Not even this NASCAR racetrack mascot will volunteer to coach at Tennessee

Count Charlotte Motor Speedway’s mascot out of the running to be the next head football coach at the University of Tennessee.

In a video tweeted Thursday evening, the mascot Lug Nut declined the nonexistent offer to coach the school’s football program, a job that’s been open since the former coach was fired in November.

“Breaking: Lugnut has decided to turn down the coaching position at #Tennessee and will remain at Charlotte Motor Speedway!” the tweet read, as Lug Nut is seen shoving aside Tennessee sports apparel.

While funny to some, the tweet wasn’t taken lightly by Tennessee fans. The fan base, clearly tired of an exhausting head coaching search, fired back at the racetrack. Some said it alienated people who are both Tennessee and NASCAR fans.

“NASCAR is the only thing I can think off (sic) that is more poorly run than this coaching search,” one fan replied.

“Last thing @NASCAR needs is running off more of the few fans left,” another fan chimed in, saying the tweet wasn’t funny.

Other Twitter users found Lug Nut’s decision hilarious, saying Tennessee fans were being too sensitive about the joke.

“Who knew the butthurt that would ensue because of this tweet,” one user quipped.

Lug Nut’s is just one in a recent running joke of people “declining” to coach at the school.

Ever since former coach Butch Jones was fired in November, the school has struggled to replace him. The program’s saga has turned into an internet meme.

Even ex-Tennessee head coach Lane Kiffin entered the fray Wednesday when he tweeted a meme suggesting North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un wouldn’t accept the job.

This story was originally published December 1, 2017 at 12:30 PM with the headline "Not even this NASCAR racetrack mascot will volunteer to coach at Tennessee."