Tennessee chancellor didn't sign off on Schiano agreement

Tennessee Chancellor Beverly J. Davenport did not sign off on a memorandum of understanding between athletic director John Currie and prospective coach Greg Schiano.

Ryan Robinson, vice chancellor for communications revealed that Davenport didn't sign the memorandum. As a result, lawyers from both parties are determining whether the memo signed by Schiano and Currie is legally binding.

Davenport, who has served as Chancellor since Feb. 15, released a statement Monday.

"I deeply regret the events of yesterday for everyone involved," Davenport said, according to Rachel Ohm from Knox News. "The university remains steadfast in its commitment to excellence, and I look forward to John Currie continuing the search to bring the next head football coach to the University of Tennessee, Knoxville."

Numerous politicians and students alike protested the Schiano hiring due to his tenure at Penn State which occurred during the child sex abuse scandal. Former Penn State assistant Mike McQueary alleged that Schiano knew of the crimes committed by Jerry Sandusky, an allegation Schiano denied vehemently. Schiano was never accused or charged with any wrongdoing.

"Coach Schiano worked at Penn State from 1990-1995," Currie said in a separate statement, per Mike Wilson of Knox News. "Consequently, we, of course, carefully reviewed the 2012 investigation report by Louis Freeh. Coach Schiano is not mentioned in the Freeh report and was not one of the more than 400 people interviewed in the investigation. We also confirmed that Coach Schiano was never deposed and never asked to testify in any criminal or civil matter."

Schiano currently serves as Ohio State's defensive coordinator.