Strap in, Vol fans. This latest round of “Grumors” is going to get you excited.
According to multiple reports, Tennessee has increased their pursuit of Jon Gruden to become the Vols’ next head football coach.
Both John Brice, a former 247Sports writer, and current 247Sports writer Grant Ramey reported that Tennessee athletic director John Currie flew down to Tampa Bay sometime Wednesday and were there during the night and into Thursday. Both alleged that Currie was down there to make a pitch to Gruden to be the Vols’ next head football coach.
Have worked w/ @GrantRamey & we have confirmed John Currie/#Vols powerbrokers have been in Tampa since last night following their circuitous flight route to make ‘The Pitch’ to Gruden. Ramey will have full story.
— John Brice (@JohnDBrice1) November 16, 2017
Brice and Ramey aren’t the only ones reporting this, however. Trey Wallace of The Read Optional, a reporter who helped break the news about the Florida Gator football players being arrested and Jim McElwain being fired as Florida’s head coach, has reported the same information.
I can confirm that 3 planes with Tennessee boosters & Admin were in Tampa last night. One plane picked up an individual in Chicago & stopped in Nashville & Knoxville before Tampa.
— Trey Wallace (@TreyW_Radio) November 16, 2017
Tennessee reps have been working on Gruden for a while now & talking. He HAS reached out to coaches & HAS been mulling it. Tennessee Brass went in last night for final push.
— Trey Wallace (@TreyW_Radio) November 16, 2017
A Tennessee booster plane is scheduled to leave Tampa soon. They’ve pitched, it’s on Gruden now
— Trey Wallace (@TreyW_Radio) November 16, 2017
According to Wallace, the pitch from Tennessee has been made, and now the ball is in Gruden’s court. Essentially, if Wallace is correct, Tennessee is just waiting on a decision from Gruden. No timetable has been set, and there’s no clear understanding what the pitch exactly is.
It’s also worth noting that long-time Knoxville reporter Jimmy Hyams contradicted these reports somewhat as well.
Tennessee is not interviewing or making a pitch to Jon Gruden today in Tampa, according to informed source. One other source also confirmed that UT is not interviewing Gruden today or making a pitch
— Jimmy Hyams (@JimmyHyams) November 16, 2017
Hyams specifies no pitch or interviewed happened today, on Thursday. This could still mean a pitch and interview happened on Wednesday, but it’s more likely that Hyams is just outright disputing the other reports.
We will keep you updated as this story progresses.
3 Responses
I hope you guys aren’t lying outright just to generate traffic. Because the respected sports reportes around town are saying your stories are bs. My question is, was bigfoot on the plane to tampa as well? Did they pick up bat boy on the way?
Shut up, Jimmy. Just shut up.
Gruden has never recruited a single person. He won a super bowl with a team tony dungy built. The only person gruden has ever recruited is his wife and I’m not so sure she didn’t recruit him….