COLLEGE STATION, TX - OCTOBER 08: Former Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Peyton Manning walks across the field prior to the start of their game against the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field on October 8, 2016 in College Station, Texas. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)

Peyton Manning speaks out on Butch Jones' coaching status

Manning has spoken!

There have been plenty of people to come out and speak on the status of Butch Jones as coach of the Tennessee Volunteers. That includes one of the school's biggest donors in Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam as well as the school's AD John Currie. The latest notable person to speak out on Jones is none other than Tennessee living legend Peyton Manning. He told 104.5 The Zone's 3HL in Nashville with no hesitation that he is in Jones' corner.

Via 247Sports:

"I'm all in," Manning said. "I'm all in. I'm behind Butch Jones."

Manning apparently spoke with Jones last week as well said there was no one more torn up about the last couple weeks than the coach.

"I can promise you, nobody cares more about University of Tennessee football than Butch Jones. He literally eats, sleeps and breathes it. I love that passion, I really do."

If Jones keep getting support from guys like Currie, Haslam and Manning then his job might be safe after all.

Governor Haslam Speaks Out on Butch Jones

Tennessee governor Bill Haslam has strong ties to the University of Tennessee. Haslam who was formerly the mayor of his native Knoxville and — perhaps most notably — is the son of one of the university's biggest donors, Pilot/Flying J founder Jim Haslam.

So naturally, his opinion would carry weight in regards to head football coach Butch Jones' impending job status. During an interview with the Tennessean, Haslam credited some of Jones' accomplishments as coach, while refraining from giving too much of a critique given his role as state governor.

"As governor, it's not my role to comment on anything beyond that, except to say ... I think coach Jones is working hard to build the right kind of program. Where players graduate, where players are great citizens off the field, and that they also win on the field. And I think there's probably nobody more frustrated with the last two weeks than coach Jones. And I know that he understands how important it is that Tennessee be a top-ranked program."

AD John Currie is Behind Butch Jones Too

Tennessee fans have been anxious to hear what new athletic director John Currie's opinion is regarding head coach Butch Jones following a disappointing 26-20 loss at Florida.

On Wednesday, Currie shot down the notion that Jones was on the proverbial hot seat during an interview with Jason Kersey of The Athletic.

"I'm very proud of the job that our staff has done in rebuilding our program, and Coach Jones," Currie said. "People get hung up in speculation before they really know anything about what they're talking about sometimes. I'm very confident in the future of our program."

Jones enters Saturday's game against Georgia at Neyland Stadium coming off a disappointing loss at Florida and a close win at home against winless UMass.

 

 

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