Butch Jones says he will return Tennessee to former glory

Butch Jones said he will be working to restore the Tennessee football program to its championship glory during a news conference Friday introducing him as the Volunteers’ new coach.

“We’ll be working to be champions each and every day,” Jones said. “We will be a champion in everything we do. That’s not only on the field but off the field.”

Of course, it doesn’t appear that Jones was the first person UT contacted. Or the second. Jon Gruden said no. Louisville’s Charlie Strong said no. The Volunteers hope the third choice is the charm.

“Rarely in life is anything exactly what it seems to be,” Tennessee Athletic Director Dave Hart said. “Life doesn’t throw us all fastballs. It throws us curves, and then you’ve got some screwballs. … You’ve got to be able to adjust.”

And Jones doesn’t mind being the third choice. It has worked out for him in the past.

“I think I was my wife’s third choice, and it’s worked for 20 years,” Jones said.

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