KNOXVILLE – Last week Butch Jones was asked about the impatience of fan bases in the Southeastern Conference, where universities spare few resources in pursuit of football championships.
This week the Tennessee coach is experiencing the phenomenon in a major way.
His Volunteers’ 26-20 loss to Florida last Saturday set off an internet and talk-radio firestorm of criticism of the fifth-year coach that crept from the online dimension to stone-cold reality Tuesday morning when an iconic rock on Tennessee’s campus was painted with the message “Fire Butch Jones.”
Defensive coordinator Bob Shoop came to Jones’ defense later Tuesday during his weekly meeting with reporters.
“First, I want to say this, and this is from my heart: I think some of the criticism of Coach Jones is unfair,” Shoop said. “I made the call on the last play.”