KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- New Tennessee athletic director John Currie marked his return to Knoxville on Thursday by saying the Southeastern Conference school "can and should be the very best athletics program in the country."
The first step toward achieving that goal might involve uniting the fan base.
After receiving an orange No. 1 football jersey from chancellor Beverly Davenport, Currie noted favorite memories from his previous stints in Tennessee's athletic department and quoted former Volunteers athletic director and football coach Doug Dickey.
"Coach Dickey used to tell us we're either playing for the title or we're biting on the butt of the guy that is, right?