Listening to to Tennessee Vice Chancellor/AD Dave Hart. Seems a lot instability has gone on at Tennessee over a period of time. Too many presidents (12 since 2000), too many football coaches (4th football coach in 6 yrs). With this instability has come a financial drain on reserves. Contract buy outs leaving school with only a $1.9 mil reserve. Other programs in SEC operate up to and some over $100 mil reserve level. How Tennessee got this point and kept up with the other members of the SEC. Only the upper administration can answer that. And as much as Vice Chancellor/AD Hart attempted to give some insight, it was still hard to take in. Because it's Tennessee, a member of the SEC. A conference that at the end of the 2011-12 athletic season divided up $240+ million to it's full membership schools at that time.
Tennessee Vice Chancellor/AD Dave Hart did mention there needs to be some consistency. So the process be as thorough as possible, within the time frame they have to work with. There will not be a search firm at this time for a new coach. It will be handled in house. Tennessee Vice Chancellor/AD Hart, did answer that some of the names that they have in mind, they wont be able contact until after the bowl season. May be too late for what they are looking for. But, if it's what is needed to move the football program forward in the right direction. The wait maybe needed.
Also mentioned was the fact that their NCAA probation had been extended 2yrs, with recruiting restrictions. That will be factor, plus time. How long will be given to right the ship? 3 years? 1 graduation class? That couldn't be answer today.
Which ever direction they decide to go Head Coach, Asst Coach, young gun coach, or a facilitator. Will definitely have be adapt quickly to the challenges in front him. And put a good staff together to hold on the recruiting class coming in and add to it in the process.
The presser is about 30 minutes. See for yourself, it gives an insight to the challenges that Tennessee athletics is facing.
