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In a big update from John Brice and Gridiron Now, Brice is reporting that Tennessee could wrap up their search for their next head football coach over the next 72 hours.
Per multiple sources on the UT campus and connected to the school’s board of trustees, Tennessee event management and facilities staff have been informed to not waste any time in clean-up and turnaround efforts following the Vols’ finale against Vanderbilt. UT introduces new football coaches inside Neyland Stadium facilities and also historically hosts private meet-and-greet events for new coaches with boosters and program friends.
This update came on the heels of a report that Tennessee AD John Currie was on campus and at football practice this afternoon.
DEVELOPING: Athletic Director John Currie was at Tennessee football practice this afternoon. pic.twitter.com/nDS0PjK6ox
— Volquest Staff (@Volquest_Rivals) November 24, 2017
This was a surprise, as speculation spread that Currie took a trip to Starkville today to meet with Dan Mullen. As Brice reports, that meeting didn’t happen — yet.
Late this afternoon, sources indicated Currie has yet to speak with Mullen, but is expected to do this weekend, though that situation remained fluid late into Friday afternoon.
Jimmy Hyams reported the same information.
Source: Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen has not been offered the Tennessee job and he did not interview in Knoxville today. That doesn't mean he won't interview soon.
— Jimmy Hyams (@JimmyHyams) November 24, 2017
The most interesting part of Brice’s update was a reported meeting with Washington Huskies’ head coach Chris Petersen. He’s felt untouchable to this point, but according to Brice — Currie at least took a swing here.
Multiples sources, in UT athletics as well as boosters, executives and former players, said that Currie flew to the West Coast earlier this week to “gauge (Petersen’s) interest” in the Volunteers’ opening before Currie flew to the Bahamas to join Rick Barnes’ basketball team at the Battle for Atlantis tournament. Currie was scheduled to fly back to Knoxville Thursday.
Does Currie have his man? If what Brice is saying is true, I’d guess he does. The west coast trip is interesting. We didn’t get specifics, but Mike Leach is also out that way and has been somewhat connected to the job.
For all of you that want to hang onto Jon Gruden rumors, he was also in Seattle on Monday to call the Seahawks game. Just for what it’s worth (probably nothing).