Phil came to scout my daughter

[Swiftybaby]

Make sure she works like heck.

I’d see him often working with his grandson hitting baseball years ago. That grandson is Bob Peace’s boy who’s in high school now.

She’s pretty damn good and likes to go outside and play so that is a plus. Also has the one thing you can’t coach, speed baby. I do my best to put her in a position to succeed

 

[Voltopia]

I just want to echo that I've met Fulmer a few times as well, and every time he was incredibly gracious person. He dropped a few funny stories about Tennessee football and recruiting during those interactions, but mostly was just a very nice person who respected the people doing their jobs around him. I believed -- and still do -- that he bleeds orange, and I have a great deal of admiration for his commitment to both Tennessee the school and Tennessee the region.

 

[turbovol]

I had a 40 minute discussion with Fulmer once, in his office. He was friendly, fairly easy to talk to, but I also detected a bit of steel in him, which
any successful coach in major-college football has to have. He was fond of saying that the football program was the "front porch" for the university, which is quite true, He ended our chat by telling me that he had to leave to meet a recruit who was in for a visit, which turned out to be Casey Clausen and his father.

 

[NO SIR EEE]

You should say hello when it's over. I've been told by two friends (one an UGA fan, the other an Auburn fan) that's he's about the nicest person you'll ever meet

Ran into him in the Murphy, NC casino. He was so nice and carried a convo like we had been friends for years and even signed my hat for me.

 

[Special Ed]

Stealing signs????????

He's now a stealth Michigan assistant?

 

[Jr_Vol#]

Well CPF was lucky enough to meet me awhile back so I took time to speak and shack hands with him. After asking multiple times for a picture with me I finally gave in (After he made a small donation to me) and took one.
Unfortunately I've never had the pleasure of meeting him but have always wished he coached until he decided to retire. For those of you fortunate enough to have met him I'm jealous but happy for you!

 

[LadyinOrange]

Phil is genuine and real. He’s All Vol all the time. Some of the things said on this board about him…IMO…reveals more about the poster than Phil. NC coach who’s in the HOF.

I have some folks on ignore simply because of their remarks about CPF. Anyone who actually lived through the 90s and followed UT football HAS to have a modicum of respect for the man. At least he never showed up for an interview drunk out of his mind. Not one that I watched, anyway.

 

[cgrish]

Ran into him at a game in S. Carolina once. He shook my hand and said good to see you. Seemed like a nice guy

I only met him once, pretty large crowd of people shook hands with him and he even let me make of pic of the two of us. Very friendly.

 

[Flipdaddy]

I worked for Fulmer in the mid 2000s. Fantastic guy. Very genuine. He was always great with the little Vols. Man I was young .

 

[Voltopia]

I had a 40 minute discussion with Fulmer once, in his office. He was friendly, fairly easy to talk to, but I also detected a bit of steel in him, which
any successful coach in major-college football has to have. He was fond of saying that the football program was the "front porch" for the university, which is quite true, He ended our chat by telling me that he had to leave to meet a recruit who was in for a visit, which turned out to be Casey Clausen and his father.

I can just picture it now. "Casey, I was just talking with turbovol, and he said you should definitely come to Tennessee. Just thought you ought to know that."

 

[MississippiVOLS]

You should say hello when it's over. I've been told by two friends (one an UGA fan, the other an Auburn fan) that's he's about the nicest person you'll ever meet

Was on a flight with him several years ago, during the Dooley disaster. I spoke to him briefly after we got off the plane. I was nervous about speaking to him because I’m not usually that guy, but he was very nice.

 

[OL SMOKEY]

This is a great thread. I have enjoyed reading about all of the encounters you all have had with Coach. I wish he could have stayed around a little longer.

 

[Notorious B.E.N]

You should say hello when it's over. I've been told by two friends (one an UGA fan, the other an Auburn fan) that's he's about the nicest person you'll ever meet

He came to my house in 1993, i was 9, on a recruiting visit for one of my mom's students. He and Chavis, they played basketball with me and my brother in our driveway.

 

[lukeneyland]

I’ve shared this story on here before, but I met him at an event in my town, where he and Coach Chavis spoke. Got my pic taken with him and they signed a mini helmet.
Fast forward to 2008, when he was coaching his last game. I was there and saw him crying as he hugged the seniors on their last run through the T, and as they walked off the field victors over Kentucky.
For some reason, his firing did not sit well with me, more so than any of the subsequent firings. So I wrote him a letter, told him how much I appreciated his time at UT and the accomplishments, etc. and how I was praying for him and his family in whatever they did in the future. Mailed it off and thought nothing else of it.
A few weeks later, I got mail from the UT Football Office. Inside was a signed letter from Coach Fulmer, telling me how much he appreciated my letter to him, and that his faith was carrying he and his family through this time of turmoil and he would always be a Volunteer, as the fans, team and University meant so much to him.
My wife had the letter, picture and the ticket stubs from that game matted and framed. It hangs on the wall in my office. I will always be thankful for that and that a coach of his stature took the time out to send a letter of thanks to a random fan 3 states away.
GB

I cried too that night. I remember being there as a little kid. It was rainy and cold and I couldn’t help but cry when he came out of the T for the last time. He’s a good man that truly loves Tennessee

 

[Adam Sandler]

Dude loved the Vols true and through. Did more than enough to deserve all the possible praise in the world.

 

[LWSVOL]

I went to a UT Alumni social gathering in California just before Peyton signed with the Vols. On arriving, I walked up to a group of about 5 people which included Fulmer who were chatting. As soon as I joined the group, Fulmer interrupted whoever was talking and looked directly at me and introduced himself (as if I didn't know). Very friendly and relatable. I mentioned the 1971 Penn State game which TN won 31-11. This clearly punched Fulmer's enthusiasm button as he began recalling game details like it was just last week.

I was at a fantasy camp he did in July for certain donors, it was invitation only. Maybe 80 of us at a two day camp in Knoxville. I had a DVD of that game and the starting lineups were introduced before the game, it was an ABC game. I ask Joe Harrington (UT Video guy at the time) if he could show it up on the TV. We had been on a break. When everyone came back in Joe put it up just at the player introductions. He asked Joe where he got it and he told him to make him a copy...
Also gave him a DVD of his last game.

His last game picture and he and I at one of his fantasy camps. He always had a golf event at them

 

[savannahfan]

You should say hello when it's over. I've been told by two friends (one an UGA fan, the other an Auburn fan) that's he's about the nicest person you'll ever meet

True!!

 

[barknoxbrawler]

I saw him at Vanderbilt hospital a few years back and said hello. Saw him at the Anderson Training Center when he walked in the elevator. He is a super nice and approachable man.

 

[LargeOrange1]

You should say hello when it's over. I've been told by two friends (one an UGA fan, the other an Auburn fan) that's he's about the nicest person you'll ever meet

My then 16 year old daughter and I ran into Phil & Vicky at the Chik-fil-a Kickoff years ago while walking through the GA World Congress Center. We said "Hello Coach Fulmer, can we get a quick picture"? You'd thought we asked him to borrow $5000. He clearly didn't want to be bothered. However my daughter said "Please" and he agreed finally. It took all of 5 seconds but left me thinking "what a pompous jerk".

 

[volfeeva]

Stealing signs????????

I've heard rumors that the Vols were considering hiring Harbaugh because he already knows our plays.
In fact, he already knows every college teams plays.

 

[TennesseeTarheel]

Had his locker in HS. It was a mess.

 

[SprocketRocket]

My daughter got a picture with him when she was at an event with the POTS in 2019. She was so excited. She sent me the pic and i showed it off to all of my buddies. I ran into him at the Alumni event at the Gator Bowl that year. I showed him the Pic and he got a big smile on his face and talked to me for several minutes about the band and how much it meant to the school, team and him personally. He seemed very genuine. I asked him if i could get a pic with him like the one she got. He was very gracious. I immediately sent it to my daughter as a flex. The picture of her in her band uniform with him is still her phone background picture to this day.

 

[LittleVol]

I was shocked and angered we fired him, and I resented certain people for a long long time.
It was disgusting.
I wish he had been given the chance to stay and right the ship - you can be guaranteed we wouldn’t have been nearly as awful as we were for the last twenty years. I bet he would’ve won another natty - but we will never know.

You think...he would have won another National Championship...as the coaching improved in the conference????

There's a guy that just retired - his name is Nick Saban. He was a huge reason for Phil being fired. And then there's Urban Meyer. Steve Spurrier at South Carolina. Etc....

Not to mention his recruiting was letting very average.

We would have becomes like Kentucky
7-5, 6-6, 7-5, 7-5, 7-5, 8-4, 11 wins? Yeah

 

[utchs81]

You think...he would have won another National Championship...as the coaching improved in the conference????

There's a guy that just retired - his name is Nick Saban. He was a huge reason for Phil being fired. And then there's Urban Meyer. Steve Spurrier at South Carolina. Etc....

Not to mention his recruiting was letting very average.

We would have becomes like Kentucky
7-5, 6-6, 7-5, 7-5, 7-5, 8-4, 11 wins? Yeah

Thanks for making the attempt to turn, what up until now, has been mostly a positive thread concerning a true VFL, into a negative. Your job is done.

 

[Swiftybaby]

You think...he would have won another National Championship...as the coaching improved in the conference????

There's a guy that just retired - his name is Nick Saban. He was a huge reason for Phil being fired. And then there's Urban Meyer. Steve Spurrier at South Carolina. Etc....

Not to mention his recruiting was letting very average.

We would have becomes like Kentucky
7-5, 6-6, 7-5, 7-5, 7-5, 8-4, 11 wins? Yeah

Thank you for that little man