Fulmer is still the best name.

#1,428
#1,428
VolsSportsFan said:
The point is this "Fulmer Loves UT" stuff is WAY overblown. I'm sure he loved the University in 2008 too.
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But how is it overblown? He played here, coached here, donated a lot of money here, and poured his heart and soul into the program. Yes, things went downhill near the end...but since then we kept going downhill and over a cliff!

I don't think anyone wants Fulmer back as their first choice. But if I have to choose between Fulmer, Petrino, Tressel, and Davis...I'm choosing Fulmer. One is a Tennessee legend we fired a season after winning the East, and the others were fired because of scandals.
 
#1,429
#1,429
I wonder what recruits like Todd Kelly Jr and the Berry twins would think of Fulmer being back as HC? Somehow I don't think it would turn out to be a bad thing. Someone on the TB show just stated Fulmers record VS the big boys in the SEC. Funny thing is now we don't beat ANY of those guys EVER. 1-3 or 3-4 or 5-8 does not sound bad compared to 0-15.
 
#1,431
#1,431
LebanonVolunteer said:
I wonder what recruits like Todd Kelly Jr and the Berry twins would think of Fulmer being back as HC? Somehow I don't think it would turn out to be a bad thing. Someone on the TB show just stated Fulmers record VS the big boys in the SEC. Funny thing is now we don't beat ANY of those guys EVER. 1-3 or 3-4 or 5-8 does not sound bad compared to 0-15.
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Here we go again. We get it, Dooley was really bad. Suggesting that we should bring back Fulmer just because he's better than Dooley says nothing. It's true about pretty much everyone.
 
#1,432
#1,432
VKAman said:
Here we go again. We get it, Dooley was really bad. Suggesting that we should bring back Fulmer just because he's better than Dooley says nothing. It's true about pretty much everyone.
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This. I can't stress this enough. It's like circular logic. People keep saying Fulmer would have done better than Dooley, no crap, the list is huge who would have done better than Dooley. Dooley likely will go down as the worst hire in UT history.

To me if you go back to Fulmer you're basically admitting we're fine with being average. Yes I know the reply is "Average is better than what we have now", again, big whoop. Those saying he'll bring stability....stability to what? Does anyone really believe Fulmer would only come in for a few seasons then give the reigns over to someone else? Heck no, you let him in, he's there until he's forced to leave again. And sure we go 7-5, 8-4 in the next few seasons that will be fine compared to what we just went through, but long term we're back to where we were when Fulmer was let go.

If everyone is fine with that, then by all means bring him back, just realize you're not getting the 90s Fulmer or SEC back.
 
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#1,434
#1,434
VolsSportsFan said:
It has been embarassing, and I guess at that point we'll go full embarrassment and go back to Fulmer.

Heck at this point I'm not sure Fulmer would take it back.
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I think we hit that point already .... 1 SEC win against Kentucky of all teams the only way it gets worse is if was Vandy.

Ohhh they beat us too.

How could I not see your point.
 
#1,436
#1,436
JoeKyleVol said:
We're getting what we deserve as a fan base, people. We were impatient, petulant, and spoiled for firing Fulmer too soon. Now we are reapinng the fruits of our foolishness.

The sense of pretentiousness and entitlement on this board is staggering, and the downright blasting of coaching candidates and cheering for certain coaches to turn us down is grossly stupid. Now look where we are :

Gruden turned us down. Patterson, Petersen, Fisher, Mora, and others declined interviews. Gundy turned us down, and it looks like Strong, and possibly Fedora will, too.

You all who were screeching harpies because "so and so" might be hired will all look very dumb if we hire someone so unknown and so unproven it makes your despised candidate look like a god.

Unless, by some grace of God, we luck out and hire Strong (and yes, we would be LUCKY to have Strong at this point), the rest of the coaching search (more like epic journey) does not bode well.

"But we are UT, we don't settle!" --Well, guess what, apparently most of the coaches we wanted to hire don't give a damn that we are Tennessee. Fulmer does, at least. Looks like we will be settling. Some of you act like these boosters should "Just offer some guy 6 million a year!" as if you should be the one spending their money.

It is time for us to get off of our "high horse", be humbled, and support whoever is hired. I would welcome Fulmer back in a heartbeat if we miss out on Strong or Fedora.
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A big piece of humble pie..

One of the best and most honest posts I've seen on this board.

You get 2 thumbs up :good!::good!:
 
#1,437
#1,437
VolsSportsFan said:
This. I can't stress this enough. It's like circular logic. People keep saying Fulmer would have done better than Dooley, no crap, the list is huge who would have done better than Dooley. Dooley likely will go down as the worst hire in UT history.

To me if you go back to Fulmer you're basically admitting we're fine with being average. Yes I know the reply is "Average is better than what we have now", again, big whoop. Those saying he'll bring stability....stability to what? Does anyone really believe Fulmer would only come in for a few seasons then give the reigns over to someone else? Heck no, you let him in, he's there until he's forced to leave again. And sure we go 7-5, 8-4 in the next few seasons that will be fine compared to what we just went through, but long term we're back to where we were when Fulmer was let go.

If everyone is fine with that, then by all means bring him back, just realize you're not getting the 90s Fulmer or SEC back.
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Your logic is twisted. How many years do we need to settle for 1or 2 SEC wins before we reach the coach that can drag us out. Remember 51' was the last year we won the NC before we won it again in 98'. If it's so easy just to win what happen all them years. And on top of that you realize only 2 coaches have won all 4 of our recognized NC.

Neyland in 38', 50' and 51'
Phillip Fulmer 98'

It's just not easy to win. And it's football any thing can happen any give Saturday. That's why we love college football.
 
#1,438
#1,438
With all this new coaching search debacle here is just something to debate. Phil gets criticized negatively on this board alot and in his last season I had grown quite impatient with his continued decline in coaching ability. However, we didn't realize how good we had it until we got hosed by Kiffin and then 3 agonizing years of Dooley who couldn't even beat his own meat without losing.

So could Fulmer returning be any worse than either of the last two coaches? I doubt it. Take Bill Snyder as an example, when he left Kansas St. in 2005 he had a record of 5-6. He then returned to Kansas St in 2009 to a terrible team and in his first year back he went 6-6, 7-6 in 2010, 10-3 in 2011, and now is 11-1 in 2012. Now I am fully aware that he is not in the SEC but he has returned Kansas St back to national prominence in his 3rd year back. I do think Coach Fulmer still has the fire in him to coach again and bleeds Orange. So could he come back with a newly found vigor and return our beloved VOLS back to the top of the polls?? We may never know but given the list of Candidates left I really am not excited about any of them other than Gruden and we know where he stands at the moment. I would love to see Coach Chavis back in the Orange & White before some of these other chodes. I do know our fans and now even the players are tired of this Coaching search and want an end to it very soon.

Here is Snyder's Coaching record from 2000 to the present. So I ask again could Fulmer recreate the magic as Snyder did with Kansas St.??


1999 Kansas State 11-1 .917
2000 Kansas State 11-3 .786
2001 Kansas State 6-6 .500
2002 Kansas State 11-2 .846
2003 Kansas State 11-4 .733
2004 Kansas State 4-7 .364
2005 Kansas State 5-6 .455
2009 Kansas State 6-6 .500
2010 Kansas State 7-6 .538
2011 Kansas State 10-3 .769
2012 Kansas State 11-1 .917
 
#1,439
#1,439
I will say I'd rather have fulmer back than hire strong for 4m/yr. Absolutely ridiculous amount of money that is less of a sure thing than fulmer.
 
#1,442
#1,442
No the difference is that when Snyder RETIRED...he was still winning.....Fulmer was FIRED and wasn't winning and his recruiting was suffering......so NO he cannot....now he could be a good AD...bc he would have TN best interest n place....
 
#1,445
#1,445
tallshortvol said:
I will say I'd rather have fulmer back than hire strong for 4m/yr. Absolutely ridiculous amount of money that is less of a sure thing than fulmer.
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Fulmer is a "sure thing". That's true. He is sure to have teams that are undisciplined on and off the field. He's sure to get UT badly behind in recruiting again. He is sure to surround himself with mediocre coaches that he likes and refuses to discipline. He's sure to clap on the sideline as UT gets blown out by its rivals on a consistent basis.

The guy was great in his day but didn't see the game pass him by. He refused to change with the game... and ruined his legacy.

IF this is your idea... then go after Sonny Dykes or someone like that. Go back and look at more NFL coordinators. Go after Fedora harder or even Butch Davis.

Bringing Fulmer back would be only slightly less stupid than hiring Tressel or Petrino.
 
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#1,446
#1,446
BigOrangeCrush32 said:
No the difference is that when Snyder RETIRED...he was still winning.....Fulmer was FIRED and wasn't winning and his recruiting was suffering......so NO he cannot....now he could be a good AD...bc he would have TN best interest n place....
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He had two losings seasons in a row, and then "retired."
 
#1,447
#1,447
BigOrangeCrush32 said:
No the difference is that when Snyder RETIRED...he was still winning.....Fulmer was FIRED and wasn't winning and his recruiting was suffering......so NO he cannot....now he could be a good AD...bc he would have TN best interest n place....
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2004 4-7 2-6 conference
2005 5-6 2-6 conference
Retired in 2006

He came back in 2009

They let him go out and retire. They handled the situation with much more class than Tennessee. They allowed him to retire instead of humiliating their coach in front of the world.
 
#1,448
#1,448
sjt18 said:
Fulmer is a "sure thing". That's true. He is sure to have teams that are undisciplined on and off the field. He's sure to get UT badly behind in recruiting again. He is sure to surround himself with mediocre coaches that he likes and refuses to discipline. He's sure to clap on the sideline as UT gets blown out by its rivals on a consistent basis.

The guy was great in his day but didn't see the game pass him by. He refused to change with the game... and ruined his legacy.

IF this is your idea... then go after Sonny Dykes or someone like that. Go back and look at more NFL coordinators. Go after Fedora harder or even Butch Davis.

Bringing Fulmer back would be only slightly less stupid than hiring Tressel or Petrino.
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Wow you convinced me.

This really sucked
2001 1st in east
2003 tied for 1st in the east
2004 1st in east
2007 1st in east (lost the SECCG the game by 1 TD
2007 #5 recruiting class in the nation

We are so much better with this

1 win in conference play against Kentucky and getting beat by Vandy is so much better than what we had.

How could I not see it .... I must be blind.
 
#1,449
#1,449
EZE said:
I have ripped Fulmer as hard or harder than anybody on here for the way he finished at UT. But, is there any chance he could pull a Bill Snyder and be the man to rebuild the program? I think Snyder is much older than Fulmer.

I would prefer a younger guy like Gruden, but let's say that no proven coach is interested. Could a reenergized Fulmer recreate the 90s magic? Keep Graham and bring Tee home as position coaches? With two good coordinators, who knows? I'm willing to consider all options at this abysmal state we are in.
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I do agree. I think Fulmer loves Tennessee as much as we do. His last 2 yrs were burn out. I swear I think he would come back if only for a short term. He would bring recruits because he IS proven, I have always thought he would be a good choice (if not perfect) to get us through the hump.

My first scenario:
HC - Gruden
AD - Fulmer


At this point, and not knowing the other candidates well enough, Fulmer would be my 2nd choice.
 
#1,450
#1,450
BigOrangeCrush32 said:
No the difference is that when Snyder RETIRED...he was still winning.....Fulmer was FIRED and wasn't winning and his recruiting was suffering......so NO he cannot....now he could be a good AD...bc he would have TN best interest n place....
Click to expand...

Snyder was forced into retirement after back to back losing seasons. It wasn't his plan to hang them up.
 
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