Sports Illustrated writer says Butch Jones doesn’t necessarily need ‘Dabo-esque’ run to stay at UT

Update: The story originally ran with the headline “Sports Illustrated writer emphatically rejects idea of Butch Jones being on the hot seat.” Andy Staples, the SI referenced writer in the headline, has said that was not the point he was making in the quotes below.

Many college football writers and bloggers have speculated about Butch Jones’ status after the 2017. Both CBS Sports’ Tom Fornelli and ESPN insider Phil Steele cite a 14-18 record in conference play over four seasons as reason to believe that the heat is on in Year 5. Sports Illustrated’s Andy Staples recently weighed in on just how well Jones must do in 2017 to stay in Knoxville.

In a recent #DearAndy mailbag, Staples was asked, ““Would a 10-2 season with a loss in the SEC title game validate Butch Jones or is it too late for him barring a Dabo-esque run?”

Staples didn’t hold back in his response.

“This question is crazy, it’s just crazy,” Staples said. “You’re asking if Butch Jones needs to win the national title to keep his job. No, he doesn’t need to win the national title to keep his job.

“In fact, a 10-2 season with a loss in the SEC Championship Game is exactly what most rational people would consider proper progress for a Tennessee program that was way down Butch Jones got there.”

Staples goes on to acknowledge that many people expected Tennessee to win the SEC East in 2016, and the team’s collapse is the source of much of the hot seat talk for 2017. The Sports Illustrated analyst, however, thinks Jones deserves more credit for the progress UT has made the last four seasons.

“For Tennessee, winning the East, Butch Jones is just fine,” Staples said. “He got hired at a time when Tennessee had just a terrible roster. He’s made the roster better. He has improved the talent at Tennessee. So the first part of his job is accomplished.

“The second part is get Tennessee competitive in the SEC. He’s still gotta do that, but there’s really only been one year when they had a chance to do that. They didn’t do it last year, but let’s give him a chance this year and see what they do.”

In Staples’ opinion, the seat only gets hot if the Vols get off to a rough start.

“If Tennessee is in contention for the East title in November, even if they don’t get it, I think that’s fine,” said Staples. “I think Butch Jones is doing fine at that point. Now, if the wheels fall off in September or October, sure, complain, call new AD John Currie and beg him to get a new coach.”

Andrew Olson

Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaign of Fred Taylor.