The University of Tennessee released phone and email records last Friday showing texts and emails between former AD, John Currie, and several notable figures during the Tennessee coaching search.
Hundreds of pages detailing Currie’s communication during the university’s search to identify Butch Jones’ replacement were released. Of all the conversations Currie had involving so many high-profile figures in college football, his exchange with Dan Wolken, of USA Today seemed to draw the most attention.
In the brief exchange, Currie called Tennessee fans ‘wackos’ and asked for Wolken’s help selling the questionable hiring of Greg Schiano to the frustrated fan base. Wolken, who had closely covered the search since Jones was fired, agreed.
As someone who was born and raised in Tennessee and a graduate of the University of Tennessee, I was shocked and appalled to read about the school’s Athletic Director referring to Tennessee’s fans as ‘wackos’.
Wait. Actually, no. On second thought, ‘wackos’ is a pretty big understatement and probably the nicest possible thing Currie could have said in that situation.
Listen to sports talk radio in East Tennessee the day after a loss and you’ll see what I mean.
When Lane Kiffin left Tennessee for USC after one season in 2009, Tennessee fans sets couches on fire and rioted. They, or we rather, did the same thing after beating Florida for the first time since 2005 in October of 2016.
I think most level-headed outside observers would agree that ‘wackos’ is a pretty fair description. And if that’s the worst thing that came out of Currie’s emails and texts, then he might have been the cleanest guy in college athletics in 2017.
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No one wants to give the AD who botched a coaching search so badly any credit but I think it’s safe to say that this one insignificant detail, he didn’t get wrong.
This is infinitely worse for Dan Wolken than it is for Currie. Not only does it draw Wolken’s journalistic integrity into question, but the world can now see that he uses the smiley face emoji to communicate.
Just a really bad look no matter how you spin it.