Leaving the University of Tennessee certainly was not an easy decision for Tony Vitello.

The Giants’ new manager spoke to a small group of local reporters on Thursday at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee about his historic decision to leave the program he’s spent eight seasons with for an MLB job with San Francisco and explained why he made the — admittedly — “selfish” decision. (h/t Knox News’ Mike Wilson)

“By now, you all know I officially accepted a position to babysit Drew Gilbert,” Vitello said, jokingly.

“… It was selfish. It was personal reasons. Again, I’ve always tried to be a good teammate, but I feel like I made a selfish decision that was one I needed to make. It’s the right decision and I just hope it doesn’t give me Lane Kiffin status around here, because I feel like I’m a VFL. I think if someone truly invests in being a VFL for any amount of time, they’re just that — a Vol For Life. That’s what I am in my mind.”

Vitello told reporters that he was glad his candidacy became public because it forced him to have difficult conversations with the people within the program that he felt indebted to, especially his players, who he spoke to about the process on multiple occasions, including after the team’s scrimmage on Tuesday before his decision was announced on Wednesday.

Vitello clarified that he still was weighing his decision on Tuesday afternoon, when Volunteers fans attended the team’s scrimmage at Lindsey Nelson Stadium and shared their appreciation for him with various gestures around the stadium.

“If that is the last time I ever stepped foot on this campus or this field as an employee or as a Vol wearing our orange, I’m just so thankful for the people that showed up,” Vitello said of the fans’ gestures. “It will forever be ingrained in my memory and it made what was the last day on the job technically, very, very special.”

The 47-year-old now will begin the next chapter of his coaching career with the Giants, and will be introduced to his new fan base on Oct. 30 at Oracle Park.

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