To say that the University of Tennessee dealing with catastrophic, shifting winds of change would be one of the biggest understatements this year. Tennessee Chancellor Beverly Davenport gave a press conference on Friday in an attempt to explain what’s happened recently. One of the revelations she presented was the fact that athletic director John Currie is not fired from his post as it’s been reported but is in fact suspended.
When asked to explain what happened, Davenport didn’t do a lot to clearly illustrate what caused the move but seemed to indicate he was insubordinate while attempting to hire Washington State head coach Mike Leach.
Sounds like Currie suspended for insubordination?
Davenport says: "Early yesterday afternoon I asked John Currie to return to Knoxville before going forward with the search – that request had nothing to do with any specific coach."
Evidently, Currie did not immediately comply.
— Stefanie Loh ｜ 卢敏仪 (@StefanieLoh) December 1, 2017
Reporters tried to press Davenport for why she suspended Currie.
BD: "I wanted to talk with John yesterday, but I don’t want to talk about coaches, don’t want to talk about the process. It’s been a long and arduous week."
— Stefanie Loh ｜ 卢敏仪 (@StefanieLoh) December 1, 2017
Additionally, contrasting what’s been reported Friday, former coach Phil Fulmer isn’t replacing Currie but is the “acting athletic director” in the interim.
When asked why she didn’t give Currie a chance to land Leach, Davenport replied, “I want to be clear today, we’re here to talk about the change in leadership in athletic department. Not going to talk about coaches at any other schools or any other places.”
She also said there is no timetable in place for Tennessee to land a head coach for its football program.
Let’s just hope, for the sake of the Volunteers and their fans, the list of failed attempts to land a head coach doesn’t get any longer at this point.