Mount Rushmore of Tennessee Football

#76
#76
Volosaurus rex said:
I have the utmost respect for what Coach Fulmer accomplished at UT and no head coach, arguably, cared more deeply about the university than Phil. In comparing the legacies of Fulmer and Neyland, however, it is important to remember that, first of all, Neyland put Tennessee on the proverbial college football map and amassed the winningest record in the country during his tenure.

Furthermore, his legacy persisted for generations. Listen to the comments of his contmporaries on this documentary, General Robert Neyland "The Man and the Legend" - YouTube. Therein, Wallace Wade, who was Alabama's first great coach, described Neyland as the "best football coach I've ever competed against." Even more importantly, Neyland's coaching tree, arguably, is still alive. In addition to the many Neyland players who went on to coach at Tennessee for decades after Neyland's retirement, you will find on its upper and outermost branches, Will Muschamp and Nick Saban. If you don't believe me, look at this article: Muschamp's coaching bloodlines. Saban's perfectionism, his hard-nosed, rock-ribbed defense and smash-mouth offense, predicated on its running game, are all reminiscent of Neyland's approach to the game.
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What great coaches have come from the Phil Fulmer coaching tree? Why was Fulmer not offered another decent job?
 
#77
#77
Without being overtly critical of Phil, that was precisely my point. Neyland has left an infinitely more enduring legacy than Fulmer.
 
#78
#78
Neyland -- Manning -- Majors -- White

Effectively covers our legends of coaching, offense, defense, old school, new school, both "shoulda been" Heismans, tradition.
 
#82
#82
majors was the better player no doubt. fulmer would be a better coach. though majors as head coach and fulmer as offensive coordinator wasn't a bad combo either. see 1991 miracle in south bend for an example of that.
 
#83
#83
personally i would choose majors over fulmer for down to earth a guy you can talk to about ut football, fulmer stills seems to love money and his eyes light up about it, it seems, majors doesn't care he'd sit back with anyone and drink a shot of jack with you too.
 
#84
#84
1. General Neyland for sure THE GREATEST- our George Washington
2. Bob Suffridge - only 3 time All American, led us on 2 Natl Championship teams in 1938 and 1940 and led Vols to 30-0 regular season record while he played.
3. Doug Atkins - 2-time All-American, led us to 2 Natl Championships in 1950 and 1951, considered Greatest Defensive lineman in College Football history, record with him playing 29-3-1 also was on Basketball scholarship at UT and won SEC in track (High Jump). Famous for throwing blockers into QB's. I met him after his NFL days when he was a salesman for a casket company. I kidded him that "he was the last to let you down".
4. Peyton Manning - played 4 years at QB 40-9 record (actually 39-6 since he took over after 1-3 record with other 2 QBs, ended winless streak against Alabama in 1995, loyal to Vols and turned down millions of dollars to play senior season, responsible for much positive publicity for UT and for many recruits coming to Tennessee, IMO robbed of Heisman by ESPN BUT received Maxwell Award as Nations Best Player, and Sullivan Award as top Amateur Athlete in nation (of all sports), left UT holding 42 NCAA and Tennessee Vol records as the #1 draft pick in NFL. He is a great representative of UT and went out of his way to help me on something Vol related in 1997 that he would not benefit from because he knows his VOL history and really cares.
5. Al Wilson - played 4 years 1995-1998 with 45-5 record and Captain of 13-0 1998 Natl Championship team, watched him make 12 tackles and force 3 fumbles against #2 Florida in what was IMO the biggest win of that year! Met him in the locker room after that game and he was an incredible linebacker and IMO the biggest leader we had on that team all thru the 1998 season - literally a coach on the field!!

My Coach and 11 players for Mt. Everest would include COACH- General Neyland, PLAYERS- 1. Bob Suffridge, 2. Doug Atkins, 3. Peyton Manning, 4. Al Wilson, 5. George Cafego, 6. Reggie White, 7. Eric Berry, 8. Steve Kiner, 9. Johnny Majors, 10. Steve Delong, 11. Bob Johnson.

I would also have statues of Hank Lauricella, Ed Molinski, Philip Fulmer, and Bowden Wyatt and a few others along the trail to go up Mt. Everest. Also, I would have an audio tour available narrated by JOHN WARD!!!!
 
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#85
#85
1972 Grad said:
What great coaches have come from the Phil Fulmer coaching tree? Why was Fulmer not offered another decent job?
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Remember Coach Fulmer has not had as much time for his coaching tree to show up yet. His strength (and weakness) was loyalty to his people and they stayed with him.

I would rate our coaches as Neyland, Fulmer, Barnhill, Dickey, Majors

Barnhill may hve one of the best Coaching Trees around. After having best Winning Percentage at Tennessee he went to coach at Arkansas and then hired Frank Broyles who as I remember once had a staff that included Doug Dickey, Johnny Majors, and Barry Switzer all at the same time. One of the greatest staffs of all time. Coach Barnhill gets credit for Majors, Dickey, and Switzer's and Broyles' trees too.... Plus a fantastic winning Percentage as a coach... everybody underrates him IMO! One of our GREAT coaches...
 
#86
#86
1972 Grad said:
What great coaches have come from the Phil Fulmer coaching tree? Why was Fulmer not offered another decent job?
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Fulmer was the first person interviewed for the Kansas JayHawks job, after Turner Gill was fired.

However; in the interview, he talked about his accomplishments and himself. He never asked about the future of Kansas football, etc. etc. So, to the people conducting the interview, it seemed as if he didn't really want the Kansas job. Someone interested in a job would ask as many questions about the job, but Fulmer was there tooting his own horn.

This is what was reported on a college football show on ESPN shortly after Charlie Weiss got the job....

My point is that Fulmer could have had that job....He just blew the interview process.
 
#87
#87
General Neyland

Reggie White

Peyton Manning

John Ward

Smokey
 
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#88
#88
Vol4life25 said:
Coach cutt..,,,and how y know he hasn't ?
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While I think that David Cutcliffe is a decent coach, I am not sure that I would call anyone with a 65-69 career record ( 34-54 in conference SEC and ACC) a great coach from the Fulmer tree. Also I think that if Fulmer had been offered a really good job, we would have heard about it, because he would have told others. His ego would not have allowed him to keep quiet about turning down a "really good coaching job."
 
#89
#89
1967 said:
1. General Neyland for sure THE GREATEST- our George Washington
2. Bob Suffridge - only 3 time All American, led us on 2 Natl Championship teams in 1938 and 1940 and led Vols to 30-0 regular season record while he played.
3. Doug Atkins - 2-time All-American, led us to 2 Natl Championships in 1950 and 1951, considered Greatest Defensive lineman in College Football history, record with him playing 29-3-1 also was on Basketball scholarship at UT and won SEC in track (High Jump). Famous for throwing blockers into QB's. I met him after his NFL days when he was a salesman for a casket company. I kidded him that "he was the last to let you down".
4. Peyton Manning - played 4 years at QB 40-9 record (actually 39-6 since he took over after 1-3 record with other 2 QBs, ended winless streak against Alabama in 1995, loyal to Vols and turned down millions of dollars to play senior season, responsible for much positive publicity for UT and for many recruits coming to Tennessee, IMO robbed of Heisman by ESPN BUT received Maxwell Award as Nations Best Player, and Sullivan Award as top Amateur Athlete in nation (of all sports), left UT holding 42 NCAA and Tennessee Vol records as the #1 draft pick in NFL. He is a great representative of UT and went out of his way to help me on something Vol related in 1997 that he would not benefit from because he knows his VOL history and really cares.
5. Al Wilson - played 4 years 1995-1998 with 45-5 record and Captain of 13-0 1998 Natl Championship team, watched him make 12 tackles and force 3 fumbles against #2 Florida in what was IMO the biggest win of that year! Met him in the locker room after that game and he was an incredible linebacker and IMO the biggest leader we had on that team all thru the 1998 season - literally a coach on the field!!

My Coach and 11 players for Mt. Everest would include COACH- General Neyland, PLAYERS- 1. Bob Suffridge, 2. Doug Atkins, 3. Peyton Manning, 4. Al Wilson, 5. George Cafego, 6. Reggie White, 7. Eric Berry, 8. Steve Kiner, 9. Johnny Majors, 10. Steve Delong, 11. Bob Johnson.

I would also have statues of Hank Lauricella, Ed Molinski, Philip Fulmer, and Bowden Wyatt and a few others along the trail to go up Mt. Everest.
Click to expand...

I don't think I could have a better list. So many of the younger posters just don't realize how good some of the old guy were. Bob Suffridge may have been the best player to ever play the game anywhere unless it was Atkins.
 
#91
#91
1972 Grad said:
I am not saying that he isn't the best qb that we have ever had, but we won a Nat'l Championship after he left, with a lot of the same players. Manning couldn't get over the Florida hump. He didn't win the Super Bowl until after he left college. Maybe he belongs, maybe not. Just my opinion.

When I was in college, I watched Bob Johnson dominate the middle of the line. As far as Suffridge and McEver, I am going on what Neyland said about them. I also had a teacher in high school by the name of Leonard Coffman, who was a childhood friend of my mother. He played alongside Cafego in the backfield, and would visit and tell stories about him. The Neyland guys were tough, or they went home to mama.

The times were different back then and it's hard to compare eras of any sport. I would rate them on both their team and individual accomplishments.
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Manning is the best player we have had. No player received more national attention while he played and just look at the press conference when he decided to stay at UT. He had one home loss in his last three years as a Vol and that was a six point loss to the national champions. He just can't be left off in my opinion
 
#95
#95
Mount rushmore of Tennessee coaches and players fans hate....

Arian Foster...fumbling Foster anyone
Lane kiffen...anyone have a mattress
Johnathan crompton...worst UT qb ever
Derrick Dooley..... what the hel is he thinking

These statements are not my thoughts just what I have heard ALOT on here
Others receiving votes Michael palardy,Tyler Bray,lenored little,tee martin
 
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#96
#96
GOATeric14berry said:
Mount rushmore of Tennessee coaches and players fans hate....

Arian Foster...fumbling Foster anyone
Lane kiffen...anyone have a mattress
Johnathan crompton...worst UT qb ever
Derrick Dooley..... what the hel is he thinking

These statements are not my thoughts just what I have heard ALOT on here
Others receiving votes Michael palardy,Tyler Bray,lenored little,tee martin
Click to expand...

See also...... Spelling.
 
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#97
#97
GOATeric14berry said:
Mount rushmore of Tennessee coaches and players fans hate....

Arian Foster...fumbling Foster anyone
Lane kiffen...anyone have a mattress
Johnathan crompton...worst UT qb ever
Derrick Dooley..... what the hel is he thinking

These statements are not my thoughts just what I have heard ALOT on here
Others receiving votes Michael palardy,Tyler Bray,lenored little,tee martin
Click to expand...

Foster is hated by a small group but vocal.
 
#98
#98
How about a "wildcard" spot. This way, you can have a 2nd coach or a legendary non-player like John Ward on it. And this monument could be outside the stadium on the side of the Hill or on the outside of the stadium somewhere overlooking the river.
 
#99
#99
lockvol said:
How about a "wildcard" spot. This way, you can have a 2nd coach or a legendary non-player like John Ward on it. And this monument could be outside the stadium on the side of the Hill or on the outside of the stadium somewhere overlooking the river.
Click to expand...
I nominate Bobby, the crippled newspaper salesman and Arnold "yummy for your tummy" Zandi, hot dog salesman.
 
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