FULMER ERA ENDS AT TENN

[Carlene Prince]

Phillip Fulmer will not return next season as Tennessee's football coach, multiple sources confirmed to VolQuest.com. The decision ends a 16-plus year career for the dean of SEC coaches. A news conference inside Neyland Stadium will take place this afternoon at 5 p.m. Eastern, where Fulmer will "step aside."
The Manchester, Tenn., native and former Tennessee offensive linemen is due $6 million for the remaining term of a contract that was renewed for seven years in July. The money is to be paid in equal installments over 48 months.
It is unclear, at this time, what the move signals for the future of the remainder of the Vols' coaching staff.



Defensive coaches Dan Brooks, Steve Caldwell and Larry Slade have been with Fulmer for several years; defensive coordinator John Chavis has been in that post at his alma mater since 1995.
On the offensive side, the Vols have four first-year coaches alongside veteran line coach Greg Adkins. Dave Clawson was hired in January to coordinate the offense. Fulmer hired Latrell Scott, Stan Drayton and Jason Michael to coach wideouts, tailbacks and tight ends, respectively. Each coach has a multi-year deal, with both coordinators on three-year deals.
Fulmer's Vols were shellacked, 27-6, Saturday night at South Carolina, a team that had beaten Tennessee just once - during UT's 5-6 2005 campaign - in 15 years. The setback marked Tennessee's sixth this season, fourth by double figures, and 10th since the beginning of the 2007 campaign.
Sources indicated that Fulmer's fate had been sealed even before the team lost its 20th game since 2005. The Vols are just 3-9 in their last 12 against Alabama, Georgia and Florida.
Further, against the Southeastern Conference's "Big 5" of Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia and LSU they are just 12-21 since 2001.
In 16 full seasons at his alma mater, Fulmer delivered the Vols to incredible highs - culminated by 1998's undefeated national championship squad and a 45-5 run from '95-98.
However, the Vols' 2005 season was their first losing season since 1988 and only their third losing campaign since 1980. One more loss this season would assure Tennessee its second losing season in four years and mark the program's highest number of losses since 1977 - when Johnny Majors was in his first season. It's the only time in Tennessee history that the Vols have lost as many as seven games in a season.
Further damaging to Fulmer is a championship drought that extends to 1998. Tennessee has made three appearances this decade in the SEC Championship game but has twice fallen to LSU (2001, '07) and once to Auburn ('04).
It is the UT program's longest drought without a conference championship since becoming a charter member of the SEC in 1933.

[MrDanger]

Fools

[dolfan]

Boy. Here I am about to sound like an advocate for Phil Fulmer. What a day. But, I'll say it and all fellow Bama people be hanged --- Fulmer deserved better than this. I thought, hoped, we'd gotten to a point finally where the SEC fans can quit cannibalizing each other's coaches. Well, that day has arrived: enough UT fans ate their own. It was almost impossible to watch the Phil Fulmer Show yesterday. The man was in pieces almost. Tough to watch.

Alright, so what next? Who do the Vols hire? Do they pursue Saban, who can walk without a buyout? Do they go after Spurrier? I think not, but he's a native and you have to at least give that a look if you're speculating. Cutcliffe? Nah, two losing seasons and they'd forget he ever coached there and they'd be calling him a Bammer. He's better off at Duke. UT's aim is much higher. Again, Kiffin, Muschamp, Butch Davis, even Tommy Tuberville. Paul Johnson? The guy at Boise??? Or, someone else with deeper Tennessee ties --- personally I think the days of hiring homers are long gone. Mike Leach? He could do some damage at UT, I'll tell you what.

[fezzik]

Cutcliffe and Butch Davis will be candidates. No way Saban is leaving Alabama...that guy is worshipped down there and has his team at #1. He's also being paid fairly well. Why would he leave?

Cutcliffe is a good coach...any guy who can do what he's done at Puke in one season is a good coach. He did ok with a #16 while he was at UT. He did ok the following season with a NC with Tee Martin.

[dolfan]

Cutcliffe and Butch Davis will be candidates. No way Saban is leaving Alabama...that guy is worshipped down there and has his team at #1. He's also being paid fairly well. Why would he leave?

I don't think he would, but the no-buyout clause is there for a reason. He's nothing if not self-promoting, self-interested (which is why he's so good). If someone came with the right offer, he'd go, yeah. UT is one of the few schools in America with the money and situation to do that. They could at least bid us up real high. His contract is starting to look like a bargain. Look for news on a nice pay increase for Saban after the season.

Now, back to UT. Butch Davis, IMO, is the guy to get. No one around can make the turnaround as fast as him, and there aren't many coaches in football as good as this guy. Good grief, he's got North Carolina playing good football and recruiting very well. And, look at what NC did for Mack Brown's next stop.

I don't know if the UT base would have it, but I'm telling you right now that Tommy Tuberville in Tennessee would be a winning combo. The guy just flat out knows how to get it done. The situation at AU is beyond his control. They've rubbed his nose in something that smells bad eversince "jetgate" with Petrino. All he's done is go win. Of course, he could join Fulmer on the paid but not-working millionaire's ranch in Jamaica next season (I know I would).

[MrDanger]

Cutcliffe coaching UT would be the only saving grace for this disgrace. But, I wonder, since him and Fulmer are so close, if he would take the job. He's winning at Duke. He's a hero there.

I think the Alum of UT have a man crush on a Sabanesque (oh yeah I created a word baby) style hire. They won't go for the common sense hire. Butch Davis may end up being our man.

Right now....and I can't believe I'm typing it....I'm so disgusted with UT over this that I don't feel like being a fan. I may just join Kimmy on the ...gulp.... Bama side.

Nah.

[Carlene Prince]

[quote}MrDanger Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2008 3:09 pm Subject:

Right now....and I can't believe I'm typing it....I'm so disgusted with UT over this that I don't feel like being a fan. I may just join Kimmy on the ...gulp.... Bama side.

Nah.


HIT YOURSELF MAN, HIT YOURSEL!! Once a TN fan ALWYAS A TN FAN.
Coach has given TN some good years. I think they are dumb for allowing him to go. Oh, Oh, now I see the NAH

[dolfan]

Cutcliffe coaching UT would be the only saving grace for this disgrace. But, I wonder, since him and Fulmer are so close, if he would take the job. He's winning at Duke. He's a hero there.

I think the Alum of UT have a man crush on a Sabanesque (oh yeah I created a word baby) style hire. They won't go for the common sense hire. Butch Davis may end up being our man.

Right now....and I can't believe I'm typing it....I'm so disgusted with UT over this that I don't feel like being a fan. I may just join Kimmy on the ...gulp.... Bama side.

Nah.

Walk towards the light, Mr. Danger, walk towards the light.

[TC]

OK I am a BIG UT fan and I think it is a big mistake but the problem is the squeeky wheel gets the grease and right not the ones that want him out are talking alot. Problem is who ever comes in they will do the same to them. Some people are Never happy.


It also show what a sad state college football has gotten into. Gone are the days of coaches being loyal to a school and fans being loyal to the coach. No more Bear's No more Joe Pa's No more Fulmers... NO more bowdens (well no more of them would be a good thing)

I talked to a close friend that told me last week that Phil was not botherd by what was being said as much as he was upset that his friends were having to defend him over and over. I called him on the way home from work and he said Phil called a few and said he could no longer see his family and friends have to defend him and it would be better for all if he just walked away.

BTW. I think his last act will be to put another L on the Kittens. Being from TN, he wants to beat them no matter what.

[mom of two]

Fulmer is an incredible man & an incredible person. I think UT should have allowed him one more season to turn things around. Just look at how many new coaches he had to work with this year & try to keep the cohesiveness that was there before. If Trooper Taylor had been given the chance...we might not be having this discussion...but, that is in the past.

Fulmer will always have my respect as a coach, a man, a role model. One day, he will see the rewards for the lives of the young men he helped change!!!

BTW, I can't wait to hear what Peyton Manning & the rest of his formet players have to say. They have been very open about their support for Fulmer!!!

[MrDanger]

Watching the press conference, all I could think is can we ever get someone that loves the university this much.

When they read his list of accomplishments, all I could think is can we ever get this good of a coach at UT.

Watching ESPN, they flat out called any UT fan that wanted him gone the biggest bunch of fools ever. Congrats whiners....you got what you wanted. Now we're gonna have to live with it.

[mom of two]

Well spoken, Mr. Danger!
I have been very upset since seeing the press conference...especially when the players spole their minds after Fulmer had left. From what I understand, the man you see the players hugging as they leave is Fulmer's son. Incredible family, incredible man.

I have actually been thinking about how funny it would be if peyton Manning & the rest of the former players pulled their financial support from the university now....the Colquitts sponsor a scholarship for a "deserving student who cannot afford college", Peyton Manning pours untold amounts. I told my husband & brother I want to start a million fan march on Neyland...now they are declaring Nov 29th "Phillip Fullmer Day". What I wouldn't give to go!!!