"I know this is going to sound cliche. I have moved on," Chavis said. "Certainly I had a wonderful stay there. It was a great opportunity, and we had a really fun time there. I think probably in my mind some of the best years in Tennessee football history. That was good and it was good being there, but I've moved on since then."
The man known to his players and colleagues as "Chief" probably would have stayed at Tennessee for the rest of his career, given the chance. But his boss Phillip Fulmer was fired, and Chavis found a home almost immediately at LSU.
Chavis' dominating defenses were a staple at Tennessee, helping the Volunteers win two SEC titles and the 1998 national championship. Now they are just as much a part of LSU's brand.
The Tigers (4-0, 2-0) currently rank ninth in the nation and top in the SEC, limiting opponents to an average 254 yards per game. Chavis' defenses have ranked among the top 20 in the nation five times in the past decade, and the Vols were third in the FBS in total defense when he was forced out at the end of the 2008 season.
Vols Coach Derek Dooley has faced Chavis' defenses enough to have plenty of respect for the way his players compete.
"He's one of the best in the country," Dooley said. "His defenses are always aggressive and fast and physical, and he brings a lot of pressure. You've got to earn it. You've got to earn it the hard way, so it's going to be a challenge for us. And I know he's going to be licking his chops right now seeing our young offense and our problems we've had in the last four games."
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