As the social media mob began attacking Greg Schiano when it appeared he was set to land the Tennessee Volunteers job, the maligned coach got support from New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick.

Fans, mostly of the Tennessee variety, used Greg Schiano's stint with Penn State during the Jerry Sandusky era to connect him to atrocities. While there are some incredibly loose connections, Schiano's name was only in a court document, but the state of Pennsylvania never felt as though he actually knew of Sandusky's awful actions.

It is complicated, but at its most simplistic form, a third-hand account suggests he knew of the evil coach's actions. Under oath, the person who relayed that information to the third party did testify that Schiano never knew of the happenings.

Asked Monday if he’d vouch for Schiano’s character, Patriots coach Bill Belichick said this, without hesitation: “100 percent. Yes, 100 percent.”

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“I have great respect and think he’s a great football coach,” Belichick added, via PFT. “I’m not really involved in any other situation, but speaking about him as a coach and a person, [I have] the utmost respect and zero reservations. Zero.”

Other people have spoken on behalf of the now-not-Tennessee coach. Ohio State Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer, who employed Schiano, went out of his way to say what a great person and father he is.

This is clearly a situation of hearsay being disguised as fact during a polarizing hiring process. It is a truly dangerous game to play no matter the likability of the person involved.