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Here's what's making news in Knoxville today:

Mike Hamilton's decision to make a move on Phillip Fulmer (a decision that he was allowed to make when UT's president and major boosters washed their hands of the situation) was dictated by money... which is exactly what we told you it was dictated by.  Hamilton said yesterday in his first interviews since the forced resignation that fan apathy (ticket sales, empty seats, pay-per-view purchases, merchandise sales, drops in donations) led to the move.  His hands were tied.

Hamilton's search is not in a rush mode, according to him.  He's brought in a search firm to help make initial contact with the agents/representatives of coaches.  He says he's looking for a man with great leadership skills and the ability to sell UT's football program to fans and recruits.  (Think Bruce Pearl.)

Hamilton also said he's not been surprised by some of the backlash he's received.  Backlash has been loudest among current and former players.

Here's a quick Q&A with Hamilton who lets it be known that he didn't make this move on his own.  Usually guys claim that they have more power than they actually do.  In this case, with the heat on, Hamilton is clearly saying that he's not a dictator.  In fact, yesterday on Knoxville radio, he said, "I don't have that kind of authority" to fire Fulmer on my own.  Which means that Tennessee's biggest booster, oil-magnate Jim Haslam, and others went Pontius Pilate (or in Haslam's case, Pontius Pilot) on Fulmer.

Ron Higgins of The Memphis Commercial-Appeal, who long called for Fulmer's ouster, now pens this column warning Vol fans that most people probably won't want their head coaching job.  He cites David Cutcliffe (not wanted in the first place) and Butch Davis (who NEVER said he wasn't interested) as claiming Hamilton "shouldn't waste a phone call guaging their interest."  That's a little bit of playing both sides of the fence, isn't it?

John Adams of The Knoxville News Sentinel pays no attention to coaches' denials.  (Anyone remember Nick Saban's "I'm not going to be the Alabama coach" line?)  In fact, he believes Davis is high on Tennessee's list and, like me, that his "denial" was hardly a firm one.  A source has also told him that Mike Leach is "very, very interested" in the UT job.

David Climer of The Tennessean has a little fun with the internet rumors that are swirling about the open slot at UT.  (Note: UT's biggest booster doesn't actually play golf... so I guess Lane Kiffin and Bill Cowher must have been teeing it up with someone else.)

As for this weekend's game against Wyoming: hey, whaddya know?  Another suspension.  This time it's starting safety Demetrice Morley who'll miss a game due ot his failure to attend class.

Former Vol David Douglas now says that his son, freshman tight end Aaron Douglas, will NOT transfer from Tennessee over the Fulmer situation.  Eventually, all of this will cool down.  Remember the way South Carolina's players reacted when they learned of Lou Holtz impending departure?

Tennessee's players will be looking to honor Fulmer with a win on homecoming tomorrow.  If they win big, what does it say that it took their coach's firing to get this team to wake up?

Some former Cowboys remember their trip to Neyland Stadium in 1999.