I would only be in favor of Fulmer's return if we cannot find a big name coach who is worth the money he demands, i.e. a Gruden type hire.
I'd rather have Fulmer than Strong, Cutcliffe, or any other lesser coach. At least Fulmer loves UT and would require less money.
Everyone parrots the same tired talking-points against Fulmer, as if they were certain fact, but nothing can be further from the truth.
1. Fulmer lost his fire? Lost his drive?
What is the support for this? Do any of you have priveleged access to Fulmer's mental life? Not likely. Thus this point is preposterous.
2. Fulmer made our program decline? The game "passed him by"?
College football is cyclical. We were entering a downturn as other programs were becoming better. In retrospect, it was VERY hasty to fire Fulmer ONE year after winning the East and nearly the SECCG. Some of the recruiting classes near the end were disappointing, but no more disappointing than some other recent classes. We got impatient and now we are suffering through true mediocrity with Dooley.
3. Wyoming?
This game was the week after Fulmer was fired. Nobody was up or motivated for that game, and why would they be? If you think this is actually a good argument against Fulmer then I question your reasoning abilities. Had Fulmer not been fired at that time, Tennessee easily beats Wyoming and goes to a bowl game that year, setting up a potential winning season. Apparently our administration has settled with far lower expectations than that with Dooley. But, of course, some are so vapid as to assume that the simple mention of the word "Wyoming" is a knock-down argument against Fulmer's coaching abilities. Pitiful.
Fulmer is not the ideal hire by any stretch of the imagination, but he actually would not be as awful as some here think he would be. Nor was he as bad near the end of his tenure as some here would suggest.
