What Tony Vitello said on his decision to leave Tennessee Baseball

Former Tennessee baseball coach Tony Vitello, who accepted the job to manage the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday, issued a lengthy statement through select members of the local media on his departure from Knoxville.

Following the statement, Vitello answered a few questions with the parameters of being strictly on Tennessee baseball and his time in Knoxville.  

Transcript

“By now, you all know I officially accepted a position to babysit Drew Gilbert. Normally I don’t read to y’all, but hopefully I can just get through some notes without any tears. There’s been a lot. Had to watch some Leanne Morgan to stop here and there a few different times. But here we are. I just wanted to kind of get some things out there and not have any regrets, so that’s why I wrote some notes down. 

First off, just people saying bye and everything like that, I’m not going anywhere. So real estate people quit texting me. I’ll figure out what I want to do. But whether it’s football games, basketball games, supporting these guys in some form or fashion, I’m not going anywhere. I don’t know if this will get me in trouble, but in my mind, a goal is to come back to Tennessee in some capacity. Whether it’s part-time living or some other job way down the road or maybe I go back to Nashville and become a country singer or something like that. But that’s something that stuck out in my head because obviously I feel like this was a great place for me.

One big response to you all and other media members, I’ve tried to always be sensitive to the fact you guys have a job to do and answer you. But whatever went down Saturday, I did not have anything to do with that and it put everyone in a whirlwind. Now that we look back on it, I think (it) was unfair. Hopefully, people don’t think I’m a diva because that’s kind of how it seemed to play out. But I got into a position where I couldn’t respond to anybody just because I didn’t know. So it’s not just you all. It’s other people too. I apologize for that, but it truly was a thing that went all the way up until (Wednesday). I did not fully decide what I wanted to do. I didn’t want to make it like a decision where you got the three hats and you’re making your football commitment and anything like that. But in order to get across the finish line of what was right for me, I had to get the support from the coaches and the players. I got it in a couple different meetings, and quite frankly, was blown away. I don’t really have anything written down or intelligent to say about how mind-blowingly awesome the guys that are now representing Tennessee baseball were to me, and I’m forever appreciative of that. Hopefully, I can give back in one way or another.

Then certainly, hard to respond to all the texts, too. Especially when some of them are, ‘congrats’ or ‘don’t do that’ and ‘if the timing was different.’ I hope to get back to everybody via text and then social media — I just don’t get involved in that a lot. There are some messages that I’d like to respond to. I don’t even see a lot of them. So, sorry for that.

Again, insane how positive everybody is. I did get one that I accidentally read. A guy said, ‘pack your things’ and ‘use them to do something to yourself,’ but I don’t even own one of those. I just kind of deleted that, but that was a good one, in my opinion. And hey, I don’t think it’s mentally healthy for our guys to get too invested in what people throw out there, but I do appreciate people sending positive stuff and I guess negative stuff, too. That’s the nature of the beast when you’re involved in athletics these days.

A big one for me is just the last practice. If there’s anything valuable out of this or, hopefully, heartfelt — if that is the last time I ever stepped foot on this campus or this field as an employee or as a Vol wearing our orange, I’m just so thankful for the people that showed up. It mattered. It made a difference. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do at the moment, but the bottom line is — if they feel like it was a waste of time because they were here to sway me or something like that, it’s not because it will forever be ingrained in my memory. It made what was the last day on the job technically, very, very special. I say this humbly. At one point they started chanting my name and I wanted to go up and address the crowd and I’ll just do it now. The fans, the people who were here, the people that were in the stadium — they don’t need me. They need the players. The players don’t need me. They need the fans. I think we’ve got great players here. We’ve got great players signed up and we have incredible fans. They filled the porches because of the construction, that’s all it would allow. They need to fill the stadium and bring the same energy they brought (to) the last game of the year last year. Our kids need to play to their full potential because it’s pretty dangerous. But that’s one thing I definitely want to get off my chest. 

Going to another page here of sloppy notes, just to throw out decision stuff. I can’t be more sincere in saying my decision, if it mattered to people — which blows my mind as a scrub walk-on at the University of Missouri — I appreciate that. If you’re wondering what this or that, what it has to do with the team or anything —  there was a lot of factors. Like that is a brand new stadium I’m going to miss out on. Anything to do with San Francisco, anything to do with Tennessee, at the end of the day, it was not relevant to the decision. It was selfish. It was personal reasons. Again, I’ve always tried to be a good teammate, but I feel like I made a selfish decision that was one I needed to make. It’s the right decision and I just hope it doesn’t give me Lane Kiffin status around here, because I feel like I’m a VFL. I think if someone truly invests in being a VFL for any amount of time, they’re just that — a Vol For Life. That’s what I am in my mind.

I think one thing we coach our players up on is peace of mind and you make your own decisions. You create your own definition of success. For me, I’m a VFL. Which made me think, driving around last night, why would somebody want to be a VFL? Why do people love being a VFL? I’ve got a few reasons listed that may or may not be of interest to you all, but helps me get off my chest. 

Just the people are friendly and welcoming here. It’s different. When I first got hired people asked me from all over the world that I got to meet through baseball, ‘What’s it like there? What’s your first impression?’ That was my immediate, first instinct answer. People in the state of Tennessee are different. They’re friendly, they’re welcoming and it’s an environment that anybody would want to be in a workplace or social setting or to raise a family or just be. 

The other thing is the growth. It’s not as long as I wish it was, but there’s a lot of time I’ve been here and around the beautiful mountains and the rivers and the lakes. The growth is tremendous in Knoxville. Also, Chattanooga and Nashville, but I think East Tennessee is unique unto itself. The growth is something I enjoyed seeing. It’s going to keep going. Maybe that’s why the real estate comment I made earlier.

Loyalty. It’s an important word in my family. Italian background. I think everybody likes loyalty, but it’s just different here. People have your back in so many different capacities, and as I read that word loyalty— Zakai (Zeigler), look at what happened with his house and the reaction there. It’s just one of many examples of how people take care of you here as long as you are representing the Vols the way that you should. Zakai is a star. 

Speaking of stars, the stars are in Tennessee. You’ve got the biggest male and female performer in the world in Tennessee. Of course Morgan (Wallen) and then the gal (Taylor Swift) that dates the tight end (Travis Kelce). West of the state— the shape of the state is unique. In the west you’ve got Ja Morant doing his thing. In the middle, you have Theo Von that the whole world loves. You come east and our damn mayor is Kane. He’s a superstar at his job he does now, but he was a superstar in the ring where I know I was one guy that was a fan back in the day, too. I don’t think people realize how unique it is until you give it some perspective. 

The other reason is the SEC. Blessed to be in it. Not everybody is and all due respect to people that aren’t, but it is so different. It starts with the most unique group of hooligans in the world. Forget the European soccer hooligans. The SEC fans are the rowdiest, the loudest, the meanest, the best cookers, the most involved, the most invested and they are at the core of what makes this conference. But also the reason they’re so invested is the competition on the athletic fields — whether it’s a baseball field or others — is literally the best amateur competition in the world and it prepares you for anything and everything. I hope a couple years from now, I’m looking at it in personal circumstances, but the competition literally prepares you for anything and everything.

The other thing here — why would you want to be a VFL and why it’s easy to have success? The athletic department. It truly is a sorority and fraternity amongst us as coaches. Danny White’s leadership, not just on the financial end with the buildings and the other things that have gone on here — just (the) direction of hiring the right people at all these specific sports sites on our campus. It goes up to (Chancellor) Donde (Plowman), who is so energetic and the same person you see every day. Of course, (University President) Randy Boyd is probably, I don’t know the other university presidents, but it’s pretty unique. How all that falls in line makes it easier on— where it’s never easy in our league, or now across the nation to have success. They put all of us in a position to have success.

I got one last sheet, I think, for you.

Advancement. People elevate their game and their lives when they’re at Tennessee. There’s so many different examples. Of course, my favorite — and probably everybody else’s — is Peyton Manning. We literally have the most successful on-field, off-field athlete in the world, in my opinion. Maybe (Lionel) Messi or somebody like that (if anyone) wants to argue. But it’s Peyton. It’s advancement and, sometimes, it’s just a guy plays here and people in Nashville take care of them. Or people around the state take care of them or her because they were a VFL. 

The stadiums, the facilities are monstrous. Now, I’m so happy that baseball can be included in that group of one of the biggest and probably the loudest football stadiums in the country. Goes the same for the arena. There’s construction all over campus to make these facilities truly first-class and also some of the best in the country to house the fans that we’re blessed to play in front of here. I could go on and on with other stuff, the campus, the weather, the restaurants in town. 

But I think my next bullet would have to be, who doesn’t want to sing “Rocky Top?” Even the opposing fans. If you catch them in the right moment, or you catch them with enough beverages in them, they’ll admit that they love “Rocky Top” even though they’re a part of another SEC school. 

I didn’t do it on purpose. I’m not David Letterman, but that was nine. So maybe if anyone listens to my rambling, you want to add what 10 is to you because there’s certainly more than 10 for how special of a place it is. But maybe it’s special in another way for other people, but it is to me, and that’s why I wanted to at least get out in front of you guys a little bit.”

Questions & Answers

ON THE MEETINGS WITH PLAYERS AND COACHES AND FOR THEM TO SUPPORT YOU

“Unfortunately, Saturday, they don’t have their phones. The assistants and (me), we have them. One of the coaches said you are going to need to say something and I did. I just mentioned that nothing had been done. Added several other things to it pertaining to myself and the team. Then it wasn’t Saturday. Saturday was nothing. I turned my phone off to be honest with you and I watched the football game. Then things started to transpire a little bit on Monday to where I thought it was appropriate to revisit things with them and talk them through some things. Then if I have my days right, I think Tuesday or (Wednesday) was a third time we got together with the guys. There have been other comments and texts messages I got, but the encouragement to do what was in my heart was next level. I know someone made the comment that they feel for our guys. It has been tumultuous for them and things like that. I did not see one moment where a guy felt sorry for himself or put himself out in front of things or saw it as a detriment to what they can do as a successful athlete. I think that is a sign of things to come with this particular team.”

ON IF THERE WAS A POINT HE THOUGHT HE WAS STAYING AFTER SATURDAY

“Saturday, there was no decision mode whatsoever. It occurred slowly the next day. More intensely the next day and then the following day, I did not make a decision until — I think some of y’all were at the field on an open field, so that was Wednesday. Sorry for getting my days mixed up with all this mess. I didn’t feel I had all the boxes checked to go one way or the other until that point.”

ON THE FINAL BOXES

“The freedom I felt from the other coaches and the players that I didn’t know was there and didn’t expect to be there on the level that it was.”

ON WHO HE LEANED ON

“Anyone and everyone. You can’t imagine. Anyone and everyone. If that is a part that is put out there, I am very thankful to the people that got random calls or random texts. If anything, Saturday’s nonsense allowed for it to no longer be a quiet conversation because I never meant for this to play out publicly or to be a distraction for the guys. I wasn’t even sure it would become a reality. It did open up the door to have a whole bunch of conversations that I am indebted for.”

ON HOW DO YOU WEIGH MLB VS COLLEGE AND IF THAT WAS HARD

“I will say this about college versus MLB, the versus is fading and there is more of a blend going on. College baseball is getting so good and followed so closely by fans and in such big numbers that it is becoming a stepping stone or a version to Major League Baseball on a different level. I think the two are starting to cooperate and work together more and I think you are starting to see more crossover and will continue to see more. That includes players like C-Mo being ready to rock and roll right away.”

ON IF HE THINKS THAT GAP CLOSING IS WHY A COLLEGE COACH GOT AN MLB JOB

“You know, I can’t speak to that. That would be up to those guys.”

ON THE SUPPORT HE GOT FROM THE FANS AND IF IT WEIGHED ON HIM

“That was appreciated. Like I said, for a different reason, that meant a lot to me. That has been there from Day One. It has grown in numbers, fortunately, and the voices have become louder and the stands have become louder but that has literally been there since Day One.”

ON WHAT HE WILL MISS MOST ABOUT KNOXVILLE

“What I will miss about Knoxville is the togetherness. We all get gameday to show it on TV or to the highest extent. But you don’t need gameday for the togetherness to be here. It could be a random Tuesday on a September, 11:30 or any random time you want to throw out, and the togetherness and the community and in particular surrounding the university is at the highest possible level any human could ever possibly experience.”

ON THE LEMONADE STAND DAY

“I do remember the lemonade stand day. Probably a sign of things to come that I’m not the most well-behaved coach, but certainly wanted to earn my salary that day. If anything, I am willing to put in a full day’s work based on growing up watching my dad.”

ON HARD TO BELIEVE YOU USED TO RUN DOWNTOWN AND DO THINGS WITHOUT MUCH ATTENTION THEN IT GREW TO THIS

“Among other things that I will talk about next week, hearing people say, ‘was that your vision’ or ‘living out your dream’ could not be more irrelevant because I couldn’t even see that. When you get to see it, it’s pretty special. So that is what I got.”