There wasn't the usual awkwardness that comes with a coach announcing his decision to leave when Butch Jones met with his Cincinnati team early Friday morning.

Jones told them he was leaving for what he called his dream job. The players responded with applause, a showing of respect their former coach.

"I walked in the room and obviously it got deathly silent and they wanted to know what was going on," Jones said Friday during his introductory press conference with the Vols.

"When I told them that I accepted the head coaching position at the University of Tennessee, they all started clapping and applauding. I think that's a tribute to our program. I'd be remiss if I didn't thank them."

Jones was 23-14 in three seasons leading the Cincinnati program, including a 4-8 season in 2010, his first year with the Bearcats, before bouncing back with a 10-3 record in 2011 and a 9-3 record this season.


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