Letter from Coach Fulmer

[RealVol]

If you think CPF volunteered to draft a letter of this sort...with his ego...well you are still full of Thanksgiving Turkey.

He has never accepted blame for a darn thing that's ever went wrong w his coaching or his coaches pathetic attempts at coaching. He usually resorts to mentioning a player missing a tackle, missing an assignment, slipping, almost made, should have made the play or some other lame excuse during his program. BUT NEVER anything regarding how underprepared our outstanding talent usually appears.

That said, maybe our A.D. has had an eyeball to eyeball with Phil and expressed just how embarrassingly inept UT's elite talent appeared ALL season long. Not to mention the slipping attendance, and possible slippage of $$$$$$ coming in, decreased UT apparel sales, etc.

As someone else pointed out that's worth about $5000 a word personally to CPF. When asked I'm sure Phil will take personal responsibility for solely authoring the letter...unlike prior years of accepting responsibility of subpar coaching.

 

[VolBeef88]

Originally posted by JennVols@Nov 30, 2005 12:24 PM
I meant bashing them on a personal level instead of a professional level.  The fans have every right to criticize them, but some go way too far.  Those are the ones that I was referring to.

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Jenn don't back down. You are right. Some will complain no matter what. I and most others knew what you meant.
I think CPF made a classy move by doing this. I think he would have made changes. He wants to win just as much as the fans do. His winning record, SEC championships and National Championship kind of prove it.
I as an alum am glad we have a classy coach.

 

[VolBeef88]

Originally posted by RealVol@Nov 30, 2005 12:40 PM
If you think CPF volunteered to draft a letter of this sort...with his ego...well you are still full of Thanksgiving Turkey.

He has never accepted blame for a darn thing that's ever went wrong w his coaching or his coaches pathetic attempts at coaching. He usually resorts to mentioning a player missing a tackle, missing an assignment, slipping, almost made, should have made the play or some other lame excuse during his program. BUT NEVER anything regarding how underprepared our outstanding talent usually appears.

That said, maybe our A.D. has had an eyeball to eyeball with Phil and expressed just how embarrassingly inept UT's elite talent appeared ALL season long. Not to mention the slipping attendance, and possible slippage of $$$$$$ coming in, decreased UT apparel sales, etc.

As someone else pointed out that's worth about $5000 a word personally to CPF. When asked I'm sure Phil will take personal responsibility for solely authoring the letter...unlike prior years of accepting responsibility of subpar coaching.

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Just a question for you "RealVol". How many subpar coaches have SEC champiohships or national championship rings? Not bashing you just asking.
One other question. Can you name the coaches in the SEC who have National Championships? Just curious and again not bashing.

 

[CSpindizzy]

When was the last SEC Championship? When was the last NC? I think the ones who have been critical have pointed out repeatedly that for the past few years we have seen a decline in discipline, talent, focus, execution, etc. and an increase of mistakes (not only new but repeated), off-field infractions, and underperformance of players clearly with talent coming into the program. Anyone can sugarcoat stats of titles or whatever but when you look at the heart of this team you cannot deny that this year was the bottom of a turn that has been occurring over a period of the past few years.

 

[KnoxKDX]

Originally posted by VolBeef88@Nov 30, 2005 9:59 AM
No it is fine to criticize the coaches and players. But when people don't know what they ar etalking about or make it personal then that takes it to a whole new level. I support our coach because he has earned it. I remember not being in the hunt at all. I also remember winning a NC not to long ago also.

We won the title 8 years ago...half a lifetime for some of the posters on the board. When was the last SEC Championship? When was the last time you read the headlines, "Tennessee Routs Florida", or "Tennessee Routs Anyone" for that matter? Everyone here is entitled to their opinion on this board and just like any other board there is going to be some sarcasm and jabs dished out. Maybe there should be 2 different forums here: 1 for serious thin-skinned types and 1 for people who don't spend all day reading up on stats and just want to have a little fun airing out frustration. And some of you guys should actually go back and read some of your own posts before calling someone else out for being an idiot. :twocents:

 

[Lexvol]

This letter is bullcrap, and it sounds like the same old Phil Fulmer. Reminds me of his statements after the GA loss in 03. Word for word. I will just choose to give credit after my respect is earned back.

 

[VolBeef88]

Originally posted by KnoxKDX@Nov 30, 2005 1:44 PM
We won the title 8 years ago...half a lifetime for some of the posters on the board.  When was the last SEC Championship?  When was the last time you read the headlines, "Tennessee Routs Florida", or "Tennessee Routs Anyone" for that matter?  Everyone here is entitled to their opinion on this board and just like any other board there is going to be some sarcasm and jabs dished out.  Maybe there should be 2 different forums here: 1 for serious thin-skinned types and 1 for people who don't spend all day reading up on stats and just want to have a little fun airing out frustration.  And some of you guys should actually go back and read some of your own posts before calling someone else out for being an idiot. :twocents:

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Go get a klennex and wipe your eyes. Now, do yo feel better?
We played for the SECCG last year and have not been in a decline. The facts do not back your claim. Have we won the SEC or NC every year since 1998? No but we have played well most years. I am not thin skinned but I hate to see UT fans act like bammers. By the way how about the Cotton bowl last year? Was that a rout? Or was that too long ago to count!

 

[VolBeef88]

Originally posted by CSpindizzy@Nov 30, 2005 1:14 PM
When was the last SEC Championship? When was the last NC? I think the ones who have been critical have pointed out repeatedly that for the past few years we have seen a decline in discipline, talent, focus, execution, etc. and an increase of mistakes (not only new but repeated), off-field infractions, and underperformance of players clearly with talent coming into the program. Anyone can sugarcoat stats of titles or whatever but when you look at the heart of this team you cannot deny that this year was the bottom of a turn that has been occurring over a period of the past few years.

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I won't deny that this year was a disappointment. But to say that anyone can sugarcoat stats is not so. You have to earn stats. And no the ones being critical have not just pointed out what you say. Some have, but many have not. Go back and read the posts. This post is useless as tits on a boar hog because feelings matter more that facts. Many on here sound like the Ole Miss crowd that was calling for Cut to be fired. Boy, now that was a smart move :lolabove: . The powers that be are and have been smart enough to make us one of the most prestigious programs in the nation and one of the most winningest in the nation. Continuity of the program is vital to the long term health. I know it won't make some of the microwave, instant gratification crowd happy but it will ensure longterm health of the program. That is much more important.
Oh and by the way is the "CPF won't take responsibility" then when he does we hear "that is the same old crap just like after the Georgia game" an example of repeatedly pointing out?

 

[KnoxKDX]

Originally posted by VolBeef88@Nov 30, 2005 2:25 PM
Go get a klennex and wipe your eyes. Now, do yo feel better?
We played for the SECCG last year and have not been in a decline. The facts do not back your claim. Have we won the SEC or NC every year since 1998? No but we have played well most years. I am not thin skinned but I hate to see UT fans act like bammers. By the way how about the Cotton bowl last year? Was that a rout? Or was that too long ago to count!

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Not been in a decline...how do you figure? Where's our offense been headed since '98? Just because we out talent our opponents and squeek out a "W" most of the time isn't anything to get excited about. And, sure, you can count the Cotton bowl as a rout. If I give you that then will you concede that we have been routed more times than we actually rout? Think about it. All I'm saying is that as UT fans, we are used to a humdrum offense that barely wins. When you wonder where the excitement has gone and why the stadium is quiet most of the time, look to that as the source. The conservative Fulmerites will argue that a W is a W. The demanding fan will argue that with that attitude you set yourself up for an '05 type season and will never be able to play with USC. With a top 5 recruiting class and top 10 average, there is no reason we should expect less than perfection and total domination. And for $2MM per year, we should get it!

 

[smokedog#3]

i got one to. doesn't make me feel better though. if fulmer feels so bad tell him to give me tickets next year on him. :dance2:

 

[jakez4ut]

Originally posted by KnoxKDX@Nov 30, 2005 3:40 PM
Not been in a decline...how do you figure?  Where's our offense been headed since '98?  Just because we out talent our opponents and squeek out a "W" most of the time isn't anything to get excited about.  And, sure, you can count the Cotton bowl as a rout.  If I give you that then will you concede that we have been routed more times than we actually rout?  Think about it.  All I'm saying is that as UT fans, we are used to a humdrum offense that barely wins.  When you wonder where the excitement has gone and why the stadium is quiet most of the time, look to that as the source.  The conservative Fulmerites will argue that a W is a W.  The demanding fan will argue that with that attitude you set yourself up for an '05 type season and will never be able to play with USC.  With a top 5 recruiting class and top 10 average, there is no reason we should expect less than perfection and total domination.  And for $2MM per year, we should get it!

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Well, i think it's been in decline, but i don't think it's been without success. We've played for the SEC title twice in the last 5 years. NO we didn't win it, but we were in contention, even as bad as we may have perceived it to be...and yes, i think the home record vs. our major rivals, and top 10 teams speaks volumes about where we are right now, and i also know we have been blown out more than we blow out.

but the one thing that i really do hate is that style points mean so much. I get caught up in it too....i say it every week, and said it this year...after the UAB, Ole Miss, Memphis, and KY games....we should have won by a lot more...and maybe we should have...but you can't take the W away for only winning by one score when we thing it should have been by 4 or 5 scores. barely winning is still winning... i seem to remember that we won a NC barely winning games...as did a Bama team in 92....

I remember a couple of years ago when James Banks caught that TD pass against UF to end the half, and my buddy just says "pure luck, we suck". And i just looked at him and said "well would you rather them take the 7 points off teh board then?" Of course he said no. But that's the menatality we have now...and it sucks.

A w should be a w should be a w. but sadly it isn't and it won't be.

and by the way there haven't been any teams that can hang with USC lately....and if you want to point out notre dame, fine, but they still LOST. And to me, USC gets more credit for that kind of game and win, than had they just gone in and blown 'em out. then we'd all be saying, man ND sucks. How does that school get so much respect for losing a game like that? why aren't they getting bashed for giving up a HUGE 4th down play and a QB freakin' sneak to LOSE??? Lest not forget they were winning that game LATE in the 4th qtr...what do you think would have happend had that been TN to give up that game like that? would we get respect for just hanging with USC? NO. why? cause it's a loss...

And at the end of the day, all that should matter is wins and losses...you want to critisize, fine, we've done enough losing lately to warrant it....

Anybody, including ME, that gets caught up in the, "yeah, but they barely beat..." has been watching too much ESPN, and believe me, i fall in to that category. Polls and style points suck. I hate it when i'm upset when we don't win by enough, and so should everyone else.

 

[RealVol]

I would like the next UT Staff's motto to be: LEAVE NO DOUBT, YOU GOT BEAT! And none of this last second 3 point squeaker stuff to an out manned team.

 

[CSpindizzy]

Originally posted by VolBeef88@Nov 30, 2005 2:37 PM
Oh and by the way is the "CPF won't take responsibility" then when he does we hear "that is the same old crap just like after the Georgia game" an example of repeatedly pointing out?

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I never said that. Refer that question to whoever posted it. As for you saying the stats don't reflect my point of view, let's look at some things.

Do some research for me. Go back since 98 and let me know the following:

-off-field incidents
-suspensions
-removals from team
-penalties
-fumbles
-td's scored
-total points per game
-total yards per game
-quality wins
-losses at home
-final ranking
-quality players going pro

Just take a look at these factors for the last few years. Tell me that your stats only of appearances in SEC title games since 98 supercedes all of these considerations. The only thing you have to offer is overall record and SEC title game appearances. I want you to look at the big picture here. Consider more than just two factors and honestly tell me we cannot be rightfully critical of Fulmer's overall performance. Honestly, look at some of these. Look at ALL of these.