Deal between Greg Schiano and Tennessee falls apart

In a stunning turn of events Sunday evening, Tennessee and Ohio State defensive coordinator Greg Schiano had backed out of a deal for him to become the football coach of the Volunteeers coach after an unprecedented social media backlash to reports, including one from USA TODAY Sports, that the hire was imminent.

A person involved in the negotiations, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the matter was supposed to be private, said Tennessee was reassessing its situation after both sides were essentially bullied out of the deal.

Tennessee athletics director John Currie flew to Columbus, Ohio, on Sunday in hopes of culminating the deal and bringing Schiano back to Knoxville for a…