Volnation, I posted earlier today for the first time in years. Been a longtime lurker though and consider this one of the best sources to get my UT fix on. I don't bring a ton of inside information other than a couple of former UT football buddies that occasionally share info. With this said, please hear me out. Before throwing Chucky and some of these Volnation "insiders" under the bus, consider all the information that has been shared on here over the past couple of weeks. Although I can't say that I know any of these insiders, much of their info does add up with much of the stuff that I heard as well.
No doubt about it today was a **** show, and not a good day for our University and our storied football program. Like many of you all, I have been angry texting family and friends trying to wrap my head around this crap today. But after a whisky drink or two tonight and reflecting on all that has happened, I do believe this: Power was restored to our University today and that is pretty cool. The **** show that most Vol fans and college football fans saw play out today goes back to last fall (2016) and earlier this year when we were searching for a new AD. Blackburn was the leading AD candidate most UT alumni, including, several big boosters wanted, yet somehow we ended up with Currie compliments of an intervention by Jimmy Haslam. At best, the Currie AD selection was a compromise between Haslam and the Charles Ergen Camp (like 70/30 type compromise).
The Gruden thing (believe it or not negagrudes) was a very real possibility and at a minimum an MOU was agreed upon. Charles Ergen and several other prominent boosters appear to have been trying to make this happen long before Butch was canned. I believe the Ergen Camp felt that Currie was on board with this plan, and I believe Gruden was very much interested in being our next HC as well. Obviously something happened, and Currie stuck with Haslam and his preference. Likely, this was tied to Currie's loyalty to the man that got him into this AD role as much as anything. It has been reported that Currie is also friends with Schiano. But who knows. So the question I have is this: I know Jimmy Haslam is a big fan of Schiano, but what was/is his beef with Gruden? Why not Gruden? It's been pretty well documented that Haslam did not want UT to the hire him in 2012. Is it because Haslam feared that Jon Gruden would be a man not be easily controlled? Did Gruden say no to his Browns once upon a time? This is a serious question and would love to hear if folks have any insight into this.
Regardless of the answers to my above questions, today was (I believe) a successfull first step in the process of overthrowing the old regime of power (Haslams). It was also more than about Gruden, but also a difference in coaching philosophy - bringing in "UT blood" (Including former UT alumni coaching staff). This is where all the leaks occurred a couple of weeks ago - Former UT players (current coaches like Tee Martin) who were contacted by Gruden about joining his potential staff. Problem was that Currie ultimately sided with Jimmy Haslam. And I believe this was likely part of his plan all along. Play along with the Ergen Camp (and Volnation). Passify them while finding "problems" in the final contract that could ultimately not be ironed out between both sides. Over the past few days, this plan was esecuted by Currie and he goes with "Plan B". He notifies the Ergen Camp of his decision. The Ergen Camp says "hell no" and they execute their back up plan in the event Currie and Haslam go rogue.
So Volnation, what happened today wasn't about Schiano's role in the Sandusky case as much as it was an absolute revolt from Ergen, 6-8 other superboosters, and the entire Volnation family. I really believe that, at a minimum, a couple of the "insiders" that we have seen in the Gruden threads are absolutely part of this Ergen group and their agenda (and also became volnation's agenda). Think about it, there were over 73 state legislators and 3 different UT sports, websites, social media, etc fighting back against this thing within an hour of the Schiano news breaking. Not a coincidence. The negative publicity campaign used to combat this hire won today. Power restored. Now granted, there is no way this group wanted the **** show that insurred today, but no way were they going to let the Haslams screw up another hire either.
Currie is done. Look for Fulmer to step as Interrum AD or some kind of special role for making our next coaching hire. Blackburn will be pushed as our next AD. Blackburn is close to Gruden. I'm not saying we will get Gruden now, but look for whomever the new coach to either be a UT alum or someone committed to hiring a **** ton of assistants that are of UT blood. It is apparent that Ergen and his group don't want outsiders. They obviously think that this is the whole reason we are in this mess to begin with (I.e Kiffin, Dooley, Jones).
Call me a crazy conspiracy theorist folks, but I do believe we are seeing a civil war play out before our eyes right now. So I ask all of my fellow UT brothers and sisters, whether you thought Gruden was/is coming or not, let's not fight amongst each other. No more casting stones. At the end of the day, we all want the same thing and that is to Be relevant again. Let this process play out before we all jump off the ledge! GBO!
