Sunday Bloody Sunday?
Two Sundays removed from the firing of Butch Jones, all signs are pointing to a replacement finally in place in Knoxville.
USA Today’s Dan Wolken, FOX Sports’ Bruce Feldman and former 247Sports writer John Brice are all echoing information that confirm John Currie’s hiring of the Ohio State defensive coordinator.
Things all started with the below bombshell from Wolken after a morning of rumors about Dan Mullen’s potential connections at Tennessee.
Sources: As the last 24 hours have evolved, Greg Schiano has emerged as the focus of Tennessee’s search. Vols have also been engaged with Mullen, who has been trying to wait out Florida.
— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) November 26, 2017
Although it seemingly came out of nowhere, Feldman quickly added on.
Have heard something similar about #Tennessee and Schiano and that there’s strong interest in him.. He’s had some traction there for awhile. https://t.co/Zi9zgTtxTa
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) November 26, 2017
Vol fans went nuts. More on why in a moment. Brice, who doesn’t cover the Vols anymore but stays connected to the program with his blog, quickly offered a rebuttal, saying it was part of ongoing misdirection from inside in order to keep the media (and fans) guessing.
Have been told consistently since Friday the Schiano talk is part smokescreen, part controlled leak to gauge reaction on backup to backup plans. Currie’s own words, plus this @washingtonpost story, make Schiano a worst-case-scenario: https://t.co/9ZN6TQOmMnpic.twitter.com/x3hzjYQu5T
— John Brice (@JohnDBrice1) November 26, 2017
Brice has seemingly been well-connected in the coaching search, and this certainly breathed a sigh of relief into Vol fans… which was short lived.
Tennessee is finalizing the deal with Schiano. Hopes to name him later today, per person with direct knowledge.
— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) November 26, 2017
I’m told there is extensive talks between #Tennessee & Greg Schiano about making him the Vols new HC, per source. Some details about potential transition are also being discussed (re: Urban Meyer wants Schiano part of the BigTen Title Game)
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) November 26, 2017
WELL. That happened rather quickly. Soon after, Brice tweeted this:
Am told right now that, after others said no, the Greg Schiano deal to become UT’s coach is “wrapping up” & “background has been vetted.” Deal is essentially done. Campbell buyout, Mullen awaiting Florida left Currie here.
— John Brice (@JohnDBrice1) November 26, 2017
Now, the outrage.
Schiano has a long list of stops, but one of his more notable tenures came during his time at Penn State from 1990-95. He was a grad assistant and defensive backs coach at Penn State under the late Joe Paterno, and was involved in the investigation into Jerry Sandusky and his abuse of multiple students.
Former Penn State assistant coach Mike McQueary’s testimony in the investigated was unveiled in court, and in it, he said that former assistant coach Tom Bradley told him of a conversation between Bradley and Schiano in which Schiano saw one of the incidents in “the early 90s.”
“I can’t remember if it was one night or one morning — but that Greg had come into his office white as a ghost and said he just saw Jerry doing something to a boy in the shower,” McQueary said in his testimony. “And that’s it. That’s all he ever told me.”
Schiano denied the allegations to ESPN, saying “I never saw any abuse nor had reason to suspect any abuse during my time at Penn State.”
This incident would contradict a statement made by Tennessee athletic director John Currie in his media release to announce Butch Jones’ firing.
“An exhaustive search is underway for a person of the highest integrity and character with the skills and vision to propel Tennessee to championships.”
Is staying silent during one of the biggest scandals in sports history a sign of integrity? It was for Currie to decide, and it looks as though the answer is “yes.”
We’ll have more on the situation as details develop.
