Greatest Athlete to never win highest Championship of their Sport

[GVF]

The men's track team won National Championships in 2001 and 2002.

I certainly congratulate them, and since you're so well connected you can get the official UT sports site to update their records on the web. I'm only eating dessert, not the whole post.

 

[hatvol96]

You're not the only intellectual mind in here you know. I scored a 26 on the LSAT in college out of a national average 28 that year without even looking at a study book. Did you see the 7 years since her last NC. That counts, too. Right? She's only 2 up on ole Phil right now during that same period. Not overly impressive. Better, but not impressive.

If Fulmer had 5 other National Titles on his resume, I might cut him some more slack. However, the main reason I don't make any comparison between Fulmer and Summit is that I couldn't care less if UT dropped women's basketball tomorrow. Once you remove football and men's basketball form the equation, you couldn't fill a thimble with how much I care about UT's other sports programs.

 

[milohimself]

If Fulmer had 5 other National Titles on his resume, I might cut him some more slack. However, the main reason I don't make any comparison between Fulmer and Summit is that I couldn't care less if UT dropped women's basketball tomorrow. Once you remove football and men's basketball form the equation, you couldn't fill a thimble with how much I care about UT's other sports programs.

If Fulmer had 5 other national titles, we'd be hailing him as an all-time great.

 

[Freak]

And then we come out with a year like 2003 or 2004, have a few good wins, some bad losses, and end up in a mid-tier bowl. Then 2007 comes around, we have huge expactations, and have an 8-4 or worse season.

The problem is that now, we consider a great season with a win over Alabama and/or Florida, couple with maybe a win over Georgia or another top team in the West, and that's it.

Don't get me wrong, I love those bragging rights over them very much, but when it comes down to it, what is it worth?

Fulmer himself has said repeatedly after big wins, it's not what you did today (or tonight) that counts, but it's what you do WITH it that counts.

We have done nothing with any of those in a long time.

If you are referring to conference titles, then see above, I agree with you.

If we would have won the LSU game in 01, Fulmer would have 3. That would be an average of about 1 every four years which is in the ballpark I think. I know... coulda, woulda, shoulda.

 

[orangetd88]

You're not the only intellectual mind in here you know. I scored a 26 on the LSAT in college out of a national average 28 that year without even looking at a study book. Did you see the 7 years since her last NC. That counts, too. Right? She's only 2 up on ole Phil right now during that same period. Not overly impressive. Better, but not impressive.

But she has several regular season and conference tourney titles since then.

CPF has a couple of division titles. There is your difference.

At least, that is my main concern.

Hell, I don't expcet a national title every other year. The conference titles are what matters.

 

[GVF]

And then we come out with a year like 2003 or 2004, have a few good wins, some bad losses, and end up in a mid-tier bowl. Then 2007 comes around, we have huge expactations, and have an 8-4 or worse season.

The problem is that now, we consider a great season with a win over Alabama and/or Florida, couple with maybe a win over Georgia or another top team in the West, and that's it.

Don't get me wrong, I love those bragging rights over them very much, but when it comes down to it, what is it worth?

Fulmer himself has said repeatedly after big wins, it's not what you did today (or tonight) that counts, but it's what you do WITH it that counts.

We have done nothing with any of those in a long time.

I agree totally. For the record, I am not a Vol passivist, nor a "Fulmerite" as some refer to here. I am a die hard Orange fan. I am disgusted with or recent performance and lack of titles of any measure. But, I am not a HAT camper as well. There is recent performance and overall performance. And CPF is in a much different employment environment where the lesser of 2 evils is considering his contribution as a whole and keeping him in light of a drought, where his performance in that drought is better than the available coaches at the other 100+ or more D! schools that had coaching prospects to consider. As for the comment that Summit has made UT women legendary and CPF has not doen that w/football...That is true in her case, but nonetheless has no NC since 1998, same as Fulmer save for 2 conference wins. We shared an East title, so she's only one up so to speak. CPF is UT football and has made it legendary to date. He definitely has another level to take it to as we never got to the pinnacle, truly, but where else has there been continued succes in UT football other than under CPF. That is why we get so pissed off. We've never made like Nebraska and ND an Okie and Miami, but we were so close with Fulmer so many times. Tis better to have had the opportunity and blown it, than to always be a Vandy.

 

[hatvol96]

CPF is UT football and has made it legendary to date.

I really hope that sentence was written in jest.

 

[GAVol]

I don't think he made Tennessee football legendary, but he definitely has added to it.

 

[GVF]

If Fulmer had 5 other National Titles on his resume, I might cut him some more slack. However, the main reason I don't make any comparison between Fulmer and Summit is that I couldn't care less if UT dropped women's basketball tomorrow. Once you remove football and men's basketball form the equation, you couldn't fill a thimble with how much I care about UT's other sports programs.

Shouldn't matter if you care about the sport in order for comparable stats to count. The point is her record over the last 7 years is marginally better than CPF. Thst viewpoint is like saying as a lwayer you're not concerned with murder in the inner city cause you don't care about them or representing them, but you do argue the legality of atrocities against your own and would fight to the death for them. Selective principles. Besides, in the ends it's just sports, and like all other wordly possessions, you can put it in the casket, but it ain't getting off the train.

 

[GVF]

I don't think he made Tennessee football legendary, but he definitely has added to it.

I said legendary TO DATE. Not legendary period. He is the only consistently successful coach in UT history, especially in recent decades as you would compare to modern powerhouses. 1950's/60's and on. That would make him legendary for UT, not necessarily the national scene.

 

[orangetd88]

If you are referring to conference titles, then see above, I agree with you.

If we would have won the LSU game in 01, Fulmer would have 3. That would be an average of about 1 every four years which is in the ballpark I think. I know... coulda, woulda, shoulda.

If and buts...I know what you are saying. And yes, I am referring to conference titles.

I want SEC Championships. National titles will sometimes come along with those.

You can bet that if you win the SEC, you're in the mnc hunt.

 

[GVF]

I really hope that sentence was written in jest.

Not in jest, but in UT perspective as a whole. I'm a die hard. I've been around long enough to be a die hard before CPF. I saw the end of the Battle era, and the Majors years I came into fruition. If I was only a fan for championship sake, much like yourself, I would not be a Ut fan. There is a modicum for accepting mediocrity as a whole if you intend on being a die hard Orange fan. We have had more reason for hope and excitement the last 14 years than at any other extended time in UT history. He's the all-time winningest coach at UT. =More chances.

 

[orangetd88]

Not in jest, but in UT perspective as a whole. I'm a die hard. I've been around long enough to be a die hard before CPF. I saw the end of the Battle era, and the Majors years I came into fruition. If I was only a fan for championship sake, much like yourself, I would not be a Ut fan. There is a modicum for accepting mediocrity as a whole if you intend on being a die hard Orange fan. We have had more reason for hope and excitement the last 14 years than at any other extended time in UT history. He's the all-time winningest coach at UT. =More chances.

I agree that being a fan means more than just winning championships. I savor the big wins as much as anybody. You saw my previous post about those, though. To be a program with as many wins as we have, we should expect more.

If we are just satisfied with a win over a rival, then we relagate ourselves to Ole Miss or MSU fans, who only care about beating each other, and the occassional win over Bama or LSU.

 

[GVF]

Yo Freak...I outlasted Hat on this thread. Do I get a Guru title even without 1000 posts considering my longevity and member #?

 

[hatvol96]

Yo Freak...I outlasted Hat on this thread. Do I get a Guru title even without 1000 posts considering my longevity and member #?

You didn't oulast me. I lost interest. I'm going to the Clevelander for a drink. Think I'll start my holiday early.

 

[Freak]

Yo Freak...I outlasted Hat on this thread. Do I get a Guru title even without 1000 posts considering my longevity and member #?

Nice :lol:

 

[milohimself]

As Tony Reali would say, self-promotion is the mating call of the MUTE

 

[GVF]

Not saying it is acceptable and with our winning percentage we shouldn't expect more. But, in the time line of UT football, it is the norm to come up short. Who else is truly available to guide the ship. Would we be better resolved to accept long droughts as did SC with an ocassional burst of excellence that everyone, Milo, is calling legendary or one of the best in football history, but is has only lasted 3 seasons, and could be gone again for a while and no more Carroll. Or do we continue with the disappointment of the winningest coach in the NCAA and with a program that in any given year is going to put up 9 possibly 10 wins in hopes that he learns to put titles on the table. You do realize that titles are the only reason Bowden would be considered greater than CPF is that all his titles came in the ACC before Miami and VT showed up. FSU only has 2 all time NC's. If we apply our logic to FSU, Bowden wouldn't be around much longer. I would never advocate letting CPF become a JoPa. Then I would be a Fulmerite.

 

[GVF]

You didn't oulast me. I lost interest. I'm going to the Clevelander for a drink. Think I'll start my holiday early.

What's the difference.

I'm married to an LSU fan. A South La. bayou native. And a family of 23 LSU in-law fans and 2 in the UGA camp. I can hang with a Vol fan.

 

[GVF]

As Tony Reali would say, self-promotion is the mating call of the MUTE

Not bad. Silence is also the death of the unheard. - GVF 7/3/2006

 

[milohimself]

Not saying it is acceptable and with our winning percentage we shouldn't expect more. But, in the time line of UT football, it is the norm to come up short. Who else is truly available to guide the ship. Would we be better resolved to accept long droughts as did SC with an ocassional burst of excellence that everyone, Milo, is calling legendary or one of the best in football history, but is has only lasted 3 seasons, and could be gone again for a while and no more Carroll. Or do we continue with the disappointment of the winningest coach in the NCAA and with a program that in any given year is going to put up 9 possibly 10 wins in hopes that he learns to put titles on the table. You do realize that titles are the only reason Bowden would be considered greater than CPF is that all his titles came in the ACC before Miami and VT showed up. FSU only has 2 all time NC's. If we apply our logic to FSU, Bowden wouldn't be around much longer. I would never advocate letting CPF become a JoPa. Then I would be a Fulmerite.

Alls I was saying is I would like Tennessee to have a coach, Fulmer or not, who is capable of overcoming and winning the SEC. I don't like the fact that Fulmer never got around Spurrier, and hasn't really gotten around Richt.

 

[GVF]

Alls I was saying is I would like Tennessee to have a coach, Fulmer or not, who is capable of overcoming and winning the SEC. I don't like the fact that Fulmer never got around Spurrier, and hasn't really gotten around Richt.

So true, and as much as I would argue to the death for UT football, Fulmer or not, do we really expect him to ever overcome Richt. He is a giant in the making. He has only begun. He was FSU football. What have they done w/o him. Meyer, spurrier, no problem. Those will go back and forth. He'll handle Tubby, and Shula, and Miles, and have great games. But, I never see him owning UGA again as long as Richt is there.

 

[milohimself]

That's what I mean. What steps does UTK have to take to become a dominant force in the SEC? It's never really enjoyed that status under Fulmer. If there's a way he can get it done, keep him around by all means.

 

[GAVol]

That's what I mean. What steps does UTK have to take to become a dominant force in the SEC? It's never really enjoyed that status under Fulmer. If there's a way he can get it done, keep him around by all means.

Florida had a great run that ended about 10 years ago, but there hasn't been anybody pull off anything close to that since.

 

[lawgator1]

Saptarshi Chaudhuri comes to mind. He finished in a tie for 17th at the Scripps National Spelling Bee. He misspelled soogee.

Guy's a trooper.