With No. 1 Tennessee (11-0, 8-0 Southeastern Conference) preparing for

Saturday’s SEC Championship Game in Atlanta against Mississippi State, the

last thing the Vols need is a distraction.

However, speculation continued to swirl Tuesday concerning the future of

offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe. The 44-year-old is a potential

candidate for the head coaching jobs at Middle Tennessee State and the

University of Mississippi.

While Cutcliffe, who continues preparations for Saturday’s game, has

remained mum on the subject, UT head coach Phillip Fulmer disclosed Tuesday

that talks were indeed held between Mississippi and Cutcliffe.

“They have talked with my permission and (Athletics Director Doug) Dickey’s

permission,” Fulmer said.

Mississippi, which lost Tommy Tuberville to Auburn, is looking to fill its

vacant head coaching position as quickly as possible. The fact that Ole

Miss would not wait until after Tennessee’s game Saturday, though, bristles

Fulmer.

“It bothers me,” he said. “I asked Ole Miss to respect the fact that we’re

playing for a championship. I would have liked for all that to have been

handled differently.”

Cutcliffe, who is reportedly set to interview at MTSU on Monday, hasn’t

officially interviewed with Ole Miss, but that could change quickly if Ole

Miss gives him an ultimatum.

“I’m not gonna have any comment about any other jobs, period,” Cutcliffe

said. “I’m not answering any questions (about jobs). I totally want the

focus to be on the ballgame against Mississippi State.”

Cutcliffe did, however, indicate a statement would be forthcoming.

“It’ll be later in the week,” said Cutcliffe of such a statement. “I’ll be

happy at that time to briefly talk with (the media).”

Fulmer, who said Cutcliffe is his best friend, spoke as if he considered

Cutcliffe’s departure inevitable.

“From a friendship standpoint, I know he’s ready (to be a head coach),”

Fulmer said. “David’s done an awful lot for our program, not just the

offense. He’s a really good person, a hard worker. He’s a stabilizing

force. That’s part of it, if we do lose him. That’s part of being a good

program.”

“I think David will be a good coach.”

Cutcliffe, who has been a part of the UT staff since 1982 and offensive

coordinator and assistant head coach since 1992, interviewed for the

Arkansas head coaching job immediately after the Vols SEC Championship Game

win over Auburn last December.

However, it was reported that the job he really wanted was that of Kentucky

head coach. The Wildcats instead hired Hal Mumme two seasons ago.

Now, with another head coaching job available in the SEC, Cutcliffe will

want to keep all of his options open. Unlike Arkansas, though, Mississippi

does not appear willing to wait.

“I think it’s a little unusual,” said Fulmer of Ole Miss forcing the issue.

“If David had his druthers, he’d rather focus on this ballgame.”

However, Fulmer doesn’t seem willing to stand in the way if a job offer

comes his friend’s way. He also realizes Cutcliffe’s stuck in the

middle.

“What does he do?” Fulmer asked. “(Ole Miss) can choose to (wait) or not

to.”

In the meantime, Cutcliffe and the Vols began preparations for the SEC

Championship (8 p.m., ABC) with what Fulmer called one of their best Monday

workouts of the season.

The Vols will also have linebackers Al Wilson and Raynoch Thompson back

against the Bulldogs. Both sat out of Saturday’s 41-0 win at

Vanderbilt.