I'm curious about something if you don't mind an outsider asking this question.  Is the Haslam connection and the view of Haslam being the man behind the curtain in all of this fact, or is it just conjecture at this point? Living here in Knoxville has me curious.

Haslam is the biggest donor UT has is a fact, and he does influence the administration departments choices. Reportedly, he had the administration pass on Blackburn because he wouldn't be easy to influence, so we ended up with Currie

I've been wondering where you've been, and it sure is nice to see you six shooter

I connect to your sentiments, I was thinking a lot about the old VTTW community and I do miss it a lot. You're on point about the HC mess, it has taken a lot out of me and I guess that's why I've been reminiscing about the days of old.

I hope that you get some of the passion back for the football program, but more importantly, I hope to see you around here if you have the time

Well at least you're happy.  That's what matters.   

Win

Coach Fulmer was what, 42 years old with 3 years experience as OC, when he was hired?  I'd be fine with Tee and strong coordinators.

Agreed

True or untrue?

Here is the story. http://gridironnow.com/jeff-brohm-hasnt-told-tennessee-no-yet-whats-hangup/

I saw that too, which prompted to ask if Brohm was officially out. I'm not so sure that he is. It's possible that Currie might be trying to make the ends meet, but I'm not too sure how probable that scenario is......

The University wants to spend 340 million on a stadium that they're going to turn people away from? I just don't get it. As much as it pains me to say this, college has become a pseudo business,  and the customers will go away if they feel like the product is a waste of money

nm

Pay the buy out

These buyouts are killing us.   

If it's 15M, then Fuentes.   Always at or near the top of my list anyway.   

In 5 he grand scheme of things, it's chump change, play it

I do not see the infatuation with Tee
I get he is a VFL
However, he is damn young and inexperienced for what proports to be a major program
also, his offenses aren’t all fat

oh pipe down, patch eye

If Brohm truly is out of the picture, leach maybe? I've lost track of who's in and who's out. As for Tee, yes, young, but he would be passionate and he would at least bring the fanbase back in from the pasture

reported to have said not interested.

I didn't see the report, even when searching for it

nm

It's not about making a big splash hire, it's about long term success, they say.  

But with this bizzaro coaching search having reached this point, I think "winning the press conference" may be just as important.  Because if we roll out a Chad Morris or Dave Dorean later today (and I think it will be today), they will instantly have zero support from this fanbase.  They'll get no honeymoon period, and the "long term" will be out of the question.  

If we've truly reached the point in this search where we're seriously looking at the names that are being rumored, I think there's only two options: Tee Martin, and (I can't believe I'm even saying this) Lane Kiffin.  Make no mistake, I loathe Kiffin, and he'll get zero support from me personally.  But it's clear at this point that a large portion of our fans want him back.  And our next coach HAS to have at least SOME support on day one.

I don't see Kiffin coming back, I think that his display of interest is just bait, trying to get a chance punk UT on more time. I'm wondering if something happened behind the scenes that caused him to ditch UT in the middle of the night, and if so, he wouldn't come back

And HC experience or not, how would Tee be any worse?  He wants the job.  Just go get him.  It isn't that hard.

I'm ready to say pull the trigger on Tee too, because the other options are just horrid. It would be Currie's smartest move, because with Tee comes patience from the fan base due to known lack of experience and  the ring he wears. Give him a LONG term contract, to the tune of 6 or more years & lots of money to get a great staff. With the commitment in years and money, he could then lure in the help he would need without the fear associated with the puppeteer Haslem

yup 

lol

It would pass them off and cost them more money. Win win

awesome, thanks! I wish some of the old regs would come back, like AllVol, BayVol, 45-3 and Volociraptor, just to name a few.....

Patterson or Petersen might have been intrigued with $8.4.

I do not want Steele as a head coach, but would welcome his defense.

As for Gundy, he's fine, but won't come. Just hire Leach. No difference.

Grundy just renegotiated his contract, and now he's purportedly getting offered double that? That would make anyone think really hard about the offer

waving HTML checkerboard flag background back up, let the 128 bit version of Rocky Top blast and invite Merlin and Chief Osceola back to get into some good. old fashion flame wars just to show a lot of the resident loser flamers how its done 

He might for the right price.

Speaking of price, its rumored that Gundy is being offered double what he currently makes.  If so, I could see him coming.  But...I would not think it worth it, at all. 

The number is $8.4 million.  At that price, only a handful would be worth it.  Carrolll, Stoops, Petersen...none of them would come though.

I don't know if any coach is worth that, not even Lord Saban himself, but that's just my opinion. Wit that said, I would be happy if we offered him that much and he accepted, as long as we pay enough to get him some equally great assistants.

Gundy + Steele would not suxes.

nope, not at all, they would not suxes not one bit

Word is that Gundy is being interviewed right now (noon Tuesday). 

He's a man.  He's forty! 

if he could come with a great defensive coordinator, I would be very pleased

....first I guess we should make up our minds between the two. Did Shiano get torpedoed because of his association with Sandusky? Or did Shiano get torpedoed because he would make a lousy coach? Nobody is going to like my opinion but here it is... I don't know the extent to which Shiano was associated with Sandusky. But his getting torpedoed being based on a direct knowledge of Sandusky's activities is a credible reason to give negative feedback proactively protecting the student body (no pun intended).
      The purpose for obstructing him being based on his coaching potential is much more subjective. He has credits nearly as good as Butch's were when he was hired. I would also think he risks liability to the recruiting process particularly where parents of the students are concerned. All an opposing coach would have to do to sour the parent or kid to UT is to bring up the Sandusky crap. Yeah, now that I think about it you guys are right.

I think the Sandusky issue was merely the vehicle for his demise for the majority, and while it was my main hang up, I'm ok with that. The over arching backdrop is he's a mediocre coach at best, and after dealing with the dooley & jones decade of disappointment, people are just plain tired of settling of another 5 years of it when there's more than a few quality coaches that OPENLY expressed interest in coming to UT.

The questions that begs an answers: who wanted Shiano, and why did they want him. He offers nothing from what I see, and on top of that, he's an #badword#

I changed my mind, I give a oh hell yes to goat curry, its my favorite