Tennessee has been stood up more times than Vol fans can count. Well, that trend appears to be changing.
As July begins, Tennessee fans can relax knowing that Tony Vitello seems to have every intention of being the Vols’ head baseball coach for the foreseeable future. That’s not a surprise to some, but it has been chronicled by others in the media, specifically Kendal Rogers from D1Baseball.
Texas A&M was trying to replace former coach Jim Schlossnagle as soon as possible with Vitello after Schlossnagle left the Aggies to become the head coach at rival Texas. Needless to say, that didn’t go over well. Vitello, however, could have helped sooth that wound for Texas A&M had he jumped ship to College Station. After all, Aggies’ fans saw up close just how great of a coach Vitello was as he topped Texas A&M to win the national championship.
Turning down the Aggies will only further endear Vitello to the Vols’ fanbase. He’s already a big part of the community, a fan favorite and he just happens to be an incredible coach with a national championship in his back jersey pocket. Now, he’s loyal as well? No way.
That’s not the way Tennessee’s athletic department is supposed to be treated. The Vols have been second-class citizens since some guy bolted in the middle of the night after a season of coaching football for Tennessee. Watching Lane Kiffin leave for Southern California after the 2009 season was rough, but it’s worth noting that the NCAA was very interested in Kiffin and he certainly didn’t have a championship in hand like Vitello. I’m aware it’s football, but losing Vitello now would hurt as much emotionally as losing Kiffin in 2010.
Kiffin wasn’t the only gut shot when it came to Tennessee football coaching. With its program in disarray, several candidates passed on Tennessee when the Vols needed them most.
Vitello’s decision to pass on the Aggies makes one wonder how long he might be at Tennessee. Is another decade or two out of the realm of possibility considering Vitello, 45, seems to enjoy his job so much? As long as UT’s athletic department continues to make Vitello feel welcome, that seems like a possibility.
Too bad for the Aggies.
