Tennessee Football: Gary Patterson Speaks About Vols; UT Should Go All In

Once upon a time, Gary Patterson was a candidate to replace Phillip Fulmer as the Tennessee football coach.

TCU head coach Gary Patterson recently told ESPN’s Chris Low that Tennessee didn’t think he was ready for the “big stage” when he interviewed with the Volunteers in 2008.

Tennessee decided to hire Lane Kiffin instead of extending an offer to Patterson to replace legendary head coach Phillip Fulmer.

And that’s exactly when the downfall of Vol football began.

You can argue that Fulmer shouldn’t have been fired the way he was by Mike Hamilton. But had the Volunteers hired Patterson in 2008, they would be in much, much better shape right now. And no one would even think about how Fulmer was forced out. Hell, the Vols would probably have a BCS bowl game appearance by now….or two……or three. You get the point.

Here’s what Patterson had to say about the way things went down with Tennessee in 2008.

"“Tennessee didn’t think I could handle the big stage,” Patterson said. “My wife and I went to dinner with them, and I could tell they had already decided on Kiffin. It was the same with Nebraska. I interviewed and could tell they had already decided on Pelini. I think a lot of these ADs now are more interesting in hiring guys who’re going to win the podium than they are in hiring football coaches, and there’s a lot more to it than that if you’re going to win championships.”Patterson smiled when asked whether he would have taken either the Tennessee or Nebraska job had he been offered.“It’s sort of like the old Garth Brooks song. Sometimes the best prayers are unanswered prayers,” Patterson said."

When I first read Patterson’s words, my immediate thought was “well there’s no way he’ll be coming to Tennessee”.

I’ve long been of the opinion that Patterson will never leave TCU. But earlier this season, Patterson made the comment that he’d “never say never” in regards to leaving TCU.

For that reason, I think Tennessee would be wise to go all in on landing Patterson. He currently makes just north of $5 million a year. Offer him $8 million. Offer him whatever he wants.

Patterson is obviously one of the best coaches in college football today. He’s done amazing things at TCU. Imagine what he could do with the resources that Tennessee provides.

I still think it’s a very long shot that Patterson would go to Tennessee. But I’m not sure what happened in 2008 would deter him from taking the job. I think it’s more likely that he just likes being at TCU.

But it’s still a call you make if you’re John Currie (who was part of the search team that brought Kiffin to UT).

Next: Great Fallback Option To Replace Butch Jones

If Currie managed to land Patterson, he’d be a hero in East Tennessee.