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Butch Jones fires back at article that labeled UT culture a ‘disaster’
By Andrew Olson
Published:
Tennessee coach Butch Jones is predictably unhappy about a 247Sports article that said the current Rocky Top “culture is a disaster,” and he’s taking it personally.
Butch on the 247 article from last week: I don't stand for anybody attacking our program. I take that personally and we take it personally.
— Patrick Brown (@pbrown247) December 13, 2016
Jones on the recent 247Sports article: "It’s untrue. It’s very unfortunate. I take that personally. I know our players take that personal"
— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) December 13, 2016
The Travis Haney article, in which he states 247Sports talked to “dozens of former and current coaches, players and administrators at Tennessee,” painted a picture of many starting to doubt Jones’ vision of building UT into a championship program, a promise he made when hired in December 2012.
“Butch is not very comfortable in his own skin,” one source told Haney. “Until he has that, he’ll just never be a great coach. He’s not comfortable in his own skin in recruiting, play-calling, organization … He’s great in a small setting, but he’s just not a comfortable guy.”
Perhaps the most damning line came from the source who relayed issues with the culture.
“The culture is a disaster,” a current Vols staffer said.
While Jones is understandably frustrated by the article, he is likely even more frustrated that a number of his staffers and players were willing to speak negatively to 247Sports.
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
