Where we are today.. TL;dr, but happy version.
Grand slam HR for the AD selection. We know the next hire will be a sitting HC. That came from Randy, Donde and AV confirmed. We know to watch Chris Lowe. We know they are going fast and the local media including VQ is clueless about who that is. As usual. We know VQ is a good source for recruiting news, so they should just stay in that lane. That will be $9.95.
We know Danny White keeps a short list of of potential hires at all times like all great AD's do. The 4 leg stool will facilitate the hire happening with the FU money. The old money can use it on Neyland and UT facility upgrades like they have in the past. We will now need those upgrades IMO. We will thank the old money for doing so because they love the Vols and are big fans as well. It was just time for them to step back from hiring coaches and such.
We know the money is available to make it a major hire since they paid major bucks to DW. The young money is over UT sucking at football. They know the investigation will hamper the rebuild, so they need a successful program builder with a preferable offensive background who is unafraid of taking the project on. The UT fan base is football smart, which was demonstrated with burning mattress night, Rommel, SchiaNOgate, Botch and with Happy Meals Gump. We also know they know the great value of having an AD that knows his shiz by the unified reaction to DW being hired after a long list of AD's with dubious distinctions. The new HC will want built-in safeguards over football staff, coach hiring/firing, and sufficient time to turn it around without concern for early termination. That means the hire has to be universally acceptable to 80+% of the fanbase up front if possible. The HC needs to have thick skin and able to withstand Vol twitter when things get turbulent. The big paycheck should help him do that. He should work closely with the 4 leg stool and it should all turn out well for everybody.
Personally, I enjoy speculating on who that HC may be. Opinions and arseholes abound on here and it is fun. I would love to see for at least part of today that we just enjoy welcoming Danny White and his family to Rocky Top. He's a winner and a keeper. We need to show our appreciation for him walking into this dumpster fire with the equipment to put that fire out. GBO!