Saturday could be Butch Jones’ last day as the Tennessee football head coach.
I almost didn’t write this post this morning, but it’s become somewhat of a Saturday morning tradition over the last month.
If the Tennessee Vols lose on the road to the Missouri Tigers on Saturday night, it could very well spell the end for Butch Jones.
But that’s something we’ve said for the last few weeks. I thought for sure that Jones would be done if the Vols lost to Kentucky. I was certain there was no way they’d trot Jones out at Neyland Stadium on homecoming night against Southern Mississippi.
Athletic director John Currie, however, decided to keep Jones around after the Kentucky loss, despite all the noise/controversies surrounding the embattled head coach, and it somewhat paid off — the Vols were able to get their fourth win of the season.
But it wasn’t pretty. And the win didn’t inspire confidence that Jones can, or will, lead Tennessee to a bowl game appearance.
If the Vols lose on Saturday night, it will mean they have to win their final two games of the season to reach bowl eligibility. Their remaining games are at home against LSU and Vanderbilt.
LSU is playing pretty well after an early season loss to Troy. I don’t think that’s a game Tennessee can win. Essentially, I think the Vols’ bowl game hopes are over if they lose to Missouri.
And with a bowl game out of reach, it doesn’t seem likely that Tennessee will retain Jones for the final two games of the season.
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Firing Butch Jones before the end of the season won’t do much to save Tennessee’s 2017 season.
But it will at least please fans for a bit, while Currie searches for the Vols’ next head coach.