Butch Jones' time in Knoxville may finally be coming to an official end, at least according to ESPN's Paul Finebaum.
During an appearance on Mike & Mike in the Morning on Tuesday, Finebaum predicted that Jones could be fired after what he predicts to be a "historic" loss at Alabama on Saturday.
"I think after Saturday when Tennessee rolls into Tuscaloosa and loses by some historic proportion that could be the end," Finebaum said. "It's hard to predict the end for Butch Jones because it's already over."
Finebaum also named several candidates who could potentially replace Jones on Rocky Top next season, among them Syracuse's Dino Babers, who led the Orange to an upset victory over Clemson last week.
"Babers, as you guys know yesterday, having spoken to him and so many others, he will get a big job," Finebaum said. "A lot of names are surfacing for this job. I've heard [Mississippi State coach] Dan Mullen's name being mentioned."
Finebaum also addressed the rumors surrounded Tennessee fans' longtime dream candidate Jon Gruden, who attended Saturday's game against South Carolina in Knoxville before calling the Colts-Titans Monday Night Football game in Nashville.
"They want Jon Gruden," Finebaum said. "He was in town over the weekend before the Monday Night game and I think he flirted with that job a couple of years ago. His wife was a cheerleader there. I don't think that's going to happen but I think you're going to see a lot of interesting names for that job and I think you'll see them very very quickly."
We'll see how quickly Tennessee moves if it does, ever, decide to fire Jones.
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