David Cutcliffe Passes on Tennessee Job

It has been a rough couple days for that orange team down in Knoxville.

First, Lane Kiffin bolted for USC just a year after taking the Tennessee job and energizing Rocky Top with his recruiting and ridiculous behavior. Texas defensive coordinator/coach in waiting Will Muschamp was then the prime target, but he decided Austin was the place for him. The Vols then reportedly targeted Air Force head man Troy Calhoun, who was nearly hired when Layla’s husband took the job. Calhoun also said ‘no’.

Most recently, UT AD Mike Hamilton pursued former offensive coordinator and current Duke coach David Cutcliffe. You would think he would be a lock to take the job because he knows Tennessee well…and he coaches football at DUKE. Not exactly the pinnacle of the profession.

If that’s what you thought, you thought wrong. ESPN is reporting that Cutcliffe has removed himself from consideration for the job and will stay in Durham. Wow. I know that there was a lot going on behind the scenes (word is that he wanted to bring his entire staff with him), but it just doesn’t look good when you get turned down in this situation.

The Vols are said to now be targeting Louisiana Tech coach Derek Dooley and Temple coach Al Golden. Not exactly the high profile home run hire that they needed when Kiffin left them in the lurch.  In the long term, Tennessee very well could be better off without Kiffin in the fold, but this is getting ugly in the short term.