Tennessee saves Auburn football $900K in Kevin Steele buyout

Kevin Steele’s rocky offseason began on the Plains, took a stop on Rocky Top, and now appears headed for the unknown after being let go for the second time this offseason by an SEC school. Tennessee’s $900 buyout of his deal will save Auburn football almost a million dollars…and for that Fly War Eagle is thankful.

Per 247sports.com:

"Per FootballScoop, Tennessee is on pace to owe Steele $900,000 over monthly installments for the next two years should he indeed be relieved of his duties — Steele signed a two-year deal in mid-January with the Volunteers in which he was set to make $550,000 in base pay and $350,000 in supplemental pay — on top of what would become $4.1 million owed to him by Auburn after he was let go from his post of defensive coordinator earlier in the offseason. As it stands, Steele is set to be owed a total of $5 million from the Tigers, though that would change with the looming Tennessee buyout money."

The Volunteers have been an unmitigated disaster this offseason, firing their head coach Jeremy Pruitt after allegations that the team was illegally paying recruits with cash money stored in McDonalds brown bags.

My co-editor Mark Kate Hughes noted that Tennessee took the pressure off of Tigers fans by being so dysfunctional:

"The way things are playing out in Knoxville is strikingly similar to what was going on in Auburn just weeks ago. Auburn fans took to Twitter to speak out, tweeting #StopSteele and emphasizing that they did NOT want Steele to replace Gus Malzahn as Auburn’s HC."

Now, in addition to easing the emotional burden of Auburn football’s coaching carousel seeing mass layoffs this offseason, Tennessee will also be easing the financial burden as well.

The Plains appreciates all that you have done for Auburn, Volunteers. Now instead of volunteering as tribute to be the most laughed-at school in the SEC, go forth and bring some pride back to Knoxville.

Peyton Manning is watching.

And from 300 miles away, so is Fly War Eagle!