My Grudeglasses theory would be thus: The reason we have seen such a long delay in firing Jones is that part of the re-negotiated buyout (if there is one) included Jones getting to coach out the rest of the season for a reduced buyout. This being due to the fact that Currie is trying to cheap out as much as possible on any such deal regardless of the damage it may do to the season.
Now if the concussion issue is legit and did in fact happen, then that puts UT in the position to McElwain his @$$ and fire with cause. The question comes though whether UT is willing to do that. Inevitably Jones would try to sue as a wrongful termination in that regard (whether he wins or not who knows, the point being with that much money on the table any sane person would try to prove they did nothing wrong to get the cash). So Currie is probably weighing the odds of whether it would be better to pay the buyout or deal with any legal fallout.
The boosters on the other hand now have another card in an already loaded hand. As another poster mentioned. They can force the issue by playing into the mismanagement of the program at all levels. You don't *#&@ around with concussions in today's football climate. The NCAA has strict rules in place for concussion protocol, and if not adhered to, penalties. So Butch has to be fired if its true. The baby calf has to be slaughtered to appease the god of the NCAA or we could face serious sanctions for valuing a win over a kid's health. The boosters can leverage that to push up the timetable on any plans they have in place, because if the administration doesn't act like they are taking this seriously their jobs could be in danger now as well.
As Beav said before; "the drama backstage could fill a movie script" (paraphrasing). If the administration is balking every step because they don't want to spend too much money on the football program, then they have now lost the moral high-ground of "but Butch is such a good ambassador, and has righted the ship." Without that narrative, their position is weakened and they can be pushed by the boosters who will threaten to stop funds because they don't want their name on a university that injures kids.