Manning believes Jones will turn Vols around
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Peyton Manning is back at his alma mater this week endorsing new Tennessee coach Butch Jones and preaching patience from the Volunteers’ fan base.
The Denver Broncos quarterback returned to campus to speak at Tennessee’s spring coaches clinic. Manning, the 1997 Heisman Trophy runner-up, met Tennessee’s coaching staff Thursday night. He spoke to the team on Friday morning and talked to about 1,000 clinic participants later on Friday.
Manning says he believes Jones will turn around a Tennessee program that has posted three straight losing seasons for the first time since 1909-11. Manning, a four-time NFL MVP, says “it doesn’t happen overnight, but I sure like what I’ve heard the last two days.”
Jones is replacing Derek Dooley, who was fired after going 15-21 in three seasons.
