Ex-Vols QB says Schiano was ‘good choice’

DALLAS — Southern California offensive coordinator Tee Martin was the quarterback on Tennessee’s 1998 national championship team, and during the Volunteers’ fiasco of a coaching search a month ago, he was a popular choice among the Tennessee fan base.

When word leaked that Ohio State defensive coordinator Greg Schiano’s hiring was imminent, that fan base exploded and the offer was eventually rescinded. But Martin said Wednesday that Schiano would have been a good choice.

“It was a tough deal,” Martin said. “I have a lot of respect for Greg and what he’s done in his career as a football coach. When his name came up, I thought, wow, he’s a really good football coach. I thought it would have been a good fit.

“Obviously, it didn’t happen and it kind of took its path of however that happened. It is what it is. I can’t really speak too much to what went into that. But when the name initially got announced, I was like, that’s a heckuva coach.”

Martin said Tennessee did not ask him to interview for the job. Asked if he thought he got a fair shake from his alma mater, Martin replied, “Whether it’s fair or not, that’s debatable. For me, it’s all about timing and the right timing and the places.”

He said he wasn’t in a rush to go back to Tennessee, which eventually settled on Alabama defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt as its coach.

“I feel I have the best job in America — other than being the head coach at USC — being the offensive coordinator at USC,” Martin said. “Whether it’s Tennessee or anywhere else, it has to be the right situation.”

Schiano addressed the Tennessee matter briefly after the Big Ten championship game and said he would address it another day. That day was not Wednesday.

“This game is so big for our program, for our kids and our coaching staff and university, I still think it’s inappropriate now,” he said. “I really think there will be a time when it’s appropriate for me to speak about that.”

Records for the ages

Senior defensive end Jalyn Holmes is a big fan of J.T. Barrett, who owns 37 Big Ten and/or school records heading into his last collegiate game. Holmes said many of those school records, such as career touchdown passes (104), total offense (12,517 yards), passing yards (9,320) and touchdowns responsible for (145 either running or throwing) are going to stand for a while.

“I think he broke those records by a lot, he didn’t just break ‘em barely,” Holmes said. “He kind of like shattered ‘em a little bit.”

Barrett is about to use up his eligibility on Friday night, but what if he somehow tried to come back for another season?

“Who, J.T.?” Holmes said. “He’s going to get arrested if he tries to come back.”