Schia-No: UT Fans, TN Officials Fume Against Rumored New Coach

KNOXVILLE, TN -- Rumors swirled Sunday that the University of Tennessee would announce Greg Schiano, currently defensive coordinator and associate head coach at Ohio State, as the new head coach of the Vols football team.

The backlash from UT fans and even state officials was swift and virulent and it had nothing to do with the fact that Schiano is not long-coveted coach Jon Gruden. USA Today reported Sunday night that the backlash led to the deal falling apart.

Before spending a decade at Rutgers, where he was easily the most successful coach in Scarlet Knights history, Schiano was a graduate assistant and later defensive backs coach at Penn State University from 1989 to 1995. Mike McQueary, the former Penn State assistant who was the key witness in the investigation of the Jerry Sandusky sex abuse scandal that rocked college football and that blighted the reputation of legendary Nittany Lions coach Joe Paterno.

McQueary testified that he told Paterno about witnessing abuse by Sandusky, Paterno's long-time defensive coordinator. In documents unsealed in July 2016, McQueary also testified that two other assistant coaches - including Schiano - were aware of Sandusky's abuse, which spanned decades.

“No,” McQueary testified, according to the Washington Post, “only that (former PSU assistant Tom Bradley) had — I can’t remember if it was one night or one morning — but that Greg (Schiano) had come into his office white as a ghost and said he just saw Jerry doing something to a boy in the shower. And that’s it. That’s all he ever told me.”

Later, Schiano, like many people around the Penn State football program, denied he knew anything about Sandusky's years of child rape.

“I never saw any abuse, nor had reason to suspect any abuse, during my time at Penn State,” he said, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The reaction from the UT community to the rumors has been almost universally negative. The Rock, a campus gathering point that is often decorated in celebration of athletic events, was painted with the message "Schiano covered up child rape at Penn State."

Top college football media figures like Yahoo's Dan Wetzel, the AP's Ralph Russo and ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit seemed dumb-founded at the reaction of the Vols fanbase, often tying the negativity to an overly demanding fanbase that has become "circus-like" instead of the allegations of Schiano's role in the Penn State catastrophe. USA Today's Dan Wolken, in reporting the the deal collapsed, said Tennessee and Schiano were "bullied" into parting ways.

On the other, Tennessee elected officials and candidates for office spoke out. State Rep. Susan Lynn, a Wilson County Republican, wrote on Facebook that she was involved in a 73-person group text message with other lawmakers and that they had reached out to university officials and Gov. Bill Haslam. Haslam's family has a long history as powerful boosters of Vols athletics.

U.S. Rep. and gubernatorial hopeful Diane Black, also a UT season ticket holder, said Schiano is the "absolute wrong choice."

Fellow GOP gubernatorial candidate House Speaker Beth Harwell echoed Black's statement, as did candidate Bill Lee.

"We expect the highest standards for our public institutions. The special few chosen to lead within those institutions should have a demonstrated history of integrity and character. I hope today’s rumors are not true, because protecting children is more important than anything," he wrote.

State Rep. Eddie Smith, whose district includes Knoxville, called the rumored hire "an anathema," while State Rep. Dan Howell tweeted to UT Athletics Director John Currie to say the hire showed a "lack of respect" for the state.

State Rep. Jimmy Matlock, who is running for a Knoxville-area congressional seat, said "I would sincerely hope we would not consider compromising our values for winning football games."

Even White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders weighed in.

In any event, the university has not confirmed Schiano's hiring, though Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer did say Tennessee contacted Schiano about the job.

This Sept. 30, 2017 file photo shows former Rutgers football head coach, now Ohio State associate head coach/defensive coordinator Greg Schiano running onto the field before an NCAA college football game against Rutgers in Piscataway, N.J. Ohio State coach Urban Meyer says Tennessee has contacted Schiano about its head coaching vacancy. Meyer didn't have any additional details about Tennessee's potential interest in his defensive coordinator. Tennessee is seeking a new coach after firing Butch Jones two weeks ago. Schiano posted a 68-67 record as Rutgers' coach from 2001-11. (AP Photo/Mel Evans, file)