Tennessee AD Danny White is making it clear that Josh Heupel was the first and only option to be Tennessee’s head coach.

Before Heupel was hired several candidates were floated as possible options, including Virginia HC Tony Elliott. Elliott, who was the offensive coordinator for Clemson at the time, was recently asked how close he was to taking the Tennessee job. However, White chimed in to say that Elliott was never offered the job in the first place.

“Interviewed several candidates, offered one,” White wrote on social media.

White took exception to Elliott stating that he turned down the Tennessee job. According to White, the Tennessee job was never offered to anyone but Heupel.

Since taking over at Tennessee, Heupel is 18-8 in the regular season and 1-1 in bowl games. Elliott, meanwhile, went 3-7 in his first year at the helm in Virginia.

This little exchange will only add heat to the fire when Tennessee and Virginia square off in Nashville on Sep. 2.