Feldman tweeted that Shoop is in Knoxville today

[Creek Walker]

Cites an unnamed (of course) source.

[RIPLEYVOL]

I did see Shoop and John "you know who" out driving, looking at property for sale.
I'm not a Realtor but I did spend the night at a Holiday Inn Express last night!

[HerbTarlekVol]

Sources being named all over the place now - Brice (Volquest), GoVolsXtra, Hyams, WBIR, Volunteer TV - pretty much everybody who would cover the story.  

Shoop either is now or has met with the coaching staff already today.  Money is not an issue at this point, from those I trust.  

This should be done soon.  

[Creek Walker]

I'm not as high on Shoop as many UT fans seem to be, but when is the last time Tennessee actually went after a coach who had turned down another elite SEC school (Auburn, in this case) and actually landed him? Maybe things really have changed, after all.

[HerbTarlekVol]

I'm not as high on Shoop as many UT fans seem to be, but when is the last time Tennessee actually went after a coach who had turned down another elite SEC school (Auburn, in this case) and actually landed him? Maybe things really have changed, after all.

Really? 

I'll just say this - he made Vandy's defense one of the best in the SEC, which in turn made them one of the better defenses in the country. 

I repeat - he made Vandy's defense one of the better defenses in the country.  Yes, Vandy. 

If he can be that successful with Vanderbilt talent, I am danged excited to see what he can do with Tennessee talent. 

I'm just not sure how we could do much better with this hire than we apparently are going to be able to with Shoop.  His track record is solid, and he is a huge upgrade over what we had at the DC slot just 7 days ago. 

[Black Diamond Vol]

There are actually some bigger names being bandied about (Chavis, Chizik, Brady Hoke), but as long as Shoop isn't hellbent on bringing the 3-4 to Knoxville, I think he's my first choice.  He has a reputation as an innovator, and will install some really creative coverages and blitz packages.

[Creek Walker]

Really? 

I'll just say this - he made Vandy's defense one of the best in the SEC, which in turn made them one of the better defenses in the country. 

I repeat - he made Vandy's defense one of the better defenses in the country.  Yes, Vandy. 

If he can be that successful with Vanderbilt talent, I am danged excited to see what he can do with Tennessee talent. 

I'm just not sure how we could do much better with this hire than we apparently are going to be able to with Shoop.  His track record is solid, and he is a huge upgrade over what we had at the DC slot just 7 days ago. 

I'm not saying it wouldn't be a good hire. But I've seen things like "best DC in the nation," etc. And, no, I don't buy that.

[HerbTarlekVol]

There are actually some bigger names being bandied about (Chavis, Chizik, Brady Hoke), but as long as Shoop isn't hellbent on bringing the 3-4 to Knoxville, I think he's my first choice.  He has a reputation as an innovator, and will install some really creative coverages and blitz packages.

There is no way now how Chavis could return.  He's knee deep in buyouts and lawsuits and contractual obligations.  Just not even a possibility. 

Brady Hoke obviously has a ton of coaching experience, but he hasn't been a defensive coordinator since 1982, and that was at the high school level, and he hasn't recruited the Southeastern US as a recruiting base ever. 

Chizik?  Obviously a good candidate, but the chances of his taking a head coaching job soon are pretty high. 

So, Shoop makes a lot of sense and he is a solid DC and has recruiting connections in the Southeast, and particularly in middle Tennessee, where it is going to be a great year in 2017 and a place that UT needs some help in repairing some bruised relationships. 

[BanditVol]

There is no way now how Chavis could return.  He's knee deep in buyouts and lawsuits and contractual obligations.  Just not even a possibility. 

Brady Hoke obviously has a ton of coaching experience, but he hasn't been a defensive coordinator since 1982, and that was at the high school level, and he hasn't recruited the Southeastern US as a recruiting base ever. 

Chizik?  Obviously a good candidate, but the chances of his taking a head coaching job soon are pretty high. 

So, Shoop makes a lot of sense and he is a solid DC and has recruiting connections in the Southeast, and particularly in middle Tennessee, where it is going to be a great year in 2017 and a place that UT needs some help in repairing some bruised relationships. 

Wouldn't mind Chavis coming back, but he has too much baggage.

[Tnphil]

He turned down LSU too. Would be a good hire IMO.