ESPN: UT gauges Smith's, Gruden's interest

By News Sentinel staff

Originally published 05:29 p.m., November 16, 2008
Updated 05:29 p.m., November 16, 2008

ESPN reported Sunday that Tennessee gauged the interest of Chicago Bears head coach Lovie Smith in its search to replace UT coach Phillip Fulmer.

Citing anonymous sources, the report said Smith, who coached defensive backs at UT 1993-94, was not interested in the job.

According to the same report, UT also put out feelers to Tampa Bay Buccanners head coach Jon Gruden, a former graduate assistant at Tennessee under Johnny Majors.

Gruden, who is among the NFL's highest-paid head coaches, said publicly last week that he was not interested in the Tennessee job.

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