Bob Shoop.jpg

Penn State defensive coordinator Bob Shoop in 2014.

(JOE HERMITT)

If you went to bed Friday night or early Saturday morning hoping to wake up and learn that Penn State's lingering situation with its defensive coordinator was solved, you're out of luck.

But a resolution could come sooner rather than later.

Penn State defensive coordinator Bob Shoop is believed to still be in Knoxville, Tenn., where he flew to on Friday to meet with Tennessee head coach Butch Jones and program officials there about the Vols' open defensive coordinator job.

Jones is looking for a new assistant coach after firing former DC John Jancek earlier this week. Shoop has already turned down interest from Auburn this offseason.

The second-year Penn State defensive coordinator is making nearly a million dollars to coach Penn State's defense, according to reports, so asking for a raise to coach Tennessee's unit is probably a part of the conversations being had.

And, according to FootballScoop, chatter about his buyout is surely taking place, as well.

"Shoop has an $800,000 buyout," FootballScoop writes. "If the two sides are able to work through that, sources tell FootballScoop there is a very good chance Bob Shoop will become the new defensive coordinator at Tennessee."

The terms of Shoop's Penn State contract were not made available when he received a raise after flirting with LSU after last season, and the buyout, while an expected part of his contract, has not previously been reported.

Money is said to not be an issue in this Tennessee search, but considering Jancek was making just north of $500,000 before he was fired, the program would have to make a considerable step up to match or raise Shoop's salary.

That's clear. it's also clear that, as of mid-morning Saturday, there's no word from any of the parties regarding what happens next.