Oak Ridge Wildcats Football Coach Joe Gaddis, left, sits with Zach Azzanni, University of Tennessee Volunteers wide receivers coach, during an Oak Ridge-Gibbs basketball game at Wildcat Arena on Friday, Jan. 29, 2016. Basketball player Tee Higgins, a 6-foot-5 junior and wide receiver, has committed to play football at UT. Also pictured in front above are Holly Cross and Ric Cross. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
University of Tennessee Volunteers football coach Butch Jones was at the Friday night Oak Ridge-Gibbs basketball game. So was UT wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni.
Oak Ridge junior Tee Higgins, who plays basketball and football, has committed to play football for the UT Volunteers. Although the two football coaches couldn’t say why they were at Wildcat Arena, the Friday night game gave them an opportunity to see Higgins play.
Here are pictures by John Huotari of Oak Ridge Today.
University of Tennessee Coach Butch Jones watches the Oak Ridge Wildcats play basketball at home on Friday, Jan. 29, 2015. Tee Higgins, a junior guard, has committed to play football at UT. Higgins is a wide receiver. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
The student section celebrates the arrival of University of Tennessee football coach Butch Jones by singing “It’s great to be a Tennessee Vol!” during an Oak Ridge-Gibbs game at Wildcat Arena on Friday, Jan. 29, 2016. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
More information will be added as it becomes available.
Copyright 2016 Oak Ridge Today. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Sam Hopwood says
Am I the only one who thinks we have reached the height of “whatever” when a college sports coach feels the need to have two husky TN State Troopers accompany him to a local high school basketball game? Is OR really THAT dangerous? As an old Wildcat who loves sports, it is disappointing to see this mind set. Just my view.
johnhuotari says
Hi, Sam. The trooper on the right, Eric Miller, is often seen accompanying Butch Jones, including at UT football games. He was with Coach Jones at the Wildcat football game in the fall also.
WATE-TV has done a story on Trooper Miller: http://wate.com/2015/12/29/who-is-the-stern-faced-state-trooper-protecting-coach-jones/
So has UT Athletics: http://www.utsports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/022615aab.html
Here is what Trooper Miller told WATE: “I am mainly there to keep the distant between him and fans and to make sure that they are acting well.”
UT said Trooper Miller has served as security for Jones since he took the job at UT in December 2012 and travels with Jones and the Volunteers on road trips and public events.
I don’t have information on the second trooper, the one pictured above at left behind Jones. I haven’t seen him before, but I don’t normally cover UT football or Coach Jones.
In response to your question, reader Don Gault sent an email to point out that the president of Y-12 Federal Credit Union was the victim of a recent extortion attempt, and the salaries of college football coaches are public information.
“I would say under those circumstances the protection is probably warranted,” Gault said. “In fact, the university may insist on it any time that the coach appears at a public event since the coach could be kidnapped and an extortion attempt made against the university itself…
“In this day and age, maybe UT was protecting one of their valuable assets.”
(Gault gave me permission to use his comments here.)
I am reminded of the story of former Denver Broncos star running back Terrell Davis getting held up at gunpoint in Los Angeles after attending the Grammy awards in 1999. The robbers were mad, Davis said, when they learned who he was (that season’s NFL MVP) and found out that he only had $28 in his pants pocket. You can see that story here: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/broncos-davis-robbed-at-gunpoint/
I hope that helps.
Thank you,
John
Sam Hopwood says
Thanks John, as usual you are very informative. I just have a problem with football coaches and the excessive, I think, security that they seem to surround themselves with. Call me out of step with the times, if you will, but I maintain that it is not needed. It is part of the tail wagging the dog as in coach’s making ten times the salary of their college president. And that’s my rant for the day!! Thanks again for the great job that you do!! 🙂
johnhuotari says
Thank you, Sam.
WK Hyatt says
State Troopers are regular assignments to not only Butch Jones, but all SEC and college coaches, when they request them. I don’t think it is that Oak Ridge is that dangerous, any more or less so than other high school venues, just more of standard procedure. I am glad our programs, football and basketball are getting the visibility that Tee Higgins has brought us, it will pave the way for more players later on as well. UT in the past has not shown interest in Oak Ridge players like it is doing now. I think its good and I don’t care if Butch brings an army with him, I am glad he is here. It benefits both UT and Oak Ridge.
Sam Hopwood says
Who knew that Butch and/or other college coaches felt so endangered that they required State Troopers to accompany them to a local basketball game. I did not.Through the years I have seen numerous college coach’s at ORHS games and nary a State Trooper in sight. Perhaps college coaching really has become that dangerous. BTW did Dabo Swinney have State Troopers with him when he recently visited ORHS? Just curious. Have a good one.
Matt Bailey says
Good afternoon, Sam. I doubt that Dabo would make a 4 hour drive to Oak Ridge by himself, and then drive back 4 hours by himself for a 7:30 game, arriving back to Clemson after 2:00 in the morning. I can’t imagine him having car trouble and stuck on the side of the road without others in the car with him. And I think we’ve all seen the pictures of Bear Bryant with his group of Bama troopers with him. Its a fairly standard practice for football coaches throughout the country. You likely know that Butch’s salary is in the middle of the pack for SEC coaches. Apparently, football coaches are more in demand than college presidents. Whatever Alabama pays Saban, he’s been worth that and more to the Tuscaloosa economy, according to retailers there. And the upsurge in “out of state” applicants for admission at Alabama has increased, due in large part to the success of the football team – which translates into even more revenue to the school for out of state tuition.
Sam Hopwood says
Good to hear from you Matt. No, I doubt that Dabo would make that drive at all. A private plane would be much faster and much more comfortable. But did he have South Carolina Troopers with him at ORHS or did he just throw caution to the wind and arrive without any security. What do you think?
Matt Bailey says
I think his AD would flip out if Dabo traveled anywhere by himself !! And I think flying in and out of Clemson is difficult at best! I saw your picture last week in an old yearbook. Didn’t realize you played with Sam hurt and buddy pope.
Sam Hopwood says
Private jet, supplied by boosters, just as TN and most others do. No troopers on recruiting trips, at least not at the schools.
Yep, there are just a few of us old geezers still kicking around. Haven’t seen either Sam or Buddy in some time. I do run into Ray Carnes and Bill “T” Henry once in a while. My “take” on all of this……. maybe the “good old days” really were the “good old days.”