Fulmer debate extravaganza (merged)

[rexvol]

good to hear you say that Rex.

I can admit when Im wrong, just ask my wife. I will say this, however, I would like to see Phil shed the weight for a couple of reasons. #1 his health and #2 Ive always wondered how he can talk about self-discipline to his players and set that type of example.

 

[orange+white=heaven]

It's not like Fulmer is morbidly obese.

 

[volfanbill]

I can admit when Im wrong, just ask my wife. I will say this, however, I would like to see Phil shed the weight for a couple of reasons. #1 his health and #2 Ive always wondered how he can talk about self-discipline to his players and set that type of example.

well anyone that can see a picture of him from the late '90s /early 2000s and compare it today can see that he clearly has been losing weight over the past couple of years.

Plus, you don't see Phil out there getting busted for public intoxication, DUIs or rolling up a joint anywhere. He's a good guy that's not gotten Tennessee into any serious legal trouble, contributes to the university and several charities and has been on the right track health wise as of late. Overall I say he's one heck of a nice guy who I feel has lost his touch coaching football. There's no reason to worry about him not practicing what he preaches about self discipline.

 

[utvolpj]

I admit I was a little over the line calling him fat. But hell Im a Tennessee fan I fan call my coach fat. Im sorry if I angered some of you guys. I didn't mean to be classless.

go ahead but don't expect many to take your posts seriously. If that's all you have then it's probably better just to read

 

[tennfanatic]

go ahead but don't expect many to take your posts seriously. If that's all you have then it's probably better just to read

Dude I said I was sorry, do you get a kick out of trying to piss me off. It was a legit thread, I just shouldn't have called him fat.

 

[lawgator1]

WHen I saw the title I asasumed that LG started this thread. Let me say for the record that I have been one to poke fun at Phil's weight. After feeling very convicted I have made the commitment to never mention his weight again. Plus there's way too much material to have to go to something so obvious and classless.

I can admit when Im wrong, just ask my wife. I will say this, however, I would like to see Phil shed the weight for a couple of reasons. #1 his health and #2 Ive always wondered how he can talk about self-discipline to his players and set that type of example.

I haven't made a comment about his weight in awhile, and certainly haven't just flat out called him a name for a bit, either. I actually agree with your latter comments about his health and the fact that he cannot have much credibility demanding that the players work to strengthen themselves so much while he's so out of shape.

But, he's a grown man. He can carry the physique he wants. Tell you what, if he lost 50 pounds he could make a fortune doing some commercials for slimfast/subway, whoever. Give him a way to make enough money to, oh, I don't know, start a new career?

 

[tsvol06]

I would venture to say that 40% of the posters on this board over 40 are overweight probably even some that are on this very thread. The self discipline thing is stupid; the players know he is older and doesn't make money off of his athelticism. I think he wouldn't be able to preach self discipline if he say, came to work late every day, spent afternoons playing golf (like a current USCe and former GATOR coach).

 

[orange+white=heaven]

I'm surprised this merge took so long....

 

[Doe River Vol]

I normally am a fringe dweller on this board,the best vols site on the web as I can see.Your lame little comment has finally prompted a post. I notice you are from down in Greeneville,we are from Elizabethton,my son and I,we are true and faithful Vols fans and are so proud to have coach Fulmer as the mentor and leader of our student athletes.When my son was a freshman at EHS,football was his life,but not his grades.I sent coach Fulmer a letter asking for advise to help get Joeys additude in line.We received a letter of encouragement from coach Fulmer and a letter from an NFL rookie QB named Peyton Manning.Joey was so motivated that he eventually graduated with 3.5 and is now a proud member of U.S. Marine Corp.My initial responce was to offer you a knuckle sandwich so we could call you FAT-LIPPED,but decided to share a positive story to spread good will instead.

 

[orange+white=heaven]

I normally am a fringe dweller on this board,the best vols site on the web as I can see.Your lame little comment has finally prompted a post. I notice you are from down in Greeneville,we are from Elizabethton,my son and I,we are true and faithful Vols fans and are so proud to have coach Fulmer as the mentor and leader of our student athletes.When my son was a freshman at EHS,football was his life,but not his grades.I sent coach Fulmer a letter asking for advise to help get Joeys additude in line.We received a letter of encouragement from coach Fulmer and a letter from an NFL rookie QB named Peyton Manning.Joey was so motivated that he eventually graduated with 3.5 and is now a proud member of U.S. Marine Corp.My initial responce was to offer you a knuckle sandwich so we could call you FAT-LIPPED,but decided to share a positive story to spread good will instead.

Welcome to active membership in The Nation...

Nice story.

 

[BigPapaVol]

I would say that is debatable. Plus, given how many of the "regulars" or "GURU's" on this site consistenly bash the guy in almost every form and fashion I wouldn't think that this thread would be greeted with so much anamosity (sp?)

he might get bashed, but it's rarely this style ad hominem stuff.

 

[VolunteerHillbilly]

Getting to the gravemen, I do not see how the Vols can really expect to win the SEC in the next two-three years in light of the 2006 and 2008 recruiting classes. The program will have to consistently do a better job at player development and gameday coaching (two weak spots of late) than several rivals who have done a better job amassing talent of late. I do think a head coaching change will have the added benefit of wholesale changes on the defense staff. Get some people in there who can coach up what they've got, scheme their way out of a wet paper bag when they need to, and who are highly motivated to go on the road and recruit at the positions that they coach. JMO, of course.

 

[tennfanatic]

I normally am a fringe dweller on this board,the best vols site on the web as I can see.Your lame little comment has finally prompted a post. I notice you are from down in Greeneville,we are from Elizabethton,my son and I,we are true and faithful Vols fans and are so proud to have coach Fulmer as the mentor and leader of our student athletes.When my son was a freshman at EHS,football was his life,but not his grades.I sent coach Fulmer a letter asking for advise to help get Joeys additude in line.We received a letter of encouragement from coach Fulmer and a letter from an NFL rookie QB named Peyton Manning.Joey was so motivated that he eventually graduated with 3.5 and is now a proud member of U.S. Marine Corp.My initial responce was to offer you a knuckle sandwich so we could call you FAT-LIPPED,but decided to share a positive story to spread good will instead.

That really is a great story and Im sorry if I have pissed you off.

 

[VolunteerHillbilly]

Doe, I understand that you were responding to a personal attack but I can tell you that as a loyal Vol fan of 30+ years I don't give a hoot how nice of a guy the head football coach at UTK is (whoever he may be now or in the future), if said person cannot win the SEC in 9 years running then he needs to move on.

Give me a Bear-type guy who dominates the conference any day of the week.

 

[TennesseeT]

Getting to the gravemen, I do not see how the Vols can really expect to win the SEC in the next two-three years in light of the 2006 and 2008 recruiting classes. The program will have to consistently do a better job at player development and gameday coaching (two weak spots of late) than several rivals who have done a better job amassing talent of late. I do think a head coaching change will have the added benefit of wholesale changes on the defense staff. Get some people in there who can coach up what they've got, scheme their way out of a wet paper bag when they need to, and who are highly motivated to go on the road and recruit at the positions that they coach. JMO, of course.

You've been listening to Volunteers Hillbilly's rendition of "What's best for the program". Hope you enjoyed it because you'll hear it again reall soon.

 

[rexvol]

Plus, you don't see Phil out there getting busted for public intoxication, DUIs or rolling up a joint anywhere.

no, just his players.

 

[ShanMan]

Doe, I understand that you were responding to a personal attack but I can tell you that as a loyal Vol fan of 30+ years I don't give a hoot how nice of a guy the head football coach at UTK is (whoever he may be now or in the future), if said person cannot win the SEC in 9 years running then he needs to move on.

Give me a Bear-type guy who dominates the conference any day of the week.

I hear Larry Coker is looking for a HC position somewhere. Maybe he fits your mold. Winning games, drawing national exposure (and not all good) but running the program into the ground.

Id rather have a coach who is a balance of the two. A coach who helps develop UT athletes into productive citizens AND is able to compete for championships. I think Phil does an excellent job in character development, and isnt that far off in the other department either.

 

[VolunteerHillbilly]

I hear Larry Coker is looking for a HC position somewhere. Maybe he fits your mold. Winning games, drawing national exposure (and not all good) but running the program into the ground.

Id rather have a coach who is a balance of the two. A coach who helps develop UT athletes into productive citizens AND is able to compete for championships. I think Phil does an excellent job in character development, and isnt that far off in the other department either.

Judging by the legal and personal problems of many of Fulmer's high profile former players I am not sure that this is really an area in which he excels. If you're going to credit him for the good ones you have to discredit for the bad apples. Or you can just be a two-faced hypocrite.

Every coach in the SEC "competes" for a championship. I'm ready for a winner. 9 years is too dang long for any self-respecting program to wait.

 

[tennfanatic]

Even though I have said some things about coach Fulmer's weight, I dont dislike him. I want him to succeed but when its been 10 years without winning an SEC title you have to question if he should be our coach. Hopefully the coaching changes hes has made will give our program a lift and he can continue to be our coach. Fulmer has to completely give the reigns to Clawson because Fulmer is a control freak when it comes to the offense.

 

[TreeGreen]

I like Fulmer, I really do, but at the same time I really want the Vols to finally win something. I think this year is set-up for us to surprise some people, and if he doesn't, we may not get another shot for a few more seasons. Phil works in a Johnny-come-lately profession, and if he cannot get it done in the next 4 years or so I really wish he'd just retire. I don't want to see him get canned, but I don't want him hanging around like Joe Pa doing a whole lot of nothing.

 

[TheDeeble]

I like Fulmer, I really do, but at the same time I really want the Vols to finally win something. I think this year is set-up for us to surprise some people, and if he doesn't, we may not get another shot for a few more seasons. Phil works in a Johnny-come-lately profession, and if he cannot get it done in the next 4 years or so I really wish he'd just retire. I don't want to see him get canned, but I don't want him hanging around like Joe Pa doing a whole lot of nothing.

Phil isn't going anywhere (unfortunately). He's getting paid several million dollars with, what appears to be, very little expectation of actually winning the SEC from a large portion of our fanbase. Our AD who publically stated that the expectations are two SEC Championships every 10 years, has completely backed off that and appears to be nothing more than a Fulmer chum happily giving him raises for accomplishing nothing.

To many people by into his excuses and are content to lose to good teams "by a couple of plays."

Sad.

 

[VolunteerHillbilly]

The UTAD is betting the farm that 104,000+ will happily fork over their contributions and fill the stands for the pleasure of seeing Phillip break the General's record by beating up on non-BCS schools and the cellar dwellers of the SEC. I don't think any of those people care about winning the conference any more. Get dontations. Sell tickets. Hope for a big check from the SEC each spring thanks to some other conference team playing in the BCSCG. That's about the extent of their aspirations as far as I can tell.

 

[vol_in_ar]

The UTAD is betting the farm that 104,000+ will happily fork over their contributions and fill the stands for the pleasure of seeing Phillip break the General's record by beating up on non-BCS schools and the cellar dwellers of the SEC. I don't think any of those people care about winning the conference any more. Get dontations. Sell tickets. Hope for a big check from the SEC each spring thanks to some other conference team playing in the BCSCG. That's about the extent of their aspirations as far as I can tell.

would that be the Athletic dep't or the 104,000+ fans

 

[MyBloodRunnethOrange]

Phil works in a Johnny-come-lately profession, and if he cannot get it done in the next 4 years or so I really wish he'd just retire.

It's funny. After the 05 debacle, people were on here saying that he should get another year or two to get us back on top. Now that those two years have come and gone with nothing to show for it, we are hearing that he should have another year or two, or three, or four. When will it stop?

 

[WA_Vol]

A good staff and lots of talent can hide a lot of faults in the head coach. I'm interested in how the new OC works out, what I've read sounds good.

However, Fulmer no longer has more talent then everyone else in the league save Florida. Georgia, LSU, and now Alabama will have as many talented players or more.

Chavis hasn't looked good of late. He doesn't seem to be able to coach well against a spread offensive scheme that are becoming more popular. I doubt he see's anything but that against Florida and Alabama as long as he's DC. It's not going to take long before the rest of the league figures out how to play against a Chavis coached defense.

The league continues to evolve and change, and you either stay in step or step aside, that's the bottom line.