UT Vols: Grumors were strong as tremors on Thursday about Jon Gruden

Tennessee finds itself in a football coaching search for the fourth time in the past 10 years, which means the Grumor mill is in full swing.

Former NFL coach Jon Gruden has been atop the wish list of some Vols fans for many years, so much so that rumors associated with Gruden and Tennessee have received their own moniker: Grumors.

Thursday featured maybe the most intense Grumors, more like tremors, since the Vols fired coach Butch Jones on Sunday.

Another Gruden radio interview, chasing planes and media outlets and reporters claiming to have sources with information on the search, while others saying there was no news to report because ... there was no news.  

The strongest report came from Grant Ramey of GoVols247, who said according to two sources that Tennessee athletic John Currie flew to Tampa, Fla., on Wednesday night. Additionally, sources told GoVols247 that UT gave Gruden a deadline on making a decision.

Thanks to Twitter, here's a recap.

Former UT players caused a stir on Wednesday with possibly some subtle hints on Twitter.

More:UPDATE: UT Vols coaching search: Here's what we know, including Grumors

More:Butch Jones' replacement as Tennessee football coach: 15 names from Gruden to Gundy

More:Why not Jon Gruden? Or Dan Mullen? Or Scott Frost?

Here is a sample.

Do the Vols have a chance of landing their white whale this year? It's certainly a topic of conversation.

Gruden, when asked about the Tennessee opening on ESPN’s "Mike & Mike" on Wednesday morning, said "You never say never to nothing."

The Chattanooga Times Free Press, citing sources, reported on Wednesday that Gruden has contacted some college assistants to gauge their interest in possibly joining him on a coaching staff.

Paul Finebaum of the SEC Network and ESPN said on his radio show Tuesday that one source close to Gruden told him that Gruden is not coming to Tennessee. 

Footballscoop.com, which monitors coaching moves, addressed the Grumors on Tuesday with a report that stated "Gruden has no interest in being the next coach at Tennessee."

Currie was asked specifically about Gruden on Sunday. Currie is spearheading the search for Jones' replacement.

"One of the things that's most important for me to do is not add to misinformation, so I will not be making any comments or responses to specific candidates or specific rumors," Currie said.

Gruden, who coached in the NFL at Oakland and Tampa Bay, is an ESPN analyst.

Gruden last coached in 2008. He’s been the color analyst for “Monday Night Football” since 2009.

Gruden’s coaching career started as a graduate assistant at Tennessee in the 1980s.

Gruden’s wife, Cindy, is a native of East Tennessee and a Tennessee alumna. She was a cheerleader at UT. Their son is a current Tennessee student.