Tennessee doesn't do losing well.

To be fair, it hasn't had much practice.

We're talking football here, of course.

Remember happier times when you took your September loss to Florida, moaned for a week or so, and then moved on?

Beat Alabama and South Carolina and by November it was again a Vol world after all.

Maybe a little whining about the BCS or some alleged slight by ESPN, but there were worse places to spend New Year's Eve than Orlando.

Next thing you knew, it was signing day.

Well, as you no doubt have noticed, it's gotten nasty around here lately.

"And now is the winter of our discontent ''

So begins Act 1 of Shakespeare's play about Richard III. It's also appropriate for Act 13 of Phillip I.

Phillip Fulmer's leadership has provided UT many a sunny summer day, figuratively speaking.

But now it has strayed into uncharted waters. Cold, wintry waters.

Losses mounted. Historical precedents fell.

One assistant coach, Randy Sanders, relinquished his duties as offensive coordinator.

Midseason resignations are never a good sign. This one didn't solve anything, except, hopefully, peace of mind for the Sanders family.

After Saturday's loss to Vanderbilt, Tennessee's first since 1982, Fulmer declared the Vols were "about at rock bottom.''

And he reached that conclusion not even aware what was going on outside the locker-room doors.

Several players apparently threw their helmets on the ground and left them there for managers or souvenir hunters to collect. Anyone checked eBay yet?

Offensive tackle Albert Toeaina reportedly spit on a cameraman.

Meanwhile, a player's mother called in a post-game radio talk show voicing concern about the state of the program.

Tammy Brown, mother of tight end Chris Brown, told host Jimmy Hyams, that, among other things, "The discipline is terrible,'' and that, "Coach Fulmer needs to take charge of our boys.''

A parent beseeching the coach for more discipline on talk radio is never a good sign.

Fulmer on Sunday vowed to get to the bottom of the helmet and spitting allegations and dispense punishment.

That exercise should be a prelude to something more complicated, a perceived larger discipline issue that exists both on and off the field.

Like it or not, the time to address it is at hand.

Up until the final play Saturday, Fulmer surely held on to the belief that he'd still have the soothing December ritual of bowl practice to put a positive ending on a broken season.

But there will be no bowl practice. The broken season ends Saturday in Lexington. That's it for old business.

New business starts uncommonly early for Tennessee.

"We have to take accountability, starting with me, to get it done coaching,'' Fulmer said.

"And then the players have to take accountability to getting it done as players.''

Fulmer's accountability starts in his mirror.

He'll be back for a 14th year, possibly enlightened, certainly more determined. Some of his assistants won't.

Defensive coordinator, John Chavis pledged Saturday that he'll be here in 2006, committed to getting things fixed. At last, a good sign.

But what of the players?

Sustained losing was unthinkable when they signed on from California or Texas or Miami. Or even Knoxville.

As we saw Saturday from the alleged post-game incidents, at least some of them don't do losing well.

Fans don't do losing well, either, but, fair or not, players are held to a higher standard.

Fulmer shouldn't wait even another week to make an accountability statement, for himself or his players.

Better that the 2006 season starts now.

Mike Strange may be reached at 865-342-6276 or strange2@knews.com.