Tennessee athletic director Danny White said he concurred with the decision for the Vols to drop Army from the 2022 football schedule, but he said that agreement was in place well before he was hired.
Under former athletic Dave Hart, UT signed a contract in 2016 to play the Cadets in 2022. Army would get paid $1.4 million. The buyout fee would be $500,000.
Former athletic director Phillip Fulmer and then football coach Jeremy Pruitt began discussing opting out in 2018, White said, because Army runs a triple-option offense, unlike any other SEC team.
“It was all about style of play,’’ White said Tuesday on SportsTalk on 99.1 The Sports Animal during his every-other-week appearance.
“I agree with the thinking. … Nobody (in the SEC) plays that style of play with the option. … It doesn’t make sense for a program that’s trying to rebuild like we are to play that game at that time. Army understands that. I’ve had correspondence with their athletic director. We’ve been transparent with them. They’re in a great place. We’re in a great place.
“Verbally the game had already changed long before I ever stepped foot in Knoxville.
“I rubber stamped it. We executed the contract this past spring. I think it’s the right thing to do for our football program as we continue to rebuild it and get back where we want to be.’’
White said he doesn’t recall if he discussed the issue with head coach Josh Heupel.
Rather than face Army next year, Tennessee will play Akron, which will be paid $1 million. Thus, UT will lose $100,00 in the transaction.
White said not signing the opt-out contract with Army would have made scheduling harder because “all the other games had been arranged.’’
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