Kansas State AD Currie Bolts for Tennessee; While Cat Fans Rejoice, Vols Revolt
By Dan Horton
Kansas State Athletic Director John Currie was hired by the University of Tennessee today. While the overwhelming majority of Wildcat Nation erupts in celebration, many in Volunteer Country do the exact opposite.
The University has found its new athletic director in the form of now, former Kansas State AD, John Currie. Currie’s departure, while very sudden, is not so surprising.
Poaching Kansas State athletic director John Currie is a huge move for Tennessee. One of the best in the business.
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) February 28, 2017
Currie has been under constant scrutiny for quite some time now, and it’s hard to remember back to a time when he wasn’t, if ever.
To Currie’s credit, he has done many, many good things at Kansas State. The total renovation to Bill Snyder Family Stadium, upgrades to many of the athletic facilities, and more.
Under John Currie, K-State has won football, men's basketball and baseball Big 12 titles since 2010. He's grown athletic budget $26 Million.
— Steve Layman (@SteveLayman) February 28, 2017
IMO, John Currie did many massively good things for #kstate - things that needed done. But, he dodged having to make a career-defining hire.
— Curtis Kitchen, CAE (@curtiskitchen) February 28, 2017
John Currie was not liked by all. But those who refuse to acknowledge the good things he did at #KState are being unfair. pic.twitter.com/5SWtLpZdZG
— Tyler Dreiling (@TylerDreiling) February 28, 2017
Of course, to some fans, he has done more harm than good. The firing of Frank Martin, the rumors of him and Bill Snyder not always seeing eye to eye, and of more recent ire, the hiring of Bruce Weber.
For Currie, this signifies a return home. Currie, who is from the Volunteer State, was a deputy at UT prior to joining the Kansas State family. He is probably mostly remembered at Tennessee for a few failures, if you want to call it that.
However, not everyone dislikes the hiring, or the man. Many believe he is the perfect man for the job. On top of it being his ideal “dream job”, many think he will be the perfect person to shake things up at UT.
I know a lot of people who love new #Vols AD John Currie and some people who really don’t like him. Many successful people are like that.
— Wes Rucker (@wesrucker247) February 28, 2017
But the overwhelming majority for Kansas State fans are in high spirits this afternoon. Many are begging Currie to take Weber with him. Others are calling for a re-hire of Frank Martin.
Some are even going as far to wonder if Coach Snyder himself would fill in as the AD.
With @John_Currie's departure, @CoachBillSnyder should become AD, @CoachJimLeavitt hired as @KStateFB HC & @OSUCoachBrad as @KStateMBB HC
— Ben Kohl (@BenKohl) February 28, 2017
However, with the departure of Currie, does it spell the end for Weber, or did it save his job?
While Kansas State fan rejoices, Volunteer fans wallow in self pity in the wake of the news breaking on the hiring of Currie.
UT hires John Currie and a thunderstorm immediately rolls through Knoxville. God, it seems, does not approve of the hire.
— Russell Smith (@Russell___Smith) February 28, 2017
8 months to bring in a guy that helped put our football program back a generation. Hope it works, but doubtful.
— Johnny L (@johnlankford) February 28, 2017
You can’t deny all the good Currie did for Kansas State University, though. But seeing him leave for the SEC makes for many interesting things to come on Rocky Top, the biggest:
It'll be hilarious when John Currie has to hire a football coach to compete against nick saban
— Patrick Friedrichsen (@Papi_Pat1578) February 28, 2017
We wish Mr. Currie the best of luck at Tennessee, but to say good riddance, well, I feel like that’s more unfair than true.
He may not have been the best at hiring people, but he made things happen, and he got things done. Farewell John Currie, you might, or might not, be missed.