Tennessee is swinging for the fences, it appears.

The Jon Gruden noise reached its loudest point of all time yesterday as rumors swirled about a John Currie flight to Charlotte and Chicago.

What was he doing in those respective cities? According to John Brice (who stuck to his reporting from Monday) and Grant Ramey, Currie and Tennessee brass were in Tampa Bay last night pitching Jon Gruden on the Vols opening.

Have worked w/ @GrantRamey & we have confirmed John Currie/#Vols powerbrokers have been in Tampa since last night following their circuitous flight route to make ‘The Pitch’ to Gruden. Ramey will have full story. — John Brice (@JohnDBrice1) November 16, 2017

Trey Wallace confirmed.

I can confirm that 3 planes with Tennessee boosters & Admin were in Tampa last night. One plane picked up an individual in Chicago & stopped in Nashville & Knoxville before Tampa. — Trey Wallace (@TreyW_Radio) November 16, 2017

To be clear, this just confirms Tennessee’s interest in Gruden. The issue here has always rested on Gruden’s end. Will he leave his cushy ESPN job to coach in college?

It sounds like we’re about to find out.

For what it’s worth, Gruden has had an opportunity to squash the grumors for good over the last two days, but he hasn’t. If anything, he poured gas on the fire this morning on Seattle radio.

We’ll update this story if any details follow.