News is breaking now that Chip Kelly has agreed to become the next UCLA head coach and that Nebraska has fired Mike Riley. For Tennessee fans, that means that Kelly is off the board, that the Florida Gators are still in competition with the Vols for a coach, and that both the Gators and the Vols are in competition with Nebraska for current UCF head coach Scott Frost.
Kelly had probably already been eliminated from consideration, as the latest reports were that he was choosing between Florida and UCLA. Some Vols fans had hoped to see him at Florida so they wouldn’t go after Frost, but now you have to think that Tennessee and Florida may be co-suitors of both Frost and Dan Mullen.
More as it develops.
So any thoughts about the rumors that Tennessee will have a new head coach by the end of the week? Also about Currie going to Washington to talk with potentially Peterson or Leach?
I don’t know what to think anymore, to be honest. So much noise out there, that I haven’t felt comfortable saying anything publicly. I do like Petersen. At one time, I publicly advocated for Leach, but I’ve cooled a bit since then just because he seems stuck at his ceiling. Maybe that ceiling would be higher at a place like Tennessee, but I don’t know. I fear that diplomacy matters more at Tennessee than most places and that that may not be one of Leach’s strengths.
Yeah it’s true. Leach is a bit of an eccentric with his serious history and pirate hobbies. That may not fly with most fans who’d think it was weird. Personally I’d be kind of satisfied with him though. The job he’s doing at Washington State is no easy task. Peterson is definitely my new favorite big name coaching hire left. Never had a losing record, only had three seasons under 10 wins, and made the playoffs. Now can I ask you a question I’ve been pondering? Just an off the record personal opinion. If Tennessee does hire someone Monday who’s… Read more »
I’ve been big on Petersen for a long while. But I never heard much about him as a possibility, so I just assumed he was unreachable. The recent story of Currie’s trip gives me a faint glimmer of hope now though.
Leach is alright. I think he’d be an upgrade, but I still don’t know if he’d be enough to get UT prizes