UT Vols football: Kevin Sumlin? Kevin Steele? Les Miles? Are only fired coaches options now?

John Adams
Knoxville
LSU coach Les Miles, left, and Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer pose with the SEC championship trophy in Atlanta on Friday, Nov. 30, 2007.

If Tennessee's coaching search were a military venture, someone likely would have sounded "retreat" by now.

At the least, shouldn't UT athletic director John Currie be summoned back from the field? Time to regroup.

Better yet, just pretend the past week never happened. "Snap and clear," as recently fired Tennessee coach Butch Jones would say. Then start over with a fresh group of candidates. You might even consider a new point man for the mission.

More:Kevin Sumlin: 5 things to know about potential UT Vols football coach

Instead, UT scurries ahead desperately. Things are going so badly, the Vols are now scouring through the bin of fired coaches for candidates.

Could former Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin be ASU's next football coach?

Kevin Steele's name has come up. So has Kevin Sumlin's.

Some fans even seem infatuated with former LSU coach Les Miles, who was fired a month into the 2016 season. I couldn't imagine a much worse hire for Tennessee.

More:UT Vols hot board (3.0): 8 names from Kevin Sumlin to Mike Leach to Tee Martin

The Vols have problems on offense. So did Miles.

The Vols have trouble getting the most from their talent. So did Miles.

Now, let's consider more legitimate options.

FILE - In this Feb. 28, 2017, file photo, Auburn defensive coordinator Kevin Steele watches during the first day of spring football practice in Auburn, Ala. No. 1 Alabama and No. 6 Auburn bring two of the SEC's most dominating defenses into this marquee Iron Bowl showdown after reloading on that side of the ball following the departure of several starters. (Julie Bennett/AL.com via AP, File)

Steele has had a great season as Auburn's defensive coordinator. But he went 9-36 at Baylor in his only head coaching job.

Sumlin has a much better track record. He was 35-17 in four seasons at Houston and 52-26 in six seasons at Texas A&M.

More:UT Vols football: Dave Doeren staying at NC State after interest from Tennessee

However, Sumlin lost five games in each of his last four seasons at College Station. That's why the Aggies fired him. They expected more.

Tennessee's expectations are dwindling with every rejection. It couldn't hire Jeff Brohm from Purdue or Dave Doeren from North Carolina State. When Doeren turns you down, it's time for personal inventory.

University of Tennessee athletic Director John Currie during a press conference announcing the departure of Butch Jones on Nov. 12, 2017

But Currie is still wandering around in the firing fields, looking for a coach who at least can win an SEC game — an achievement that eluded Jones in his fifth and final season.

In the meantime, Florida has hired Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen, and Mississippi State has hired former Penn State offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead. He went 38-13 in four seasons as Fordham's coach and was roundly praised for his play calling at Penn State.

Adams:Why not let Tennessee fans hire the coach?

Moorhead's name never came up in conjunction with the UT job. Perhaps, Currie couldn't get his number.

And why wouldn't Tennessee be interested in Memphis coach Mike Norvell, who is being mentioned as a candidate to replace former Arkansas coach Bret Bielema? He excelled as an offensive coordinator before he signed on with the Tigers, who are 10-1 in his second season.

Maybe, Norvell would have a better shot at the Tennessee job if he had been fired recently.

John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or john.adams@knoxnews.com. Follow him at: Twitter.com/johnadamskns.