Fulmer's focus on field, not court

Subpoenas.

Mudslinging.

Is this what the Tennessee-Alabama rivalry has come to?

Phillip Fulmer has seen the best and worst of the "Third Saturday in October." Fulmer is 9-2 against Alabama as head coach including seven straight wins from 1995-2001.

As an assistant coach and player, Fulmer's Vols were 6-11 against the Tide. He has seen his share of the good and bad, but he must now face questions about the ugly.

"I don't think anything off the field has anything to do with it," Fulmer said. "It's two fine universities playing a really special game. It's been special for a long, long time."

Fulmer has been embroiled in lawsuits concerning Alabama for what seems like a long, long time to UT fans.

First, there's the lawsuit filed by former Alabama coaches Ivy Williams and Ronnie Cottrell. Attorneys claim that Williams and Cottrell lost their jobs because Fulmer was at the heart of an NCAA investigation that turned up recruiting violations that led to sanctions in 2002.

With attorney Thomas Gallion at the helm, Cottrell and Williams sued the NCAA and others for $60 million. Fulmer is not a defendant.

Nevertheless, the attorneys consistently dredged up allegations concerning Fulmer and UT. Academic improprieties and cash payments made to players were some of the lowlights.

None of Gallion's charges has resulted in NCAA penalty. Gallion insists Fulmer gave the NCAA information on Alabama in exchange for NCAA immunity.

Fulmer has been tight lipped on the subject, discussing the matter only when forced to in July. Fulmer, expecting a subpoena from Gallion, declined to attend the annual SEC Media Days in Birmingham, Ala., and was fined $10,000 by the SEC.

Via a teleconference, Fulmer released his strongest statement on the matter: "We now have a small group of radical attorneys, who on their own have undertaken their own agenda to smear the NCAA and anyone else they can along the way."

Several UT players commended Fulmer saying he was forced into a bad situation and handled it the best way possible.

"I think you have to let it roll off your back," linebacker Kevin Burnett said of the legal wrangling. "Most of that stuff is stuff somebody dug up or stuff somebody made up or stuff they wanted somebody to believe. You can't really believe what the people say about it.

"Me being a kid playing this game, that's grown folks business and I have my hand out of this pot."

There is no known connection between University of Alabama football and Alabama attorneys with a perceived vendetta against UT.

"Alabama on the field is totally different from Alabama off the field," Burnett said. "Once you put the pads on it's a totally different story."

Still, some players say the allegations are too strong to not rub their sense of pride a little wrong.

"Being a man and being a player, it kind of has to," offensive guard Cody Douglas said. "Then again you can't go out there and let what someone else is doing affect your business.

"This year, there is some added heat with all the things that came out in the media. Last year, he (Fulmer) told us you're not a man until you've beaten Alabama. I think he definitely wants this one bad. We want to go out there and get him a victory."

Asked if the legalities have given UT players added motivation, Douglas said: "I think more so for their side seeing that they think we're to blame for them being on probation."

The truth is the Tennessee-Alabama game is significant without the off-field debate. An SEC East bid is at stake for Tennessee. Bowl eligibility is on the line for Alabama. The game also carries tradition and bragging rights.

"The atmosphere is different," Douglas said. "You can tell there's something in the air. It's hard to put your finger on it. You can count on it being a physical game. There is just something different about Tennessee-Alabama.

"You are going to get those guys 'A' game. They obviously don't like us and we obviously don't like them."

No objection necessary.

FULMER VS. TIDE

1993: UT 17, Alabama 17*
1994: Alabama 17, UT 13
1995: UT 41, Alabama 14
1996: UT 20, Alabama 13
1997: UT 38, Alabama 21
1998: UT 35, Alabama 18
1999: UT 21, Alabama 7
2000: UT 20, Alabama 10
2001: UT 35, Alabama 24
2002: Alabama 34, UT 14
2003: UT 51, Alabama 43

* Game later forfeited to UT as a result of NCAA sanctions.