Butch Jones may lead Tennessee to SEC championships, national titles and unimaginable glory.
Perhaps next season the Vols will start a 10-game winning streak against Florida built from the fury of Saturday’s soul-crushing 10-9 loss to the Gators at Neyland Stadium.
In fact, 30 years from now, UT might immortalize Jones in statue form for his achievements, as it did for Pat Summitt and Robert Neyland.
He may also take another job or get fired before most students here obtain a degree. Just look at his two most recent predecessors, Lane Kiffin and Derek Dooley.
In the meantime – while the hypothetical situations work themselves out into reality – Jones does not deserve to be gloriously enshrined on the most recognizable structure in the state of Tennessee.
As of Thursday, he is.
UT replaced the iconic image of former coach Phillip Fulmer hoisting a national championship trophy with a photo of Jones on the back of the Neyland Stadium jumbotron.
Next to him are Robert Neyland (you know, the guy the stadium is named after) and Reggie White, one of the best defenders in UT history and a phenomenal ambassador for the program until his death in 2004.
An image of Condredge Holloway, the first black quarterback at UT and in the SEC, appeared on the jumbotron as well until the photo of White replaced it.
Adding Jones to that group is like carving out a space on Mount Rushmore for a United States president less than two years into his first term.
All for a coach, who at the moment, is 7-10 (2-8 SEC) with wins against Austin Peay, Western Kentucky, South Alabama, Utah State, Arkansas State, Kentucky and a single notable victory over South Carolina.
Jones pleaded for patience after UT’s loss Saturday, and he deserves it from fans and the athletic department.
What he doesn’t deserve is to be crowned as Tennessee’s redeemer before substantial evidence that he is turns up on the field.
But that’s what placing him next to the most famous person in program history does, even if unintentionally.
It is possible to buy into Jones and what he is attempting to do at UT without selling out on the tradition which makes the football program special to begin with.
Putting Jones on the scoreboard at this stage in his tenure at UT takes it too far, too fast.
Extra point: If you get a chance to walk or drive past Neyland Stadium today, do it. The homecoming banners will make it worth your time.
Specifically, the Alpha Chi Omega sorority and Kappa Sigma fraternity created a beautiful banner commemorating Bobby Denton, the voice of Neyland Stadium from 1967-2013 who died in April.
Also, kudos to Chi Omega and Kappa Alpha for their banner that includes a mock Daily Beacon front page.
David Cobb is a senior in journalism and electronic media. Contact him at [email protected].
