Sports

Unhinged Tennessee Baseball Fans Could Not Prevent Tony Vitello’s Exit With Character Attacks

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Tony Vitello, Tennessee Volunteers

© Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images


Tennessee baseball coach Tony Vitello is rumored to be headed to San Francisco. He appears to be the frontrunner for the Giants managerial opening. It could be an offer too good to pass up.

While it would be a notable promotion for the 2024 College World Series winner, it would present a major blow to the Vols. A few unhinged fans are doing their part to keep him put.

Vitello has been with the program for nearly a decade, reviving it from the dead. Prior to his arrival in 2018, it had been 12 years since Tennessee posted a winning record in SEC play.

They’ve now finished above .500 in college baseball’s most competitive conference each of the last five seasons. They’ve won 50 games or more in three of those campaigns while booking a trio of trips to Omaha.

His success has been evident. It’s now led to outside interest.

The San Francisco Giants want Tony Vitello.

Bob Melvin was fired after the after an 81-81 campaign in 2025. Vitello could be his replacement.

Nothing is set in stone to this point. Some, however, believe it’s only a matter of time before the news breaks.

Alex Simon of SF Gate had the following to say about the job search.

Reporters at the Athletic first reported that the Giants were “closing in” on the groundbreaking hire of Vitello, who would be the first college head coach hired directly to be an MLB manager without any big-league experience.

“He’s got some choices to make — he’s got the ball in his court, really.”

The hire would be unprecedented. Vitello has no MLB experience. Still, the Giants seem willing to take a chance.

The Vols are on #VitelloWatch

Fans came out to watch the Vols practice in Knoxville this week. Tony Vitello was in attendance.

Fans showed up to support their head coach. They did their best to sway his decision. Many made signs begging him to stay. “We Want Tony” chants were heard from the bleachers.

In the end, it may or may not make a difference.

There are others, though, that took far more drastic measures to influence the decision.

Tennessee baseball burners will not succeed.

Unhinged social media accounts are defaming Vitello online. Vol burners are posing as San Francisco fans in an attempt to halt the hire.

X / @MarylandVol


Insinuations of racism, suggestions of disagreeable political beliefs, and lists of other character attacks are flooding X (Formerly Twitter).

Those messages are coming from the same source – The Tennessee burner community.

Social media accounts have been altered to display Giants-related names and photos, though usernames reveal their Vol roots.

X / @VolScruggs


Social media is an interesting place. It can be a fantastic source for news updates in a quickly changing sports landscape. It’s also a breeding ground that enables unhealthy obsessions in sports and entertainment.

Tony Vitello may or may not accept the San Francisco Giants job. That decision will not have been impacted by Tennessee baseball burner accounts.

While completely deranged, the actions do provide further evidence of his ability to build a program. The burners might just be giving the Giants another reason to make the move!

Update: Tony Vitello has been hired by the Giants

Vitello made his decision official on Wednesday. He has accepted the job in San Francisco according to multiple reports. Tennessee’s search for a replacement will begin soon.