Happy Monday, everyone! Hope 2025 is off to a good start for you all.
We’re now past football season and the first portal window of the year has closed, but there’s still happenings around the Tennessee sports world, so let’s get into it.
1) According to Nick Harris of the Star-Telegram, former Tennessee Vols great Jason Witten could be a candidate for the now-vacant Dallas Cowboys job.
Who will be the next head coach for the Dallas Cowboys?
Buzz has already begun to circulate as a coaching search kicks into high gear.
Expect Kellen Moore to be deeply in the mix. Jon Gruden can’t be ruled out. Is Jason Witten realistic? Simply put, yes.https://t.co/ehayvySINp
— Nick Harris (@NickHarrisFWST) January 13, 2025
Witten is someone who certainly knows the Cowboys franchise well from the inside. The all-time franchise leader in catches and receiving yards, he played 16 seasons for the Cowboys, where he was named a Pro Bowler 11 times and All-Pro twice across an illustrious career.
I find that interesting because Witten has no head coaching experience in the NFL. Nor any kind of coaching experience in the NFL, for that matter. Witten has been the head coach for Argyle Liberty Christian High School in Texas the last few years.
However, this isn’t totally out of left field. Jerry Jones mentioned Witten as a legit head coaching candidate back in November, making mention of him as possibly becoming the next Dan Campbell for the Lions.
We’ll find out in the coming days if his name really is a legit possibility for the job.
2) The new college basketball rankings came out on Monday, and there was something interesting to note beyond just Tennessee falling to sixth.
The Vols’ will add another ranked opponent to their schedule in the form of the #23 Georgia Bulldogs, who Tennessee faces in their next game on Wednesday at the Food City Center at Thompson-Boling Arena. The Dawgs just toppled Kentucky at home last week and sit at 14-2 (2-1) on the season.
That was not a game I had circled as one of importance this season, but former Florida head coach Mike White has gone to Athens and made UGA relevant this season. It’s an opportunity for the Vols to pick up another solid win for their resume, and it’s one the Vols really need to get. The schedule gets brutal for weeks thereafter. After Georgia, Tennessee goes to Vandy (always a challenge) before four consecutive games against top 15 teams in Mississippi State, Auburn, Kentucky, and Florida.
It’s officially gut check time in Knoxville.
Go Vols!