Strongly disagree with your first paragraph. This was held up by Tony and his love for Tennessee. If you listened to Danny's press conference, you heard him say that Tony was essentially shielded by a program director. He (White) rarely dealt with Tony one on one. That buffer is likely what kept the peace. And if Tony really believed that funds weren't being allocated fairly, right or wrong, that may be what finally pushed him over the edge.
Yes, absolutely, the draw of an MLB job was certainly a factor. Probably the biggest factor. But it wasn't the only factor.