How close was Dooley to being fired after the UK loss? Very close

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From what I've been told, there was a sizeable faction of boosters who were (sincerely) talking about handling it as soon as the team returned from Lexington.

A few others tried to stem the tide by reminding everyone of the cost involved in such a move, and in response, personal pledges were made to cover sizeable portions of not only the cost of a buyout, but to bring in the caliber of replacement they felt was needed.

As we now know, the group (if a single family can be called a "group") who wanted to wait won out, but the issue was very much in doubt for a lot longer than most anyone realized at the time. I've heard that Dooley's going underground for several weeks after the loss wasn't happenstance, but was strongly suggested by protective others who feared that even (another) a single mindless quip about Nazi's, showering, or excuse-making might tip the already delicate balance of the debate. Also, heard from several people that he was busy making the rounds during that time, presenting his case, and ostensibly, while intermittently wringing his hands and sweating blood.

At one point, it seemed 50-50 to keep him. if you think he's looked absolutely lost in shell-shocked bewilderment since being hired, then his reaction following the blowback from the KY loss was his masterpiece. He simply had no conception of what that loss did to his grip on retaining that position, and the fallout that ensued from it, and some would say that he continues to express surprise that "one loss" had so drastically and forcefully change the totality of his fortunes and circumstances - but it certainly did.

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