This is my first post on here so I would like to say I'm not asking anyone to believe any thing I say, I'm simply telling you what has been relayed to me. This is just a disclaimer.
First off, let me start off by saying that I have followed this situation closely for many months now. I am in a position at the university (NOT staff) where a lot of my own dealings and the dealings of many of the people I have complete faith in come from within the athletic department. Again, take it for what it's worth from someone that you do not know and just happens to appear on a message board randomly.
Like I said, I've been following this situation very closely for some time now as I was told a little over a month ago that Gruden had agreed, in principle, to be the next coach of the university of Tennessee. Since then, I've received a lot of information from a few different sources on what has happened and what will be happening. I've been reluctant to tell anyone other than those close to me (within my immediate vicinity, pretty much) what I know/have been told.
But with what I've been told over the last several hours has made me very excited as to the future of our football program. The things I have been told also align closely, if not exactly, with what some of the other posters (that seem to have the faith of many) on here have said.
Down to it, this is what I know:
Gruden is still to be the head coach of the Vols. A lot of the things that have been reported in the media that pertain to bad news have been completely false and fabricated. Throughout this whole process, the smallest/worst chance we've had at actually reeling Gruden in was actually a couple of weeks ago; not this week. This week has actually been somewhat smooth sailing compared to some headless "running-around" that has happened pre-Thanksgiving.
An announcement should be made tomorrow. I was told that tomorrow would hold an announcement; either to introduce Jon Gruden as our coach, or to dispel the rumors and possibility of the coach coming here. I say 'should' because I've heard it to be tomorrow and I've also heard over the weekend, with the absolute latest being Monday. This is coming from the person I trust more than anything. Now, I've had that same person tell me it would be to introduce Gruden, and I've had someone that has given me ~50/50 information tell me it is to announce that the coaching search would shift its focus elsewhere. I stand firmly behind the belief that Gruden will be introduced some time in the afternoon, but I'm not sure at what time.
I can also tell you that this entire thing is on course as it was set in the beginning. Yes, things have changed over the last few weeks, as a coaching search is very dynamic, but the roadblocks and setbacks have been overcome, made up, and accelerated by some very prominent and "high powered" individuals, as well as some people that you would not think of that are working very, very, VERY hard behind the scenes. When all is said and done, these people deserve almost anything they want for all that they've done. One thing I've heard from people outside the few people I respect and trust is that his wife has been a huge driving force in all of this. I do not doubt that one bit, but I haven't been directly told that from my sources. Gruden is an insanely egomaniacal SOB; at the end of the day, Jon Gruden is going to do what Jon Gruden wants to do. Yes, he has a soft spot for his wife and her wishes, but she hasn't had as large of an affect as some are saying (THIS IS NOT TO SAY THAT SHE HAS NOT HAD A ROLE, THOUGH). A lot of the support/feedback he's received from other coaches and assistants he has talked to has actually been a GIANT driving force for him to return to the sidelines; specifically at Tennessee. I've been told that it's been such an amazingly collective effort that it'd be a shame to credit this to one single person or a small group of people.
Again, I am very happy with what I've been told as to our immediate future. There are things that are to happen after we officially announce a coach that should turn out to be great positives for the university and the team. I firmly stand behind the belief that Gruden will be our head coach and will continue to feel that way until I am told differently or until I see differently. From what I know, the money is right on Gruden's part, and I've been told that they money for his "budget" is middle-grounded enough for him to be happy. I've also been told that the amount of authority he wishes for has been, for the most part, granted, with a quasi 'checks-and-balanaces' system. With what I've read from posters that seem to be highly respected here and comparing that to my own personal knowledge, I highly expect Gruden to be announced very, very soon, and I would be SHOCKED, and I mean absolutely dumbfounded, to see anything else different happen.
I'd like to say again that I do not come here with information to mis-lead anyone, and I also do not come here claiming absolute knowledge. I'm simply sharing what I'm told and what I know. If you disregard what someone says due to them "appearing out of nowhere", that is fine. I do not expect to gain any followers or credit for anything that I have put here; in fact, that is the last thing I want. I just thought it would be nice and maybe provide some sense of comfort.
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to let 'em rip. If you decide to fire at me trying to disprove what I've said I know or try to insult/downplay me, that is fine too. Like I said, I do not expect your immediate trust. But I will not defend myself or my claims.
Go Vols!
