FULMER - Due Respect!…..

[chuck0303]

We're the ones who were on the wrong end of that sabbatical.

 

[BernardKingGOAT]

We're the ones who were on the wrong end of that sabbatical.

As long as I've been a fan (57 years), I've really never felt we were on the wrong end of anything, except Dickey's ignorance/distaste for men's basketball.

 

[#1fulmerite]

I never will forget the pride in coach Fulmers face and demeanor when he was introduced as the AD! It was awesome! And, how he brought Vicki into the fold. Coach came home that day!

 

[GAVol]

WTH have you been smoking? No effin way was Kiffin the "rockstar" hire. Only the Villge idiots were "on board".

Not the way I remember it. He wasn’t the first choice, but I think most fans were thinking that hiring a successful coordinator with NFL head coaching experience wasn’t a bad move.

 

[GAVol]

Said the right things with a preschooler's grammar. I'm not really joking here when I say he likely didn't get the HC jobs he had interviewed for prior to landing THCAUT, because of his remarkably poor grammar. He was in the final 3 at Mississippi State and a couple of other places

I’ll never understand how Pruitt was taken seriously in an interview.

 

[LWSVOL]

Split 99-08 into 99-04 and 05-08 and it doesn't look so flattering. And his record against Tuberville, Saban, Meyer, Spurrier, and Richt wasn't exactly inspiring confidence that he was about to turn it all around.

He was not going to turn it around to 90s results. That was history. You named the reasons those programs were rising to Tennessee's level. They hired better coaches and started keeping talent home (LSU and Carolina also) that Tennessee thrived on on the 90s. That is why others caught up, not Tennessee falling to their level.

He had the number three ranked recruiting class when fired with three more months left in recruiting cycle. There were things that pointed to a rebound but Hamilton already had his golden boy coach in hand when firing occured.

I'm speculating on what things would look like with Fulmer staying on. We all have seen the result of his leaving. At the time, I felt like he needed to leave. The fan base had given up on him as evidenced by the 35k Bama fans in Neyland and all the grumbling. The way it was handled though was terrible and why after Kiffin left, several coaches refused to discuss job.

 

[OffTackleVol]

peoples perspectives are different..

93-98 record was 63-7 (won't see at UT again in our lifetime, you and me).

99-08 record was 85-39 (your words, "running it into the ground") which we all would love to have seen these last 15 years.

09-23 record has been 90-81 since Hamilton fired Fulmer. Debates will rage long after you and I are gone who is to blame for this period. You likely blame Fulmer while I will blame Hamilton / Haslam. Hamilton doesn't make it happen without Haslam blessing.

We are all different and opinions differ based on our knowledge learned.

That 6 year record of 63-7 is remarkable, especially considering regular seasons only consisted of 11 games.

 

[Brave Volunteer]

I’ll never understand how Pruitt was taken seriously in an interview.

Ok I'm going to defend Fulmer here in one sense. At the time he was interviewing coaching candidates, its not like he had a ton of options. The UT fanbase had just WILLED the cancelation of Schiano as new head coach, our prior AD went rogue and started talking to candidates unbeknownst to our administration, which got him fired, and the program overall was about as Radioactive as it could get. No coach worth their salt would've gotten within 1000 miles of our program at that time. Fulmer was tasked with choosing a head coach at a time when the program was in its most duress, perhaps ever! So it was down to Pruitt and Steele and the Alabama/Saban pedigree of Pruitt couldn't be ignored. I blame Fulmer for a lot but choosing Pruitt isn't one of them.

 

[Brave Volunteer]

He was not going to turn it around to 90s results. That was history. You named the reasons those programs were rising to Tennessee's level. They hired better coaches and started keeping talent home (LSU and Carolina also) that Tennessee thrived on on the 90s. That is why others caught up, not Tennessee falling to their level.

He had the number three ranked recruiting class when fired with three more months left in recruiting cycle. There were things that pointed to a rebound but Hamilton already had his golden boy coach in hand when firing occured.

I'm speculating on what things would look like with Fulmer staying on. We all have seen the result of his leaving. At the time, I felt like he needed to leave. The fan base had given up on him as evidenced by the 35k Bama fans in Neyland and all the grumbling. The way it was handled though was terrible and why after Kiffin left, several coaches refused to discuss job.

Here's what I keep coming back to with Fulmer and the state of the program when he was fired. In 2009, Kiffin was forced to start not one, but TWO undersized walk on O-linemen because we had no better options. That **** happened under Fulmer's watch! A position group he played himself and prided himself on always being strong! The truly great coaches do not let things like that happen at major programs like ours! On top of that, Kiffin also had to start a former walk on at middle linebacker because we had no one better! I dont care how good the signing class was looking in 08, you don't let talent depletion get that severe if you're running a strong program!

 

[ptcarter]

I agree he deserves respect and he was an above average coach, but he was a GREAT recruiter. The talent level was always excellent under Fulmer. He got outcoached several times, but all coaches do. Always remember, Coach Fulmer said an Athletic Director at UT would always be defined by his hiring of the football coach. He hired Pruitt and everyone acted like Fulmer was not even connected to that mess, and he was. Also, Phil never left UT that he was not paid for years after exiting (even after the Pruitt debacle). Excellent coach with questionable scruples

I don't question his "scruples" that much. His job descriptions mean that he swims in a sea of other fish that all have buyout clauses in their contracts. This is an industry where there is a reward like hitting the lottery for screwing up. Not a world I live in, however think of the buyouts in play at ____________ fill in the blank with about any competitive FBS school. (Start with Auburn and go from there). I don't hold that against him. He had a good agent, that's all.

 

[LWSVOL]

That 6 year record of 63-7 is remarkable, especially considering regular seasons only consisted of 11 games.

it is. and the chances of that happening again very remote.

 

[GAVol]

Ok I'm going to defend Fulmer here in one sense. At the time he was interviewing coaching candidates, its not like he had a ton of options. The UT fanbase had just WILLED the cancelation of Schiano as new head coach, our prior AD went rogue and started talking to candidates unbeknownst to our administration, which got him fired, and the program overall was about as Radioactive as it could get. No coach worth their salt would've gotten within 1000 miles of our program at that time. Fulmer was tasked with choosing a head coach at a time when the program was in its most duress, perhaps ever! So it was down to Pruitt and Steele and the Alabama/Saban pedigree of Pruitt couldn't be ignored. I blame Fulmer for a lot but choosing Pruitt isn't one of them.

Pretty sure Mel Tucker was a finalist also.

 

[TNnative]

Not the way I remember it. He wasn’t the first choice, but I think most fans were thinking that hiring a successful coordinator with NFL head coaching experience wasn’t a bad move.

Yean, but Al Davis warned us, and nobody at UT listened. To say Kiffin has character is like saying the sky is red. It just ain't true.

 

[swampfoxfan]

The respect he was due came in the dollars he was paid.

 

[Brave Volunteer]

Pretty sure Mel Tucker was a finalist also.

That would've been amazing! But to be fair, who exactly WAS Mel Tucker in 2017?

 

[TNnative]

Ok I'm going to defend Fulmer here in one sense. At the time he was interviewing coaching candidates, its not like he had a ton of options. The UT fanbase had just WILLED the cancelation of Schiano as new head coach, our prior AD went rogue and started talking to candidates unbeknownst to our administration, which got him fired, and the program overall was about as Radioactive as it could get. No coach worth their salt would've gotten within 1000 miles of our program at that time. Fulmer was tasked with choosing a head coach at a time when the program was in its most duress, perhaps ever! So it was down to Pruitt and Steele and the Alabama/Saban pedigree of Pruitt couldn't be ignored. I blame Fulmer for a lot but choosing Pruitt isn't one of them.

I remember the night Schiano was announced as being hired by Tennessee on ESPN. And I also remember 36 hours before that announcement Schiano being considered on this site, and on VolQuest (according to someone I know who subscribed to it.) At the time, Fulmer was serving in a specially created position at the University. If you believe he was not fully aware of the plan to offer Schiano? I can't help you.

IMO, that whole fiasco with the leaked info was done to get rid of John Currie, and pave the way to hire Fulmer. The whole thing was planned. And it worked. Sadly, it turned out that Fulmer was just as competent as an AD as he was at being a coach in his last four years.

 

[LWSVOL]

Here's what I keep coming back to with Fulmer and the state of the program when he was fired. In 2009, Kiffin was forced to start not one, but TWO undersized walk on O-linemen because we had no better options. That **** happened under Fulmer's watch! A position group he played himself and prided himself on always being strong! The truly great coaches do not let things like that happen at major programs like ours! On top of that, Kiffin also had to start a former walk on at middle linebacker because we had no one better! I dont care how good the signing class was looking in 08, you don't let talent depletion get that severe if you're running a strong program!

Kiffin chose to start two walk-ons. Here are the other OL on that roster.

Senior Chris Scott - played in the NFL
Freshman - Aaron Douglas
Sophomore - Cody Pope
Freshman - Daniel Hood
Freshman - JerQuari Schofield
Junior - Jarrod Shaw - played in the NFL
Sophomore - Dallas Thomas - played in the NFL
Senior - Jacques McClendon - played in the NFL
Sophomore - William Brimfield
Junior - Victor Thomas
Senior - Vlade Richard
Senior - Josh McNeil

I don't recall the reason Kiffin started the Sullins boys but I question if he was forced to start them or not. I do recall the Sullins boys being praised for their hard work in preparing to play. There were several options in the list above.. the media guide from 2010 had McClendon, Douglas and Scott as the other starters (starters being those that started the most games at a position). Shaw and Thomas both started in 2010.

If you have information on why he started them would love to hear it.

 

[LWSVOL]

Ok I'm going to defend Fulmer here in one sense. At the time he was interviewing coaching candidates, its not like he had a ton of options. The UT fanbase had just WILLED the cancelation of Schiano as new head coach, our prior AD went rogue and started talking to candidates unbeknownst to our administration, which got him fired, and the program overall was about as Radioactive as it could get. No coach worth their salt would've gotten within 1000 miles of our program at that time. Fulmer was tasked with choosing a head coach at a time when the program was in its most duress, perhaps ever! So it was down to Pruitt and Steele and the Alabama/Saban pedigree of Pruitt couldn't be ignored. I blame Fulmer for a lot but choosing Pruitt isn't one of them.

Fulmer had 3 options as he was being push to get a hire made after Currie had strung the thing out so long and so badly. He talked to Pruitt, Tucker and Steele. He wanted Tucker but lacked enough support to get him hired and had Pruitt pushed on him.

no need to speculate on how things would turn out if Tucker was the coach instead of Pruitt. Impossible to know

 

[GiveHim6InSC]

I think he was a great coach and person. I still remember the press conference and how he looked like he could tear somebody’s face off, he was so mad. I watched him closely during his last game, and the tears I saw were from a man who fiercely loves Tennessee.
That said, I questioned the hiring as AD and still don’t think that was a good move but, compared to Hamilton and Currie, I thought it could have been worse.
I hope he continues to be involved with the University and enjoys his retirement. I’m thankful the program is where it is in all sports and look forward to the future.
GB

 

[LWSVOL]

I think he was a great coach and person. I still remember the press conference and how he looked like he could tear somebody’s face off, he was so mad. I watched him closely during his last game, and the tears I saw were from a man who fiercely loves Tennessee.
That said, I questioned the hiring as AD and still don’t think that was a good move but, compared to Hamilton and Currie, I thought it could have been worse.
I hope he continues to be involved with the University and enjoys his retirement. I’m thankful the program is where it is in all sports and look forward to the future.
GB

He has an open invitation from the current staff to come over anytime.

 

[Boston Vol]

Kiffin chose to start two walk-ons. Here are the other OL on that roster.

Senior Chris Scott - played in the NFL
Freshman - Aaron Douglas
Sophomore - Cody Pope
Freshman - Daniel Hood
Freshman - JerQuari Schofield
Junior - Jarrod Shaw - played in the NFL
Sophomore - Dallas Thomas - played in the NFL
Senior - Jacques McClendon - played in the NFL
Sophomore - William Brimfield
Junior - Victor Thomas
Senior - Vlade Richard
Senior - Josh McNeil

I don't recall the reason Kiffin started the Sullins boys but I question if he was forced to start them or not. I do recall the Sullins boys being praised for their hard work in preparing to play. There were several options in the list above.. the media guide from 2010 had McClendon, Douglas and Scott as the other starters (starters being those that started the most games at a position). Shaw and Thomas both started in 2010.

If you have information on why he started them would love to hear it.

Josh McNeil was injured and didn’t play at all that season. Had he been healthy, he would have been the starting center.

 

[TNnative]

Fulmer had 3 options as he was being push to get a hire made after Currie had strung the thing out so long and so badly. He talked to Pruitt, Tucker and Steele. He wanted Tucker but lacked enough support to get him hired and had Pruitt pushed on him.

no need to speculate on how things would turn out if Tucker was the coach instead of Pruitt. Impossible to know

Well, the most obvious thing about Tucker would have been breaking the color barrier for the HC position. But, and this is just my opinion on it. Had we gotten Tucker or Steele? Fulmer would have still been pulling the strings. And? It would have gone just as sour with them.

 

[Boston Vol]

Not the way I remember it. He wasn’t the first choice, but I think most fans were thinking that hiring a successful coordinator with NFL head coaching experience wasn’t a bad move.

I wasn’t thrilled with the hire, I wanted Brian Kelly. But I won’t lie, after the staff that Kiffin put together and the way they finished off the 2009 recruiting class, I was all in.

 

[LWSVOL]

Josh McNeil was injured and didn’t play at all that season. Had he been healthy, he would have been the starting center.

I did suspect that was reason he was out was injury. Knew Josh and did recall he had some issues but was not "certain" of when.

Thanks

 

[LWSVOL]

Well, the most obvious thing about Tucker would have been breaking the color barrier for the HC position. But, and this is just my opinion on it. Had we gotten Tucker or Steele? Fulmer would have still been pulling the strings. And? It would have gone just as sour with them.

would appreciate your background on Fulmer "pulling the strings". What exactly does that mean?? Details would be great.

Thank you in advance.