Here are this morning's links and notes from today's news. If you see something of note that needs to be included, please post a reply and I'll try to add it to this first post.
Tony Barnhart last night:
With Mike Gundy out attention will turn to Kevin Steele, the defensive coordinator at Auburn. Tennessee grad. Big time recruiter. Up for Broyles Award. Would unite Tennessee family. Put together great staff.
Jimmy Hyams from late last night:
Tennessee coaching search might be focused on SMU coach Chad Morris who was believed to have been interviewed by Tennessee while in Dallas to also interview Mike Gundy
5:49 The Rock this morning.
We know who former Vol
Aaron Hayden likes
[twitter]https://twitter.com/Ran4UT/status/935852037211869194[/twitter]
8:20 Chris Low on Swain Event
Tee Martin early this morning and I think he's wondering why he hasn't been called."
"I think coach Fulmer will be more involved. Probably should have been more involved from the get go."
Tennessee has contacted:
-Jeff Brohm, Purdue
-Dave Doeren, NC State
-Kevin Steele, DC Auburn
-Chad Morris, SMU
Notes from Outkick on
Lane Kiffin this morning:
Kiffin tells us he was told when he took the UT job originally he would be the most famous person in the state. He thought it was a joke, but the person continued: "No. It'll be Dolly Parton...and then you."
Kiffin tells us after the Cody blocked FG between Tennessee and Alabama, he shook hands with Saban and told him, "That's the last time you'll ever beat me." Saban didn't really respond. Phenomenal.
Lane also told us his agent Jimmy Sexton went to John Currie during the process, inquiring about UT's thoughts on his client, and Currie said he wasn't interested in talking to Kiffin.
Kiffin mentioned his offense at FAU came after talking with Chip Kelly a few times, and then molding the BAYLOR and OREGON offenses into a scheme that no one has been able to consistently stop. Hire. This. Man. Now. Tennessee...ridiculous.
That Baylor/Oregon hybrid by the way, is infused with a pro style twist. That's where Lane Kiffin is in his thought process. And Sexton all but handed him to Currie and Currie balked.
8:59 Jimmy Hyams
Tennessee interviewed SMU coach Chad Morris Tuesday night in Dallas. Morris was a long time successful high school coach in Texas who was an assistant at Tulsa and Clemson before taking over at SMU. The Mustangs were 7-5 this season
10:01 Bruce Feldman
Am told AD John Currie's intrigued with Mike Leach but the WAZZU coach having sued his old employer is a tough one for him & the to get past.
10:01 Dan Harralson
Lane Kiffin on the Dan Patrick show this morning regarding coming back to Tennessee: "I have not thought about it, because John Currie has not reached out."
10:04 Bruce Feldman
SOURCE: has expressed interest in coach Chad Morris but there's been no interview.
10:54 Michael Carvell
Report: Lions OC and Tennessee alum Jim Bob Cooter wont interview for Vols opening
10:55 Swain regarding
Les Miles
He wants an interview too.
10:56 Notes from Brent Hubbs on 104.5 this morning
-There not a precedent, that he's aware of for a situation where both parties signed paperwork, like Tennessee did with
Greg Schiano, and one side backed out of the deal. Will be interesting to see what happens.
-Tennessee felt like the interest from
Mike Gundy was real. He's not likely to get a new deal out of this.
Peyton Manning was a big reason that Tennessee even got to the table with him and got him to take the meeting.
-It's hard to get Power 5 coaches to move around. Florida got
Dan Mullen but missed on several guys before.
Mike Gundy wouldn't talk to Florida.
-Does not believe that Tennessee met with
Chad Morris.
-
Dave Dorean is a guy who is a Power 5 coach who doesn't have a great relationship with his AD.
-Don't discount the
Kevin Steele talk. He has a lot of old ties to Tennessee. This search may be taking on a different face now based on who is involved.
-
Jeff Brohm has only been an Purdue for a year. Seems content there, not sure if he's interested in leaving after one year. He has eyes on Louisville and Notre Dame at some point.
-Will be interesting to see how things unfold today.
-There some debate on whether
Tee Martin is the play-caller at USC. Helton is very heavily involved in things there. He's not a guy who will be a candidate for any other Power 5 jobs. Many think it would at least be beneficial for Tee for UT to give him an interview and help his career.
Twitter
11:04 Chris Low
The Tennessee Volunteers have turned their focus to Purdue's Jeff Brohm to fill their coaching vacancy, sources told ESPN's Chris Low on Wednesday.
Brohm, the former Louisville quarterback who just finished his first season at Purdue, has had discussions with Tennessee officials.
Tennessee Volunteers turn focus to Purdue Boilermakers coach Jeff Brohm
11:12 Bruce Feldman
Jeff Brohm is one of the most creative coaches in football. Players LOVE playing in that offense. Did a terrific job putting a jolt in #Purdue to get em to 6-6. Not a more unassuming HC in Power5. Still drives the same car since like 2006.. Would be a heckuva get for #Tennessee.
11:12 Trey Wallace
The focus is on Brohm now for Vols. Lets see if he takes it.
11:23 Brent Hubbs
There have been rumors in coaching circles Wednesday morning that Brohm will be the Vols next coach, however, multiple sources say no deal is done but that Tennessee is courting Brohm as its latest focus following Tuesday night's rejection from Gundy.
11:27 Marshall Hughes
Brohm signed a 6-year deal with Purdue worth nearly $20M in December. His buyout before Dec. 5 is $5M, plus whatever is left of a loan Purdue paid to Western Kentucky. Brohms buyout drops to $4M after Dec. 5.
11:27 funny comment from Purdue blog
this could be a long day, and one loss to Tennessee in basketball is already enough. Time to get Markell Jones to get coach Brohm back in the air today.
ESPN Report: Tennessee Coming After Jeff Brohm - Hammer and Rails
11:34 Audio from
Lane Kiffin on with Clay Travis
Outkick the Coverage with Clay Travis by Fox Sports Radio on Apple Podcasts
11:34 Dan Harralson
Talking to Purdue Associate Athletics Communications Director Matt Rector and says Jeff Brohm has been out recruiting since Monday, getting ready for a bowl game and has not been contacted by Tennessee.
11:34 Jimmy Hyams
Source: Tennessee is closing in a deal with Purdue coach Jeff Brohm. UT interviewed Chad Morris of SMU last night but apparently UT favors Brohm.
11:40 Jimmy Hyams on Brohm
Brohm is 6-6 at Purdue. At Western Kentucky, he inherited a talented roster left behind by Willie Taggert and went 30-10, 19-5 in Conference USA and won 2 conference titles and 2 bowl games. His offenses finished top 10 in nation in scoring, passing and total yards.
11:40 Chris Brown from SmartFootball
How realistic is it that Brohm will stay at Purdue? I had thought another year would help him get bigger jobs, but coaching carousel has been so messy he's going to get those offers anyway. Also think he realizes PU has been a (mostly good) grind, especially with skill players
anyway, I guess if Brohm leaves Purdue should put the full court press on Sumlin (former PU player and coach). Facilities night and day from when they pursued him last.
11:45 Patrick Brown
Sources told GoVols247 on Tuesday night that Tennessee was expected to interview with Morris on Wednesday.
After speaking with more sources on Wednesday, we believe the Vols and Morris actually spoke on Tuesday night. Tennessee athletic director John Currie already was in Dallas on Tuesday interviewing Gundy. Sources indicated on Wednesday morning that Morris was in his office on Wednesday and had an in-state recruiting trip scheduled for later in the day.
11:46 Jimmy Hyams
Brohm's buyout at Purdue would be $5 million if he left before Dec. 5, $4 million he left later. He had a $900,000 buyout when he left Western Kentucky with $150K to be forgiven if he remained until Dec. 31. It appears he would owe Purdue about $750K if he took UT job.
11:54 John Brice
Per an insider directly involved in #Vols Jeff Brohm discussions: It's close to happening. He's talking to everyone.
11:55 NFL.com analyst Gil Brandt
If Tennessee hires coach Brohm, all the hullabaloo of the last few days will soon be forgotten, and in the end the Vols will have themselves a helluva coach.
12:23 Recruit tweets photo with Brohm, from this morning.
@Purduebball55 Lol its ok we just took it not even 15 mins ago
Cory Trice Jr.: Thanks for coming coach
12:20 Tony Donohue, radio host in Indianapolis
IF Brohm wants to end up in Tennessee, there is a chance he took the Purdue job knowing that one day he would end up in Knoxville. Rumor is his contact has a clause that he can leave for Tennessee.
12:33 Dan Harralson in reply to Tony Donohue's comment above
Ron Sigler former coach alongside Jeff Brohm at UAB has always told me Tennessee is one of those jobs for Brohm.
12:38 Jesse Simonton
Tennessee hopes to make a hire today.
1:45 Jimmy Hyams broke the news that Jeff Brohm will be announced as Tennessee's next football coach. Since then, several conflicting reports have surfaced stating that no such deal is in place.
[twitter]https://twitter.com/JimmyHyams/status/935930384306573313[/twitter]
1:50 Chris Landry says no deal is in place, but it's likely to happen
[twitter]https://twitter.com/LandryFootball/status/935943224555864065[/twitter]
2:05 Andy Staples
I know no one wants to hear this, but it might be best for Tennessee to just hang back a few more days. A bunch of dudes are waiting to see what happens at Florida State. Once that shakes out, game on.
2:09 Dan Harralson
Talking to Pete Quinn, color commentator of the Purdue Sports Network, says that he has not talked to Jeff Brohm today, but says that he would be shocked if Brohm took the Tennessee job. Says we may know by the end of the day of his decision.
2:24 @insidepacksport (not sure how reliable)
Per sources, Dave Doeren is meeting with Tennessee officials today about the head coaching position.
2:40 Football scoop reports Brohm like to sign new contract with Purdue, Vols likely moving on to NC State head coach Dave Doeren.
The chatter from coaches across the land over the past two hours has been that Jeff Brohm is more likely to agree to a new contract at Purdue than to jump to Tennessee at this time.
Working off the assumption that is likely, which were told it is, sources with knowledge of Tennessees plans tell FootballScoop the Vols intend to pivot to NC State head coach Dave Doeren. In five seasons at NC State, Doeren has posted a 31-29 regular season record (wins per year: 3, 7, 7, 6, 8).
3:05 Clay Travis
I am told that UT AD John Currie made an offer to Jeff Brohm that Brohm accepted. Currie then asked the chancellor to approve the offer buyout included and chancellor said no. So Currie went back to Brohm with lesser offer and Brohm said no. So here we are.
3:15 David Cobb
[twitter]https://twitter.com/DavidWCobb/status/935964922281910272[/twitter]
3:27 Jimmy Hyams on the radio said his report on Brohm was erroneous. He was told that talks broke down over the $5 million dollar buyout. The two sides could not agree on who would pay it. Hyams added that the president balked on the buyout, not the chancellor, as Clay Travis reported.
3:54 Chris Low
"No deal was reached between Tennessee and Purdue's Jeff Brohm, and Vols have now turned their attention to N.C. State's Dave Doeren."
4:00 Brent Hubbs
Tennessees coaching search continues, as the Vols have moved on from Purdue head Jeff Brohm after the two sides discussed the opening in the last day.
Despite a report that Brohm was set to be hired at Tennessee, no deal was ever reached or even close to being finalized, per sources. Another report stated that Tennessee offered Brohm a contract only for the school to block the deal, but a high-ranking university source told VolQuest.com that Chancellor Davenport 100 percent did not block any deal.
With Brohm not an option, Tennessee officials are set to move forward and have a conversation with NC State head coach Dave Doeren, sources said. Inside Pack Sports was the first to report the meeting.
4:12 Joe Giglio
Reports of Dave Doeren interviewing with Tennessee today are inaccurate. So is the one about "close to taking" the Ole Miss job.
https://twitter.com/jwgiglio/status/935973137497382913
4:15 Dan Wolken
"While all the talk has been Brohm, Tennessee AD John Currie has been in North Carolina interviewing multiple candidates today, Im told. Brohm wasnt one of them."
