooley is making an impressive recovery from a fractured right hip. His team might have to make an equally remarkable comeback to assure that he keeps his job.

The Volunteers' 44-13 loss to top-ranked Alabama on Saturday continued Tennessee's run of misery against ranked foes and Southeastern Conference opponents during Dooley's three-year tenure.

Tennessee has lost 11 of its last 12 SEC games and has gone 0-14 against the Top 25 under Dooley, who coached from the sidelines Saturday after his injury forced him to work from the press box at Mississippi State a week earlier.

The Vols (3-4, 0-4 SEC) have dropped three straight games and four of their last five. Tennessee must pull an upset Saturday at South Carolina to avoid a winless October.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)