Could Tee Martin Be Heading To Florida State?

Nov 24, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans receiver Robert Woods (2), coach Lane Kiffin and receivers coach Tee Martin react during the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Notre Dame defeated USC 22-13. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports

Rumors began circulating this week that former Tennessee quarterback and current USC assistant Tee Martin, could be a possibility to join Florida State’s staff as an offensive assistant.

Back in December Tee Martin was courted by Tennessee and new head coach Butch Jones. Martin flew into Knoxville and met with Jones, pondered the decision, and decided to remain at USC on Lane Kiffin’s staff. Kiffin has come under scrutiny of late, after losing several high profile recruits just prior to national signing day, including five star cornerback Jalen Ramsey, who ironically enough signed with Florida State. USC capped off a disappointing season with a loss in the Sun Bowl to a Georgia Tech team who entered the game with a losing record.  USC became the first preseason number one team to finish with a 7-6 record.

Martin does have ties to the Florida State football program. Randy Sanders, the running backs coach at FSU, was an assistant coach and offensive coordinator at Tennessee during Martin’s time in Knoxville, including the Volunteers 1998 championship season. The two also spent the 2010 and 2011 seasons together at Kentucky, where Sanders was the offensive coordinator and Martin was the wide receivers coach.

There are unconfirmed rumors that Martin will be interviewing with the Seminoles on Thursday.

If you’re a Vols fan it’s hard to imagine Martin spurning Tennessee and joining Florida State’s staff. Tennessee fans were very excited at the possibiltiy of the Vol legend returning home to Knoxville.  As you would expect many Volunteer fans were upset with Martin when he declined to take the receivers job at Tennessee.  Imagine how Vol fans will feel if he leaves USC under his own terms to take a job he declined to take at his Alma Mater?

The only saving grace for Martin’s likability among Vol fans, will be if he goes to Florida State and becomes the offensive coordinator. Taking the OC job would be a promotion from his current job, and the job he would’ve taken with Tennessee.

A lot of Tennessee fans defended martin as a “Vol For Life” after turning Tennessee down.  It may be hard for those fans to defend him in the same manor if he joins Florida State in any capacity.

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