John Currie's tenure as Tennessee's athletic director seems to be over.
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Currie was reportedly fired on Friday morning after just eight months on the job, according to WVLT in Knoxville.
https://twitter.com/ChynnaGreene/status/936607611545444355
BREAKING: Sources tell Local8 News that John Currie has been terminated as UT Athletics Director after just 8 months on the job @wvlt @wvltsports pic.twitter.com/2vQaP1mvfE
— Rick Russo (@wvltrick) December 1, 2017
Earlier this week, Sports Illustrated's Bruce Feldman reported boosters were attempting to drive Currie out of Knoxville after multiple reports claimed the Tennessee was "finalizing a deal" with Ohio State defensive coordinator Greg Schiano, which resulted in protests by fans through social media and on UT's campus.
Am told there's increasing pressure now from big-money #Vols boosters to force #Tennessee AD John Currie out in the wake of Sunday's news. UT source told me: "This is such a hot mess. Just when you think they’ve gotten out of the ditch. They’ve fallen into a much bigger one.”
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) November 27, 2017
Tennessee fans protested the reported decision to hire Schiano based having previously worked as a defensive assistant at Penn State under former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky, who was convicted of child molestation stemming from his tenure with the Nittany Lions in 2012.
According to a report, Schiano allegedly knew of Sandusky's sexual abuse and turned a blind eye, according to testimony from former Penn State assistant Mike McQueary that was unsealed in 2016 by a Philadelphia court.
Schiano has denied the allegations in the past, having told ESPN's Adam Schefter: "I never saw any abuse nor had reason to suspect any abuse during my time at Penn State."
Currie released a statement on Monday defending his decision to target Schiano, claiming the university conducted a thorough background check on the coach.
John Currie’s full statement defending his attempt to hire Schiano. He should be apologizing for his mistakes not defending them. pic.twitter.com/6yp28SQuez
— Reed Carringer (@ReedCarringer) November 27, 2017
Currie is expected by many to be replaced by former Tennessee head coach Phillip Fulmer, who was also initially considered a candidate for the athletic director position earlier this year.
According to Feldman, Fulmer has "tried to undermine Currie in hopes of becoming the athletic director."
Industry source: “Throughout this entire (#Tennessee) coaching search Phil Fulmer has tried to undermine AD John Currie in hopes of becoming the AD there.” https://t.co/Z2v03Nkd2h
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) December 1, 2017
It's worth noting that Currie had previously worked in Tennessee's athletic department and was instrumental in Fulmer's forced resignation in 2008.
