I think the following sentence is a good representation of where we're at right now:
According to Michael Palardy's twitter feed - and yes, that's Tennessee's kicker - the Vols have hired former Miami head coach Randy Shannon to replace Justin Wilcox as defensive coordinator.
If this is true - and that's still an if at this point - most Tennessee fans will step off today's twelve hour roller coaster feeling better than when they started. That's not a knock on Wilcox's coaching ability, but to get Shannon is a huge move for Derek Dooley and the Vols. Shannon was the defensive coordinator at Miami in the early part of the last decade, including the 2001 team that is on the short list of the best college football teams of the last thirty years. He then took over for Larry Coker as head coach from 2007-2010.
Shannon is also a huge get for recruiting, and with Peter Sirmon's departure the Vols have an additional opening to fill on the defensive side of the ball (plus another opening with Eric Russell's departure). Shannon could bring some firepower with him.
But for now this post has a question mark at the top, because, well, it's a kicker's twitter feed. We'll see.
But I think this, if true, would be a move almost all of us would love.
Derek Dooley will speak to the media at 10 AM ET on Tuesday. Whatever will we talk about?
0 recs | 56 comments
Palardy
I question Palardy’s accuracy. #shanksatweet
raynoch46 - January 2, 2012
He was the number one tweeter in the nation in high school
Surely that will translate smoothly
Will Shelton - January 2, 2012
+1
Theoretical rec.
GhostDance - January 2, 2012 via Android app
gotcha covered
Incipient_Senescence - January 2, 2012
According to some sites
I rated him #3, maybe 2…
bsmithinc - January 3, 2012
Yea but he was tweeting off of a tee
phil g - January 3, 2012
Shannon
About the only thing that could turn around all the negative publicity.
HoldTheMayo - January 2, 2012
Congrats!
HuskyInExile - January 2, 2012
thanks
but with all that’s happened the last few years in Tennessee, we’ll hold off until it’s officially official
Incipient_Senescence - January 2, 2012
FWIW Palardy's probably gotten chewed out and tweeted
RockyTopinKY - January 2, 2012
yeah, sounds like the team was informed and he didn't realize he wasn't supposed to spread it around
but, of course, nothing officially official
Incipient_Senescence - January 2, 2012
yep.
and he’s deleted the tweet.
RockyTopinKY - January 2, 2012
RollerCoaster is RIGHT...
good Lawdy.
2012. You have stressed me out and we’re 2 days in.
RockyTopinKY - January 2, 2012
pri. tea. much
Incipient_Senescence - January 2, 2012
If it is true, I'm fixin' to replace that question mark with an exclamation point
Good things can still happen in 2012!
Will Shelton - January 2, 2012
LEAP YEAR!!!! FTW
RockyTopinKY - January 2, 2012
conditional woo!
Incipient_Senescence - January 2, 2012
Why would he say it at all unless it was in the works?
Di we really think a 20 year old kicker would know how gOod a hire Shannon would be?
VolsnCards5 - January 2, 2012 via mobile
Hmmm
http://www.feelslike98.com/
HoldTheMayo - January 2, 2012
Still holding my breath...
/apprehensive.
RockyTopinKY - January 2, 2012
If - IF - it is Shannon
Michael Barrow’s name is being thrown around the message boards as an assistant. Those around my age and older will remember Barrow from the Oilers/Panthers/Giants, but most importantly, he’s the LB coach and – ding ding ding! – special teams coordinator at Miami. Apparently a good recruiter.
This is the part where I hold my breath and try not to get too excited.
Will Shelton - January 2, 2012
yeah pretty much
Incipient_Senescence - January 2, 2012
So today started out pretty crappy.
But IF this is true, I’m not convinced he’s not an upgrade over Wilcox, as much as I liked Wilcox.
If he can pull together the recruiting class, then this will be a crazy turn of events.
TennesseeTyrants - January 2, 2012
his defensive rankings in six years as coordinator at Miami:
6, 7, 2, 28, 4, 7
Incipient_Senescence - January 2, 2012
That's pretty strong.
Plus, the pipeline into Miami recruiting.
danmarcel - January 2, 2012
and those last two years were the years that got Coker fired
very much a Chavis in 2005 and 2008 performance
Incipient_Senescence - January 2, 2012
As a DC...he's legit
The hire would be above reproach.
kidbourbon - January 3, 2012 via mobile
Basilio now reporting it
was fun while it lasted
Incipient_Senescence - January 2, 2012
Well played sir
phil g - January 3, 2012
How did I just see this?
Brilliant, sir.
Chris Pendley - January 3, 2012
This news definitely excites me.
But the possibility of it being true is as probably as low as Palardy’s kicks
Ben Miller - January 2, 2012
For the record I do think this news has a high chance of being true.
I just wanted to make a Palardy joke.
Ben Miller - January 2, 2012
Brad says Hubbs is still skeptical
please tell me we haven’t been trolled. please. please. please.
Incipient_Senescence - January 2, 2012
Hubbs just reporting that Wilcox expected to be new Vol DC.
phil g - January 3, 2012
There is smoke...
…I pray there isn’t also mirrors on this one. This would be a huge get!
utalum08 - January 2, 2012
Swain now saying Steele is gaining traction
oh the life of a Tennessee fan.
lots of reliable people still saying Shannon, but nothing official
Incipient_Senescence - January 2, 2012
Brad found an AP writer from Miami
saying Shannon hasn’t even talked to Tennessee. Oh silly season, how I hate you
Incipient_Senescence - January 2, 2012
What?
Come on, man. I got all excited. Dang Palardy…
TennesseeTyrants - January 3, 2012
I know
I really thought we salvaged things. but it was not to be. or at least not to be yet. back to pleaseplesaeplesaepleaseplease
Incipient_Senescence - January 3, 2012
i certainly don't know...
…one way or another, and I’m not trying to rain on anybody’s parade, but let’s just take a step back and think about this. Wilcox leaves today, and within 10 hours, they have a deal signed, sealed and delivered with a guy who has no connections to the program whatsoever? That just seems AWFULLY fast to me, even if Dooley and Hart had somewhat of a head start. They couldn’t have had TOO much of a head start, because Holt and the U-Dub defensive staff didn’t get the ax until Saturday afternoon.
If it turns out to be true, great. But if not, look at it this way: it would be no more than a one year rental for Shannon’s services, as he’s made it known that he wants to be a HC, not a DC. If his stop at UT was anywhere close to successful, he’d parlay it into a HC position at some mid-level program next year. And if it wasn’t successful, he’d get thrown out with Dooley and the rest of the coaches after the season. Like I said, maybe it turns out to be true. Who knows? IMO, you’d be better off with Kevin Steele.
13 Rings - January 3, 2012
I don't think a deal is done
have no idea whether one is close.
But I’ll take Shannon over Steele. I think he’s a better coordinator, and I’m really starting to doubt whether the staff lasts another year, so being a rental doesn’t bother me. If he does a good enough job to save Dooley, he’ll have done a good enough job to raise Tennessee’s profile enough to be highly attractive to top coaching talent
Incipient_Senescence - January 3, 2012
Well put
kidbourbon - January 3, 2012 via mobile
Considering the Offseason
And all the different jobs Wilcox has been tied to its not out of the realm of possibility that Dooley already had a replacement in mind and its not beyond the realm that Dooley already interviewed that candidate prior to the announcement that Wilcox was leaving. Just a though there. I am hopeful for Shannon I think this would benefit recruiting and he certainly has credibility as a DC. Contrary to what Michael Irvin says the players don’t make the coach the coach makes the team from a bunch of players. Hence the reason Irvin is a color commentator and not a coach.
docrok - January 3, 2012
Randy Shannon is a solid as a defensive mind.
I dont like him as a HC. He does have some ties to FL and FL recruits which would be good. On the other hand his recruiting classes/rankings as a HC at Miami were smoke and mirrors as he recruited quantity over quality to get the high class rankings. Miami has suffered tremendously due to the recruiting under Shannon. After this year’s seniors graduate(the disappointing #1 2008 class), Miami will have to suffer through at least 2-3 years of terrible talent as these recruits will be into a contributors role. Their 2009, 2010, and 2011 classes are diluted with player’s that would never see the field at most major programs. As a DC “rental” as you put it I think it could be a good move. He does have a good defensive mind, FL ties, and a bigger name than even the HC himself. He was a good on the recruiting trail as a coordinator and a terrible recruiter as a HC.
cerebralfish - January 3, 2012
Additionally
Derek Dooley may not have given us the record and wins we believe TN should have gotten, I think he has been able to deliver in every other aspect. And I am not excusing the losses but I think he will make the right hire. When he was hired everyone, even me said “Who in the Hell is Derek Dooley?” and yet he salvaged the recruiting classvery well. When there was trouble with Chuck Smith he moves Thompson to the line and Sirmon to LBs and this was a definite improvement. The Baggett leaves and he brings in Jay Graham. NO WAY his presser is to announce his resignation. Will he make it past next year? I don’t really know, BUT I do think he will make the right hire, and I am really hoping this will in fact be Shannon.
docrok - January 3, 2012
Something I have not heard in all of the Randy Shannon rumorpalooza
I know people seem to see him as a “character guy” who was brought in to clean up Miami (and all it cost them was their elite program,) but weren’t a lot of the Nevin Shapiro allegations alleged to have taken place right under his nose? With our own recent NCAA troubles, is that really someone Dooley wants to bring here?
birdjam - January 3, 2012
As long as he isn't the head coach
I don’t see it becoming an issue
dmiles - January 3, 2012
Also
In all the reports I’ve heard on the Miami situation, Shannon was never implicated.
As a result, I don’t believe Shannon to be in any danger of receiving a show-cause. And for our purposes, the show-cause is the only penalty that would present a problem. In other words, the NCAA can’t start levying penalties on Tennessee as a result of Shannon’s involvement in the Miami situation (whatever it may have been) just because Tennessee hires him to be our DC.
That’s just not how penalties work.
A penalty can go with an individual, but the only one that can do that is the dreaded show cause. Because nothing I have read on the Miami situation suggests that Shannon is even remotely in danger of the dreaded show cause, I think it is smooth sailing on that front.
kidbourbon - January 3, 2012 via mobile
I was talking more about the general reluctance I would hope we would have to hire someone who was in a situation like that
And not worrying specifically about potential NCAA penalties from it he might bring with him. More of a general worry what it might say about him that all of that was going on while he either a) did nothing about it, or b) had his head in the sand about rampant cheating going on.
birdjam - January 3, 2012
I think the bball coach and Shalala were involved, but
I havent heard much about Shannon although it would be hard to believe he didnt know what was going on. It seems he’s dodged that bullet.
cerebralfish - January 3, 2012
That's what I'm saying
He may not have been directly involved (and may escape NCAA penalties) but it seems to me that either he knew what was going on and didn’t stop it or he didn’t know what was going on despite it being so open and obvious around his program. Frankly, either scenario would worry me if I were thinking of hiring him.
birdjam - January 3, 2012
Is this press conference available any where?
I’m following Rucker’s and Vol_Football’s tweets, but that’s probably leaving stuff out. Thus far, I see nothing to suggest there are any big announcements coming.
VolnVA - January 3, 2012
Randy Shannon
I am "Cane fan….Shannon is a good coach. He did more with less his last 2 years as DC under Coker. His defense kept them in games. He had 1 down year (28th) as DC when a lot of talent left and he had a young D, but he built it back up. He has put a lot of players into the pro’s as DC – especially LB’s and safeties. The only weaknesses on his defenses were against running QB’s when they would step-up in the pocket on a pass and then run. Otherwise, top notch. He was very average as HC although he took over a depleted program with only 1 draft pick (6th round in ‘07, I think). They were very inconsistent – loosing to teams they should have beaten – VA & USF in 2010 beacuse of turnovers, but he improved the talent level. They will have multiple players drafted again this year. His biggest deficiency in recruiting was at QB. He could never seem to get the right QB. He likes big DT’s to tie up the lineman, fast ends to rush the QB, fast LB’s & big safeties and plays press with 2 deep and let the LB’s run and make plays. Go back to the 2 times UT played Miami during his time as DC and watch that defense. Even the 10-6, UT win in Miami, UT had less than 200 yards of offense and UM stopped them to get the ball back (fumbled punt – I was at that game, so I recall it quite well!) At any rate, he would do extremely well at UT as the DC. Just sign him already, though!
Caniac12 - January 4, 2012
yeah, I think we'd all be ecstatic to get him as DC
and I wish we’d sign him already too
Incipient_Senescence - January 4, 2012
good stuff though, thanks
Incipient_Senescence - January 4, 2012
I've never seen a UT quarterback with less time to throw
than Clausen in that 2002 game. Product speaks for itself.
Will Shelton - January 4, 2012
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