Good Comments on a the Fall of a Power.

[shawnb82]

This is a great comment from CollegeFootballNews.com

How disappointing is Tennessee?
By John Harris
3. The line for disappointment of the year pretty much begins and ends in Knoxville. Just out of curiosity, I went back to look at each of the major publications to see where each thought the Vols would finish this year. In no certain order, the Vols were picked second, third, second, fifth, sixth, second and fifteenth. Outside of the outlier at fifteenth, the Vols were pretty much a lock in most people’s preseason eyes of being in the Rose Bowl or Sugar Bowl. But, I suppose that’s why they play the games, right? So. someone tell me a positive to take out of this season for Tennessee? Sure, there were a number of close losses, but they didn’t win any of them. Shoot, if LSU doesn’t melt down in the second half, they lose that game as well. But, that’s about the only saving grace that the Vols have this season, that they were close losses.

Then, they lost to Vanderbilt. Not since Ronald Reagan was President of the United States had Tennessee lost to Vanderbilt. And, at home in Knoxville to boot. Vandy QB Jay Cutler sliced and diced the UT ‘D’ throughout the day and WR Earl Jennings is still catching passes. With Rose Bowl hopes gone after week two, bowl hopes are now entirely whitewashed. A team with no less than 3 preseason All-Americans and a plethora of starters returning – going nowhere after next week’s game against Kentucky.

So, the good news. Sometimes before you rise up (back up), you’ve got to hit rock bottom. This program now has the time to be flushed. It’s a bit more difficult with college teams than cleaning house for a pro organization, but there needs to be a retooling in this program because it’s become more about questionable characters and ‘I’ guys than about the team. Where are the Al Wilsons who led the 1998 team wins with more heart than any Tennessee team has shown since? If you’re a distraction, you need to be gone. Find another program. That includes coaches, players, managers, film guys and anyone else wearing a football ‘hat’. There needs to be a pride in putting on the orange and white jersey, not a ‘pitstop-on-the-way-to-the-NFL-feeling’, which is the sense that I get as an interested bystander.

This is too proud a program, with passionate fans and alums that deserve better. Phil Fulmer has his hands full, but he’ll have a lot of time to make changes. If he thinks that no changes have to be made, then he should go as well. A new attitude is needed, no question. Where that attitude emanates from is the question. But, an answer is needed soon.

 

[wilburnVol]

Originally posted by shawnb82@Nov 21, 2005 12:07 PM
This is a great comment from CollegeFootballNews.com

This is too proud a program, with passionate fans and alums that deserve better.  Phil Fulmer has his hands full, but he’ll have a lot of time to make changes.  If he thinks that no changes have to be made, then he should go as well.  A new attitude is needed, no question.  Where that attitude emanates from is the question.  But, an answer is needed soon.

[snapback]198540[/snapback]​

No one, no one man or woman, should be immune from accountability and the person who should shoulder the responsibility for keeping ppl accountable is Phil Fulmer himself. Not newspapers, fans or commentators.

And he flat hasn't done it and as far as I am concerend, I could care less what the excuses are.

Out of nothing more than humane consideration and also b/c it is in the best interests of the UT football team, I grant Phil Fulmer one more chance, one more season.

Or pack your bags and get gone. :rock:

 

[shawnb82]

i too would allow 1 more season only, even if we lost 4 or 5 games as long as the attitude of the players change. we need some home grown talent that grew up loving the Vols, not mercs.

 

[wilburnVol]

Originally posted by shawnb82@Nov 21, 2005 3:12 PM
i too would allow 1 more season only, even if we lost 4 or 5 games as long as the attitude of the players change. we need some home grown talent that grew up loving the Vols, not mercs.

[snapback]198685[/snapback]​

With the talent we have a five loss season is not acceptable under any conditions except a nuclear attack on the team. :no: He loses five, Phil&#39;s gone <I hope> :gun:

 

[Dagreek1998]

One more season. How many times do we have to see UT lose??? I mean lets face it, 1998 while it still gives me chills, we more luck than coaching. Look at the talent level he has had to work with when Peyton was there. How many NC??? None. Look in 2001, playing LSU in the SEC championship game with a trip to the NC on the line and he can&#39;t get it done with 13 NFL draft picks??? The man can recriut but it stops there. I just don&#39;t understand what he has done to deserve this next chance.

 

[VolunteerHillbilly]

Originally posted by shawnb82@Nov 21, 2005 12:42 PM
we need some home grown talent that grew up loving the Vols, not mercs.

[snapback]198685[/snapback]​

I would agree but the problem is all the inbreds who inhabit this state, especially in East Tenneessee and the southern part of Middle TN, have screwed up the gene pool to the point that we just don&#39;t raise &#39;em anymore. Maybe some of these people moving from California to work at the new Nissan hq will have some kids who know how to play good football.

 

[wilburnVol]

Originally posted by Dagreek1998@Nov 21, 2005 3:53 PM
One more season. How many times do we have to see UT lose??? I mean lets face it, 1998 while it still gives me chills, we more luck than coaching. Look at the talent level he has had to work with when Peyton was there. How many NC??? None. Look in 2001, playing LSU in the SEC championship game with a trip to the NC on the line and he can&#39;t get it done with 13 NFL draft picks??? The man can recriut but it stops there. I just don&#39;t understand what he has done to deserve this next chance.

[snapback]198715[/snapback]​

I understand but we are too late in the process (recruiting, etc) to dump Phil now, Cut may back out, etc. No, we wait until he loses three or four of the first six or seven......then we dump him for the HC sitting in the wings. :dance2: :dance2:

 

[rwemyss]

Originally posted by Dagreek1998@Nov 21, 2005 1:23 PM
One more season. How many times do we have to see UT lose??? I mean lets face it, 1998 while it still gives me chills, we more luck than coaching. Look at the talent level he has had to work with when Peyton was there. How many NC??? None. Look in 2001, playing LSU in the SEC championship game with a trip to the NC on the line and he can&#39;t get it done with 13 NFL draft picks??? The man can recriut but it stops there. I just don&#39;t understand what he has done to deserve this next chance.

[snapback]198715[/snapback]​

I think you should blame Peyton&#39;s inability to beat Florida rather than just Coach Fulmer&#39;s coaching. Especially in &#39;97 when that was the only one that bit us.

Anyway, this was a good read, and interesting especially from an outsider looking in.

 

[secfanclub]

Yes, CPF has his hands full. Every team will have an off-year, but usually it&#39;s because of young talent or some bad recruiting years. I don&#39;t see either reason for this team&#39;s downfall this year. The teams problems go much deeper than lack of talent or young talent because we all know that experienced talent exists at UT. If CPF doesn&#39;t figure it out soon, then his days are numbered as head coach of UT. Sometimes, I can&#39;t keep from wondering whether CPF actually sees what is really going on with this team from the inside as well as the outside.

 

[rwemyss]

Well if you look at it, this very easily could have happened last year. So many close games, but we WON those... Ainge was a competent QB then. The WR&#39;s had confidence.

I think this all started when we couldn&#39;t run the ball, remember? We had two 1,000 yd rushers last year... and this week was the first time I saw a running game worth a crap. I don&#39;t know what to blame it on early in the season, I&#39;d like to say the O-line, which we all knew would be a problem when the season started.

 

[General Jack]

Good article... I&#39;ve wondered for a while if we are too "national," and don&#39;t have kids who live and breathe Tennessee football playing in Knoxville.

I&#39;m not even sure I agree with myself though. Simon and Mahelona are from about as far away as you can get, and I can&#39;t see many negatives with them. On the other hand, Cory Anderson, from Knoxville bless his heart, has had more mistakes than I can count...

 

[rwemyss]

I don&#39;t mind going National to pick up players as long as they live and breathe UT football when they leave. If you listen to the Seniors on this team, even with the horrible ending to their UT career, they love this University.

K. Simon and Mitchell both have some good quotes about how much they love UT and how they are sorry to the fans for having such a bad year. Of course if these guys played on the O we may be 10-0.

 

[IndianaVol]

Just one thing for everyone to remember...

Attitude reflects leadership, COACH&#33;&#33;&#33;&#33;&#33;

 

[Jasongivm6]

Who the hell is Earl Jennings? You can&#39;t even get the name right on a kid who destroyed the SEC freshman record for most receptions in a year?