So much for the fall of the Big Orange Kingdom.

This was supposed to be a year of struggles, the beginning of the end for a program that was deemed by some as no longer entertaining and on the decline.

Remember the legal distractions in the offseason generated in Alabama, and how it was said they would wear ol' Phillip Fulmer down?

Does anyone recall how none of the 80-some media members in Birmingham selected Tennessee to win the SEC East?

Even Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson cracked on Fulmer and the Vols. When a cell phone rang at media days, Johnson said, "Maybe that's Phil.''

Maybe it was.

And maybe had Johnson or anyone else taken that call, they'd have heard Fulmer say he was going to approach the 2004 season with a vengeance.

That included recruiting.

The Vols' signing class of 27 Wednesday has been rated No. 1 by Scout.com.

Perhaps no one epitomizes the type of year Fulmer had recruiting better than quarterback signee Jonathan Crompton.

Crompton, one of the top five quarterbacks in the nation, shunned conventional wisdom to join forces with Fulmer and the Vols.

Yes, there are two talented freshmen and a proven junior ahead of him on the depth chart. And yes, Steve Spurrier promised to build a program around Crompton at South Carolina.

Crompton stayed firm. He took note of how the Vols went 10-3 with a two freshman quarterback system and a third string junior. He watched as UT won the SEC East by sweeping rivals Alabama, Georgia and Florida, despite replacing seven defensive starters.

The other signees saw what a determined Fulmer could do, too, playing freshmen and gambling on fourth downs.

Running back LeMarcus Coker, one of nine in-state signees (the most in one class under Fulmer), witnessed the Vols produce two 1,000 yard rushers in the same season.

Running back Montario Hardesty - who some say is even better than Coker - got a good enough feeling that he de-committed from his home-state North Carolina Tar Heels to join up with the Vols.

Defensive back Demetrice Morley, the latest UT gem from talent-rich South Florida, shunned "The U'' in Miami to wear a different shade of orange.

Morley, like other defensive back prospects, was wooed in part by UT players. Their tactic? Turn on the film and show an opportunity for immediate playing time at safety.

Most all the recruits saw Neyland Stadium lit up at night during their official visits. They'd strolled through the Hall of Fame room, complete with wax figures of former quarterbacks and trophies from most all major bowls. They'd read the literature stating that Fulmer has produced more NFL draft picks over the past 12 years than anyone. They traveled on streets named after former players, and walked through an indoor facility with giant championship banners hanging from the ceiling and portraits of former All-Americans plastered on the walls.

And finally, on the last stop during their recruiting visit, they sat directly across from a head coach who recently became worth his weight in gold, quite literally, by signing a $2.05-million contact.

So much for the fall of Phillip Fulmer.