2. Some of the candidates are in the midst of another season and under contract.
On a lighter note, maybe Jeremy Pruitt is shooting even higher but has candidates in mind under contract. What if there’s a position coach in the NFL whom he’s waiting for to finish out their season? Heck, what if there’s a coach finishing up his season who’s about to get fired?
Or what if there’s a guy doing well right now and who would take the Tennessee football job but who can’t leave until his season is over? In a wishful thinking mode, Freddie Kitchens, the interim Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator, would fit this mold. He’s friends with Pruitt and has worked wonders with Baker Mayfield.
Anyway, if Pruitt is looking at the NFL route, this is the most likely scenario. There are still three weeks left in that season, so it’s hard right now to get the guy you want. Keep an eye on NFL rumors if this drags on.
Of course, this wouldn’t be a problem at the college level. Administrators can hire coaches away pretty much whenever. But maybe there’s a stipulation in the contract of one of his top candidates that they have to stay on past a certain time.
This was part of Chip Lindsey’s contract with the Auburn Tigers. Could Pruitt have issues with somebody else in that same vein? He possibly could. But if he’s looking into the pros, he definitely does. And that will require weeks worth of more patience that Vols fans on social media may not be able to handle.