Former Vols players and fans might not know who the team's next head coach will be, but they sure know what they want the future coach to do.
"We need a recruiting Jesse, somebody that's going to recruit and has a real passion for it," President of the Knoxville Quarterback Club Jeff Hagood said. He added he would like to see an authentic coach who has already shown success.
For some, a coach with Tennessee ties would be a plus.
"Me being a former player, I've missed that, and I think a lot of fans would want to have that," said former Vols player Scott Galyon.
The players are looking ahead, too. UT Professor Emeritus of Sports Psychology Dr. Craig Wrisberg said players know that a coaching change is part of the game, and now they can look forward to a new coach that can further develop the team.
"If I'm a player at UT right now, I'm thinking, we got a chance to turn some stuff around," Wrisberg said.
For former Vols player Herky Payne, that means getting some more wins.
"We want to have a winning team, we want to be able to play with the big guys," Payne said.
Payne played for the Vols in the 1950s on a successful team, and he wants to see Neyland filled with fans for the next home game.
"That's what we usually have right here in Knoxville, we have a full stadium," Payne said.
A few weeks ago that wasn't the case. Frustrated Vols fans took to Twitter with the hashtag "#EmptyNeyland" after the team lost to Kentucky. Now, a different hashtag is gaining steam: "#FillNeyland." It seems fans want to support the team through the coaching change.
"I know that our former players and our fans will rally behind our team this weekend and then again against Vanderbilt next weekend," UT Athletic Director John Currie said while announcing the coaching change on Sunday.