Fire Phil Fulmer?
By Mo Johnson
Phil Fulmer will step down effective at the end of the season. UT forced him out. This is bittersweet news. It is sad; yet encouraging that both the University and Fulmer did the right thing. Check out these videos of the announcement.
Let's turn out for the last game of the year against Kentucky at Neyland Stadium on November 29th. That will be Fulmer's last game. It will also be big as it might keep Tennessee out of the celler of the SEC East and would be the 24th straight Tennessee win over Kentucky in the "Border Bowl." That is the longest win streak (one team vs another) in the nation!! So, let's show the world what great fans we are; turn out for the game; and, whoever wins, Fulmer gets a "Standing O" when he leaves the field for the last time. He deserves it.
However, the good news is that the Orange Nation is now united once again!! It took a terrible loss, at home, to a bad Wyoming team (1-5 in Mountain West Conference) to bring us all together. After Fulmer announced he was being forced out last week, there was a wave of support for him from Tennessee fans across the nation. You can read many of those comments at the bottom of this page.
After the Wyoming loss, I don't think there is a single Tennessee fan left who thinks Fulmer should stay another year. Most probably think he should leave IMMEDIATELY. Obviously, this is not all Phil Fulmer's fault. Yes, the players play the game. But, he is the man at the top. He is responsible and accountable. And, he has the talent. They have plenty of talent. So, you do have to look at the coaching.
Anyway, we fully expect the Vols to lose at least one more game this year, which will give them 8 losses on the season. That will be more losses than any Tennessee football team in history. Wow! Sad way for the Fulmer era to end. It should have ended a few years ago (after the 5-6 2005 season).
Prior comments, somewhat overcome by events: If you want to start a fight in Knoxville, Tennessee - try asking someone whether the University of Tennessee should fire its head football coach, Phillip Fulmer.
There are good arguments on both sides of the "Fire Phil Fulmer" debate.
On the one hand, it seems silly to even complain about Phil Fulmer. Yes, the Vols are 3-7 at the moment and 1-5 in the SEC. They embarassed the SEC by losing to unranked UCLA (second straight year UT has lost to a Pac-10 team). Then, they embarassed all Tennessee fans by getting blown out at home by Florida (again). That, even after being insulted by Florida players before the game. You can read more about that at 2008 Tennessee Volunteers Football.
On the other hand, the Vols were in a similar situation last year, and, miraculously, pulled it together and won the SEC East! They ended up with a 10-4 record; Outback bowl win; and a national ranking of #12. [But, they don't look to repeat that this year as they have lost now to Georgia and South Carolina which were wins last season.] Of course, we can't forget that Fulmer led UT to a national championship in 1998. And, every year, Tennessee seems to at least be part of the college football national discussion at some point (usually until after the Florida game in week 3).
So, what to think and/or do about Phil Fulmer has become a difficult and controversial issue.
In fact, on the Monday after the Florida loss, two callers asked Fulmer on his radio show "when or if" he might consider retiring.
Here's part of Fulmer's reply:
We've won 148 football games in my time here at Tennessee and lost a little bit less than that - a lot less than that, actually - and we didn't all of a sudden get stupid as coaches. We know what we're doing, and we're going to go to the practice field and correct and work and put our football team on the field with the best advantage that we can possibly have.
OK, so passions are running high in Knoxville. Here is a list of the arguments commonly advanced in support of, or in criticism of, Fulmer.
First, a few reasons he should keep his job. Phil Fulmer is:
- The 7th winningest SEC football coach in history. He's been the head coach of the Vols since 1992. His all-time record (through the '07-08' season) is 147 - 45 (.766) -- 5th highest winning percentage of all active college football coaches who have coached 5 years or longer.
- A masterful recruiter. He almost always lands a "top-10" recruiting class; several times, in the top three.
- A great fundraiser. Tennessee football is very successful financially and raises lots of money for the University.
- A Tennessee legend. Fulmer was an offensive guard on the Tennessee football team from 1969 - 1971; helping the Vols go 30-5 during that time. He played for legendary coaches Doug Dickey and Bill Battle. Later, Fulmer served as an Assistant Coach under another Tennessee legend, Johnny Majors, for 13 years (1980 - 1992) before taking over for Majors. It would be a shame to end Phil's great career on such a sour note.
For all the reasons above, with Fulmer at the helm, Tennessee fans can be assured of having talented teams that can compete against the top 20 teams in the nation. They will almost always make a bowl game and be a generally successful college football program.
Here's what.
- Fulmer is ancient history. Fulmer led the Vols to an SEC Championship in 1997 and a National Championship in 1998. In the 10 years since then, the Vols have won the SEC East a very respectable 3 times; however they lost all 3 of those SEC Championship games.
- The Vols went 5-6 in the dreadful 2005 season. A couple of Johnny Majors' teams ('80 and '88) went 5-6; but otherwise, you have to all the way back to Doug Dickey's first year (1964) to find a worse Tennessee football record (4-5-1 that year).
- The Vols have improved since 2005, but they still had 4 losses in 2006 and 4 more in 2007. It's true they managed to win the SEC East in '07 - but only because of incredible luck and after embarrassing losses to California, Florida and Alabama (see 2007 Tennessee Football).
- The Vols have been terrible so far this year. They lost to an outmanned, unranked UCLA team (that subsequently got blown out by BYU). Then got clobbered by Florida - again - after being insulted (as noted above). Most recently they lost to Auburn due to a botched handoff that Auburn recovered in the endzone.
- Sure Fulmer can recruit. He has the #1 recruiting budget in the nation. Besides, he hasn't done so well the past few years.
It just seems like Fulmer's teams, of late, consistently disappoint. He seems, to us, to get less from his talent than he should. It seems like we lose more "big" games than we win.
But do we? Maybe we (Tennessee Volunteer football fans) are just overexuberant fans with unrealistic expectations.
What we need is an objective test to measure Phillip Fulmer's skills and performance as a head coach at a major college football institution.
As noted above, one of Fulmer's strengths is as a recruiter. Over time, he has been recognized as one of the best college football recruiters around. How good? Well, we went to Rivals.com and looked at their list of top recruiting classes. Rivals only goes back to 2002. So, to cover years before that we used two other sources -- Sports Ilustrated and Suite 101 (for 1999).
When you run all the numbers, you find that over his entire career as a head coach (1993 - current), Fulmer has, on average, landed the 10th best recruiting class in the nation (9.71 average). When you look at over the past 10 years, the average drops to 12th best (11.90). When you look at just the past 5 years, the average drops to 16th (15.6).
Here's a handy chart illustration:
|
|
Average Recruiting Class Rank |
|
Career |
10 |
|
10 Years |
12 |
|
5 Years |
16 |
So, what does all that mean? Well, two things:
- Over his career, Phil Fulmer is a Top 10 recruiter; and
- Over his career, Fulmer's recruiting prowess has declined.
As noted above, a common complaint about Fulmer is that he is not a good "game" coach. The allegation is that he consistently gets outcoached in games. But does he really? How can we know?
The ultimate objective test, of whether someone is a good game coach is how they do against comparable competition. Let's define that as teams ranked (by AP at the end of the season) in the top 25. After all, as documented above, overall, Fulmer's teams have ranked #10 nationally in talent recruited. On average, his teams have the 10th best talent in college football.
Therefore, you would expect that, on average, his teams should win at least as many games (actually should win a bit more, but we'll give him the benefit of the doubt) against "Top 25" competition as they lose. Right?
If Fulmer's record against Top 25 teams is better than 50-50 that would be objective evidence that he's a good game coach; if below 50-50 -- objective evidence that he's not a good game coach. We did some research and couldn't find anyone who had tabulated this information. So, we did.
Below is a chart that gives us Phil Fulmer's career won-loss record versus Top-25 teams (current through 2008 season). The chart is further broken down by his record against Top 20; Top 15; Top 10; and Top 5 teams.
|
|
Wins |
Losses |
Win % |
|
Top 25 |
33 |
40 |
.452 |
|
Top 20 |
25 |
35 |
.417 |
|
Top 15 |
21 |
33 |
.389 |
|
Top 10 |
14 |
24 |
.368 |
|
Top 5 |
6 |
14 |
.300 |
You can see that Fulmer has a losing record vs Top 25 teams in his career. That's not good. And, naturally, his record gets worse and worse as the teams he coaches against get better.
But, that's only part of the story.
The real issue with Phil Fulmer is the decline in the performance of his teams as his career has gone on.
In the past 5 seasons, the Vols are 8-18 (.308) against Top 25 teams.
That's why it has seemed to Volunteer fans like we have suffered the agony of defeat more than the thrill of victory in big games in recent years. Indeed we have. Over the past decade, under Fulmer, UT has lost 2 big games for every one they won. Put another way, when playing against a Top 25 team, Tennessee is twice as likely to lose as win.
Well, there you have it. Them's the facts. Not great for Fulmer. Maybe not terrible either.
Question is: is it good enough?
Ultimately, it really comes down to what we as Tennessee fans should reasonably expect. College football, especially the Southeastern Conference, is so competitive now. Heck, even Vanderbilt is no longer a guaranteed win. Almost every game is tough. So, is it sensible to expect more? Or, should we be happy with what we have. What do we have?
Well, over Fulmer's career, his teams, on average, have ended the season ranked 15th (14.6 average). Over the past 10 years, the average end of season ranking has slipped to 18th (18.3). Over the last five years, the average ranking has dropped to 20th, and it will be lower after this year as they surely will end 2008 unranked again. [Note: For these calculations, in years when Tennessee finished the season unranked in the AP poll (2000, 2002, 2005), we presumed they were the 35th best team in CFB; though, in 2000, the Coaches Poll actually ranked them 25th.]
This ranking slippage is further evidence of the slow erosion of Tennessee football under Phil Fulmer. It is truly unmistakable. In summary:
- Fulmer is a good, but declining, recruiter.
- Fulmer is generally not a good "game" coach. That is also getting worse.
- Overall, Fulmer has established Tennessee as a Top 15 college football program; however, that also is declining.
But, I have a friend who's an Arkansas Razorback fan. He says he only wishes Arkansas had our problems ("only" winning 1 out of 3 games against Top 25 opponents; "only" averaging a Top 20 ranking).
Some also make the valid point that college football programs ebb and flow and it is natural to expect down cycles as well as up cycles. Maybe we are at the end of a down cycle and about to go into an up cycle under Fulmer. Maybe.
And, if you look at overall record, Tennessee has the 5th best in the SEC over the past 5 years (LSU, GA, AU, FL higher) and the third best over the past 10 years (only GA and FL higher). So, that puts Fulmer and his program in a more positive light.
One thing I'm sure all Tennessee fans will agree on is that, after last season, the University should not have given Fulmer another contract extension (now through 2012) and with salary and bonuses in the $3 million a year range.
Personally, I think it's too soon to decide the "Fire Phil Fulmer" issue. The team has been woeful often this year, especially the offense. But, they are still fighting. They haven't quit. There is no shame in losing 14-12 at Auburn.
Much more will be known before this 2008 season is over. Tennessee is 1-5 right now in the SEC; 3-7 overall. They are off to their worst start in 20 years (since 1988). Even worse than Fulmer's second full season in 1994. That year, Coach Fulmer turned it around and the Vols ended up 8-4; winning the Gator Bowl and ended up ranked in the Top 20.
In fact, after the 1-3 start in '94, over the next 4 ½ years, Tennessee went 52-6, winning the BCS Championship game in 1998.
So, let's see if Fulmer can turn things around like that again. We'll know soon enough. Tennessee still has to play Wyoming, Vanderbilt and Kentucky. Wyoming at home should (but probably won't) be easy. But, the rest will be tough games. And, UT has to win all 3 games to finish 6-6 and make it to another Bowl Game (would be 19th bowl game in 20 years). And, it probably would pull Tennessee up to 4th in the SEC East. Again, nothing to brag about, but given where we are now, it would show that Fulmer kept the team fighting. And, I'd give him in the benefit of the doubt. He'd deserve another year -- if he want's it.
Really, no matter what happens the rest of this year, the program seems clearly on a downward slide and no longer competitive with the "Big Five" in the SEC. See Fulmer vs SEC Big 5. So, for the good of the team and the State of Tennessee - maybe Fulmer will do the honorable thing and resign. He could accept a “promotion” to become Executive Director of Football Operations at the University of Tennessee, or something like that.
But, if not, Mike Hamilton (UT Athletic Director) should only fire Fulmer if the team ends up with a losing record.
Bottom line: Mike Hamilton: if Tennessee ends up with a losing record, and Fulmer won't resign; you will have to fire him. For the good of the team, program and State of Tennessee. I think it's 50-50 right now whether the Vols can finish 6-6 or better.
If that happens, maybe we can get David Cutcliffe back. This time as head coach.
It may be time for Phil Fulmer to move on. Or, like Joe Paterno, maybe he's got another run left in him. We'll know soon enough. The game this weekend at home against Alabama is HUGE. If Fulmer can pull that out, he will almost certainly save his job. If not, it will be uphill the rest of the season.
Please check out some of the comments submitted below and, if so inclined, tell us what you think. Maybe Mike Hamilton will read it!
Below the comments from other visitors are videos of Fulmer's statement/press conference. There is also a form to vote in our "Fire Phil Fulmer" poll. So far, the results are: over 80% say Fulmer should be fired; 11% say keep him; 9% are not sure. However, many of the votes were cast weeks ago. We think now probably 99% of Vol fans thinks he needs to go. Cast your vote if you haven't yet.
What do you think?
We'd love to hear your comments and/or opinions. If you submit them here, other visitors can read them, rate them and comment on them. An e-mail address is not required.
What Other Visitors Have Said
Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...
Smart Move 
So, I am writing from the future. How'd running off the best coach since Neyland work out for you?
It is shameful what UT did and, as you know now, …
Vols New Coach Lane Kiffin is a Joke
Wow, wonderful move vols firing a class act and hiring a donkey. At least in the past i used to repect your coach. Now you've hired a coward that tries …
Phillip Fulmer Got The Last Laugh
guess we wound up NOT losing 8 games (like you predicted)! Phillip Fulmer managed to fool all of you skeptics one last time, much like he fooled everyone …
Dissapointed in Tennessee fans
What has become of our fans? Fulmer has done wonders for the football program as well as for the school. His integrity and winning record should keep …
Fulmer Must Go...
I admit, Fulmer has done a lot for Tennessee. But that was years ago when we were good. Now it is time to get a new coach. His strategies and coaching …
Fulmer Should Be Gone Already
2005 was the time for a new coach at Tennessee. 2008: Fulmer still there; this is just sad.
Watson Brown is the Answer
I have always liked Coach Fulmer. He has been great for the program and I will always praise him for his time as a coach. However, it is time for him …
Hang In There Vols Fans
Do we want to sound like Bama fans?!!!!
They lose one game, and it's get a new coach. Hang in there the Vols will return....
Bring in Norm Chow
Very interesting information. Thanks for digging. We all like Fulmer and everything he has done for the university...from his playing days to his years …
UT Football Has Become BOOOORING!!!!
Besides not living up to the expectations of the most loyal fans in the country, UT football has become boring.
Win or lose it's not fun to watch. …
Longtime UT Fan
IF you are watching the UT/AL game as I am it HAS to be making you sick. What type of offense is Fulmer running? Double tight ends on way too many plays, …
GO VOLS!!
Great column. I expect Phil to catch another gear for about 5 years. He's still good, this new offense changed everything. I did like the idea about …
Fulmer: 4 Years Too Long in Knoxville
My opinion is we have giving Fulmer about 4 yrs too much in knoxville. I think he is a nice guy, I have met him several times on the big orange caravan. …
Cutcliffe Is Not the Answer Either
Fulmer has lost that program, we need a hungry coach that can use that talent, and cutcliffe is not the answer,thats just another version of fulmer
…
Johnny Majors Take on Phil Fulmer
Wow, didn't realize there was such animosity between Fulmer and Majors.
Of course, we all know, Fulmer replaced Majors in the middle of the 1992 season. …
Fulmer: Time for a Change
Since the debacle in the 2001 SEC Championship game the once proud and disciplined TN VOLS have fallen to the middle of the pack in the conference.
…
Don't place all blame on Fulmer
I don't think Phil Fulmer should take all the rap for what has happened to Tenn Football.
Hello... Where is our offense?... The defense can't play …
FIRE FAT PHIL!!!
I don't care if he has had one of the best records of coaches in the history of University of Tennesee football program.
The fact of the matter is …
Reaping the Bitter Rewards of Firing Fulmer Not rated yet
Greetings from 2012. Still happy about running off the best coach you've had since the General? How'd Lame Kiffin and Derek Goofey suit ya? Hmmmmmm? …
I Was Wrong About Phil Fulmer Not rated yet
It's time to admit it. I was wrong about firing Phil Fulmer. In retropspect, it's now clear that we should have kept him.
Of course, it's not reasonable …
Time is UP!!! Not rated yet
I am a very big UT fan, however I am not a Fulmer fan. He should have left a long time ago. UT is losing so much money because they can't even get the …
Fulmer Hired Bad Offensive Coordinators Not rated yet
Too late.
After the hiring of Randy Sanders and watching Randy calling the play on his first Florida game. I told everybody around me that Sanders has …
The Godfather Not rated yet
Horrible decision on UT's part. They will regret this down the road. Fulmer did more for that school in his tenure just as Head Coach then most other …
bleeding orange Not rated yet
I love Tennessee football. Let's be real. As much as Phil Fulmer has done for UT his time is up. We hate to see athletes hold on late in their career …
UT Putting Winning Over Values Not rated yet
Why is the University of Tennessee putting a winning score ahead of someone like Philip Fulmer who has always influenced every young man, he has coached, …
What is football without Coach Fulmer? Not rated yet
I love football and I am a great fan of Tennessee football. I think that people should not just blame the coaches. They are not the ones on the field …
UK FAN Says Keep Fulmer Not rated yet
I hope you keep a fine man like Fulmer....he is a wonderful coach and recruiter. Please don't be rash and get rid of such an asset...
Furthermore, …
Fulmer Must Gracefully Bow Out Not rated yet
Fulmer has been a great coach the emphasis is on has been. He no longer has the discipline, the fire, not the ability to be a great coach.
We need …
You have got to be kidding me! Not rated yet
I'm sorry but Fulmer is so predictable. Kids in my middle school program know the plays before they happen. Fulmer is just not creative. He needs to politely …
Clawson is the Problem Not rated yet
EVERYONE LISTEN TO ME..IM A BIG VOLS FAN,I HAVE BEEN ALL MY LIFE...EVERY SCHOOL HAS A FEW SEASONS OF REBUILDING...FULMER HAS MORE LEFT..HE SCREWED UP BAD …
Not So Fast.... Not rated yet
If at this point in your career and after changing out your coaching staff you can't get your team to produce, then maybe it is time to start over. The …
Pay Fulmer By The Win Not rated yet
COACH IS VERY PREDICTABLE. I KNOW WHEN WE ARE GOING UP THE MIDDLE.I AM NOT A COACH. THE COACH SHOULD FIND GOOD TALENT AND TEACH THE KIDS TO PLAY. HE MUST …
Sadly, Fulmer doesn't seem to be capable of accepting reality. Not rated yet
This is my first comment addressing a badly needed house cleaning and replacement of the UT football program at Tennessee. There has to be a solution for …
BAMA FAN SAYS FULMER SHOULD STAY Not rated yet
PHIL SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO STAY AND BECOME THE SEC PATSY.
AS OF LATE I CAN'T THINK OF A BETTER TEAM TO HAVE SUCH A GREAT COACH, EVEN TUBBYVILLE IS DOING …
time for a new coach. Not rated yet
we think that his heart is not there anymore, he is just there for the money now.. where he used to love the game i don't think he does as much anymore.. …
What's Really Important Not rated yet
I'm a UT/Ohio State Fan. I went to OSU but my money and my children went to UT. I love college football but what I don't understand is why we place it …
We Deserve Better Than Fulmer Not rated yet
After watching the South Carolina game last night and being a season ticket holder for over 40 years, it's time to move on.
How can a coach make such …
FIRE HIM!!!!!!!!!!!! Not rated yet
FIRE HIM NOW OR AT THE END OF THE SEASON!!! JUST LOOK AT HIM ON THE SIDELINE HE JUST STANDS THERE SHAKING HIS HEAD WITH HIS HANDS ON HIS HIPS...
HE …
Fulmer's Clock Has Expired Not rated yet
I've been a Vols fan since Georgia and Tennessee tied 17-17 in 1968. I went to school there in the late 70's and early 80's.
The team was on a downward …
AlkVol Not rated yet
Get him out of there. Yes he has a great resume and he has a great record, but his time has passed. He peaked and now is going nowhere but downhill. …
Let Fulmer Go Not rated yet
I appreciate everything Fulmer has done for the program, but now is the time for him to go. It is halftime during the s.carolina game and we are down …
Fulmer Can't Recruit Anymore Not rated yet
FULMER IS A GOOD COACH BUT HE CANNOT RECRUIT WITH
FLA GEORGIA LSU ALABAMA IN THE SEC
IF HE GETS OUT RECRUITED YEAR AFTER YEAR THEN HE CANT WIN …
Keep Fulmer; Fire Clawson Not rated yet
Fulmer has more left in him.....fire Clawson!!! We are not a west coast offensive team!! We've always been a running team with the pass as an option!! …
With Big Bucks Comes Accountability Not rated yet
Phil's a great guy, a great Tennessean, extrememly loyal to the university and orange through and through - but he has to go.
UT pays him and supports …
Florida Fan Says Fulmer Should Stay! Not rated yet
FRIDAY, 10-31-2008 , PENSACOLA, FL / GATOR FAN
PHILIP FULMER HAS DONE A GOOD JOB AT TENNESSEE
AND CAN CONTINUE DOING SO - - - JUST NEEDS …
SEC Coaching has passed Coach Fulmer by Not rated yet
I believe there's another possible explanation for the slide in Tennessee's won-loss record over the past ten years. It's not that Coach Fulmer is getting …
sad day for tennessee Not rated yet
Fulmer...wow in 1998 this subject would taboo, but how easily it all changed in just ten years. Fulmer is what he is ...a linemen, quite, conservative …
Win-Loss Analysis Proves Fulmer Must Go Not rated yet
Here in Guam we get up at 6:30am on Sunday to watch the games. It has been disappointing to waste good sleep on those games.
I have never felt Fulmer …
One More Year Not rated yet
There is no doubt that Tennessee football is not where everyone wants it to be. However, not many programs manage to escape down years.
I don't think …
Vols Fan for 40 years Not rated yet
If I can see that we are still doing the same plays over and over, Don't you think the other side can too.
I talked with a player that has been gone …
UT Needs Fresh Start -- Top to Bottom Not rated yet
Fulmer has lost his edge in most areas of the game.
He has won very few of the Big games. As a person Phil is above repraoch, but it is time for a …
Passion Not rated yet
I only wish Fulmer burned with passion to see us do well.
I have been in sales for over 25 years and sometimes I still can't sleep for being excited …
Phil Fulmer is OK Not rated yet
Phil is ok. you have to coach a qb. the boy can't even call an audible when an opposing team shows blitz. mistakes are too common on the o line. too …
Fulmer Shouldn't Go Not rated yet
After 17 seasons with Tennessee and only two losing seasons, that isn't that bad.
yeah we shouldn't be in a losing season but hey it happens! Fulmer …
All too often.... Not rated yet
Coaches and Players don't know when it's time to say goodbye! I have respected Phillip Fulmer, he has run a respectable program and had very little turmoil …
Losing Season = New Coach Not rated yet
I watched the Bama game. I don't see how any team can punt the football on fourth down and one when they are down by 20 in the 3rd quarter. This and many …
Time For New Life in UT Football Not rated yet
I'd like to see Philip Fulmer gone. I appreciate everything he's done for us over the years, but it's time to move on.
Part of the reason the winning …
Fulmer Cannot Control His Players Not rated yet
One broadcaster during the UT - Bama game said he did not know what the problem was for the Vols. However, it wasn't a lack of talent. Fulmer has done …
This is a Recruiting Problem Not rated yet
I think it's safe to say that David Cutcliff saw the writing on the wall. I blame this on recruiting. These QB's look like a deer in headlights. They can't …
Mike Hamilton Will Not Fire Coach Fulmer Not rated yet
Mike Hamilton is not going to fire Coach Fulmer even in the event he loses the rest of the games this season. Fulmer can coach at UT as long as he wants …
Fire Phil Fulmer? Let's Wait and See What Happens Not rated yet
I think you hit the nail on the head - i think the underlying message here - is let's wait and see what happens -
i do know as a die hard Tennessee …
Cutcliffe For Head Coach Not rated yet
I think it is about time we get rid of Fulmer and bring in Cutcliffe. Look at what he is doing with Duke. It is incredible.
You can see that our offense …
10 year life span Not rated yet
The coaching life span at one place has dropped to about 10 years in cfb. You dont have coaches staying in one place for 25-30 years like they did in the …
Time for a new coach Not rated yet
Fulmer has never been the same since winning the national championship. He's sat back on his butt, and collected a pay check.
With everything Tennessee …
cutcliffe might not be the answer but look at the numbers Not rated yet
While Cutcliffe was at Tennessee we had our Winning Seasons. The BCS Championship, The SEC title and just getting to the SEC title game.
When Cutcliffe …
Numbers Speak For Themselves: Fulmer Must Go Not rated yet
I think the numbers speak for themselves. UT doesn't beat the good teams enough.
Fulmer has all the tools, money and recruits but it isn't happening. …
Fulmer Bottom Half of SEC -- At Best Not rated yet
I think he has to go - at best his coaching skills land him in the lower half of the SEC coaches (SEC has continued to improve while Coach Fulmer has not) …
Don't Fire Fulmer -- He's the Father of the Great Orange Nation Not rated yet
Everyone blames someone, so it must be the coach. Coaches have 40% of what goes on the field, and rest is up to the player. All these comments I here …
Fulmer Fan Says Game Has Left Him Behind Not rated yet
I think he needs to go...accept a promotion upward or something. He's done good things but nothing lately.
One of the biggest things is the discipline …
VERY UPSET TENNESSEE FAN Not rated yet
FULMER NEEDS TO GO. HE CAN'T COACH ANYMORE BECAUSE HIS PLAYERS DO NOT CARE, AND THEY DO NOT RESPECT HIM.
They are not winning because they have NO …
We lost again - beaten by Georgia Not rated yet
I am a life time devoted VOL Fan and am very dissatisfied with this Coach Fulmer issue. We need to be getting a new up-to-date coach that can keep up with …
Phil Fumble Not rated yet
Phil Fumble is doing a great job. Give him till 2012.
Y'all signed the contract, We love it!
Players punching the other teams players on the ground …
Fulmer needs to go Not rated yet
Fulmer needs to go. It is that simple. Barely beating Northern Illinois. I graduated from Ball State but grew up in Big Orange country and I can honestly …
Here are Three Videos From Fulmer's Press Conference where he accepts UT's decision that this will be his last season as head coach. The first video is Phil Fulmer's complete statement. The second is his emotional response to a reporter's question. The last one is a statement by two current Vol football players. All three videos are from the press conference on the day of the announcement. Importantly, this was before the terrible loss to Wyoming. That loss confirmed that it is time for Fulmer to move on.
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