Filed Under » Tennessee Volunteers

Former Tennessee quarterback and current Denver Broncos head coach Peyton Manning is reportedly the favorite candidate to replace Derek Dooley as head coach of the Volunteers, according to sources close to the university's athletics department.

"We wanted Jon Gruden and Charlie Strong, but this whole time we've been testing the waters with Peyton to see if he'd come back to his alma mater," said a top Tennessee booster. "He's one of the best head coaches in the NFL and he's a Volunteer legend. He's the dream hire. We'll hope he'll want the challenge of restoring his school to greatness."

Manning refused to address the Tennessee job this week to reporters.

"I only have one focus and that's beating the Oakland Raiders on Thursady," he said.

But Manning's non-denial denial did nothing to squelch the rumors, nor did his joking demeanor.

"Also, I'm not the head coach of the Denver Broncos. John Fox is," he said to uproarious laughter.

Tennessee Volunteers football staff said goodbye this morning to Derek Dooley, their loyal coach of nearly three years, before he was driven to a medical facility and put down in humane fashion. Dooley had suffered a hip injury and recently underwent surgery.

"You never want to have to make this decision," said athletic director Dave Hart. "But it's for the best. Keeping Dooley became just too much of a hassle. We were spending a fortune on all of his bills."

Hart chafed at those who said that euthanizing a struggling football coach as though he is a dog is barbarous.

"That is a ludicrous assertion," he said. "This is Tennessee. Our mascot is a dog. A live bluetick coonhound. We gave Dooley all of the support we would give a dog. I promise you that."