From David Ubben (this isn’t random, The Athletic is doing a series on college football coaching searches).
Article:
Inside the 2017 search that turned the coaching carousel into a carnival
Nothing completely shocking and seems to be written from a Currie perspective but some interesting stuff.
1) We met and talked with Chip Kelly but was never offered the job.
2) Currie talked with Dave Doeren BEFORE Schiano Sunday.
3) Booster Charlie Anderson talked to JOHN HARBAUGH about the job.
4) According to a source, one head coach wouldn’t take the job because of Fulmer: “And former Vols head coach Philip Fulmer was exerting his influence behind the scenes, attempting to “advise” Davenport and ultimately wrestle control away from Currie — who served as Tennessee’s executive assistant athletic director when Fulmer was fired in November 2008. Fulmer, too, was making calls to candidates before Currie did.
“There was, in my opinion, a group working to discredit John Currie,” a source said.
That source said at least one head coach who was interviewed for the Tennessee job said he wouldn’t take it because of Fulmer’s meddling and the feeling that, with Fulmer pulling strings, the new coach wouldn’t get a fair chance to succeed.
5) Tennessee had a meeting set up with Dan Mullen but he took the Florida job before the meeting. That is when Currie moved to finish it up with Schiano.
6) I don’t know why but Brohm was never mentioned as a serious candidate in the article or mentioned how Hyams broke the news that Brohm was hired.
7) Part of the issue with Currie going to LA? No Wi-Fi on his flight to meet with Leach. He also didn’t check his phone and text Beverly Davenport back because he was interviewing Leach.