Guitar Shots to the Head: Translation Please

For the last few weeks the Volnation has held its collective breath awaiting the decision of Phillip Fulmer. To the dismay of some and to the delight of others it wasn’t a retirement choice, rather it was the hire of nearly the entire offensive staff that held Vol fans hostage over the course of that time. The choice has been made, and the future for the Tennessee football program is now. This hire gives us some indication that Fulmer is well aware of that fact.

When the process began there were quite a few (including myself) who thought the search might turn out to be a clever ruse concocted to red herring the media into a frenzy only to fall back on one of two safe choices. The initial candidates fell by the wayside. They took jobs in other places and in one case chose to remain put. Until the very end the prospect of Greg Adkins or Trooper Taylor calling plays for the Vols seemed to be a very real possibility.

People had very valid concerns about Fulmer’s “fall back” plan. Allow me to pull off the scabs and rub a little alcohol in them. Since bringing home the Sears Trophy in 1998 the Vols have not brought a relevant championship back to Knoxville. During that time, when it came to coaching decisions, Fulmer has always taken the easiest road. Whether it was Pat Washington, Jimmy Ray Stephens or the much-maligned Randy Sanders, it appeared as though Fulmer simply didn’t always want to put in the extra effort to make this team better. Some will disagree, but that is why this is called Guitar Shots to the Head.

Staff changes require an incredible amount of energy. The 5-6 season of 2005 may have been the only catalyst that would invoke Fulmer to expend the time and effort on that particular cause. Even in the face of Randy Sander’s resignation the easy choice was the only choice for Fulmer, as he brought David Cutcliffe back into the fold. In the face of these facts, it is easy to assume that Fulmer had lost some of his desire. A championship can do that to people.

The current events tell a different tale. Somewhere along the way the fire has been rekindled, and Fulmer is ready to put in the hours that this kind of change requires. Phil was diligent with his search and in the end he made a decision ultimately contrary to his nature. He brought in an offensive coordinator that has no ties to the University of Tennessee. I consider that the first step to recovery. In the end Fulmer made an atypical decision. Translation: with his choice of a new offensive coordinator Phil Fulmer proves that he does have the desire to remain as the head coach at the University of Tennessee, and this offense can immediately reap the benefits of that decision.

I realize that some are still very hesitant about the choice. People assume that the new coach, regardless of who it was will be micro managed into a clone of ole Phil himself. Again that is not beyond the realm of possibility, but I don’t think it is likely. A handful of people believe a “subdivision” hire is substandard. Look no further than Jim Tressel, Rich Rodriquez or even Paul Johnson disprove the idea that a IAA coach cannot be successful at the next level.

History ultimately tells us that winning translates. Good coaches are good coaches. They don’t change jobs and lose their ability to coach. They maintain and implement systems that work. That is what makes them good coaches. While you may snicker at the talent level in the “subdivision” be careful what you say about the coaches. Erk Russell, one of the best defensive coordinators to ever walk the earth found a home at a IAA school, and if was good enough for him, it is good enough for me. Some teams perform at a very high level in that league, and Dave Clawson coached one of those teams.

In the presser Fulmer kidded about Clawson having the guts to disagree with him during the course of the interview. That is a very good sign. The Saturday morning love fest also highlighted that Clawson runs a pro set that emphasizes identifying offensive horses and getting them the ball in space. That sounds eerily like the intention of a spread offense. Personally, looking at the candidates interviewed this was a solid hire, and in my estimation it will work. If the process and eventual decision are any indication, Fulmer is very aware of the stagnate nature of the program over the last decade. Surely he doesn’t need me to tell him that he hasn’t won the SEC in 10 years. That is only one of the reasons we will see a new approach to managing his coordinator.

The other reason I think we see a hands off approach is a little more direct. If this grand “new blood” experiment doesn’t work only one person is ultimately accountable for the results. Translation: Phil made the hire, and now he has to live with the decision. He alone is responsible for direction this program takes. CPF will deserve much of the glory or the blame depending on how the new hire ultimately performs. In my humble opinion Clawson’s success will translate quite nicely. It is quite possible that Phil played his last card with the new hire. To me, right now, it is looking like an ace in the hole. Go Vols.