Today the internet was alive with a new rumor by confirmed sources, the rumor? Boise State Defensive Coordinator will be on his way to Rocky top. Yes reliable sources quoted Justin Wilcox will join the new Tennessee staff being formed by new Volunteer Coach Dooley as the new Defensive Coordinator.
Boise States message board was buzzing on this news. People were wishing Wilcox well and praying he would stay. Even more concern than his leaving were fears he would take some of his staff with him. The biggest fear hearing that defensive backs coach Marcel Yates would be heading to Rocky Top.
Tennessee posters sounded glad to have Wilcox but did not know much about him. Wilcox is the son of former BJC and San Francisco great Dave Wilcox, so he has deep Boise roots. Coach Petersen hired Wilcox when he inherited the Broncos from Dan Hawkins. Wilcox was just 29 and one of the youngest if not youngest defenive coordinators in college football.
No question Wilcox is a hot young talent, his defensive staff has had two impressive Fiesta Bowl wins, most recently the one played this year where they shut down one of the most potent offenses of the 2009 season.
Is Wilcox going to Tennessee? Well maybe or maybe not.
The reliable sources, two TV stations, one in Boise and one in Tennessee are responsible for the newest college football coaching rumors. Each using the other as the reliable source, neither having its facts verified.
What happened was yesterday morning a sports person J. Bates for now KBOI Channel 2 Sports received a text message asking if he had heard the news that Wilcox was hired by Tennessee?
According to Bates Blog he followed the text message up with a call to mutual friend of his and Wilcox, he says the friend called back a bit later saying its a done deal. His other call was to the network affiliate the CBS WVLT in Knoxville.
This is where the web of confusion becomes more tangled, Bates asked them if they had any information on their end and they agreed to share any info they got.
Then the good people at WVLT put up a blurb on their website that they were hearing from sources close to the situation that Wilcox is headed to Tennessee. What they omitted was the reliable source was J. Bates asking if there was any truth to the story.
By now all the local media in Knoxville and Boise were reporting it as almost a done deal. Each citing sources that were close to the situation, of which in truth they had no sources close to the situation.
Adding legitimacy to the rumors was the fact that Wilcox did interview with Texas Tech for the position, whether it was offered or not, we don't know. Bronco Nation just drew a collective sigh of relief when it was announced Wilcox would remain at Boise State.
The off season is rife with rumors and this year is no different but it would help if legitimate news sources would double check their stories and have their ducks all lined up before they send it out in cyber space.
The question remains the same, is Wilcox headed to Knoxville, stay tuned this story could have as many twists and turns as a Brett Favre retirement story, well maybe not as many but there is still more to come.
If you want to read the full confessions of a sports reporters flub here is the link. J. Bates
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