Will David Cutcliffe be the next head football coach at Tennessee?

Some reports have David Cutcliffe in negotiations with the University of Tennessee to accept the head football coach position there that came open when Lane Kiffin left earlier this week to become the new head football coach of the USC Trojans. Cutcliffe seems like an ideal candidate for this position. He is a part of the Tennessee football family and has experience with winning at UT. His overall record during his previous and current head coaching stints are not overwhelming but were achieved at institutions where mediocrity in football is laudable if not exceptional. In two years he has turned the Duke program into something respectable and is poised to achieve success in football not seen at Duke since the days that Steve Spurrier roamed the sidelines in Durham. A look back at Phil Fulmer's record at Tennessee also shows that the lion's share of his success came with David Cutcliffe calling the offense. Sacrificing Randy Sanders to bring Cutcliffe back as offensive coordinator enabled Fulmer to remain at Tennessee longer than he otherwise may have. One year after Cutcliffe's departure to Duke, Fulmer lost his job at Tennessee. That is certainly not a coincidence.

Cutcliffe's ties to the Tennessee family raise him above other candidates as many associated with the Volunteers are upset with the antics that have occurred in Knoxville since Lane Kiffin was hired fourteen months ago. Hiring Cutcliffe will help to unite the divided factions that have surfaced since Fulmer was replaced. Tennessee needs a great football coach but the Vols also need someone at this time that knows Tennessee football and that can bring the Tennessee family back together.

If Cutcliffe does indeed accept the position at Tennessee, the next question to answer will be that of his replacement at Duke. Bud Foster, current defensive coordinator at Virginia Tech, should certainly surface as a candidate for this job. He has expressed interest in obtaining a head coaching position and this would certainly be a great opportunity for him to take over the reins of a program that is on the rise and in an area that he should be familiar with recruiting. This may be the opportunity that will prove to be too enticing for him to remain in Blacksburg.