State lawmakers have started to react on social media to UT Chancellor Beverly Davenport's decision to suspend Athletics Director John Currie and have former Vols football coach Phillip Fulmer lead the athletics department.
Davenport announced the decision Friday afternoon, but lawmakers started sharing their thoughts on the leadership change as soon as Currie met Davenport briefly Friday morning as fervor over the search for UT's next head football coach continues to reach new levels.
State Rep. Martin Daniel called the coaching search a "big ole mess" in a tweet Friday morning.
One might reasonably conclude that we have a big ole mess on our hands at the Univ of Tenn. My concern is the $$$ it is costing Tenn taxpayers and tuition payers. Let’s get this straightened out quickly. By the way, athletic program revenue IS public money.
— Rep. Martin Daniel (@RepMartinDaniel) December 1, 2017
Before Davenport announced Fulmer would take on the role, state Rep. Jason Zachary tweeted Fulmer should be the next call.
The next call should be to Coach @phillipfulmer. @SwainEvent @ErikAinge3 https://t.co/FQSBfO7VmN
— Rep. Jason Zachary (@JasonZacharyTN) December 1, 2017
"My initial reaction with the mess we’ve seen over the last five days, when you have something happen, people have to be held accountable. And clearly he (Currie) was the person held accountable for the mess we’ve seen," Zachary told 10News later on Friday.
Zachary said he's supported the idea of Fulmer as AD, and believes it will be a good move for the university.
“I think it redeems many of the people in authority at the university. I think Coach Fulmer is respected, there’s a confidence in Fulmer, he understands the culture and environment at UT probably more than anybody, so you get some grace and instant credibility and leadership," he said.
State Sen. Becky Duncan Massey said she has sympathy for Currie, but believes the university made the right decision.
“Well, you know, I’d gotten to know him a little bit and liked him as a person, so I felt sorry for him, but with everything happen, the university had to make some tough decisions and I think they probably made the right decision," she said.
State Rep. Andy Holt said he's glad Currie is gone, and "there are several others that need to follow suit."
He said the university has been tone-deaf in recent months, and it’s "time for the university to take a long hard look at how they address the public and meeting the needs of the public."
Holt is glad to see Fulmer back, and believes it will be a good move for the university's future.
“That’s great. Love to see us rekindle and reestablish the university with folks from the university that have shown great performance in the past, and he’s done that," Holt said.