I understood all of the fretting over keeping Butch Jones as head coach at the University of Tennessee. I’ve tried to console UT’s fan base even while I agreed with their premise: Jones should be removed as the Vols’ head coach.
Well, fret no more. I feel certain Jones will not be retained for the 2018 season or any other.
There are several factors why I feel that way. John Currie’s comments were the first that help make up my mind. Currie came out to defend UT’s athletic program. It wasn’t even the ‘ole dreaded vote of confidence that coaches receive shortly before being fired. It was about UT not Jones.
Currie mentioned football is a marathon not sprint. Some viewed that as a reason why Currie would want to stick with Jones, especially if the Vols won out, finished 7-5 and made a bowl game. I don’t believe that’s what Currie meant at all.
I believe Currie meant the decision on whom to replace Jones was a marathon. By taking his time, Currie can evaluate coaches behind the scenes and strengthen a bond with a valuable ally.
Agent Jimmy Sexton attended UT before becoming the most powerful agent in college football. He’s even been known to attend games from time to time. However, don’t think that fandom ever affects his business sense.
Sexton is more concerned with green than orange and he’s incredibly powerful. By working with Sexton, Currie can feel more confident that he’ll make a great hire after he dismisses Jones. Having Sexton on your side is a powerful thing.
Sexton can help Jones attain a lower-level head coaching job without the stench of having been fired mid-season, although it could still come to that. The better position that Jones is hired for means UT has to pay less of Jones’ buyout, which is approximately $12 million. Jones’ next salary will offset some of that buyout.
That means Sexton gets paid twice. He’ll get a piece of Jones’ buyout. He’ll get a piece of Jones’ next contract. Sexton has some wiggle room financially to work with UT and maximize his payout.
Currie also gets a search firm without paying for a search firm. I’d much rather have Sexton’s input than some random search firm. Working with Sexton should mean hiring a better coach to replace Jones.
Now, the kind of coach UT hires may not excite average fans. How about Central Florida’s Scott Frost or Memphis’ Mike Norvell? Will fans celebrate in the streets as if Jon Gruden or Chip Kelly had been hired? Probably not. However, Frost and Norvell already have recruiting ties in the southeast and staffs in place. Sorry Grumor fans; Frost or Norvell would be better hires than Gruden.
Now, there’s an old nemesis that is going about things a bit differently. Instead of secretly replacing their coach, Florida ousted Jim McElwain and is actively looking for his replacement. It was a bold move for a coach that had won the SEC East the last two seasons.
So why doesn’t UT do the same? Because it doesn’t matter. Neither Frost nor Norvell (nor anyone else for that matter) is going to make a final decision as long as they’re still coaching their current team. Most coaching candidates will view Florida as a better job than Tennessee. That viewpoint isn’t going to change if Jones is working for UT or not. If the Vols lose out on a coach to Florida, it’s on to the next one. That’s why it’s good to have Sexton on your side.
Currie and UT won’t hear a chorus of “no thanks” like the Vols did when they had to replace Lane Kiffin in a rush or Derek Dooley after he ran the program into the ground. The Vols may get turned down once or twice, but they won’t be shunned like they were during their last two hires. Currie and UT will get one of their top choices, especially with Sexton lending a helping hand, whether it’s for his own financial gain or not.
