Alabama Football: Tennessee got caught in the dumbest way possible

Alabama football fans can’t help but laugh at the Tennessee Vols

We are in the middle of a recruiting scandal regarding a former Alabama football assistant coach and a bitter rival. We are not yet sure of all of the facts, but the Vols have already fired Jeremy Pruitt with cause due to the scandal.

The details of the investigation are yet to be released, but Dan Patrick has provided some wild reporting from his sources. He said on his show that Tennessee gave recruits McDonald’s bags filled with cash on campus.

In terms of ways for a program to combust, this has to be the most comical way imaginable. There’s metaphorical beauty behind putting stacks of cash in fast food bags and handing it out on the campus itself.

One word that has been consistently used to describe the situation is “sloppy.” Rules have been broken by plenty of college football programs in the past, but this is one of the most open expressions of massive violations in recent memory.

While Tennessee was already trending downward over the past decade, this still sets them back significantly. They will have to find a new head coach who is willing to take over a program with an ongoing investigation that might add significant recruiting restrictions. At the same time, you have to play Florida, Georgia and Alabama football every season. The rivalry with Alabama football hasn’t been competitive since Saban took over, and it likely won’t be until after he retires.

We’ve only scratched the surface of this scandal, and it is already comically bad. At some point, you almost have to feel bad for Tennessee fans. When the news was released by Patrick, it almost sounded too crazy to believe. I mean, who would be dumb enough to give recruits money on campus in a McDonald’s bag? If you’re going to do that, you might as well hand them a check that reads ILLEGAL RECRUITING BRIBE on the memo line.

If this is what we’ve gotten so far, this will be a fun rabbit hole to follow as details emerge.