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UT football coaching controversy concerns local businesses

Two local businesses say they do better when the team wins and that’s why the hire matters.

Local businesses are sounding off -- saying a bad hire for the University of Tennessee's next head football coach will mean bad business.

Remedy Coffee and The International stood with fans saying they didn't like the idea of Schiano coming to Rocky Top, but one business owner tweeted his support for the coach -- and backlash quickly followed.

At Remedy Coffee there's a lot of be proud of. Owner Zach Hill is also proud of Vol fans and stance they took on Sunday.

Hill sent a tweet Sunday amid reports UT was working on a deal with the Ohio State University defensive coordinator saying, "Greg Schiano is not allowed in our establishment."

"So we've had hope and bought in, but the fans feel like our voices need to be heard,” explained Hill.

Joining the online push was Knoxville music venue The International.

"As a social media manager I have to be on Twitter all the time. I was just so mad, I felt like the administration let us down,” said social media manager Matt Keaton.

Both businesses say they do better when the team wins and that’s why the hire matters.

"You can't book shows during SEC games, you might be able to sneak one in during UMass,” explained Keaton.

Twitter can be tough for anyone going against the grain.

Casual Pint Northshore owner Chris Owens tweeted, "there might be a junior high coach willing to take the job.” Owens has since apologized and deleted his Twitter account.

Hill and Keaton said questions about Schiano's past on and off the field should have kept him from being considered for the job.

"You can forgive everything in somebody's past and still not want to hire them,” said Hill.

“I don't like having to bring that into question in the first place, and second I wanted someone that would understand the program,” said Keaton.

They believe Sunday's rally shows how passionate this fan base is and that it's time for those in power to listen.

"I hope that boosters and administration realizes that fans deserve a say,” said Hill.

We did reach out to the Casual Pint Northshore owner and have not heard back. Both businesses we spoke to hopes Tennessee makes a quality hire.

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