I have heard some speculation that the impact would be modest enough for some to seriously consider the possibility.....as I understand the show-cause provisions, he'd have to not coach for the first 5 games, the team wouldn't be able to go to a bowl and the obligatory reports to the NCAA every 6 months. Not sure he's ready to go back yet, but no doubt his reception in Columbus Saturday had to get the blood pumping again....
Those sound like non-starters for anybody looking for a new coach to me. Hire a new coach and immediately your program and coach has sanctions.
....or a small price to pay for a coach of that caliber....especially one that has limited prospects of going to a bowl period,, no matter who the coach. All sanctions are not created equal. In some given the state of their once proud programs, such sanctions would appear to be harmless. Different strokes....
No question on his coaching ability. I just question whether or not many programs will want the baggage. Also not many jobs out there that will afford him the same opportunity that he had when he took over OSU. Tenn has potential, but the rest of the SEC East has moved on since they were one of the top 2 with the Gators every year. Now So.Carolina, UGA and the Gators have moved ahead of them and show no signs of letting up. Not to mention that Tenn has had the NCAA sniffing around their program and I doubt if they want any more attention. The rest of the teams looking are unlikely to move into the top echelon of college, a great coach might get them to being solid programs that win 8 games a year but not likely to get further than that.
Of course they have....because UT has been poorly led in comparison. Bringing JT on board won't bring them any more increased scrutiny than what they are already dealing with imho. Tom can speak better than I regarding just how painful giving up a bowl game next year would be ..... don't have a good sense of what their expectations are in that regard. That said, it is all pure rank speculation, as I'm not sure JT is ready to go back now or ever.... he's 60, so still has some years left in the tank, but no spring chicken.