TENNESSEE
By any measure, it’s been a tough season for the Tennessee Volunteers and embattled coach Butch Jones.
However, coming out of a bye week with a game against South Carolina this Saturday, there is still time for the Vols to turn things around.
Jones said he still feels supported by Tennessee AD John Currie and has been having regular conversations with the first-year Volunteers athletic director.
Around the 7:00-mark of the below clip from 3HL in Nashville, Jones discusses his relationship with Currie and how often they talk football:
AUDIO: @UTCoachJones talks @Vol_Football, the QB switch, offensive playcalling, John Currie & more on #3HL https://t.co/gBkYyrpe6P
— 3HL (@3HL1045) October 12, 2017
“How much time have you spent over the last week and a half with John Currie talking about the state of the program?” one of the hosts asks.
“John and I talk all the time,” Jones said. “The great thing is, John has been here, and he understands the program. He understands where it’s come from. We’re in constant dialogue.”
“He’s been extremely supportive, and he understands everything that we’ve built, everything that we’re going through with a young football team.”
If the Vols continue to struggle, we’ll have to see if that relationship continues to be a good one.
However, for now at least, Jones feels like he has the support of Currie.
He should just shut down the media at this point. Everything is used against him right now. The smart thing to do would be just shut the door and work on football.
And just how do you propose he do that?
Let the media see a little bit of practice like normal but don’t do interviews.
He’s been playing the “young” card for four years now. How long can you keep using that before it shouldn’t be an issue anymore?
He’s claimed to have the youngest team in the country in seasons he didn’t even have the youngest team in the SEC East. Though in his defense he seems to have a lot of players leave.
Exactly…and this “we’re a young team” gibberish perfectly exemplifies Butch’s problem. He’s always trotting out a piece of no longer applicable “coach speak” to attempt to defend the indefensible: insufficient progress after four-and-a-half years at the helm. Surely, Currie is working feverishly as we speak to identify and reach out to an established, accomplished HC to come to the Vols’ rescue. Regardless of what happens this coming against SC, Jones has demonstrated he simply cannot take Tennessee to the next level. Period.