Fulmer broadens scope New coordinator won't need to have ties to UT
By CHRIS LOW
Staff Writer
KNOXVILLE While his primary goal remains salvaging something out of this season, Tennessee Coach Phillip Fulmer has already set the wheels in motion to find a new offensive coordinator.
Fulmer, who already talks frequently with David Cutcliffe, said yesterday that Cutcliffe would be at or near the top of his list to replace Randy Sanders.
But by no means is it a done deal.
In fact, Fulmer said he will give strong consideration to bringing new blood into the program. He has already started to compile a list of some of the hot names offensively.
"We're going to look around nationally and find the best person that fits what we want to do and brings the right things to the table," Fulmer said.
Cutcliffe said he's talked with both Fulmer and Sanders in recent days, but more on a personal basis and to be there for support during a difficult time.
Cutcliffe is one of Fulmer's closest friends and was his offensive coordinator at Tennessee before taking the head-coaching job at Mississippi following the 1998 SEC Championship game.
Now back in Knoxville after being fired at Ole Miss following last season, Cutcliffe is also extremely close to Sanders, who learned under Cutcliffe while coming up through the ranks on the Vols' staff.
"We need to make sure we take care of our business the rest of this season first, but David and I will certainly talk at the appropriate time," Fulmer said. "He's a fine football coach and a fine man."
Many fans have suggested that Sanders was never fully in charge of the Vols' offense and that he was merely working off of Fulmer's blueprint.
Fulmer admits that he's heavily involved in putting together the offensive game plan each week, as well as key play calls during the course of the game, but he's also not adverse to turning over the offense to the right person.
"I could do that within the philosophy that I think is important," Fulmer said. "You look at the top four teams right now in the country, and the common trait is they play great defense, run the football very effectively and use the play-action pass.
"As long as you stay somewhere in those boundaries, I'd be fine with that."
Whoever the new coordinator is, Fulmer promised that he will have a successful background and be a stickler for toughness and discipline.
"Those are areas we need to improve on," Fulmer said.
With Sanders' resigning on Monday as offensive coordinator and staying on as quarterbacks coach until the end of the year, Fulmer said he doesn't anticipate any more staff changes during the season. But he wouldn't rule out more coming after the season and said he would take a long look at the entire program.
He said the new coordinator would have a big say in who goes and who stays.
"We'll evaluate everything and then make some tough decisions," Fulmer said.
Fulmer will handle the play-calling the rest of this season with input from Sanders, who will move from the sideline to the press box this Saturday against Notre Dame.
"We're in the process now as a staff of putting the plan together," Fulmer said.
"Everybody needs to understand that this staff is a group of prideful men who have been loyal and dedicated to this football program and these kids."
By CHRIS LOW
Staff Writer
KNOXVILLE While his primary goal remains salvaging something out of this season, Tennessee Coach Phillip Fulmer has already set the wheels in motion to find a new offensive coordinator.
Fulmer, who already talks frequently with David Cutcliffe, said yesterday that Cutcliffe would be at or near the top of his list to replace Randy Sanders.
But by no means is it a done deal.
In fact, Fulmer said he will give strong consideration to bringing new blood into the program. He has already started to compile a list of some of the hot names offensively.
"We're going to look around nationally and find the best person that fits what we want to do and brings the right things to the table," Fulmer said.
Cutcliffe said he's talked with both Fulmer and Sanders in recent days, but more on a personal basis and to be there for support during a difficult time.
Cutcliffe is one of Fulmer's closest friends and was his offensive coordinator at Tennessee before taking the head-coaching job at Mississippi following the 1998 SEC Championship game.
Now back in Knoxville after being fired at Ole Miss following last season, Cutcliffe is also extremely close to Sanders, who learned under Cutcliffe while coming up through the ranks on the Vols' staff.
"We need to make sure we take care of our business the rest of this season first, but David and I will certainly talk at the appropriate time," Fulmer said. "He's a fine football coach and a fine man."
Many fans have suggested that Sanders was never fully in charge of the Vols' offense and that he was merely working off of Fulmer's blueprint.
Fulmer admits that he's heavily involved in putting together the offensive game plan each week, as well as key play calls during the course of the game, but he's also not adverse to turning over the offense to the right person.
"I could do that within the philosophy that I think is important," Fulmer said. "You look at the top four teams right now in the country, and the common trait is they play great defense, run the football very effectively and use the play-action pass.
"As long as you stay somewhere in those boundaries, I'd be fine with that."
Whoever the new coordinator is, Fulmer promised that he will have a successful background and be a stickler for toughness and discipline.
"Those are areas we need to improve on," Fulmer said.
With Sanders' resigning on Monday as offensive coordinator and staying on as quarterbacks coach until the end of the year, Fulmer said he doesn't anticipate any more staff changes during the season. But he wouldn't rule out more coming after the season and said he would take a long look at the entire program.
He said the new coordinator would have a big say in who goes and who stays.
"We'll evaluate everything and then make some tough decisions," Fulmer said.
Fulmer will handle the play-calling the rest of this season with input from Sanders, who will move from the sideline to the press box this Saturday against Notre Dame.
"We're in the process now as a staff of putting the plan together," Fulmer said.
"Everybody needs to understand that this staff is a group of prideful men who have been loyal and dedicated to this football program and these kids."
