Fans protest Tennessee’s potential Schiano hire Tyler Wombles
Sports Editor As reports circulated Sunday that Tennessee was set to hire Ohio State defensive coordinator Greg Schiano as its new head coach, multiple fans voiced their displeasure. In 2016, testimony from former Penn State assistant Mike McQueary stated that he was told by fellow staffer Tom Bradley that Schiano knew of child abuse by thendefensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky while Schiano was working at Penn State. Schiano has denied that he was aware of the abuse.
Protesters gathered outside Neyland Stadium Sunday evening in the wake of the hiring reports. One of the protestors, Kelton Johnson, said that he was concerned with Schiano’s character amid the tumultuous recent history that the Tennessee program has had. “We went from the top in the ‘90’s to nothing,” Johnson said. “We are no longer the prestigious program as we once were, with (Phillip) Fulmer and Peyton Manning and Johnny Majors and General Neyland … The character of not coming and out and saying what (Schiano) had to say (is the problem). It’s the character.” Brent Chasteen, another protester, stated that he is not worried about Schiano’s record
as a football coach. Rather, his focus is on the allegations stemming from the Sandusky incident. “I don’t like the fact that he’s connected to the whole Penn State, Sandusky incident,” Chasteen said. “(The allegations are) the only thing on my mind.” Tennessee has not issued a statement regarding the potential hiring of Schiano. Director of Athletics John Currie fired former head coach Butch Jones with two games remaining in the 2017 season after the team notched a 4-6 record. The Vols’ finished the year with a 4-8 mark. Currie expressed his goals for the search when it began, stating the importance of finding the right fit and the amount of work
that he would put into it. “We will begin an exhaustive search for a person of the highest integrity and character with the skills and vision to propel Tennessee to championships,” Currie said after firing Jones on Nov. 12. “This is an extraordinarily special place with unique opportunities and tradition of excellence. This coaching search will be my sole focus and I will be in regular contact with Chancellor (Beverly) Davenport.” Schiano served as the head coach of the Tampa Bay Bucaneers and the Rutgers Scarlet Knights before joining Urban Meyer’s staff at Ohio State. He has also been an assistant at numerous schools, including Miami.
Protesters gather in response to circulating reports of Greg Schiano being hired as the new head coach on Nov. 26, 2017. Emily Gowder / The Daily Beacon
Volume 134 Issue 27
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Monday, November 27, 2017