Ask Griff: Fulmer among modern 'greats'

The thought occurred to me watching Frank Beamer’s Virginia Tech Hokies meltdown against Boston College last week and Georgia's Mark Richt lose to Vanderbilt.

Many times, Beamer has been mentioned as a wish-list head coach because of the tremendous rebuilding he has done in Blacksburg, Va.

But a funny thing has happened to Beamer, as well as Bobby Bowden, since the ACC grew some teeth.

They started losing.

That’s not to knock Bowden and Beamer, who have indeed produced more than their share of great teams and are sure-fire college football Hall of Famers.

But it is worth noting that college football success truly is cyclical.

That much has been exhibited in the SEC for years in the game’s modern era.

No doubt, Richt proved to be just as fallible to a rebuilding year via a quarterback controversy as anyone.

Tennessee exposed Pac-10 poster boy Jeff Tedford, who admitted he hadn’t prepared his top 10 team well enough for its humiliating 35-18 loss to the Vols in the opener.

So who’s left? Who’s the genius?

Miami's Larry Coker was the toast of the town just five years ago. Now he's about to get run out of town after the brawl with Florida International. That, folks, is what losing discipline of a team looks like.

USC’s Pete Carroll? Perhaps, but it will be interesting to see what happens now that the NCAA is taking a closer look at past Trojans’ players, namely Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush.

What about the other USC’s head coach, Steve Spurrier? No doubt, a genius at Florida, but suddenly quite normal without talent, as his team was shut out by the very same Georgia team that Tennessee hung 51 points on and Vanderbilt beat.

So who’s your guy?

Are we back to favoring Bob Stoops again, even after the Sooners were humiliated by Miami in the national title tilt a couple of years ago and have passed the Red River Rivalry baton to Texas?

With all this indisputable evidence of how great coaches can quickly become mediocre, all that’s left to fall back on is the record book.

The record shows that Phillip Fulmer is the winningest coach in the nation over the past 10 years.

Does that mean Fulmer’s the greatest coach in the country?

Absolutely not, but you’d have to acknowledge Fulmer’s in the same category as the other modern-day "greats,’’ and UT fans ought to consider that before yelling for his ouster after one bad season.

As for a breakdown on the Vols' game with Alabama, I think this one comes down to turnovers.

If Tennessee doesn't turn the ball over, it should be an easy win. The Vols have had a week off to get healthy and appear to be on a roll.

The Crimson Tide simply doesn't have the weapons to measure up with UT and will need to win this with desire.

I don't see that happening, but rivalries can be funny sometimes.

KEY PLAYERS: QB Erik Ainge, defensive tackle Turk McBride, LB Marvin Mitchell for the Vols; QB John Parker Wilson, RB Kenneth Darby.

KEY STAT: Turnovers and rushing yardage. If Alabama can run, it could get interesting.

OVER UNDER: Ainge 3 TD passes, LaMarcus Coker 125 total yards, Arian Foster one fumble, Robert Meachem five catches, 100 yards; Wilson 1 TD pass, 1 Interception, Alabama one sack, Darby 65 yards rushing.

KEEP AN EYE ON: Tennessee's front seven. Alabama ran the ball on Florida. 'Nuff said.

GRIFF’S PICKS

Arkansas minus 16½ over Ole Miss
Georgia minus 17½ over Miss. State
Vanderbilt plus 3½ over S. Carolina, Vandy straight-up
Fresno State plus 32 over LSU, LSU straight-up
Alabama plus 12 over Tennessee, Tennessee straight-up
Auburn minus-32 over Tulane
RECORD: 42-8 straight-up, 27-26 vs. spread.

Q: Hello, Mr. Griffith, I'm Robert Lane.

The reason I'm writing you is I would like to thank you for your column on the basketball team and the attention that they are receiving. I know it was about the fans wanting more insight to the team but in the end it really gets back to what this team and this coach seem capable of doing this winter.

I complained to my dad about what a rag of a paper the sentinel was from the time I was 11 or 12 years old because there was never anything in the paper about the basketball Vols before the middle of November. I'm 37 now and I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I was the happiest man in town to see that, and the profiles of the freshmen in the previous Sunday editions of the paper.

You see I'm the guy that stayed up until 2 or 3 in the morning to hear them in Alaska or Hawaii even though I have to be at work at 5:30 in the morning. I'm also the guy that would come up with a way for them to win 25 games every year no matter what they had coming back or who the coach was. I knew it was not going to happen but if someone wanted to talk hoops that what they were going to get from me.

All of these great Vol fans that are going to fill the arena this winter I would like to know where they were when the coach's name was Houston and O'neill and Green. Oh, wait they were there with Green since the team was winning. They of course were gone again when Buzz came to town.

Another reason that I have written you is that I would like to know if you could help me get a note to coach Pearl. I would like to so bold as to speak for the fans that were there with me during the Houston, O'neill, and Buzz eras to thank him for finally rewarding our loyalty.

You do a great job covering the team and a big thanks also goes to you for writing a column to me and the 6,000 or 7,000 lifelong U.T. hoops fans that have been there forever. To the Johnny-Come-Latelys thanks to them for helping out, but how about staying on the bandwagon this time.

PS. Let John Adams know he lost a fan. I wrote him to give my view of the Terrell Owens ordeal a couple of weeks ago, and to let him know that I really enjoy his picks panel stories. I don’t think that he should become my penpal or anything, but I was taught that when paid a compliment you at least aknowledge it.

That being said I dont need you to write me a letter back about what I have written here I know your busy, but if you could let me know if you can point me in the right direction to drop coach a line I would appreciate it.

robvol06@comcast.net

GRIFF: The decision to do more on Tennessee men's basketball was largely that of our three-headed monster, Executive Sports Editor Steve Ahillen (He’s the one that wears a tie to work that we all answer to, as he oversees the entire operation), Deputy Sports Editor Phil Kaplan (He’s the one who makes sure the little stuff doesn’t slip between the cracks with great planning) and Sports Editor and lead columnist John Adams (Always good to bounce ideas off of and assigns various coverages).

I’ve been fortunate to be assigned the Bruce Pearl beat, as he has become a national newsmaker that folks can’t get enough of and with good reason.

Pearl never stops working to get better, and that’s impressive when you think about it. We all have or "off’’ days, when we’re not quite as sharp, but I’ve yet to see one of those days from Pearl.

I’m sure Bruce will be happy to hear about your loyalty, just as I’m sure John Adams will be disappointed to learn that he let you down.

John is much more sensitive than he lets on, and I would encourage you to write him again.

Q: There is something that has been killing me for years now and I'm wondering if you could provide some insight.

And that is: Casey Clausen. For the life of me, I still can't believe this kid didn't get drafted. With all the quarterbacks taken in 03' draft, I'm still in total shock that Clausen wasn't one of them. To me, he had excellent arm strength, made great decisions, had good leadership ability, and most importantly -he was so clutch in critical and often hostile situations, he would have been an solid pick for an NFL team.

People seem oblivious to the fact that he played with a broken clavicle is junior year. I'm not saying he was the next Elway, but I mean....c'mon -somebody had to draft the guy. How could you take Kliff Kingsbury or Gibran Hamdan over Clausen? Or perhaps I'm just taking crazy pills. Please help.

--Rob, Boise Idaho.
neelyrob68@yahoo.com

GRIFF: Rob, I too, was puzzled by Clausen not getting picked up by an NFL club. In his only action with the Kansas City Chiefs in the preseason, he fared very well.

The club, however, felt it was poised for an NFL playoff run and went with a veteran as its third quarterback.

I talked to Peyton Manning about Clausen’s situation, and Peyton said it was a matter of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Manning also said he felt Clausen was good enough to play in the NFL.

After one year of NFL Europe, however, Clausen decided to hang up his cleats and go into coaching, taking a job at Mississippi State.

Clausen has since left there and now plans to sell insurance while mentoring his younger brother, Jimmy, as he looks for success at Notre Dame.

That’s a classy family right there, and Casey was one of the most dedicated collegiate players I’ve ever covered. Too bad memories and a few spots in the record books are all he has to show for his career with the Vols.

Q: I enjoyed your comments on "The Locker Room Show.’’ I would like to see you on there more.
ron__cox@msn.com

GRIFF: Thanks Ron, I think the plan calls for me to make more appearances on Mark Packer’s 10 p.m., Sunday night show now that basketball season is drawing near.

I enjoy working on the show, as Mark keeps it pretty free-wheeling and encourages opinions, good or bad. I'm sure I'll have more opinions in the coming week.