Despite the constant 'chatter' and speculation that's out there,, there's no big 'silent treatment' going on and Hart has been in conversations with his coach. Hart has stayed out of Dooley's way but he hasn't avoided the head coach. It was interesting in that Hart was on the practice field this week watching. It's the first time we in the media have seen him there since back in September. Obviously we don't see all of practice as we only watch the first 30 minutes or so. Hart may have watched other practices over the last few weeks after we were removed, but he's not big on watching practices and hovering around so everyone took note of him being on the practice field earlier in the week.
Jon Gruden has talked to some coaching friends about possibly joining him on a staff somewhere. Tennessee is one of those somewhere's he has talked to them about if that opportunity were to present itself. But he's also talked to people about joining him at potential NFL stops as well. Gruden has also talked to coaches who have coached in the pro ranks as well as the college ranks as he evaluates the notion of both.
The college game is something he has never given serious consideration to doing. He reportedly interviewed at Miami a couple of years ago for the Canes job but it was never serious. It was more Gruden telling Miami what he thought their program needed.
Now, many people who know Gruden will tell you that he will be coaching somewhere next year and a lot of them feel like he's better built to coach in the NFL. But all of them tell you they have no idea what his plans are other than they think he will be back in coaching in 2012 as this is the final year he is getting paid by the Tampa Bay Bucs. Also, there's a perception out there that Gruden almost certainly prefers a warmer region, which seemingly wouldn't be good for the expected NFL openings in Cleveland and Philadelphia.
So, to sort of sum it all up, we do believe that, if Tennessee were to make a coaching change, Gruden would absolutely be contacted, probably would be contacted first, but nothing we've heard to this point suggests that any decision has been made by either Tennessee and Dave Hart on Dooley's future or by Gruden on where and if he'll be coaching in 2013.