Okay, this is my HYPOTHETICAL best case scenario. I don't necessarily expect all this to happen, just thinking out loud.
1) Currie hangs Butch out in the wind til Butch is ready to negotiate the buyout down. How much? I don't know, half or so. Butch then is able to resign with dignity. This helps Currie gain (more) confidence from the boosters.
2) Haslam and Sexton get Butch a position coach job with the Browns. This is a step in the right direction for Butch's desire to coach in the NFL, as well as it helps with the UT buyout that got negotiated down.
3) All of this takes place, ironically at about the same time Gruden signs on the dotted line. He's locked in as our next HC. ESPN allows him to do the coaching staff assembly, requiring only that he finish the season of MNF. The NCAA allows Gruden/UT to recruit while the interim staff coach out the rest of the season, similar to Meyer/Ohio St.
4) Currie names Fulmer the interim. Because the word is out that Gruden is officially our next full time HC, everyone knows and understands that Fulmer will only be temporary. I like this idea, 'cause it gets a full-blooded UT man in front of this current group of players, allowing them to see what it really means to sport the Orange and T. (you ever hear Butchs teams reciting the maxims vs Fulmers teams reciting the maxims?) Further, it would rally the fanbase (I think, maybe) and give some of the boosters that love Fulmer opportunities to relive the good ol' days, again, making some of the Boosters happy. Plus, maybe it would officially settle some of the bad ju-ju that has surrounded the program since Fulmers dismissal was (arguably) mishandled, giving us a fresh start with Gruden.
An obvious downside to this, is it doesn't give the current staff as great of an opportunity to audition for the next set of hires.
I don't think you'd have to pay Coach Fulmer much either.
Well, what do you guys think?
Hypothetically of course.