The Butch Jones-to-Michigan buzz stepped up a little more yesterday when 247Sports posted a story titled “Early buzz on Michigan football job” that listed Butch Jones as one of four names that there has been buzz about to replace Brady Hoke, assuming Hoke is fired. It makes sense. Jones is a Michigan native, knows the area and he’s done good things at his last two stops and has Tennessee headed in the right direction.
After watching the Lane Kiffin sage unfold a couple years ago, it’s hard to rule anything out. But, realistically speaking, we don’t see it happening. Here are five reasons we ultimately think it doesn’t:
*Updated: Jones addressed the report later on Tuesday evening
1. They may never get to him on the list
Simple enough. This all very well could be a moot point if Michigan gets one of its top choices. Jim and John Harbaugh are clearly going to be the top choices for the Maize and Blue. Les Miles and his national championship credentials have to be above Butch Jones as well. Jones has to fall behind those guys and to say he’s fourth seems to be a stretch too. The likes of Dan Mullen, Gary Patterson, Mike Gundy would all be in the conversation. All of them have better credentials than Jones at this point. The Lane Kiffin saga proved that a program can always move way down the list, but there’s a decent chance it never gets to Butch.
