When completely full, the University of Tennessee’s Neyland Stadium holds 102,455 football fanatics. When completely full, UT’s Thompson-Boling Arena holds 21,678 basketball backers.
Why is this important as the Volunteers brass begin their search for a new basketball coach after Friday’s firing of Donnie Tyndall?
Because no school in the Southeastern Conference has more seats it can sell for both football and men’s basketball than Tennessee.
And because of that, UT should be able — at least theoretically — to generate more revenue than any other school in the 14-team league. Which means if its football and men’s basketball coaches win big, they should not only be among the highest paid coaches in the conference, but also the country, since no league generates money like the SEC.
Yet here was UT athletic director Dave Hart again trying to get by on the cheap 341 days ago by bringing in Tyndall for $1.6 million. Does anyone think that a bargain today? Does anyone think such a penny-wise-pound-foolish mindset should be tried again?