I remember very well what Hart told us, and I also know he was selling us a little AD speak.
Whether Hart did or not, UT wanted Gruden and didn't get him. Hart wanted Fisher and didn't get him. He interviewed Strong and Gundy and didn't get either of them. He interviewed Fedora and apparently decided he didn't want him. It wasn't until after those five candidates were exhausted that he turned to Jones.
Based on what we know about Jones and what we've seen and heard from him, I'd rank him No. 2 on that list of candidates. But it is what it is. If being No. 6 meets the definition of "short list," maybe he was on the short list. But he clearly wasn't one of Hart's first five choices.
I'm not sure how strong or serious his interest in Gundy and/or Fisher was. Those were two very difficult "gets" to begin with. Not as bad as the Florida AD targeting Stoops and then hiring Zook, but I don't think Stoops was a serious target for Florida either.
I think Strong and Fedora were real targets. If Butch was on the list of the "half dozen" then that could easily mean Gundy, Fisher, Strong, Fedora, Jones, and even Gruden....without needing any "AD speak".
