Records detail Currie’s pursuit of Mullen, Gundy
KNOXVILLE – A day before Tennessee neared a deal that would have made Ohio State defensive coordinator Greg Schiano its football coach, John Currie remained in pursuit of Dan Mullen for the Vols’ vacancy.
Currie sent a message on Nov. 25 to Clint Dowdle, who is part of the sports agency group that represents Mullen, asking Dowdle to send Mullen a memorandum of understanding.
That day, UCLA hired Chip Kelly, who had been courted by Florida. The next day, Mullen reached a deal with Florida, and Currie turned his sights to Schiano.
A Mullen hire likely would’ve been met with widespread approval in Tennessee circles. The Schiano deal unraveled after it was met by a wave of backlash from some fans, donors and politicians. The university released Currie’s messages to USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee on Thursday in response to a December records request.
Currie’s pursuit of Mullen, who went 69-46 in nine seasons at Mississippi State, lasted for at least a few days.
On Thanksgiving, Dowdle arranged for Mullen to talk to Currie the next day. Mississippi State played rival Mississippi on Thanksgiving night.
“Understand he will be up late celebrating tonight,” Dowdle wrote to Currie.
There was nothing to celebrate. The Rebels beat the Bulldogs 31-28 in the Egg Bowl.
Currie and Mullen exchanged messages on Black Friday and made plans to talk that day.
Mullen followed up with Currie on Saturday, Nov. 25, when the Vols played their season finale against Vanderbilt.
“Good luck today,” Mullen wrote to Currie. “Talked with Peyton (Manning) last night. Look forward to seeing you tomorrow.”
“Thanks — hope the cold ones are good!” Currie replied to Mullen, before messaging Dowdle to send Mullen the MOU.
Currie arranged to meet with Mullen the following morning, but the Gators won the pursuit and announced Mullen as their coach on Nov. 26.
Currie had more than one iron in the fire, though. He also had messaged Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy on Nov. 25 — the day before the Vols neared a deal with Schiano — about meeting on Nov. 27.
Gundy and Currie didn’t exchange messages on Nov. 26, when Schiano took center stage for UT.
The Schiano deal unraveled, and Currie and Gundy resumed communication the following day and met in Dallas on Nov. 28.
“Looks like Tenn orange,” Gundy wrote to Currie that morning.
Currie responded to Gundy’s quip with a multimedia message, apparently of the plane he hoped Gundy would board with him to Knoxville.
“As does this — on the ground here to take us where ever we go next! (Blocked from tracking too),” Currie wrote. Gundy didn’t come to Knoxville. “Gundy is out,” Currie texted Chancellor Beverly Davenport that night.
Oklahoma State announced a pay raise for Gundy the following day.
Currie never completed the coaching search. He was removed from his post Dec. 1. Phillip Fulmer replaced him and hired Alabama defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt on Dec. 7 to be the Vols’ coach.