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Tennessee Vols: Five things for new AD Danny White to address

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 22: Smokey the live Tennessee Volunteers mascot on the sidelines during the game between the Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on September 22, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Florida won the game 47-21. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - SEPTEMBER 22: Smokey the live Tennessee Volunteers mascot on the sidelines during the game between the Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on September 22, 2018 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Florida won the game 47-21. (Photo by Donald Page/Getty Images) /
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KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE – OCTOBER 26: Tennessee Volunteers fans celebrate the team making a first down against the South Carolina Gamecocks during the third quarter at Neyland Stadium on October 26, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE – OCTOBER 26: Tennessee Volunteers fans celebrate the team making a first down against the South Carolina Gamecocks during the third quarter at Neyland Stadium on October 26, 2019 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images) /

Just like that, the Tennessee Vols are off and running with a new athletic director. Danny White, who brings an amazing track record to the program given what he’s done at his previous stops with the UCF Knights and the Buffalo Bulls, was introduced as UT’s new athletic director Friday. With Tennessee football needing a new coach, he’s the perfect hire to address a serious situation.

However, there’s no denying that White faces challenges upon taking the job. UT has gone through six full-time football coaches and four full-time athletic directors since 2008, and that’s reflective of a deeper issue. Can White bring much-needed stability?

While previous athletic directors did some good things, they couldn’t solve some longstanding issues with the program. White has to face those and also face the immediate challenges in front of them. Combining them, what are the biggest issues he is about to deal with? Let’s break that down here. These are the five things for White to address as the Tennessee Vols new AD.

5. Deal with Jeremy Pruitt buyout

Don’t forget that Jeremy Pruitt and his legal team are claiming that the university did not have cause to fire him. Brett McMurphy tweeted out a statement to Stadium from Pruitt’s attorney, Michael Lyons, claiming the firing for cause was part of an effort to “renege” on contractual obligations to Pruitt.

Phillip Fulmer gave Pruitt a huge contract extension at the beginning of this year to 2025, and that included a contract extension and buyout that would be $12.5 million. That he was fired and that the investigation even broke towards the end of a highly disappointing 3-7 season has led to conspiracies that this is an excuse for UT to fire him and avoid paying him out.

More of these legal matters will come to light, but given the fact that Fulmer will collect his payments through the end of 2023, as Wes Rucker of GoVols247 reported, Pruitt may have a case. To help the Tennessee Vols’ budget, White has to fight Pruitt’s legal team immediately.

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