Comments from Schaeffer and Ainge

[Freak]

Has anyone else heard how these guys keep praising Sanders? Are they just being big time suck ups or what?

 

[GIVEHIM-6]

I'm thinkin suck-ups

 

[Volstorm]

Let's face it, they don't know any better.

 

[copper2]

:question: suck-ups. :lol:

 

[Vol67]

They don't know any better, but they'll soon learn.

 

[volmanjr]

Hey, they're freshmen competing for the top spot of course it's sucking up, combined with the fact that they don't know any better. :stooges:

 

[samanderson]

What do you expect them to do??????? For gosh sakes, they are probably asked by every media person around what they think of Sanders because the predominantly "less than thrilled with Sanders" feeling among Vol fans ain't no secret. Any media person would love a scoop wherein one of the fellows inkles a smidgin of dissatisfaction with Sanders. BUT, THAT JUST AIN'T GOING TO HAPPEN!!!!! They aren't sucking up. They are doing the only possible thing they can do. They are being diplomatic.

Think about it. Would you expect either of the guys to say:

"I think Sanders is far more dense than lead, and am just stunned that a program with UT'S prestige would hire him and then, for Heavens sake, keep him on this long. I grimace every time I think about him thinking he is actually tutoring me for the next four years because I already know more about football and playing quarterback than he does or ever will. But hey, I plan to pretend that I'm listening to him, and then I'll just go out there, take charge of the team and do my own thing. That way we'll win and Sanders will look good. If I hadn't figured that much out I'd never signed with Tennessee. Looking at it that way, I can tolerate being around him so long as he doesn't start bugging me about not running any of the hair brain plays he sends in. Don't worry. I'll handle Sanders because I like it here. What worries me the most, though, is how this program will be able to survive after I graduate and head on to the pro's. Sanders can't always count on having someone of my caliber around year after year. Anyway, I gotta run. You have a good day, and let's keep what I just said between you and me, okay?"

They both might think exactly as such, but I surely wouldn't want to hear them say it. And they won't.

Friends, Sanders will be offensive coordinator as long as coach Fulmer isn't under the gun with the AD and big time donors. If he has a season with only six or seven wins, Sanders will be history. Back to back seasons like that will make Fulmer history, and I for one will be deeply saddened should that come to be. I have avidly followed the Vols since the age of 12 which means I have seen the best of times as well as the worst of times. I just hope the Sanders issue doesn't become so nasty that it snowballs us back to another "worst of times" era. Please bear with me as I atempt to explain.

Fulmer has produced as a coach and has spoiled a good many vol fans. I remember the "drought years" when Bill Battle took over from Doug Dickey, and in three years let one of the best programs in the country drop below mediocrity. Johnny Majors was hired after Battle was fired, and it took Majors just about forever to have a seven game winning season with a bowl invite to go along with it. Believe it or not, those unspectacular winning seasons and and ho-hum bowls under Majors felt like heavan. Majors even took us to the Sugar Bowl and we clobbered Miami when they had Testaverde. Majors, though, never maintained the consistency that Fulmer has with his teams. Fulmer took this program to the next level--that elite level. He did it with superb recruiting, and remaining intensely loyal to his assistant coaches. Simply put, that has been the formula which has made some remarkable seasons possible for us UT fanatics. I worry about what might happen if the loyalty part of Fulmer's success formula is disrupted. And, his giving Sanders the boot would be a big disruption of the loyalty factor in Fulmer's mind.

I am not taking up for Sanders here in any form or fashion. I have found him quite underwhelming ever since we won the national championship in the Fiesta Bowl. I hesitate, though, to scream for his scalp because I fear there might be negative ramifications and damage to the "esprit de corps" that Fulmer has managed to maintain with his coaching staff. And, I would probably slip into clinical depression should I once again witness the program slip completely off the radar screen as it did at the beginning of the 70's after Doug Dickey departed from UT to coach the Gators in Gainsville.

I have no doubt that Fulmer knows he could easily bring in a big time, hot shot offensive coordinator to replace Sanders. Sticking to his guns on the loyalty issue is the only reason I can come up with for his not doing so. And, I can't fault or bad mouth Fulmer for whatever reason it might be that makes him choose to keep Sanders on his staff. I'm not prone to question too many things that Fulmer does as long as he keeps the program reasonably in the hunt for a championship. Considering the pressures to win at all the big programs around thje country and the ever increasing caliber of competition he faces, I think ol' Phil has done a pretty darn good job at a place where not many folks are easy to please if miracles aren't performed on a highly regular basis. Let's just not forget all he has done when those times roll around wherein no miracles can be produced. The greatest coaches of all times have had those seasons. Look at the legendary Joe Paterno. Even Spurrier went through some lean times.

If you are still reading I appreciate your bearing with me. I have been wanting to articulate all this for a long time.

 

[Volstorm]

Usually we just complain as we go along, but hey your way works too.

 

[Freak]

Hey SamAnderson. Long time no see. Glad to see you back around. Don't be a stranger.

 

[Vol67]

I've held off but here goes. Loyalty on goes so far and with Sanders it has went too far! I've seen better coaches in little league than him and while we are at it why did Tee Martin Regress as a SR. and why did Clausen Fail to get better after his 2 year? If Fulmer can go get a big time OC then it is past time he should have done. Right now its time for Sander, Washington (only reason he is still their is because of his wife's relationship with MRS. Fulmer) and Stephens to be gone. Slade is looking shaky to me also, will wait and see how the DB's perform this year. And I also remember the Battle years and I also remember Dickey stbbing UT in the back with the way he left, and I also remember when Dickey came. I also see this offensive coaching staff a failing to mantain pride and excellence on the field.

 

[GIVEHIM-6]

Originally posted by TNVOLS1@Aug 26, 2004 1:08 AM
I've held off but here goes. Loyalty on goes so far and with Sanders it has went too far! I've seen better coaches in little league than him and while we are at it why did Tee Martin Regress as a SR. and why did Clausen Fail to get better after his 2 year? If Fulmer can go get a big time OC then it is past time he should have done. Right now its time for Sander, Washington (only reason he is still their is because of his wife's relationship with MRS. Fulmer) and Stephens to be gone. Slade is looking shaky to me also, will wait and see how the DB's perform this year. And I also remember the Battle years and I also remember Dickey stbbing UT in the back with the way he left, and I also remember when Dickey came. I also see this offensive coaching staff a failing to mantain pride and excellence on the field.

Ya feel any better now?I agree that Sanders needs to go,I think he's keeping us from being a solid program.It's time to change our offense and get some new looks.

 

[volmanjr]

Hey guys Fulmer may carry his loyalty too far and yes Sanders needs to go but lets face it Sanders will be there until we don't make to a bowl end of story... i don't think however that it will affect Fullmer that much (that decsion will come from above his head) and he'll keep things going in the right direction because one of his greatest strengths is recruiting (he recruited all of Major's talent (which he sqandered)) so the stable will be full for whoever takes Col. Sander's place (I've got a chicken that plays tic tac toe that could pick plays as well as he does).

 

[allvol]

I agree that Sanders needs to go. But I would like to be a little more realistic and throw out a couple of comments. Tee Martin's "regression" in 1999 was only slight and due more to the shoulder injury he sustained against Florida (cheapshot by Brown out of bounds) than anything else. The current freshman quarterbacks at UT don't know enough about other college coaches to know that Sanders is lacking. Why would they have chosen Tennessee if they thought the offensive coordinator was a moron? The problem with Sanders compounds annually. In 1999, the Vols were still in contention late in the season until the defense gave up a 2 touchdown lead late against Arkansas. 2000... breaking in a new quarterback. In 2001, again on the brink of a national championship when the Vols lost to LSU in the SEC title game. Again, the defense blowing a lead late in the game... albeit the offense should have scored more points before the 4th quarter. 2002 was a huge disappointment and what looked to be a great finish to 2003 ended in a very dissappointing bowl loss. The steady and gradual decline in rush offense and scoring offense shows that Sanders has refused to innovate, create new opportunities and the offense has become more predictable than it already was before he became offensive coordinator. I think that Sanders is still calling games exactly like he did in 1999.... same style as he learned under Cutcliffe in 1998. The only way Sanders will come out looking good is if a running back or quarterback develops into an all-american candidate that the offense can ride. I'm sorry but Houston and Davis just don't have it. Travis Stephens had more heart than those guys put together. Maybe Riggs and Larkins can give the one-two punch at RB that has been missing since the late 90's?

my :twocents:

 

[VinnyWho]

My 2 cents... I will admit there are times I wonder about the offensive scheme ... but my complaints are more with the style of play and less the play calls... here are my hopes for this year-
(1). O-Line actually come off the ball with flat back and open up some holes for our BACK...the past two years have been an execution on "how to use the get in the way of everybody and block no one"

(2) "BACK" leads me to this point...Get a starter and keep him back there no running game by commity... 8 touches a game does not give you a feel for the game... what I mean by that is besides having good eyes to find the openings, getting a feel where the defense is over pursuing...or under pursuing sets up future runs before you even get the ball (hard to explain but if you have run the ball before you know what I mean)

(3) Get the fullback position developed... The key to an I is depedent on how good your fullback is... I really do not mean a run threat but blocking and catching...

 

[volmanjr]

same style as he learned under Cutcliffe in 1998. The only way Sanders will come out looking good is if a running back or quarterback develops into an all-american candidate that the offense can ride. I'm sorry but Houston and Davis just don't have it. Travis Stephens had more heart than those guys put together. Maybe Riggs and Larkins can give the one-two punch at RB that has been missing since the late 90's?

Amen- Sanders called the NC game but all he did was regurdutate(spell?) Cutcliffs game plan. and Heart is exactly what's been missing from the entire offense for a while, I'm sure there is one beating we just need some team leaders to grab the paddles give it a good jolt!...CLEAR!!!!

 

[volmanjr]

1). O-Line actually come off the ball with flat back and open up some holes for our BACK...the past two years have been an execution on "how to use the get in the way of everybody and block no one"

Get the fullback position developed... The key to an I is depedent on how good your fullback is... I really do not mean a run threat but blocking and catching...

Can I get another amen! you need a back that can break tackles but thats hard to do when you're being grabbed from both sides by half blocked defenders ...the hole doesn't have to be big enough to dry a truck through (although the bigger the better) but it needs to be held open not matter what size it is. and as for fullbacks and blocking What did the General say "Touchdowns follows blocking just the night follows the day" ( or was it day follows night :question: ...any way you get the drift).

 

[samanderson]

I, too, agree that Sanders should get the boot. I hope I didn't come across as defending him as a good OC. What you read was the thought process of justification I have used to keep from going insane while watching a potentially loaded offense that keeps on going on the field and shooting blanks. And it is really frustrating!!! The fact that we will have to witness a humiliating season, say a loss to Vanderbilt that drops us below 500, before Sanders is history really hurts.

On the other hand, I would hate to lose Fulmer in spite of the fact that his "loyalty" thing is the reason that Sanders is still here.

I often wonder if Sanders is completely oblivious to how greatly he is despised. I, for one, could never hang around and pretend to be coaching if I suspected that somewhere around 106,999 people in the stadium alone despised me every time we played at home. Assuming Sanders knows we want him to exit at once, how can he stand to show up on game day??? He is either mentally challenged or possesses more guts than we are giving him credit for.

 

[LadyinOrange]

According to a fellow Vol fan I work with, Sanders is just an extension of Fulmer. He says Sanders will have a play drawn out and CPF will veto it.

:dunno:

If we can't get rid of Sanders, can we at least get John Ward back??

:blink:

 

[Freak]

I agree with your friend LIO. It's Fulmer's offense and he limits what Sanders does. I am not saying that Sanders is qualified for the job because he's not but what you see is Fulmer. Like it or not, that's the way it is and that's the way Fulmer likes it. Otherwise he could go out and hire a high profile coach, but he never will.

 

[volmanjr]

are you suggesting that Fulmer is a control freak? yeah you're probably right... and with the complaints and gripes from fans (me included) U.T. is a winning program ... and it will take at least 2 disastrous seasons to change the status quo

 

[Vol67]

Alot of people say that Fulmer controls Sanders and the Same amount of people say he doesn't. According to ole fatty himself the gameplan is by committee and that is really scary, just to think UT's coaches are that dumb, maybe Trooper will shake the tree. The bad part is not being able to run the ball which is very bad but the stupid penalties and the TO because the Offense cannot line up right, that goes right back to the OC.

How can anyone with any self-esteem allow someone to make an @$$ out of them to the whole state as Sanders has let Fulmer do to him the last 4 years.

 

[allvol]

Originally posted by vol_freak@Aug 26, 2004 5:26 PM
It's Fulmer's offense and he limits what Sanders does.

Sanders needs to step up and be a man then. Cutcliffe had some freedom to innovate and Sanders was there to see how things went then. If Sanders is just a "yes-man" then I still blame Sanders.

 

[volmanjr]

If Sanders is just a "yes-man" then I still blame Sanders

Amen- can you here the sucking noise everytime you see Sanders and Fullmer together? :shakeit: :shakeit: :shakeit:

 

[GIVEHIM-6]

That's just it ,Cutcliffe had some pull around there.

 

[volmanjr]

Get the fullback position developed

Where is a Shawn Bryson or Will Bartholowmew(spell? you guys know who I'm talking about) when you need one?