The Charleston Post and Courier is reporting on its Web site that Clemson offensive coordinator Rob Spence is expected to remain with the Tigers.
Spence, who is in his third year at Clemson and has extensive experience as a coordinator, interviewed for the vacant offensive coordinator position at Tennessee last Friday.
Spence told Clemson coach Tommy Bowden he will stay with the Tigers, a source close to the situation told the newspaper.
Bowden told reporters Friday during practice for the Chick-fil-A Bowl in Atlanta that Spence may make an announcement Saturday. Bowden said Spence already has told him of his decision.
Spence makes $207,000 a year, considerably less than UT’s previous coordinator, David Cutcliffe, who was scheduled to earn $340,000 this season and $375,000 by the end of his three-year contract in June 2010.
Cutcliffe will take over as head coach at Duke following the Outback Bowl on Jan. 1.
Tennessee has also been in contact with Detroit Lions wide receivers coach Kippy Brown, a former UT assistant and offensive coordinator with the Miami Dolphins.
New Orleans Saints offensive coordinator Doug Marrone, another former UT assistant, is thought to be another potential candidate.
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Comments » 34
SmokeDog72 writes:
So much for a change from the Majors-Fulmer-Cutcliffe-Sanders-Cutcliffe system. Brown will keep the tradition alive.
Lost your playbook? That's okay we have a 1989 one that will work just fine.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
So his interview was the customary, hello-how are you-goodbye window dressing many of us suspected. Adkins may be the man instead of K Brown. Stay the course.
juicetke#226846 writes:
His offense was ranked 40 something in the country anyway this season. In the weak ACC no less. I say Thank Goodness!
51st in rushing yards per game and 40th in Passing. Why were we looking at him anyway?
wyomingvol writes:
yeah, no loss..... This would be akin' to moving towards becoming the 'other' Orange instead of the 'Big' Orange.
Oh yeah, Saban wears hi heels.....
TommyJack writes:
PD: You think Coach Fulplate has the nads to stay in-house with Adkins? Man!
Brama writes:
If you don't want Kippy Brown, you have never been around his coaching he is a great coach.
TommyJack writes:
Brama: I have no problem with Kippy. However, he reportedly earns north of $600k as a position coach. I know what Hamilton said, but...
TommyJack writes:
JW: No, I believe he was OC for the Dolphins fairly recently.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
TJ, Ol' Phil has the nads to stay the course. He checked the charts, saw who was naughty or nice, and decided his man was already in town.
Keep the faith, its been nine years, what's another 5 or 6?
Colliervol writes:
I still think it's Brown or Marrone and they are having to wait until the NFL season is over. And the deal could be tied into being the next head coach within a couple of years. So the number might not necessarily have to be $600,000. If a head coaching understanding is not part of the deal, I can't see them getting either one.
Surely he wouldn't make the mistake of giving it to Adkins. Man, the screaming would be heard from Memphis to Kingsport if that happens. I think if it was Adkins or somebody else on the staff, he'd have already named him.
OrangePride writes:
This is more Spence's loss than ours. He has done OK in his role, but really, not a lot more. There are any number of other candidates still out there with pedigrees just as good or better. We want the latter.......and for the love of Mike....can we have someone with a few NEW ideas at this point. This is a PERFECT time to really gear up something exciting.....new quarterback, new coordinator, new receivers coach. Let's not just go grab some "former" UT guys because they "fit" the system. Get some folks who can light this system up!!!
auttat writes:
I'd say he would take a pay cut if the opportunity was there to make 2 to 3 mil. as head coach.
GreerVol22 writes:
If its true, Spence will be staying because he has deep religious and family ties in the upstate of SC. Its has been said on local radio that this is why he didn't go to BAMA or Minn either.
TommyJack writes:
Greer: Course we don't know if he was even offered the job, do we?
mattrob44 writes:
Man, I would have love to be a fly on the wall during that interview. Spence was so unimpressed with Fulmer or the position he's going to stay at Clemson and make $150K less a year. You would hope coaches would be lining up for a shot at this oppurtunity. The coaches may see the wrighting on the wall. We are going nowhere fast!! Learn to live with 8-5 or 9-4 at best.
wyomingvol writes:
Or maybe he wasn't wanted MattRub....
southernACmavs writes:
We might as well bring Dandy Randy back.Im mean does it really matter.Tennessee will stay the corse,work like heck. Then Lose to Florida,Auburn,georga Alabama And probably South Carolina next year.Which brings us to looking for a new Head coach next year..Even Thornton will not save Ol phill next year.Phill has used his last one more year card. See ya Phil ,,Coach Kelly Welcome to Tennessee
TNPilgrim writes:
My guess is that when Spence was told he would have to learn the "Tennessee System" and that Pounding The Rock is the way we do things here, the interview came to a fairly quick conclusion. Although I would really like to see Fulmer bring a completely new offensive system to UT Football, I don't think it will ever happen - he's obviously set in his ways. I also don't see Kippy or any other successful asst. NFL coach coming here as an asst. coach just to continue to do things the "Tennessee Way". I hope I'm wrong about all this, but I'm afraid we're going to get stuck with Adkins and wind up staying the course of acceptable mediocrity as a 2d tier SEC team.
jandjhome#228397 writes:
Folks the point most of us miss is that deep down Fulmer does not think anything is wrong with our football program. He only talks about change when he is forced too. I have been a Big Orange fan for many years, when the time finally comes for Fulmer to go it will be ugly. I am making a News Years resolution to be as positive as I can but I will never give up hope for the Orange returning to the glory days.
tigervol9802 writes:
Doug Marrone for OC. He takes a small pay cut but will still be one of the top paid assistants in the NCAA. Fulmer hangs it up after 08 or 09 and and Marrone will be groomed to be the next head coach.
GrandCanyonVol writes:
I think jandjhome is right. Coach Fulmer does not really think anything is wrong. And until he realizes that, then there is really nothing to fix. I hope coach proves us wrong. I would like to see him succeed. I like the man. Have a happy New Year!
pmidude56#259103 writes:
TouchdownTD:
You're starting to drool on your keypad again. Time to shut'er down and take that nap!
olozbal#646632 writes:
It's Marrone. He's our next OC and I'm sure we'll pay for him, but who cares? We have money to burn so let's use it to get what we want.
The Clemson coach was a token interview, we both never wanted each other.
vol52 writes:
TommyJack , Fulmercito does not have the nads to name Adkins and I am glad of that. That is why TT did not get it. If we run the same play book I will fall on a sword.
vol52 writes:
I believe that Kippy makes 300K as a position coach. Marrone makes 600K+ at the Saints. Kippy was the OC for 2 years at Miami with Jimmy Johnson.
gohawks1 writes:
Get Marrone in here now.
JETnTN writes:
Hey at least we helped him get more money from Clemson!!
weisgarber2003#313889 writes:
"Folks the point most of us miss is that deep down Fulmer does not think anything is wrong with our football program. He only talks about change when he is forced too."
I don't think most of us miss that point at all. I think those of of us who understand how poor a coach Fulmer is understand thoroughly how Fulmer operates, and your description of Fulmer is very accurate.
tigerntenn writes:
you tennessee fans crack on the acc and clemson all you want. i was praying for a rematch to beat u vols again. also spence beat OBC without ot.......so why don't u vols sign up for a home and home set with us whimpy tigers from the acc and we will see whats up . get off your high horse the vols are not what they use to be....can you vols spell average?
yeavols#228407 writes:
Our goals are higher..starting with this past year..no more peach Bowl..let Clemson play in that every year..Speaking of average.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Stay the course. Did K. Brown's Lions have to mess with post-season?
TommyJack writes:
PD: No, on Lions.
tigerntenn writes:
well yeavols looks like your #1 choice for oc turned your money and school down to stay at clemson for less money ...whats they say about ya?
yeavols#228407 writes:
HA! and THANKS for turning it down! Our number 1 choice? Laughable.
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