Vols' Mays gets waiver from NCAA, now must clear SEC hurdle

Brenna McDermott | Knoxville

Angela M. Gosnell, Knoxville News Sentinel

As Tennessee men's basketball coach Rick Barnes ponders an offer from UCLA, burger joint Stock & Barrel and other Knoxville restaurants took to Twitter Monday offering him delicious incentives to stay.

"We’re going to sweeten the deal here Rick," the Stock & Barrel post read. "Free burgers for you for the rest of your days here in Knoxville!! Any day, any time. No questions asked."

Barnes told ESPN this year that Stock & Barrel is one of his "go-to" places for lunch.

Other Knoxville restaurants are upping the ante.

Hard Knox Pizzeria offered Barnes free pizza for life and Scrambled Jake's offered Barnes and his coaching staff free cinnamon rolls for life.

Barnes was named Naismith Coach of the Year on Sunday. He led the Vols to the Sweet 16 this season, his fourth at Tennessee

UCLA is pursuing him for its men's basketball coaching vacancy and offered him a deal that would pay him $5 million annually, ESPN reported Monday.

His Tennessee contract runs through the 2023-24 season and paid him $3.25 million this season.