More than a handful of readers on this site have wondered by way of email or in the comments sections of posts about just when the name of Jon Gruden would be attached to the sudden vacancy in Tennessee.
As it turns out, Gruden had indeed been in contact with UT officials. But, for the second year in a row, Gruden has turned down the Vols’ overtures.
According to the Sporting News’ Matt Hayes, Gruden was contacted by athletic director Mike Hamilton Tuesday night to gauge his interest. Unfortunately -- or fortunately, depending on which side of the Gruden fence you reside -- for the Volunteers, Gruden declined to discuss the job any further.
Gruden would be the second coach to turn down the job as reports from earlier this afternoon stated that Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp was no longer in the running for the job. Just where the Vols will turn to next remains up in there, although the names of TCU’s Gary Patterson, Air Force’s Troy Calhoun, Duke’s David Cutcliffe and Houston’s Kevin Sumlin.
As noted by Hayes, the Vols would like to have a new coach in place by Jan. 17 as that is the end of a recruiting “dead period” and schools can once again be in face-to-face contact with recruits.