Has Heupel surpassed Butch as the best post-Fulmer coach?

[Kylo]

Majors won more games, rebuilt 3 programs, won more conference titles and as many national championships as Fulmer. He was a MUCH better coach than Fulmer.

Majors won his title in 1976. I'll take Fulmer and the '98 title over that any day. How many times did Johnny beat Alabama? I'll wait....

Fulmer won 10+ games 8 times at UT. Majors did it twice. That's 2... Add in his National Title year at Pitt and it grows to 3.

Fulmer won 74% of his games to Majors winning 57%. Case closed. Again.

 

[VolArmy74]

Majors won his title in 1976. I'll take Fulmer and the '98 title over that any day. How many times did Johnny beat Alabama? I'll wait....

Fulmer won 10+ games 8 times at UT. Majors did it twice. That's 2... Add in his National Title year at Pitt and it grows to 3.

Fulmer won 74% of his games to Majors winning 57%. Case closed. Again.

Fulmer took over a program and staff that Majors built. Fulmer never had to rebuild a program, and actually proved he wasn't capable of doing so. Johnny was better at game management, staff hires and was a great recruiter that left a fully loaded mini-NFL farm in Fulmer's lap. Fulmer got the benefit of Johnny's work and he also got the benefit of playing in an era where you played more games. Majors got to play 13 games twice in his entire career. Fulmer got to do it 8 times. Easier to win that 10th game when you get an extra game vs a tin cup to do it.

Majors = more wins, more conference titles, same number of national titles at programs he had to rebuild from ashes. He's simply a better coach than Phil and that's indisputable.

 

[Kylo]

Fulmer took over a program and staff that Majors built. Fulmer never had to rebuild a program, and actually proved he wasn't capable of doing so. Johnny was better at game management, staff hires and was a great recruiter that left a fully loaded mini-NFL farm in Fulmer's lap. Fulmer got the benefit of Johnny's work and he also got the benefit of playing in an era where you played more games. Majors got to play 13 games twice in his entire career. Fulmer got to do it 8 times. Easier to win that 10th game when you get an extra game vs a tin cup to do it.

Majors = more wins, more conference titles, same number of national titles at programs he had to rebuild from ashes. He's simply a better coach than Phil and that's indisputable.

It's actually disputable. It took 29 years for Majors to win 34 more games than Fulmer did in 17 years. Majors isn't near the GameDay coach that Fulmer was. Fulmer owned Bama. Johnny? Pissed down his leg more often than not vs the Tide.

Majors won 1 more SEC title than Fulmer only because Florida was ineligible in 1985. You can stop leaning on that one.

Again, Fulmer by a mile.

 

[GVol1966]

With the win against Bama yesterday, I think an argument could be made for Heupel being our best coach since Fulmer. However, Butch won all 3 bowl games, while Heupel is 0-1. Butch also had back to back 9 win seasons and beat Georgia, which Heupel hasn’t done. However, Butch never beat Alabama, so I’d say those two things cancel each other out. Also, both beat Florida. What do you guys think? Has Josh surpassed Butch yet, or does he need more time?

You’re either drunk, an idiot, or joking!

 

[DuckInAPen]

Here's hoping that Heupel achieves enough success here to blunt the acrimony of the interminable Majors vs. Fulmer debate. Perhaps if we have something to be proud of and to rally around in the present, we won't dwell so bitterly in the past.

 

[Carl Pickens]

With the win against Bama yesterday, I think an argument could be made for Heupel being our best coach since Fulmer. However, Butch won all 3 bowl games, while Heupel is 0-1. Butch also had back to back 9 win seasons and beat Georgia, which Heupel hasn’t done. However, Butch never beat Alabama, so I’d say those two things cancel each other out. Also, both beat Florida. What do you guys think? Has Josh surpassed Butch yet, or does he need more time?

Dude…. Are you serious? If you are, I feel compelled to ask what the hell is wrong with you.

 

[VolArmy74]

It's actually disputable. It took 29 years for Majors to win 34 more games than Fulmer did in 17 years. Majors isn't near the GameDay coach that Fulmer was. Fulmer owned Bama. Johnny? Pissed down his leg more often than not vs the Tide.

Majors won 1 more SEC title than Fulmer only because Florida was ineligible in 1985. You can stop leaning on that one.

Again, Fulmer by a mile.

Johnny took over programs at their lowest point. Fulmer took over a Ferrari and turned it into a Pinto. Johnny left every place he coached in much better shape than he found it. Fulmer destroyed Tennessee, twice.

 

[Kylo]

Johnny took over programs at their lowest point. Fulmer took over a Ferrari and turned it into a Pinto. Johnny left every place he coached in much better shape than he found it. Fulmer destroyed Tennessee, twice.

The game passed both of them by. The only difference is Johnny had Phil to follow him. I agree that Fulmer allowed the program to slide the first time. The second time had nothing to do with coaching. He made a bad hire. Multiple AD's before him started that slide.

 

[hmanvolfan]

With the win against Bama yesterday, I think an argument could be made for Heupel being our best coach since Fulmer. However, Butch won all 3 bowl games, while Heupel is 0-1. Butch also had back to back 9 win seasons and beat Georgia, which Heupel hasn’t done. However, Butch never beat Alabama, so I’d say those two things cancel each other out. Also, both beat Florida. What do you guys think? Has Josh surpassed Butch yet, or does he need more time?

This is one of the most ludicrous querstions ever pondered up in here.

 

[BowlBrother85]

With the win against Bama yesterday, I think an argument could be made for Heupel being our best coach since Fulmer. However, Butch won all 3 bowl games, while Heupel is 0-1. Butch also had back to back 9 win seasons and beat Georgia, which Heupel hasn’t done. However, Butch never beat Alabama, so I’d say those two things cancel each other out. Also, both beat Florida. What do you guys think? Has Josh surpassed Butch yet, or does he need more time?

There is no way this was a serious post. VN needs that 1,000 post minimum to start threads back.

 

[UTblood4life]

This thread should be deleted
U mean Lyle that couldn't even beat vandy or Texas A&M and screwed us out of the SEC championship game, Lyle that used a chart, Lyle who had a trashcan a place he deserved to be in, he did say brick by brick and he sank his own ship
Lyle only kept his job because of Dobbs just ask d4h does d4h still post on here?

 

[zjcvols]

They aren't tied. That's silly. I love CJH and he certainly could surpass Fulmer. But he needs a natty and a few sec championships before he can even be considered

Heupel winning going 11-1 this year would be more impressive than anything Phillip Fulmer did at UT.

 

[zjcvols]

Fulmer is better than Majors. It's not even close. Tell again, how many championships did Majors win at UT? Majors rushed back and destroyed the 92 season. He should've been gone sooner. Fulmer was kept too long as well. But Fulmer is the better of the 2... You Majors guys are funny. Majors playbook was run, run, pass, punt.

It is extremely close. Majors actually built a program that won 3 SEC titles without getting Tennessee into NCAA trouble (seriously, go look at how many SEC schools during Majors time were caught cheating) and Fulmer took over as good a situation as you can. Yeah Phil won the national title, but Majors won more SEC titles and when was oustered, having the program in a great place. Compared to Fulmer who left it in near shambles.

 

[zjcvols]

Majors tried to burn it down in 92. He gets no pass for that. Majors would never have won a title in the 90's with his conservative nature. The game passed him by. The game passed Fulmer by as well. But Fulmer is head and shoulders over Majors.

I don’t know man, if I went 60-20-6 in a tough SEC with three conference titles, four major bowl appearances and was about to lose my job because I had heart surgery and my OC (who I hired) is saying he’s going to Clemson if they promote him after he took over my team at my alma mater where I’d been there 15 years…I’d be trying to burn it down too.

 

[zjcvols]

Majors won his title in 1976. I'll take Fulmer and the '98 title over that any day. How many times did Johnny beat Alabama? I'll wait....

Fulmer won 10+ games 8 times at UT. Majors did it twice. That's 2... Add in his National Title year at Pitt and it grows to 3.

Fulmer won 74% of his games to Majors winning 57%. Case closed. Again.

Yeah, that’s because Johnny had to coach against Bear Bryant, Ray Perkins, Bill Curry and Gene Stallings while Fulmer got to feast on Mike Dubose, Dennis Franchoine and Mike Shula. Hardly a fair comparison.

 

[EasternVol]

Fulmer took over a program and staff that Majors built. Fulmer never had to rebuild a program, and actually proved he wasn't capable of doing so. Johnny was better at game management, staff hires and was a great recruiter that left a fully loaded mini-NFL farm in Fulmer's lap. Fulmer got the benefit of Johnny's work and he also got the benefit of playing in an era where you played more games. Majors got to play 13 games twice in his entire career. Fulmer got to do it 8 times. Easier to win that 10th game when you get an extra game vs a tin cup to do it.

Majors = more wins, more conference titles, same number of national titles at programs he had to rebuild from ashes. He's simply a better coach than Phil and that's indisputable.

Well said

 

[Race City Vol]

I don’t know man, if I went 60-20-6 in a tough SEC with three conference titles, four major bowl appearances and was about to lose my job because I had heart surgery and my OC (who I hired) is saying he’s going to Clemson if they promote him after he took over my team at my alma mater where I’d been there 15 years…I’d be trying to burn it down too.

Majors didn’t lose his job because he had heart surgery.

 

[ric1958]

Imo He’s better than Fulmer more like the best coach since Majors don’t forget Fulmer took Majors program that was already a powerhouse with a great culture and just continued that. Heupel inherited a dumpster fire and has turned it around in less than 2 years much like Majors did when he came here from Pitt.

Majors lost 27 games in his first five seasons.....today he would have been fired in his third or fourth season.

 

[JMSqb11]

The game passed both of them by. The only difference is Johnny had Phil to follow him. I agree that Fulmer allowed the program to slide the first time. The second time had nothing to do with coaching. He made a bad hire. Multiple AD's before him started that slide.

Wild how much we hated Debord during Butch years but had Fulmer hired him in offseason of 2007, we likely land Ryan Mallett and Fulmer prolly saves his job.

 

[Kngsport VFL]

No comparison! Heupel is the man!

 

[CDB]

I’m sure some will take this the wrong way but the way I see it Heupel has this team playing at an elite level but from an individual player talent perspective; outside of a hand full of these guys, few would have ever seen the field for Alabama, Georgia etc. For the first time in my 40 years, Tennessee has a staff that knows how to build players maximize potential and put these guys in the best position to win.

I cut my teeth on Tennessee football in the late 80’s and was in high school in ‘98. Those teams were absolutely loaded with talent. As much as I’m grateful for Fulmer and co for those years; give Heupel and staff the talent we had on those teams over the next 10 years and we win at least 3 national titles.

Bottom line: Lock this staff down to lucrative, long term contracts because these guys are building something special. GBO!!!

This! There is no comparison in player development and schemes.

I used to say that you need 3-5 years to know what kind of coach you have, good and bad. Some start out hot and fade. Some start out slow and are successful by building a solid foundation and culture. Basilio said you can see the trajectory in year two.

I’m apprehensive to say that we have our coach this early but Heup definitely has me excited. You can just see it. He’s smarter than everyone else but humble. It’s such a relief to have a coach that isn’t embarrassing (including Kiffin). He is a great representative of UT.

Hope I still feel this way in year five…

 

[CDB]

Majors was very good but it took him more than 2 years though.

Different times. I am sure we would get there eventually but not this fast without the transfer portal.

 

[CDB]

Fulmer took over a program and staff that Majors built. Fulmer never had to rebuild a program, and actually proved he wasn't capable of doing so. Johnny was better at game management, staff hires and was a great recruiter that left a fully loaded mini-NFL farm in Fulmer's lap. Fulmer got the benefit of Johnny's work and he also got the benefit of playing in an era where you played more games. Majors got to play 13 games twice in his entire career. Fulmer got to do it 8 times. Easier to win that 10th game when you get an extra game vs a tin cup to do it.

Majors = more wins, more conference titles, same number of national titles at programs he had to rebuild from ashes. He's simply a better coach than Phil and that's indisputable.

Majors was great at evaluating staff hires and replacing staff. Fulmer not so much. They were both great coaches and I have great memories of both tenures (and some bad ones but I try not to focus on those).

Also, an argument may be there were better coaches in the SEC during the 80s than the 90s. Fulmer had Spurrier and eventually Saban but that’s about it. There were some really bad coaches in the SEC in the 90s.

 

[barrylee]

I'm sorry to be that guy but this is without a doubt the dumbest post ever posted on VN..

 

[CDB]

Yeah, that’s because Johnny had to coach against Bear Bryant, Ray Perkins, Bill Curry and Gene Stallings while Fulmer got to feast on Mike Dubose, Dennis Franchoine and Mike Shula. Hardly a fair comparison.

Read your post after I had posted. Agree with you.